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diff --git a/old/13169-8.txt b/old/13169-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cafa7af --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13169-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13048 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D. D., +Volume IX; Contributions to The Tatler, The Examiner, The Spectator, and The Intelligencer, by Jonathan Swift + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D. D., Volume IX; + Contributions to The Tatler, The Examiner, The Spectator, + and The Intelligencer + +Author: Jonathan Swift + +Release Date: August 13, 2004 [EBook #13169] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SWIFT PROSE, VOL. IX *** + + + + +Produced by G. Graustein and PG Distributed Proofreaders. Produced +from images provided by the Million Book Project. + + + + + + +THE PROSE WORKS OF JONATHAN SWIFT + +VOL. IX + +GEORGE BELL & SONS +LONDON: YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN +CAMBRIDGE: DEIGHTON, BELL & CO. +NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN CO. + +[Illustration: _Jonathan Swift from the picture by Charles Jervas in the +Bodlean Library Oxford_] + + +THE PROSE WORKS OF JONATHAN SWIFT, D.D. + +EDITED BY TEMPLE SCOTT + +VOL IX + +CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE TATLER," "THE EXAMINER," "THE SPECTATOR," AND +"THE INTELLIGENCER" + + +LONDON +GEORGE BELL AND SONS 1902 + +CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO. +TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON. + + +INTRODUCTION + +Swift has been styled the Prince of Journalists. Like most titles whose +aim is to express in modern words the character and achievements of a man +of a past age, this phrase is not of the happiest. Applied to so +extraordinary a man as Jonathan Swift, it is both misleading and +inadequate. At best it embodies but a half-truth. It belongs to that +class of phrases which, in emphasizing a particular side of the +character, sacrifices truth to a superficial cleverness, and so does +injustice to the character as a whole. The vogue such phrases obtain is +thus the measure of the misunderstanding that is current; so that it +often becomes necessary to receive them with caution and to test them +with care. + +A prince in his art Swift certainly was, but his art was not the art of +the journalist. Swift was a master of literary expression, and of all +forms of that expression which aim at embodying in language the common +life and common facts of men and their common nature. He had his +limitations, of course; but just here lies the power of his special +genius. He never attempted to express what he did not fully comprehend. +If he saw things narrowly, he saw them definitely, and there was no +mistaking the ideas he wished to convey. "He understands himself," said +Dr. Johnson, "and his reader always understands him." Within his +limitations Swift swayed a sovereign power. His narrowness of vision, +however, did never blind him to the relations that exist between fact and +fact, between object and subject, between the actual and the possible. At +the same time it was not his province, as it was not his nature, to +handle such relations in the abstract. The bent of his mind was towards +the practical and not the pure reason. The moralist and the statesman +went hand in hand in him--an excellent example of the eighteenth century +thinker. + +But to say this of Swift is not to say that he was a journalist. The +journalist is the man of the hour writing for the hour in harmony with +popular opinion. Both his text and his heads are ready-made for him. He +follows the beaten road, and only essays new paths when conditions +have become such as to force him along them. Such a man Swift certainly +was not. Journalism was not his way to the goal. If anything, it was, as +Epictetus might have said, but a tavern by the way-side in which he took +occasion to find the means by which the better to attain his goal. If +Swift's contributions to the literature of his day be journalism, then +did journalism spring full-grown into being, and its history since his +time must be considered as a history of its degeneration. But they were +much more than journalism. That they took the form they did, in +contributions to the periodicals of his day, is but an accident which +does not in the least affect the contributions themselves. These, in +reality, constitute a criticism of the social and political life of the +first thirty years of the English eighteenth century. From the time of +the writing of "A Tale of a Tub" to the days of the Drapier's Letters, +Swift dissected his countrymen with the pitiless hand of the +master-surgeon. So profound was his knowledge of human anatomy, individual +and social, that we shudder now at the pain he must have inflicted in his +unsparing operations. So accurate was his judgment that we stand amazed +at his knowledge, and our amazement often turns to a species of horror as +we see the cuticle flapped open revealing the crude arrangement beneath. +Nor is it to argue too nicely, to suggest that our present sympathy for +the past pain, our amazement, and our horror, are, after all, our own +unconscious tributes to the power of the man who calls them up, and our +confession of the lasting validity of his criticism. + +This is not the power nor is it the kind of criticism that are the +elements of the art of the journalist. Perhaps we should be glad that it +is not; which is but to say that we are content with things as they +exist. It requires a special set of conditions to precipitate a Swift. +Happily, if we will have it so, the conditions in which we find ourselves +ask for that kind of journalist whose function is amply fulfilled when +he has measured the movements of the hour by the somewhat higher +standards of the day. The conditions under which Swift lived demanded a +journalist of an entirely different calibre; and they got him. They +obtained a man who dissolved the petty jealousies of party power in the +acid of satire, and who distilled the affected fears for Church and State +in the alembic of a statesmanship that establishes a nation's majesty and +dignity on the common welfare of its free people. When Swift, at the +beginning of the November of 1710, was called in to assist the Tory party +by undertaking the work of "The Examiner," he found a condition of things +so involved and so unstable, that it required the very nicest +appreciation, the most delicate handling, and the boldest of hearts to +readjust and re-establish, without fearful consequences. Harley and St. +John were safely housed, and, apparently, amply protected by a +substantial majority. But majorities are often not the most trustworthy +of supports. Apart from the over-confidence which they inspire, and +apart from the danger of a too-enthusiastic following, such as found +expression in the October Club, there was the danger which might come +from the dissatisfaction of the people at large, should their temper be +wrongly gauged; and at this juncture it was not easy to gauge. The +popularity of Marlborough and his victories, on the one hand, was +undoubted. On the other, however, there was the growing opinion that +those victories had been paid for at a price greater than England could +afford. If she had gained reputation and prestige, these could not fill +the mouths of the landed class, gradually growing poorer, and the members +of this class were not of a disposition to restrain their feelings as +they noted the growing prosperity of the Whig stock-jobbers--a +prosperity that was due to the very war which was beggaring them. If the +landed man cried for peace, he was answered by the Whig stock-jobber that +peace meant the ultimate repudiation of the National Debt, with the +certainty of the reign of the Pretender. If the landed man spoke for the +Church, the Whig speculator raised the shout of "No Popery!" The war had +transformed parties into factions, and the ministry stood between a +Scylla of a peace-at-any-price, on the one side, and a Charybdis of a +war-at-any-price on the other; or, if not a war, then a peace so +one-sided that it would be almost impossible to bring it about. + +In such troubled waters, and at such a critical juncture, it was given to +Swift to act as pilot to the ship of State. His papers to "The Examiner" +must bear witness to the skill with which he accomplished the task set +before him. His appeal to the people of England for confidence in the +ministry, should be an appeal not alone on behalf of its distinguished +and able members, but also on behalf of a policy by which "the crooked +should be made straight and the rough places plain." Such was to be the +nature of his appeal, and he made it in a series of essays that turned +every advantage with admirable effect to the side of his clients. Not +another man then living could have done what he did; and we question if +either Harley or St. John ever realized the service he rendered them. The +later careers of these two men furnish no doubtful hints of what might +have happened at this period had Swift been other than the man he was. + +But Swift's "Examiners" did much more than preserve Harley's head on his +shoulders; they brought the nation to a calmer sense of its position, and +tutored it to a juster appreciation of the men who were using it for +selfish ends. Let us make every allowance for purely special pleadings; +for indulgence in personal feeling against the men who had either +disappointed, injured, or angered him; for the party man affecting or +genuinely feeling party bitterness, for the tricks and subterfuges of the +paid advocate appealing to the passions and weaknesses of those whose +favour he was seeking to win; allowing for these, there are yet left in +these papers a noble spirit of wide-eyed patriotism, and a distinguished +grasp of the meaning of national greatness and national integrity. + +The pamphleteers whom he opposed, and who opposed him, were powerless +against Swift. Where they pried with the curiosity and meanness of petty +dealers, Swift's insight seized on the larger relations, and insisted on +them. Where they "bantered," cajoled, and sneered, arousing a very mild +irritation, Swift's scornful invective, and biting satire silenced into +fear the enemies of the Queen's chosen ministers. Where their jejune +"answers" gained a simper, Swift's virility of mind, range of power, and +dexterity of handling, compelled a homage. His Whig antagonists had +good reason to dread him. He scoffed at them for an existence that was +founded, not on a devotion to principles, but on a jealousy for the power +others enjoyed. "The bulk of the Whigs appears rather to be linked to a +certain set of persons, than any certain set of principles." To these +persons also he directed his grim attention, Somers, Cowper, Godolphin, +Marlborough, and Wharton were each drawn with iron stylus and acid. To +Wharton he gave special care (he had some private scores to pay off), and +in the character of Verres, he etched the portrait of a profligate, an +unscrupulous governor, a scoundrel, an infidel to his religion and +country, a reckless, selfish, low-living blackguard. In the Letter to +Marcus Crassus, Marlborough is addressed in language that the simplest +farm-labourer could understand. The letter is a lay sermon on the vice of +avarice, and every point and illustration are taken from Marlborough's +life with such telling application that Marlborough himself must have +taken thought as he read it. "No man," Swift finely concludes, "of true +valour and true understanding, upon whom this vice has stolen unawares; +when he is convinced he is guilty, will suffer it to remain in his breast +an hour." + +But these attentions to the Whigs as a party and as individuals were, +after all, but the by-play of the skilled orator preparing the minds of +his hearers for the true purpose in hand. That purpose may originally +have been to fix the ministry in the country's favour; but Swift having +fulfilled it, and so discharged his office, turned it, as indeed he could +not help turning it, and as later in the Drapier's Letters he turned +another purpose, to the persuasion of an acceptance of those broad +principles which so influenced political thought during the last years of +the reign of Queen Anne. It is with these principles in his mind that Dr. +Johnson confessed that Swift "dictated for a time the political opinions +of the English nation." He recalled the nation to a consideration of the +Constitution; he attributed to the people (because, of course, they had +elected the new ministry into power) an appreciation of what was best for +the protection of their ancient privileges and rights. The past twenty +years had been a period of mismanagement, in which the Constitution had +been ignored; "but the body of the people is wiser; and by the choice +they have made, shew they do understand our Constitution, and would bring +it back to the old form." "The nation has groaned under the intolerable +burden of those who sucked her blood for gain. We have carried on wars, +that we might fill the pockets of stock-jobbers. We have revised our +Constitution, and by a great and united national effort, have secured our +Protestant succession, only that we may become the tools of a faction, +who arrogate to themselves the whole merit of what was a national act. We +are governed by upstarts, who are unsettling the landmarks of our social +system, and are displacing the influence of our landed gentry by that of +a class of men who find their profit in our woes." The rule of the +tradesman must be replaced by the rule of those whose lives are bound up +with the land of their country. The art of government was not "the +importation of nutmegs, and the curing of herrings;" but the political +embodiment of the will of "a Parliament freely chosen, without +threatening or corruption," and "composed of landed men" whose interests +being in the soil would be at one with the interests of those who lived +on the soil. Whigs and Tories may dispute as they will among themselves +as to the best side from which to defend the country; but the men of the +true party are the men of the National party--they "whose principles in +Church and State, are what I have above related; whose actions are +derived from thence, and who have no attachment to any set of ministers, +further than as these are friends to the Constitution in all its parts; +but will do their utmost to save their Prince and Country, whoever be at +the Helm".[1] + +In this spirit and in such wise did Swift temper his time and champion +the cause of those men who had chosen him. This was a kind of "examining" +to which neither the Whigs nor the Tories had been accustomed. It shed +quite a new light on matters, which the country at large was not slow to +appreciate. Throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom "The +Examiner" was welcomed and its appeals responded to. Its success was +notable, even magnificent; but it was not a lasting success. It did the +work that the ministry had intended it to do, and did it unmistakably; +but the principles of this National party were for men of a sterner mould +than either Harley or St. John. Swift had laid a burden on their +shoulders heavier than they could carry, and they fell when they were +bereft of his support. But the work Swift did bears witness to-day to a +very unusual combination of qualities in the genius of this man, whose +personality stands out even above his work. It was ever his fate to serve +and never his happiness to command; but then he had himself accepted +servitude when he donned the robe of the priest. + +It is deserving of repeated record to note that Dr. Johnson in admitting +that Swift, in "The Examiner," had the advantage in argument, adds that +"with regard to wit, I am afraid none of Swift's papers will be found +equal to those by which Addison opposed him." To which Monck Mason +pertinently remarks: "The Doctor should have told us what these papers +were which Addison wrote in opposition to Swift's 'Examiner;' for the +last 'Whig Examiner,' written by Addison, was published October 12th, +1710, and Swift's first 'Examiner' on the 2nd November following."[2] + + * * * * * + +In this volume have been collected those writings of Swift which form his +contributions to the periodicals of his time. Care has been taken to give +the best text and to admit nothing that Swift did not write. In the +preparation of the volume the editor has received such assistance from +Mr. W. Spencer Jackson that it might with stricter justice be said that +he had edited it. He collated the texts, revised the proofs, and supplied +most of the notes. Without his assistance the volume must inevitably have +been further delayed, and the editor gladly takes this occasion to +acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. Jackson and to thank him for his +help. + +His further indebtedness must be acknowledged to the researches of those +writers already named in the previously published volumes of this +edition, and also cited in the notes to the present volume. + +TEMPLE SCOTT. + +GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A. + +_April_ 8, 1902. + +[Footnote 1: "Examiner," No. 44, p. 290.] + +[Footnote 2: "Hist. St. Patrick's Cathedral," p. 257, note g.] + + + +CONTENTS + +CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE TATLER" +Introductory Note +No. 32, June 23, 1709 + 35, " 30, " + 59, Aug. 25, " + 65, Sept. 3, " + 66, " 10, " + 67, " 13, " + 68, " 15, " + 70, " 22, " + 71, " 22, " + 230, Sept. 28, 1710 + 258, Dec. 2, " + +Note to Harrison's "Tatler" +No. 1 (of vol. v.), Jan. 13, 1710-11 + 2 ( " ), " 16, " + 5 ( " ), " 27, " +No. 298 (vol. v., No. 20), March 6, 1710-11 + 302 (vol. v., No. 24), " 15 " + 306 (vol. v., No. 28), " 24 " + +CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE EXAMINER" +Introductory Note +No. 14 (13), Nov. 2, 1710 + 15 (14), " 9, " + 16 (15), " 16, " + 17 (16), " 23, " + 18 (17), " 30, " + 19 (18), Dec. 7, " + 20 (19), " 14, " + 21 (20), " 21, " + 22 (21), " 28, " + 23 (22), Jan. 4, 1710-11 + 24 (23), " 11, " + 25 (24), " 18, " + 26 (25), " 25, " + 27 (26), Feb. 1, " + 28 (27), " 8, " + 29 (28), Feb 15, 1710 11 + 30 (29), " 22, " + 31 (30), March 1, " + 32 (31), " 8, " + 33 (32), " 15, " + 34 (33), " 22, " + 35 (34), " 29, 1711 + 36 (35), April 5, " + 37 (36), " 12, " + 38 (37), " 19, " + 39 (38), " 26, " + 40 (39), May 3, " + 41 (40), " 10, " + 42 (41), " 17, " + 43 (42), " 24, " + 44 (43), " 31, " + 45 (44), June 7, " + 46 (45), " 14, " + +CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE SPECTATOR" + Introductory Note + No 50, April 27, 1711 (The Four Indian Kings) + Paragraph from No 575, August 2, 1714 + +CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE INTELLIGENCER" + Introductory Note + No 1, May 11, 1728 (Introduction) + 3, A Vindication of Mr. Gay, and the Beggar's Opera + 19, The Hardships of the Irish being deprived of their + Silver, and decoyed into America + + * * * * * + + +CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE TATLER." + +NOTE. + +In the original dedication of the first volume of "The Tatler" to Arthur +Maynwaring Richard Steele, its projector and editor, gives characteristic +expression to the motive which prompted him in its establishment. "The +state of conversation and business in this town," says Steele, "having +been long perplexed with pretenders in both kinds, in order to open men's +eyes against such abuses, it appeared no unprofitable undertaking to +publish a Paper which should observe upon the manners of the pleasurable, +as well as the busy, part of mankind." He goes on to say that "the +general purpose of this Paper is to expose the false arts of life, to +pull off the disguises of cunning, vanity, and affectation, and to +recommend a general simplicity in our dress, our discourse, and our +behaviour." + +That Steele succeeded in this laudable purpose has been amply made +evident by the effect "The Tatler" had upon his literary successors, +both of his own age and of the generations since his time. "The Tatler" +was, if we except Defoe's "Weekly Review," the earliest literary +periodical which, in the language of Scott, "had no small effect in +fixing and refining the character of the English nation." + +Steele conducted his periodical under the name of Isaac Bickerstaff. +He chose this name purposely because he felt, as he himself expressed +it, that "a work of this nature required time to grow into the notice of +the world. It happened very luckily that a little before I had resolved +upon this design, a gentleman had written predictions, and two or three +other pieces in my name, which had rendered it famous through all +parts of Europe; and by an inimitable spirit and humour, raised it to as +high a pitch of reputation as it could possibly arrive at." The gentleman +referred to is, of course, Swift, whose pamphlets on Partridge had +been the talk of the town. + +Steele very kindly ascribes the success of the periodical to this "good +fortune;" and though there may be something in what he said, we, in the +present day, can more justly appreciate the great benefit conferred upon +his countrymen by himself and his co-workers. + +The influence of "The Tatler" on contemporary thought is acknowledged by +Gay in his "Present State of Wit," published in 1711. Gay remarks: "His +writings have set all our wits and men of letters upon a new way of +thinking, of which they had little or no notion before; and though we +cannot yet say that any of them have come up to the beauties of the +original, I think we may venture to affirm that every one of them writes +and thinks much more justly than they did some time since." + +Among the contributors, in addition to the editor himself, were Swift, +Addison, Yalden, John Hughes, William Harrison, and James Greenwood. + +It must always remain to a great extent a matter of conjecture as to the +exact authorship of "The Tatler" papers. In the preface to the fourth +volume the authorship of a very few of the articles was admitted. Peter +Wentworth wrote to his brother, Lord Raby, on May 9th, 1709, saying the +Tatlers "are writ by a club of wits, who make it their business to pick +up all the merry stories they can.... Three of the authors are guessed +at, viz.: Swift,... Yalden, and Steele" ("Wentworth Papers," 85). + +Swift's first recognized prose contribution to "The Tatler" was in No. 32 +(June 23rd), and he continued from time to time, as the following reprint +will show, to assist his friend; but, unfortunately, party politics +separated the two, and Swift retired from the venture. + +A particular meaning was attached to the place from which the articles in +"The Tatler" were dated. The following notice appeared in the first +number: "All accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, shall be +under the article of White's Chocolate-house; poetry, under that of +Will's Coffee-house; learning, under the title of Grecian; foreign and +domestic news, you will have from St. James's Coffee-house; and what else +I have to offer on any other subject shall be dated from my own +Apartment." + +"The Tatler" was reprinted in Edinburgh as soon as possible after its +publication in London, commencing apparently with No. 130, as No. 31 +(Edinburgh, James Watson) is dated April 24th, 1710, and corresponds to +No. 160 of the original edition, April 18th, 1710. [T.S.] + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 32. + +FROM TUESDAY JUNE 21. TO THURSDAY JUNE 23. 1709. + +"To ISAAC BICKERSTAFF ESQ;[1] + +_June_ 18. 1709. + +"SIR, + +"I know not whether you ought to pity or laugh at me; for I am fallen +desperately in love with a professed _Platonne_, the most unaccountable +creature of her sex. To hear her talk seraphics, and run over Norris[2] +and More,[3] and Milton,[4] and the whole set of Intellectual Triflers, +torments me heartily; for to a lover who understands metaphors, all this +pretty prattle of ideas gives very fine views of pleasure, which only the +dear declaimer prevents, by understanding them literally. Why should she +wish to be a cherubim, when it is flesh and blood that makes her +adorable? If I speak to her, that is a high breach of the idea of +intuition: If I offer at her hand or lip, she shrinks from the touch like +a sensitive plant, and would contract herself into mere spirit. She calls +her chariot, vehicle; her furbelowed scarf, pinions; her blue manteau and +petticoat is her azure dress; and her footman goes by the name of Oberon. +It is my misfortune to be six foot and a half high, two full spans +between the shoulders, thirteen inches diameter in the calves; and before +I was in love, I had a noble stomach, and usually went to bed sober with +two bottles. I am not quite six and twenty, and my nose is marked truly +aquiline. For these reasons, I am in a very particular manner her +aversion. What shall I do? Impudence itself cannot reclaim her. If I +write miserable, she reckons me among the children of perdition, and +discards me her region: If I assume the gross and substantial, she plays +the real ghost with me, and vanishes in a moment. I had hopes in the +hypocrisy of the sex; but perseverance makes it as bad as a fixed +aversion. I desire your opinion, Whether I may not lawfully play the +inquisition upon her, make use of a little force, and put her to the rack +and the torture, only to convince her, she has really fine limbs, without +spoiling or distorting them. I expect your directions, ere I proceed to +dwindle and fall away with despair; which at present I don't think +advisable, because, if she should recant, she may then hate me perhaps +in the other extreme for my tenuity. I am (with impatience) + +"Your most humble servant, + +"CHARLES STURDY." + + +My patient has put his case with very much warmth, and represented it in +so lively a manner, that I see both his torment and tormentor with great +perspicuity. This order of Platonic ladies are to be dealt with in a +peculiar manner from all the rest of the sex. Flattery is the general +way, and the way in this case; but it is not to be done grossly. Every +man that has wit, and humour, and raillery, can make a good flatterer for +woman in general; but a _Platonne_ is not to be touched with panegyric: +she will tell you, it is a sensuality in the soul to be delighted that +way. You are not therefore to commend, but silently consent to all she +does and says. You are to consider in her the scorn of you is not humour, +but opinion. + +There were some years since a set of these ladies who were of quality, +and gave out, that virginity was to be their state of life during this +mortal condition, and therefore resolved to join their fortunes, and +erect a nunnery. The place of residence was pitched upon; and a pretty +situation, full of natural falls and risings of waters, with shady +coverts, and flowery arbours, was approved by seven of the founders. +There were as many of our sex who took the liberty to visit those +mansions of intended severity; among others, a famous rake[5] of that +time, who had the grave way to an excellence. He came in first; but upon +seeing a servant coming towards him, with a design to tell him, this was +no place for him or his companions, up goes my grave impudence to the +maid: "Young woman," said he, "if any of the ladies are in the way on +this side of the house, pray carry us on the other side towards the +gardens: we are, you must know, gentlemen that are travelling England; +after which we shall go into foreign parts, where some of us have already +been." Here he bows in the most humble manner, and kissed the girl, who +knew not how to behave to such a sort of carriage. He goes on; "Now you +must know we have an ambition to have it to say, that we have a +Protestant nunnery in England: but pray Mrs. Betty----"--"Sir," she +replied, "my name is Susan, at your service."--"Then I heartily beg your +pardon----"--"No offence in the least," says she, "for I have a +cousin-german whose name is Betty."[6]--"Indeed," said he, "I protest to +you that was more than I knew, I spoke at random: But since it happens +that I was near in the right, give me leave to present this gentleman to +the favour of a civil salute." His friend advances, and so on, till that +they had all saluted her. By this means, the poor girl was in the middle +of the crowd of these fellows, at a loss what to do, without courage to +pass through them; and the Platonics, at several peepholes, pale, +trembling, and fretting. Rake perceived they were observed, and therefore +took care to keep Sukey in chat with questions concerning their way of +life; when appeared at last Madonella,[7] a lady who had writ a fine +book concerning the recluse life, and was the projectrix of the +foundation. She approaches into the hall; and Rake, knowing the dignity +of his own mien and aspect, goes deputy from his company. She begins, +"Sir, I am obliged to follow the servant, who was sent out to know, What +affair could make strangers press upon a solitude which we, who are to +inhabit this place, have devoted to Heaven and our own thoughts?"-- +"Madam," replies Rake, (with an air of great distance, mixed with a +certain indifference, by which he could dissemble dissimulation) "your +great intention has made more noise in the world than you design it +should; and we travellers, who have seen many foreign institutions of +this kind, have a curiosity to see, in its first rudiments, this seat of +primitive piety; for such it must be called by future ages, to the +eternal honour of the founders. I have read Madonella's excellent and +seraphic discourse on this subject." The lady immediately answers, "If +what I have said could have contributed to raise any thoughts in you that +may make for the advancement of intellectual and divine conversation, I +should think myself extremely happy." He immediately fell back with the +profoundest veneration; then advancing, "Are you then that admired lady? +If I may approach lips which have uttered things so sacred--" He salutes +her. His friends followed his example. The devoted within stood in +amazement where this would end, to see Madonella receive their address +and their company. But Rake goes on--"We would not transgress rules; but +if we may take the liberty to see the place you have thought fit to +choose for ever, we would go into such parts of the gardens as is +consistent with the severities you have imposed on yourselves." + +To be short, Madonella permitted Rake to lead her into the assembly of +nuns, followed by his friends, and each took his fair one by the hand, +after due explanation, to walk round the gardens. The conversation turned +upon the lilies, the flowers, the arbours, and the growing vegetables; +and Rake had the solemn impudence, when the whole company stood round +him, to say, "That he sincerely wished men might rise out of the earth +like plants;[8] and that our minds were not of necessity to be sullied +with carnivorous appetites for the generation, as well as support of our +species." This was spoke with so easy and fixed an assurance, that +Madonella answered, "Sir, under the notion of a pious thought, you +deceive yourself in wishing an institution foreign to that of Providence: +These desires were implanted in us for reverend purposes, in preserving +the race of men, and giving opportunities for making our chastity more +heroic." The conference was continued in this celestial strain, and +carried on so well by the managers on both sides, that it created a +second and a second interview;[9] and, without entering into further +particulars, there was hardly one of them but was a mother or father that +day twelvemonth. + +Any unnatural part is long taking up, and as long laying aside; therefore +Mr. Sturdy may assure himself, Platonica will fly for ever from a forward +behaviour; but if he approaches her according to this model, she will +fall in with the necessities of mortal life, and condescend to look with +pity upon an unhappy man, imprisoned in so much body, and urged by such +violent desires. + +[Footnote 1: This letter is introduced by the following words: + +"White's Chocolate-house, June 22. + +"An Answer to the following letter being absolutely necessary to be +dispatched with all expedition, I must trespass upon all that come with +horary questions into my ante-chamber, to give the gentleman my opinion." + +This paper is written in ridicule of some affected ladies of the period, +who pretended, with rather too much ostentation, to embrace the doctrines +of Platonic Love. Mrs. Mary Astell, a learned and worthy woman, had +embraced this fantastic notion so deeply, that, in an essay upon the +female sex, in 1696, she proposed a sort of female college, in which the +young might be instructed, and 'ladies nauseating the parade of the +world,' might find a happy retirement. The plan was disconcerted by +Bishop Burnet, who, understanding that the Queen intended to give £10,000 +towards the establishment, dissuaded her, by an assurance, that it would +lead to the introduction of Popish orders, and be called a nunnery. This +lady is the Madonella of the Tatler.... This paper has been censured as a +gross reflection on Mrs. Astell's character, but on no very just +foundation. Swift only prophesies the probable issue of such a scheme, as +that of the Protestant nunnery; and it is a violent interpretation of his +words to suppose him to insinuate, that the conclusion had taken place +without the premises. Indeed, the scourge of ridicule is seldom better +employed than on that species of _Précieuse_, who is anxious to confound +the boundaries which nature has fixed for the employments and studies of +the two sexes. No man was more zealous than Swift for informing the +female mind in those points most becoming and useful to their sex. His +"Letter to a Young Married Lady" and "Thoughts on Education" point out +the extent of those studies. [S.] + +Nichols, in his edition of "The Tatler" (1786), ascribes this paper to +"Swift and Addison"; but he thinks the humour of it "certainly originated +in the licentious imagination of the Dean of St. Patrick's." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: John Norris (1657-1711), Rector of Bemerton, author of "The +Theory and Regulation of Love" (1688), and of many other works. His +correspondence with the famous Platonist, Henry More, is appended to this +"moral essay." Chalmers speaks of him as "a man of great ingenuity, +learning, and piety"; but Locke refers to him as "an obscure, +enthusiastic man." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Henry More (1614-1687), the famous Cambridge Platonist, and +author of "Philosophicall Poems" (1647), "The Immortality of the Soul" +(1659), and other works of a similar nature. Chalmers notes that "Mr. +Chishall, an eminent bookseller, declared, that Dr. More's 'Mystery of +Godliness' and his other works, ruled all the booksellers of London for +twenty years together." [T.S. ]] + +[Footnote 4: The reference here is to Milton's "Apology for Smectymnuus." +Milton and More were, during one year, fellow-students at Christ's +College, Cambridge. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Said to refer to a Mr. Repington, a well-known wag of the +time, and a member of an old Warwickshire family, of Amington, near +Tamworth. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: The Betty here referred to is the Lady Elizabeth Hastings +(1682-1739), daughter of Theophilus, seventh Earl of Huntingdon. In +No. 49 of "The Tatler," Steele refers to her in the famous sentence: +"to love her is a liberal education." She contributed to Mrs. Astell's +plans for the establishment of a "Protestant nunnery." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: See previous note. Mrs. Mary Astell (1668-1731) the +authoress of "A Serious Proposal to the Ladies for the Advancement of +their true and greatest Interest" (1694), was the friend of Lady +Elizabeth Hastings and the correspondent of John Norris of Bemerton. +There is not the slightest foundation for the gross and cruel +insinuations against her character in this paper. The libel is repeated +in the 59th and 63rd numbers of "The Tatler." Her correspondence with +Norris was published in 1695, with the title, "Letters Concerning the +Love of God". Later in life she attacked Atterbury, Locke, and White +Kennett. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The reference here is to Sir Thomas Browne's "Religio +Medici," part ii., section 9. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: M. Bournelle--a pseudonym of William Oldisworth--remarks: +"The next interview after a _second_ is still a _second_; there is no +progress in time to lovers" ("Annotations on 'The Tatler'"). Chalmers +reads here, "a second and a third interview." [T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 35. + + +FROM TUESDAY JUNE 28. TO THURSDAY JUNE 30. 1709. + +"SIR,[1] + +"Not long since[2] you were pleased to give us a chimerical account of +the famous family of _Staffs_, from whence I suppose you would insinuate, +that it is the most ancient and numerous house in all Europe. But I +positively deny that it is either; and wonder much at your audacious +proceedings in this matter, since it is well known, that our most +illustrious, most renowned, and most celebrated Roman family of _Ix_, has +enjoyed the precedency to all others from the reign of good old Saturn. I +could say much to the defamation and disgrace of your family; as, that +your relations _Distaff_ and _Broomstaff_ were both inconsiderate mean +persons, one spinning, the other sweeping the streets, for their daily +bread. But I forbear to vent my spleen on objects so much beneath my +indignation. I shall only give the world a catalogue of my ancestors, and +leave them to determine which hath hitherto had, and which for the future +ought to have, the preference. + +"First then comes the most famous and popular lady _Meretrix_, parent of +the fertile family of _Bellatrix, Lotrix, Netrix, Nutrix, Obstetrix, +Famulatrix, Coctrix, Ornatrix, Sarcinatrix, Fextrix, Balneatrix, +Portatrix, Saltatrix, Divinatrix, Conjectrix, Comtrix, Debitrix, +Creditrix, Donatrix, Ambulatrix, Mercatrix, Adsectrix, Assectatrix, +Palpatrix, Praeceptrix, Pistrix._ + +"I am yours, + +"ELIZ. POTATRIX." + + +[Footnote 1: This letter is introduced: + +"From my own Apartment, June 29. + +"It would be a very great obligation, and an assistance to my treatise +upon punning, if any one would please to inform me in what class among +the learned, who play with words, to place the author of the following +letter." + +The proposed work had been promised in the 32nd number of "The Tatler," +where it was stated that, "I shall dedicate this discourse to a +gentleman, my very good friend, who is the Janus of our times, and +whom, by his years and wit, you would take to be of the last age; but +by his dress and morals, of this." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: In the 11th number of "The Tatler," by Heneage Twisden. +[T.S.]] + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 59. + + +FROM TUESDAY AUGUST 23. TO THURSDAY AUGUST 25. 1709. + +_Will's Coffee-house, August 24._ + +The author of the ensuing letter, by his name, and the quotations he +makes from the ancients, seems a sort of spy from the old world, whom we +moderns ought to be careful of offending; therefore I must be free, and +own it a fair hit where he takes me, rather than disoblige him. + +"SIR, Having a peculiar humour of desiring to be somewhat the better or +wiser for what I read, I am always uneasy when, in any profound writer +(for I read no others) I happen to meet with what I cannot understand. +When this falls out, it is a great grievance to me that I am not able to +consult the author himself about his meaning; for commentators are a sect +that has little share in my esteem. Your elaborate writings have, among +many others, this advantage, that their author is still alive, and ready +(as his extensive charity makes us expect) to explain whatever may +be found in them too sublime for vulgar understandings. This, Sir, makes +me presume to ask you, how the Hampstead hero's character could be +perfectly new[1] when the last letters came away, and yet Sir John +Suckling so well acquainted with it sixty years ago? I hope, Sir, you +will not take this amiss: I can assure you, I have a profound respect +for you; which makes me write this, with the same disposition with which +Longinus bids us read Homer and Plato. + +"'When in reading,' says he, 'any of those celebrated authors, we meet +with a passage to which we cannot well reconcile our reasons, we ought +firmly to believe, that were those great wits present to answer for +themselves, we should to our wonder be convinced, that we only are guilty +of the mistakes we before attributed to them.' If you think fit to +remove the scruple that now torments me, it will be an encouragement to +me to settle a frequent correspondence with you, several things falling +in my way which would not, perhaps, be altogether foreign to your +purpose, and whereon your thoughts would be very acceptable to + +"Your most humble servant, + +"OBADIAH GREENHAT." + +[Footnote 1: In No. 57 of "The Tatler" Steele wrote: "Letters from +Hampstead say, there is a coxcomb arrived there, of a kind which is +utterly new. The fellow has courage, which he takes himself to be obliged +to give proofs of every hour he lives. He is ever fighting with the men, +and contradicting the women. A lady, who sent him to me, superscribed +him with this description out of Suckling: + +"'I am a man of war and might, +And know thus much, that I can fight, +Whether I am i' th' wrong or right. + Devoutly. +'No woman under Heaven I fear, +New oaths I can exactly swear; +And forty healths my brains will bear, + Most stoutly.'" + +The "description out of Suckling" is from that writer's rondeau, "A +Soldier." As the poet died in 1642, Swift ridicules the statement +that this kind of coxcomb was "utterly new." [T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 63. + +FROM THURSDAY SEPTEMBER I. TO SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 1709. +"SIR,[1] + +"It must be allowed, that Esquire Bickerstaff is of all authors the most +ingenuous. There are few, very few, that will own themselves in a +mistake, though all the World sees them to be in downright nonsense. +You'll be pleased, Sir, to pardon this expression, for the same reason +for which you once desired us to excuse you when you seemed anything +dull. Most writers, like the generality of Paul Lorrain's[2] saints, seem +to place a peculiar vanity in dying hard. But you, Sir, to show a good +example to your brethren, have not only confessed, but of your own accord +mended the indictment. Nay, you have been so good-natured as to discover +beauties in it, which, I will assure you, he that drew it never dreamed +of: And to make your civility the more accomplished, you have honoured +him with the title of your kinsman,[3] which, though derived by the left +hand, he is not a little proud of. My brother (for such Obadiah is) being +at present very busy about nothing, has ordered me to return you his +sincere thanks for all these favours; and, as a small token of his +gratitude, to communicate to you the following piece of intelligence, +which, he thinks, belongs more properly to you than to any others of our +modern historians. + +"_Madonella_, who as it was thought had long since taken her flight +towards the ethereal mansions, still walks, it seems, in the regions of +mortality; where she has found, by deep reflections on the revolution[4] +mentioned in yours of June the 23rd, that where early instructions have +been wanting to imprint true ideas of things on the tender souls of those +of her sex, they are never after able to arrive at such a pitch of +perfection, as to be above the laws of matter and motion; laws which are +considerably enforced by the principles usually imbibed in nurseries and +boarding-schools. To remedy this evil, she has laid the scheme of a +college for young damsels; where, instead of scissors, needles, and +samplers; pens, compasses, quadrants, books, manuscripts, Greek, Latin, +and Hebrew, are to take up their whole time. Only on holidays the +students will, for moderate exercise, be allowed to divert themselves +with the use of some of the lightest and most voluble weapons; and proper +care will be taken to give them at least a superficial tincture of the +ancient and modern Amazonian tactics. Of these military performances, the +direction is undertaken by Epicene,[5] the writer of 'Memoirs from the +Mediterranean,' who, by the help of some artificial poisons conveyed by +smells, has within these few weeks brought many persons of both sexes +to an untimely fate; and, what is more surprising, has, contrary to her +profession, with the same odours, revived others who had long since been +drowned in the whirlpools of Lethe. Another of the professors is to be a +certain lady, who is now publishing two of the choicest Saxon novels[6], +which are said to have been in as great repute with the ladies of Queen +Emma's Court, as the 'Memoirs from the New Atalantis' are with those of +ours. I shall make it my business to enquire into the progress of this +learned institution, and give you the first notice of their +'Philosophical Transactions[7], and Searches after Nature.' + +"Yours, &c. + +"TOBIAH GREENHAT." + +[Footnote 1: This letter was introduced: + +"From my own Apartment, September 2. + +"The following letter being a panegyric upon me for a quality which every +man may attain, an acknowledgment of his faults; I thought it for the +good of my fellow writers to publish it." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: The Rev. Paul Lorrain was ordinary of Newgate Prison from +1698 until 1719. He issued the dying speeches and confessions of the +condemned criminals in the form of broadsheets. In these confessions, +the penitence of the criminals was most strongly emphasized, hence the +term "Lorrain's saints." Lorrain died in 1719. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Isaac Bickerstaff, commenting on the letter in No. 59, +printed above, says: "I have looked over our pedigree upon the receipt of +this epistle, and find the Greenhats are a-kin to the Staffs. They +descend from Maudlin, the left-handed wife of Nehemiah Bickerstaff, +in the reign of Harry II." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: See No. 32 _ante_. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Mrs. Mary de la Rivière Manley, author of "Memoirs of +Europe, towards the Close of the Eighth Century" (1710), which she +dedicated to Isaac Bickerstaff, and of "Secret Memoirs and Manners ... +from the New Atalantis" (1709). She was associated with Swift in the +writing of several pamphlets In support of the Harley Administration, +and in his work on "The Examiner" (see vol. v., pp. 41, 118, and 171 of +the present edition of Swift's works). + +Epicene is an allusion to Ben Jonson's comedy, "Epicoene; or, the +Silent Woman" (1609). + +Mrs. Manley seems to have credited Steele with this attack on her, for +she attacked him, in turn, in her "New Atalantis," and printed, in her +dedication to the "Memoirs of Europe," Steele's denial of the authorship +of this paper. This did not, however, prevent her making new charges +against him. "The Narrative of Guiscard's Examination," "A Comment on Dr. +Hare's Sermon," and "The Duke of Marlborough's Vindication," were written +either by herself, or at the suggestion of, and with instructions from, +Swift. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: Mrs. Elizabeth Elstob (1683-1756), a niece of the learned +Dr. Hickes, issued, in 1709, "An English-Saxon Homily on the Birthday +of St. Gregory." The work was dedicated to Queen Anne. She was a friend +of Mary Granville, afterwards Mrs. Pendarves, and better known as Mrs. +Delany. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: An allusion to "Useful Transactions in Philosophy," etc., +January and February, 1708/9, which commenced with an article entitled +"An Essay on the Invention of Samplers," by Mrs. Arabella Manly (_sic_). +She had a friend, Mrs. Betty Clavel. [T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 66. + + +FROM THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8. TO SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10. 1709. + +_Wills Coffee-house, September_ 9. + +We have been very much perplexed here this evening, by two gentlemen who +took upon them to talk as loud as if it were expected from them to +entertain the company. Their subject was eloquence and graceful action. +Lysander, who is something particular in his way of thinking and +speaking, told us, "a man could not be eloquent without action: for the +deportment of the body, the turn of the eye, and an apt sound to every +word that is uttered, must all conspire to make an accomplished speaker. +Action in one that speaks in public, is the same thing which a good +mien is in ordinary life. Thus, as a certain insensibility in the +countenance recommends a sentence of humour and jest, so it must be a +very lively consciousness that gives grace to great sentiments: For the +jest is to be a thing unexpected; therefore your undesigning manner is a +beauty in expressions of mirth; but when you are to talk on a set +subject, the more you are moved yourself, the more you will move others. + +"There is," said he, "a remarkable example of that kind: Aeschines, a +famous orator of antiquity, had pleaded at Athens in a great cause +against Demosthenes; but having lost it, retired to Rhodes. Eloquence was +then the quality most admired among men; and the magistrates of that +place having heard he had a copy of the speech of Demosthenes, desired +him to repeat both their pleadings. After his own, he recited also the +oration of his antagonist. The people expressed their admiration of both, +but more of that of Demosthenes. 'If you are,' said he, 'thus touched +with hearing only what that great orator said, how would you have been +affected had you seen him speak? for he who hears Demosthenes only, loses +much the better part of the oration.' Certain it is, that they who speak +gracefully, are very lamely represented, in having their speeches read or +repeated by unskilful people; for there is something native to each man, +that is so inherent to his thoughts and sentiments, which it is hardly +possible for another to give a true idea of. You may observe in common +talk, when a sentence of any man's is repeated, an acquaintance of his +shall immediately observe, 'That is so like him, methinks I see how +he looked when he said it.' But of all the people on the earth, there are +none who puzzle me so much as the clergy of Great Britain, who are, I +believe, the most learned body of men now in the world; and yet this art +of speaking, with the proper ornaments of voice and gesture, is wholly +neglected among them; and I will engage, were a deaf man to behold the +greater part of them preach, he would rather think they were reading the +contents only of some discourse they intended to make, than actually in +the body of an oration, even when they are upon matters of such a nature +as one would believe it were impossible to think of without emotion. + +"I own there are exceptions to this general observation, and that the +Dean[1] we heard the other day together, is an orator. He has so much +regard to his congregation, that he commits to his memory what he is to +say to them; and has so soft and graceful a behaviour, that it must +attract your attention. His person it is to be confessed is no small +recommendation; but he is to be highly commended for not losing that +advantage, and adding to the propriety of speech (which might pass the +criticism of Longinus)[2] an action which would have been approved by +Demosthenes. He has a peculiar force in his way, and has many of his +audience[3] who could not be intelligent hearers of his discourse, +were there not explanation as well as grace in his action. This art of +his is used with the most exact and honest skill: he never attempts your +passions, till he has convinced your reason. All the objections which he +can form, are laid before you and dispersed, before he uses the least +vehemence in his sermon; but when he thinks he has your head, he very +soon wins your heart; and never pretends to show the beauty of holiness, +till he has convinced you of the truth of it. + +"Would every one of our clergymen be thus careful to recommend truth and +virtue in their proper figures, and show so much concern for them as to +give them all the additional force they were able, it is not possible +that nonsense should have so many hearers as you find it has in +dissenting congregations, for no reason in the world but because it is +spoken _extempore_: For ordinary minds are wholly governed by their eyes +and ears, and there is no way to come at their hearts but by power over +their imagination. There is my friend and merry companion Daniel[4]: he +knows a great deal better than he speaks, and can form a proper discourse +as well as any orthodox neighbour. But he knows very well, that to bawl +out, 'My beloved;' and the words 'grace! regeneration! sanctification! a +new light! the day! The day! aye, my beloved, the day!' or rather, 'the +night! The night is coming! and judgment will come, when we least think +of it!'--and so forth--He knows, to be vehement is the only way to come +at his audience; and Daniel, when he sees my friend Greenhat come in, can +give him a good hint, and cry out, 'This is only for the saints! the +regenerated!' By this force of action, though mixed with all the +incoherence and ribaldry imaginable, Daniel can laugh at his diocesan, +and grow fat by voluntary subscription, while the parson of the parish +goes to law for half his dues. Daniel will tell you, 'It is not the +shepherd, but the sheep with the bell, which the flock follows.' Another +thing, very wonderful this learned body should omit, is, learning to +read; which is a most necessary part of eloquence in one who is to serve +at the altar: for there is no man but must be sensible, that the lazy +tone, and inarticulate sound of our common readers, depreciates the most +proper form of words that were ever extant in any nation or language, to +speak our own wants, or His power from whom we ask relief. + +"There cannot be a greater instance of the power of action than in little +parson Dapper,[5] who is the common relief to all the lazy pulpits in +town. This smart youth has a very good memory, a quick eye, and a clean +handkerchief. Thus equipped, he opens his text, shuts his book fairly, +shows he has no notes in his Bible, opens both palms, and shows all is +fair there too. Thus, with a decisive air, my young man goes on without +hesitation; and though from the beginning to the end of his pretty +discourse, he has not used one proper gesture, yet at the conclusion, the +churchwarden pulls his gloves from off his head; 'Pray, who is this +extraordinary young man?' Thus the force of action is such, that it is +more prevalent (even when improper) than all the reason and argument in +the world without it." This gentleman concluded his discourse by saying, +"I do not doubt but if our preachers would learn to speak, and our +readers to read, within six months' time we should not have a dissenter +within a mile of a church in Great Britain." + +[Footnote 1: In his original preface to the fourth volume, Steele +explains that "the amiable character of the Dean in the sixty-sixth +'Tatler,' was drawn for Dr. Atterbury." Steele cites this as a proof of +his impartiality. Scott thinks that it must have cost him "some effort to +permit insertion of a passage so favourable to a Tory divine." At the +time the character was published Atterbury was Dean of Carlisle and one +of the Queen's chaplains. He was later created Bishop of Rochester. There +is no doubt that Atterbury was deeply implicated in the various Jacobite +plots for the bringing in of the Pretender. Under a bill of pains and +penalties he was condemned and deprived of all his ecclesiastical +offices. In 1723 he left England and died in exile in 1732. His body, +however, was privately buried in Westminster Abbey. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: "De Sublimitate," viii. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: For twenty years Atterbury was preacher at the chapel of +Bridewell Hospital. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Daniel Burgess (1645-1713), the son of a Wiltshire +clergyman, was a schoolmaster in Ireland before he became minister to the +Presbyterian meeting-house people in Brydges Street, Covent Garden. A +chapel was built for him in New Court, Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn, and +this was destroyed during the Sacheverell riots in 1710. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Dr. Joseph Trapp (1679-1747), professor of poetry at Oxford, +where he published his "Praelectiones Poeticae" (1711-15), He assisted +Sacheverell and became a strong partisan of the High Church party. +Swift thought very little of him. To Stella he writes, he is "a sort of +pretender to wit, a second-rate pamphleteer for the cause, whom they +pay by sending him to Ireland" (January 7th, 1710/1, see vol. ii., p. +96). This sending to Ireland refers to his chaplaincy to Sir Constantine +Phipps, Lord Chancellor of Ireland (1710-12). On July 17th, 1712, +Swift again speaks of him to Stella: "I have made Trap chaplain to +Lord Bolingbroke, and he is mighty happy and thankful for it" (_ibid_., +p. 379). Trapp afterwards held several preferments in and near +London. [T.S.]] + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 67. + +FROM SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10. TO TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13. 1709. + +_From my own Apartment, September_ 12. + +No man can conceive, till he comes to try it, how great a pain it is to +be a public-spirited person. I am sure I am unable to express to the +world, how much anxiety I have suffered, to see of how little benefit my +Lucubrations have been to my fellow-subjects. Men will go on in their +own way in spite of all my labour. I gave Mr. Didapper a private +reprimand for wearing red-heeled shoes, and at the same time was so +indulgent as to connive at him for fourteen days, because I would give +him the wearing of them out; but after all this I am informed, he +appeared yesterday with a new pair of the same sort. I have no better +success with Mr. Whatdee'call[1] as to his buttons: Stentor[2] still +roars; and box and dice rattle as loud as they did before I writ +against them. Partridge[3] walks about at noon-day, and Aesculapius[4] +thinks of adding a new lace to his livery. However, I must still go on in +laying these enormities before men's eyes, and let them answer for going +on in their practice.[5] My province is much larger than at first sight +men would imagine, and I shall lose no part of my jurisdiction, which +extends not only to futurity, but also is retrospect to things past; and +the behaviour of persons who have long ago acted their parts, is as much +liable to my examination, as that of my own contemporaries. + +In order to put the whole race of mankind in their proper distinctions, +according to the opinion their cohabitants conceived of them, I have with +very much care, and depth of meditation, thought fit to erect a Chamber +of Fame, and established certain rules, which are to be observed in +admitting members into this illustrious society. In this Chamber of Fame +there are to be three tables, but of different lengths; the first is to +contain exactly twelve persons; the second, twenty; the third, an +hundred. This is reckoned to be the full number of those who have any +competent share of fame. At the first of these tables are to be placed +in their order the twelve most famous persons in the world, not with +regard to the things they are famous for, but according to the degree of +their fame, whether in valour, wit, or learning. Thus if a scholar be +more famous than a soldier, he is to sit above him. Neither must any +preference be given to virtue, if the person be not equally famous. When +the first table is filled, the next in renown must be seated at the +second, and so on in like manner to the number of twenty; as also in the +same order at the third, which is to hold an hundred. At these tables no +regard is to be had to seniority: for if Julius Caesar shall be judged +more famous than Romulus and Scipio, he must have the precedence. No +person who has not been dead an hundred years, must be offered to a place +at any of these tables: and because this is altogether a lay society, and +that sacred persons move upon greater motives than that of fame, no +persons celebrated in Holy Writ, or any ecclesiastical men whatsoever, +are to be introduced here. + +At the lower end of the room is to be a side-table for persons of great +fame, but dubious existence, such as Hercules, Theseus, Aeneas, Achilles, +Hector, and others. But because it is apprehended, that there may be +great contention about precedence, the proposer humbly desires the +opinion of the learned towards his assistance in placing every person +according to his rank, that none may have just occasion of offence. + +The merits of the cause shall be judged by plurality of voices. + +For the more impartial execution of this important affair, it is desired, +that no man will offer his favourite hero, scholar, or poet; and that the +learned will be pleased to send to Mr. Bickerstaff, at Mr. Morphew's near +Stationers' Hall, their several lists for the first table only, and in +the order they would have them placed; after which, the composer will +compare the several lists, and make another for the public, wherein every +name shall be ranked according to the voices it has had. Under this +chamber is to be a dark vault for the same number of persons of evil +fame. + +It is humbly submitted to consideration, whether the project would not be +better, if the persons of true fame meet in a middle room, those of +dubious existence in an upper room, and those of evil fame in a lower +dark room. + +It is to be noted, that no historians are to be admitted at any of these +tables, because they are appointed to conduct the several persons to +their seats, and are to be made use of as ushers to the assemblies. + +I call upon the learned world to send me their assistance towards this +design, it being a matter of too great moment for any one person to +determine. But I do assure them, their lists shall be examined with great +fidelity, and those that are exposed to the public, made with all the +caution imaginable. + +[Footnote 1: "N.B. Mr. How'd'call is desired to leave off those +buttons."--No. 21. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Dr. William Stanley (1647-1731), master of Corpus Christi +College, Cambridge, was Dean of St. Asaph in 1706-31. In No. 54 of "The +Tatler," he is described as a person "accustomed to roar and bellow so +terribly loud in the responses that . . . one of our petty canons, a +punning Cambridge scholar, calls his way of worship a _Bull-offering._" +In the sixty-first number a further reference is made to him: "A person +of eminent wit and piety [Dr. R. South] wrote to Stentor: 'Brother +Stentor,' said he, 'for the repose of the Church, hearken to Bickerstaff; +and consider that, while you are so devout at St. Paul's, we cannot +sleep for you at St. Peter's.'" [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: John Partridge (1644-1715) cobbler, philomath, and quack, +was the author of "Merlinus Liberatus," first issued in 1680. He libelled +his master, John Gadbury, in his "Nebulo Anglicanus" (1693), and +quarrelled with George Parker, a fellow-quack and astrologer. It is of +him that Swift wrote his famous "Predictions" (see vol. i. of this +edition, p. 298), and issued his broadside, concluding with the lines: + + "Here, five feet deep, lies on his back, + A cobler, starmonger, and quack, + Who to the stars in pure good will + Does to his best look upward still: + Weep, all you customers that use + His pills, his almanacks, or shoes." + +In No. 59 of "The Tatler," his death is referred to in harmony with +the tone of Swift's fun: "The late Partridge, who still denies his +death. I am informed indeed by several that he walks." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The famous Dr. John Radcliffe (1650-1714) who refused the +appointment of physician to King William III., and offended Anne by his +churlish disregard of her requests to attend on her. He fell in love +with a Miss Tempest, one of Queen Anne's maids of honour. In the 44th +number of "The Tatler" Steele ridicules this attachment by making him +address his mistress in the following words: "O fair! for thee I sit +amidst a crowd of painted deities on my chariot, buttoned in gold, +clasped in gold, without having any value for that beloved metal, but as +it adorns the person and laces the hat of thy dying lover." Radcliffe +attended Swift for his dizziness, but that did not prevent the latter +from referring to him as "that puppy," in writing to Stella, for +neglecting to attend to Harley's wound. He seems to have had a high +standing for skill as a physician, and probably on that account gave +himself airs. It is told of him that "during a long attendance in the +family of a particular friend, he regularly refused the fee pressed upon +him at each visit. At length, when the cure was performed, and the +doctor about to give up attendance, the convalescent patient again +proffered him a purse containing the fees for every day's visit. The +doctor eyed it some time in silence, and at length extended his hand, +exclaiming, 'Singly, I could have refused them for ever; but altogether +they are irresistible.'" Radcliffe died at Carshalton in 1714. From his +bequests were founded the Radcliffe Infirmary and Observatory at Oxford. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Scott omits, from his edition, the whole of this paragraph +up to this point. [T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 68. + +FROM TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13. TO THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15. 1709. + +_From my own Apartment, September_ 14. + +The progress of our endeavours will of necessity be very much +interrupted, except the learned world will please to send their lists to +the Chamber of Fame with all expedition. There is nothing can so much +contribute to create a noble emulation in our youth, as the honourable +mention of such whose actions have outlived the injuries of time, and +recommended themselves so far to the world, that it is become learning to +know the least circumstance of their affairs. It is a great incentive to +see, that some men have raised themselves so highly above their +fellow-creatures; that the lives of ordinary men are spent in inquiries +after the particular actions of the most illustrious. True it is, that +without this impulse to fame and reputation, our industry would stagnate, +and that lively desire of pleasing each other die away. This opinion was +so established in the heathen world, that their sense of living appeared +insipid, except their being was enlivened with a consciousness, that they +were esteemed by the rest of the world. + +Upon examining the proportion of men's fame for my table of twelve, I +thought it no ill way, since I had laid it down for a rule, that they +were to be ranked simply as they were famous, without regard to their +virtue, to ask my sister Jenny's advice, and particularly mentioned to +her the name of Aristotle. She immediately told me, he was a very great +scholar, and that she had read him at the boarding-school. She certainly +means a trifle sold by the hawkers, called, "Aristotle's Problems." [1] +But this raised a great scruple in me, whether a fame increased by +imposition of others is to be added to his account, or that these +excrescencies, which grow out of his real reputation, and give +encouragement to others to pass things under the covert of his name, +should be considered in giving him his seat in the Chamber? This +punctilio is referred to the learned. In the mean time, so ill-natured +are mankind, that I believe I have names already sent me sufficient to +fill up my lists for the dark room, and every one is apt enough to send +in their accounts of ill deservers. This malevolence does not proceed +from a real dislike of virtue, but a diabolical prejudice against it, +which makes men willing to destroy what they care not to imitate. Thus +you see the greatest characters among your acquaintance, and those you +live with, are traduced by all below them in virtue, who never mention +them but with an exception. However, I believe I shall not give the world +much trouble about filling my tables for those of evil fame, for I have +some thoughts of clapping up the sharpers there as fast as I can lay hold +of them. + +At present, I am employed in looking over the several notices which I +have received of their manner of dexterity, and the way at dice of making +all _rugg_, as the cant is. The whole art of securing a die has lately +been sent me by a person who was of the fraternity, but is disabled by +the loss of a finger, by which means he cannot, as he used to do, secure +a die. But I am very much at a loss how to call some of the fair sex, who +are accomplices with the Knights of Industry; for my metaphorical dogs[2] +are easily enough understood; but the feminine gender of dogs has so +harsh a sound, that we know not how to name it. But I am credibly +informed, that there are female dogs as voracious as the males, +and make advances to young fellows, without any other design but coming +to a familiarity with their purses. I have also long lists of persons of +condition, who are certainly of the same regiment with these banditti, +and instrumental to their cheats upon undiscerning men of their own rank. +These add their good reputation to carry on the impostures of those, +whose very names would otherwise be defence enough against falling into +their hands. But for the honour of our nation, these shall be +unmentioned, provided we hear no more of such practices, and that they +shall not from henceforward suffer the society of such, as they know to +be the common enemies of order, discipline, and virtue. If it prove that +they go on in encouraging them, they must be proceeded against according +to severest rules of history, where all is to be laid before the world +with impartiality, and without respect to persons. + +"So let the stricken deer go weep."[3] + +[Footnote 1: This was not a translation of Aristotle's "Problemata," but +an indecent pamphlet with that title. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: In the 62nd number of "The Tatler" Steele wrote a paper +comparing some of the pests of society, such as the gamblers, to dogs, +and said: "It is humbly proposed that they may be all together +transported to America, where the dogs are few, and the wild beasts +many." Scott notes that when one of the fraternity referred to threatened +Steele with personal vengeance, Lord Forbes silenced him with these +words: "You will find it safer, sir, in this country, to cut a purse than +to cut a throat." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "Why, let the stricken deer go weep."--_Hamlet_, iii. 2. +[T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 70. + +FROM SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17. TO TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20. 1709. + +"SIR,[1] + +"I read with great pleasure in the _Tatler_[2] of Saturday last the +conversation upon eloquence; permit me to hint to you one thing the great +Roman orator observes upon this subject, _Caput enim arbitrabatur +oratoris_, (he quotes Menedemus[3] an Athenian) _ut ipsis apud quos +ageret talis qualem ipse optaret videretur, id fieri vitae dignitate_.[4] +It is the first rule, in oratory, that a man must appear such as he would +persuade others to be, and that can be accomplished only by the force of +his life. I believe it might be of great service to let our public +orators know, that an unnatural gravity, or an unbecoming levity in their +behaviour out of the pulpit, will take very much from the force of their +eloquence in it. Excuse another scrap of Latin; it is from one of the +Fathers: I think it will appear a just observation to all, as it may have +authority with some; _Qui autem docent tantum, nec faciunt, ipsi +praeceptis suis detrahunt pondus; Quis enim obtemperet, cum ipsi +praeceptores doceant non obtemperare?_[5] I am, + +"SIR, + +"Your humble servant, + +"JONATHAN ROSEHAT. + +"P.S. You were complaining in that paper, that the clergy of +Great-Britain had not yet learned to speak; a very great defect indeed; +and therefore I shall think myself a well-deserver of the church in +recommending all the dumb clergy to the famous speaking doctor[6] at +Kensington. This ingenious gentleman, out of compassion to those of a bad +utterance, has placed his whole study in the new-modelling the organs of +voice; which art he has so far advanced, as to be able even to make a +good orator of a pair of bellows. He lately exhibited a specimen of his +skill in this way, of which I was informed by the worthy gentlemen then +present, who were at once delighted and amazed to hear an instrument of +so simple an organization use an exact articulation of words, a just +cadency in its sentences, and a wonderful pathos in its pronunciation; +not that he designs to expatiate in this practice, because he cannot (as +he says) apprehend what use it may be of to mankind, whose benefit he +aims at in a more particular manner: and for the same reason, he will +never more instruct the feathered kind, the parrot having been his last +scholar in that way. He has a wonderful faculty in making and mending +echoes, and this he will perform at any time for the use of the solitary +in the country, being a man born for universal good, and for that reason +recommended to your patronage by, Sir, yours, + +"PHILALETHES." + +[Footnote 1: This letter appears under the heading: "From my own +Apartment, September 19." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: See "The Tatler," No. 66, _ante_. [T. S,]] + +[Footnote 3: An Athenian rhetorician who died in Rome about 100 B.C. [T. +S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The quotation is not quite correctly given. It is taken from +Cicero, _De Oratore_, i. 19 (87). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: "But those who teach, and do not live in accordance with +their own instructions, take away all the weight from their teaching; for +who will comply with their precepts, when the teachers themselves teach +us not to obey them?" [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: James Ford proposed to cure stammerers and even restore +speech to mutes. In the second volume of "The British Apollo" he is +referred to as having "not only recovered several who stammered to +a regular speech, but also brought the deaf and dumb to speak." [T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 71. + +FROM TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20. TO THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22. 1709. + +"'SQUIRE BICKERSTAFF,[1] + +"Finding your advice and censure to have a good effect, I desire your +admonition to our vicar and schoolmaster, who in his preaching to his +auditors, stretches his jaws so wide, that instead of instructing youth, +it rather frightens them: likewise in reading prayers, he has such a +careless loll, that people are justly offended at his irreverent posture; +besides the extraordinary charge they are put to in sending their +children to dance, to bring them off of those ill gestures. Another evil +faculty he has, in making the bowling-green his daily residence, instead +of his church, where his curate reads prayers every day. If the weather +is fair, his time is spent in visiting; if cold or wet, in bed, or at +least at home, though within 100 yards of the church. These, out of many +such irregular practices, I write for his reclamation: but two or three +things more before I conclude; to wit, that generally when his curate +preaches in the afternoon, he sleeps sotting in the desk on a hassock. +With all this, he is so extremely proud, that he will go but once to the +sick, except they return his visit." + +[Footnote 1: This letter is dated as from Will's Coffee-house, September +20. [T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 230. + +FROM TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26. TO THURSDAY SEPTEMBER +28. 1710. + +_From my own Apartment, September 27._[1] + +The following letter has laid before me many great and manifest evils in +the world of letters[2] which I had overlooked; but they open to me a +very busy scene, and it will require no small care and application to +amend errors which are become so universal. The affectation of politeness +is exposed in this epistle with a great deal of wit and discernment; so +that whatever discourses I may fall into hereafter upon the subjects the +writer treats of, I shall at present lay the matter before the World +without the least alteration from the words of my correspondent. + + +"TO ISAAC BICKERSTAFF ESQ; + +"SIR, + +"There are some abuses among us of great consequence, the reformation of +which is properly your province, though, as far as I have been conversant +in your papers, you have not yet considered them. These are, the +deplorable ignorance that for some years hath reigned among our English +writers, the great depravity of our taste, and the continual corruption +of our style. I say nothing here of those who handle particular sciences, +divinity, law, physic, and the like; I mean, the traders in history and +politics, and the _belles lettres;_ together with those by whom books +are not translated, but (as the common expressions are) 'done out of +French, Latin,' or other language, and 'made English.' I cannot but +observe to you, that till of late years a Grub-Street book was always +bound in sheepskin, with suitable print and paper, the price never above +a shilling, and taken off wholly by common tradesmen, or country pedlars, +but now they appear in all sizes and shapes, and in all places. They are +handed about from lapfuls in every coffeehouse to persons of quality, are +shewn in Westminster-Hall and the Court of Requests. You may see them +gilt, and in royal paper, of five or six hundred pages, and rated +accordingly. I would engage to furnish you with a catalogue of English +books published within the compass of seven years past, which at the +first hand would cost you a hundred pounds, wherein you shall not be able +to find ten lines together of common grammar or common sense. + +"These two evils, ignorance and want of taste, have produced a third; I +mean, the continual corruption of our English tongue, which, without some +timely remedy, will suffer more by the false refinements of twenty years +past, than it hath been improved in the foregoing hundred: And this is +what I design chiefly to enlarge upon, leaving the former evils to your +animadversion. + +"But instead of giving you a list of the late refinements crept into our +language, I here send you the copy of a letter I received some time ago +from a most accomplished person in this way of writing, upon which I +shall make some remarks. It is in these terms. + +"'SIR, + +"'I _couldn't_ get the things you sent for all _about Town._--I _thôt_ to +_ha'_ come down myself, and then _I'd ha' brôut 'umn;_ but I _han't +don't,_ and I believe I _can't do't,_ that's _pozz.--Tom[3]_ begins to +_gi'mself_ airs_ because _he's_ going with the _plenipo's._--'Tis said, +the _French_ King will _bamboozl us agen,_ which _causes many +speculations_. The _Jacks,_ and others of that _kidney_, are very +_uppish_, and _alert upon't_, as you may see by their _phizz's_.--_Will +Hazzard_ has got the _hipps_, having lost _to the tune of_ five hundr'd +pound, _thô_ he understands play very well, _nobody better_. He has +promis't me upon _rep_, to leave off play; but you know 'tis a weakness +_he's_ too apt to _give into, thô_ he has as much wit as any man, +_nobody more._ He has lain _incog_ ever since.--The _mobb's_ very quiet +with us now.--I believe you _thôt I bantered_ you in my last like a +_country put._--I _sha'n't_ leave Town this month, _&c_.' + +"This letter is in every point an admirable pattern of the present polite +way of writing; nor is it of less authority for being an epistle. You may +gather every flower in it, with a thousand more of equal sweetness, from +the books, pamphlets, and single papers, offered us every day in the +coffeehouses: And these are the beauties introduced to supply the want +of wit, sense, humour, and learning, which formerly were looked upon as +qualifications for a writer. If a man of wit, who died forty years ago, +were to rise from the grave on purpose, how would he be able to read this +letter? And after he had gone through that difficulty, how would he be +able to understand it? The first thing that strikes your eye is the +_breaks_ at the end of almost every sentence; of which I know not the +use, only that it is a refinement, and very frequently practised. Then +you will observe the abbreviations and elisions, by which consonants of +most obdurate sound are joined together, without one softening vowel to +intervene; and all this only to make one syllable of two, directly +contrary to the example of the Greeks and Romans; altogether of the +Gothic strain, and a natural tendency towards relapsing into barbarity, +which delights in monosyllables, and uniting of mute consonants; as it is +observable in all the Northern languages. And this is still more visible +in the next refinement, which consists in pronouncing the first syllable +in a word that has many, and dismissing the rest; such as _phizz, hipps, +mobb,[4] poz., rep._ and many more; when we are already overloaded with +monosyllables, which are the disgrace of our language. Thus we cram one +syllable, and cut off the rest; as the owl fattened her mice, after she +had bit off their legs to prevent their running away; and if ours be the +same reason for maiming words, it will certainly answer the end; for I am +sure no other Nation will desire to borrow them. Some words are hitherto +but fairly split, and therefore only in their way to perfection, as +_incog_ and _plenipo_: But in a short time it is to be hoped they will be +further docked to _inc_ and _plen_. This reflection has made me of late +years very impatient for a peace, which I believe would save the lives of +many brave words, as well as men. The war has introduced abundance of +polysyllables, which will never be able to live many more campaigns; +_Speculations, operations, preliminaries, ambassadors, palisadoes, +communication, circumvallation, battalions_, as numerous as they are, if +they attack us too frequently in our coffeehouses, we shall certainly put +them to flight, and cut off the rear. + +"The third refinement observable in the letter I send you, consists in +the choice of certain words invented by some _pretty fellows_; such as +_banter, bamboozle, country put_, and _kidney_, as it is there applied; +some of which are now struggling for the vogue, and others are in +possession of it. I have done my utmost for some years past to stop the +progress of _mobb_ and _banter_, but have been plainly borne down +by numbers, and betrayed by those who promised to assist me. + +"In the last place, you are to take notice of certain choice phrases +scattered through the letter; some of them tolerable enough, till they +were worn to rags by servile imitators. You might easily find them, +though they were not in a different print, and therefore I need not +disturb them. + +"These are the false refinements in our style which you ought to correct: +First, by argument and fair means; but if those fail, I think you are to +make use of your authority as Censor, and by an annual _index +expurgatorius_ expunge all words and phrases that are offensive to good +sense, and condemn those barbarous mutilations of vowels and syllables. +In this last point the usual pretence is, that they spell as they speak; +a noble standard for language! to depend upon the caprice of every +coxcomb, who, because words are the clothing of our thoughts, cuts them +out, and shapes them as he pleases, and changes them oftener than his +dress. I believe, all reasonable people would be content that such +refiners were more sparing in their words, and liberal in their syllables: +And upon this head I should be glad you would bestow some advice upon +several young readers in our churches, who coming up from the University, +full fraught with admiration of our Town politeness, will needs correct +the style of their Prayer-Books. In reading the absolution, they are very +careful to say "_Pardons and absolves;"_ and in the Prayer for the Royal +Family, it must be, _endue'um, enrich'um, prosper'um,_ and _bring'um_.[5] +Then in their sermons they use all the modern terms of art, _sham, +banter, mob, bubble, bully, cutting shuffling,_ and _palming_, all which, +and many more of the like stamp, as I have heard them often in the pulpit +from such young sophisters, so I have read them in some of those sermons +that have made most noise of late. The design, it seems, is to avoid the +dreadful imputation of pedantry, to shew us, that they know the Town, +understand men and manners, and have not been poring upon old +unfashionable books in the University. + +"I should be glad to see you the instrument of introducing into our style +that simplicity which is the best and truest ornament of most things in +life, which the politer ages always aimed at in their building and dress, +_(simplex munditiis)_ as well as their productions of wit. It is +manifest, that all new, affected modes of speech, whether borrowed from +the Court, the Town, or the theatre, are the first perishing parts in any +language, and, as I could prove by many hundred instances, have been so +in ours. The writings of Hooker,[6] who was a country clergyman, and of +Parsons[7] the Jesuit, both in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, are in a +style that, with very few allowances, would not offend any present +reader; much more clear and intelligible than those of Sir H. +Wotton,[8]Sir Robert Naunton,[9] Osborn,[10] Daniel[11] the historian, +and several others who writ later; but being men of the Court, and +affecting the phrases then in fashion, they are often either not to be +understood, or appear perfectly ridiculous. + +"What remedies are to be applied to these evils I have not room to +consider, having, I fear, already taken up most of your paper. Besides, I +think it is our office only to represent abuses, and yours to redress +them. + +"I am, with great respect, +Sir, + +"Your, &c." + + +[Footnote 1: In his "Journal to Stella," Swift writes, under date, +September 18th, 1710: "Came to town; got home early, and began a letter +to 'The Tatler' about the corruptions of style and writing, &c." On +September 23rd, he writes again: "I have sent a long letter to +Bickerstaff; let the Bp. of Clogher smoke if he can." Again on September +29th: "I made a 'Tatler' since I came; guess which it is, and whether the +Bp. Of Clogher smokes it." On October 1st, he asks Stella: "Have you +smoked the 'Tatler' that I writ? It is much liked here, and I think +it a pure one." On the 14th of the same month he refers still again to +the paper which had evidently pleased him: "The Bp. of Clogher has +smoked my 'Tatler' about shortening of words," etc. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Compare Swift's "Proposal for Correcting the English +Tongue." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Thomas Harley, cousin of the first Earl of Oxford. He was +Secretary of the Treasury, and afterwards minister at Hanover. He +died in 1737. (T.S.)] + +[Footnote 4: It is interesting to note that Swift, who insisted that the +word "mob" should never be used for "rabble," wrote "mob" in the 15th +number of "The Examiner," and in Faulkner's reprint of 1741 the +word was changed to "rabble." Scott notes: "The Dean carried on +the war against the word 'mob' to the very last. A lady who died in +1788, and was well known to Swift, used to say that the greatest scrape +into which she got with him was by using the word 'mob.' 'Why do +you say that?' said he, in a passion; 'never let me hear you say that +word again.' 'Why, sir,' said she, 'what am I to say?' 'The "rabble," +to be sure,' answered he." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5.] See Swift's Letter to the Earl of Pembroke (Scott's +edition, vol. xv., p. 350) where a little more fun is poked at the Bishop +of Clogher, in the same strain. [T.S.] + +[Footnote 6: The great Richard Hooker (1554-1600) author of the +"Ecclesiastical Polity." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: Robert Parsons (1546-1610) the famous Jesuit missionary, and +the author of a large number of works including the "Conference about the +next Succession" (1594). Several of his books were privately printed +by him at a secret printing press, which he set up in East Ham with +the assistance of the poet Campion. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: Sir Henry Wotton (1568-1639) author of "Reliquiae +Wottonianae," and the friend of John Donne. He was Provost of Eton from +1624 until his death, and distinguished himself as a diplomatist. To him +is ascribed the saying: "An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie +abroad for the good of his country." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: Sir Robert Naunton (1563-1635), Secretary of State in 1618, +and author of "Fragmenta Regalia" published in 1641. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: Francis Osborne (1593-1659) wrote "Advice to a Son" +(1656-58), a work that gave him a great reputation. This work was issued +with his other writings in a collected form in 1673. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: Samuel Daniel (1562-1619) is said to have succeeded Spenser +as poet-laureate. In addition to his plays and poems (including a history +of the Civil Wars in eight books, 1595-1609) he wrote a History of +England, in two parts (1612-1617). [T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 258. + +FROM THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30. TO SATURDAY DECEMBER 2. 1710. + +To ISAAC BICKERSTAFF ESQ; + +Nov. 22. 1710.[1] + +SIR, + +Dining yesterday with Mr. _South-British,_ and Mr. _William North-Briton_ +two gentlemen, who, before you ordered it otherwise,[2] were known by the +names of Mr. _English_ and Mr. _William Scott_. Among other things, the +maid of the house (who in her time I believe may have been a +_North-British_ warming-pan) brought us up a dish of _North-British_ +collops. We liked our entertainment very well, only we observed the +table-cloth, being not so fine as we could have wished, was +_North-British_ cloth: But the worst of it was, we were disturbed all +dinner-time by the noise of the children, who were playing in the paved +court at _North-British_ hoppers; so we paid our _North-Briton_[3] sooner +than we designed, and took coach to _North-Britain_ yard, about which +place most of us live. We had indeed gone a-foot, only we were under some +apprehensions lest a _North-British_ mist should wet a _South-British_ +man to the skin. + +We think this matter properly expressed, according to the accuracy of the +new style settled by you in one of your late papers. You will please to +give your opinion upon it to, + +Sir, +Your most humble servants, + +J.S. +M.P. +N.R. + +[Footnote 1: This letter appeared originally under the heading: "From my +own Apartment, December I." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: In his "Journal to Stella" (December 2, 1710) Swift +writes: "Steele, the rogue, has done the impudentest thing in the world. +He said something in a 'Tatler,' that we ought to use the word Great +Britain, and not England, in common conversation, as, the finest lady +in Great Britain, &c. Upon this Rowe, Prior, and I, sent him a letter, +turning this into ridicule. He has to-day printed the letter, and signed +it J.S., M.P. and N.R. the first letters of our names. Congreve +told me to-day, he smoked it immediately." The passage referred to +by Swift, was a letter, signed Scoto-Britannus, printed in No. 241 of +"The Tatler," in which it was objected that a gentleman ended every +sentence with the words, "the best of any man in England," and called +upon him to "mend his phrase, and be hereafter the wisest of any man +in Great Britain." Writing to Alderman Barber, under date August +8, 1738, Swift remarks: "The modern phrase 'Great Britain' is +only to distinguish it from Little Britain where old clothes and old +books are to be bought and sold." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: We paid our _scot; i.e.,_ our share of the reckoning. +[T.S.]] + + +NOTE. + +With No. 271 Steele brought his venture to a close. It was issued +on January 2nd, 1710. "I am now," he wrote, "come to the end of my +ambition in this matter, and have nothing further to say to the world +under the character of Isaac Bickerstaff." His ostensible reason for +thus terminating so successful an undertaking he put down to the fact +that Bickerstaff was no longer a disguise, and that he could not hope to +have the same influence when it was known who it was that led the +movement. Another reason, however, suggests itself in Steele's +recognition of Harley's kindness in not depriving him of his +Commissionership of Stamps, as well as of his Gazetteership for the +satires Steele permitted to appear against Harley in "The Tatler." That +Steele did have something further to say to the world may be gathered +from the fact that two months after "The Tatler's" decease he started +"The Spectator." + +But "The Tatler" was too good a thing for the publishers to permit to +die. Two days after the issue of No. 271, appeared a No. 272, with the +imprint of John Baker, of "the Black Boy at Paternoster Row." It extolled +the "Character of Richard Steele, alias Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq.," and +promised to continue in his footsteps, and be delivered regularly to its +subscribers "at 5 in the morning." On January 6th, 1710, No. 273 was +published by "Isaac Bickerstaff, Jr." John Baker, however, was not to +have it all his own way, for on January 6th, 1710, Morphew brought out a +number--not a double number, although called "Numbers 272, 273"--and +continued it without intermission on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, +until May 19th, when the final number, No. 330, was issued. The date 1711 +was first used on March 31st. Meanwhile, on January 13th, A. Baldwin +issued a No. 1 of a "Tatler," in which the public were informed that +Isaac Bickerstaff had had no intention to discontinue the paper, but +would continue to publish it every Tuesday and Saturday. This was the new +"Tatler" in which Swift was interesting himself on behalf of William +Harrison. Writing to Stella, under date January 11th, he says: "I am +setting up a new 'Tatler,' little Harrison, whom I have mentioned to you. +Others have put him on it, and I encourage him; and he was with me this +morning and evening, showing me his first, which comes out on Saturday. I +doubt he will not succeed, for I do not much approve his manner; but the +scheme is Mr. Secretary St. John's and mine, and would have done well +enough in good hands." When the paper came out he wrote again: "There is +not much in it, but I hope he will mend. You must understand that, upon +Steele's leaving off, there were two or three scrub Tatlers came out, and +one of them holds on still, and to-day it advertised against Harrison's; +and so there must be disputes which are genuine, like the strops for +razors. I am afraid the little toad has not the true vein for it." +Apparently, he hadn't, for later, referring to another number, Swift +writes: "The jackanapes wants a right taste: I doubt he won't do." + +With all Swift's assistance, Harrison did not hold out. He quarrelled +with Baldwin, and went to Morphew and Lillie, the publishers of the +original "Tatler." Only six numbers bear Baldwin's imprint, namely, Nos. +1-6, dated respectively, January 13th, January 16th, January 20th, +January 23rd, January 27th, and February 1st. Harrison's first number, +under Morphew, was called No. 285 (February 3rd). For a very exhaustive +and careful research into the publications of "The Tatler" and its +imitators the reader is referred to Aitken's "Life of Sir Richard +Steele" (2 vols., 1889). + +William Harrison (1685-1713) was educated at Winchester College and New +College, Oxford. He obtained Addison's favour by his acquaintance with +"polite literature," and was introduced by him to Swift. Swift took to +him very kindly, spoke of the young fellow "we are all fond of," thought +him "a pretty little fellow, with a great deal of wit, good sense, and +good nature," and interested himself in him to the extent that through +him St. John got Lord Raby to take him to The Hague as his secretary. He +returned with the Barrier Treaty, but without a penny. He had not been +paid any of his salary. Swift heard of this, and immediately went about +collecting a sum of money for his assistance. When, however, he called +with the money, at Harrison's lodgings in Knightsbridge, he found the +poor fellow had died an hour before. + +These contributions to the new "Tatler" are printed from the original +periodical issue with the exception of No. 5, which is taken from the +second edition of the reprint (1720), as no copy of the original issue +has been met with. + +[T.S.] + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. I. + +_Quis ego sum saltem, si non sum Sosia? Te interrogo._ +PLAUT. AMPHITR.[1] + +SATURDAY, JANUARY 13. 1711.[2] + +It is impossible, perhaps, for the best and wisest amongst us, to keep so +constant a guard upon our temper, but that we may at one time or other +lie open to the strokes of Fortune, and such incidents as we cannot +foresee. With sentiments of this kind I came home to my lodgings last +night, much fatigued with a long and sudden journey from the country, and +full of the ungrateful occasion of it. It was natural for me to have +immediate recourse to my pen and ink; but before I would offer to make +use of them, I resolved deliberately to tell over a hundred, and when I +came to the end of that sum, I found it more advisable to defer drawing +up my intended remonstrance, till I had slept soundly on my resentments. +Without any other preface than this, I shall give the world a fair +account of the treatment I have lately met with, and leave them to judge, +whether the uneasiness I have suffered be inconsistent with the character +I have generally pretended to. About three weeks since, I received an +invitation from a kinsman in Staffordshire, to spend my Christmas in +those parts. Upon taking leave of Mr. Morphew, I put as many papers into +his hands as would serve till my return, and charged him at parting to be +very punctual with the town. In what manner he and Mr. Lillie have been +tampered with since, I cannot say; they have given me my revenge, if I +desired any, by allowing their names to an idle paper, that in all human +probability cannot live a fortnight to an end. Myself, and the family I +was with, were in the midst of gaiety, and a plentiful entertainment, +when I received a letter from my sister Jenny, who, after mentioning some +little affairs I had intrusted to her, goes on thus:--"The inclosed,[2] I +believe, will give you some surprise, as it has already astonished every +body here: Who Mr. Steele is, that subscribes it, I do not know, any more +than I can comprehend what could induce him to it. Morphew and Lillie, I +am told, are both in the secret. I shall not presume to instruct you, +but hope you will use some means to disappoint the ill nature of those +who are taking pains to deprive the world of one of its most reasonable +entertainments. I am, &c." + +I am to thank my sister for her compliment; but be that as it will, I +shall not easily be discouraged from my former undertaking. In pursuance +of it, I was obliged upon this notice to take places in the coach for +myself and my maid with the utmost expedition, lest I should, in a short +time, be rallied out of my existence, as some people will needs fancy Mr. +Partridge has been, and the real Isaac Bickerstaff have passed for a +creature of Mr. Steele's imagination. This illusion might have hoped for +some tolerable success, if I had not more than once produced my person in +a crowded theatre; and such a person as Mr. Steele, if I am not +misinformed in the gentleman, would hardly think it an advantage to own, +though I should throw him in all the little honour I have gained by my +"Lucubrations." I may be allowed, perhaps, to understand pleasantry as +well as other men, and can (in the usual phrase) take a jest without +being angry; but I appeal to the world, whether the gentleman has not +carried it too far, and whether he ought not to make a public +recantation, if the credulity of some unthinking people should force me +to insist upon it. The following letter is just come to hand, and I think +it not improper to be inserted in this paper. + +"TO ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, ESQ; + +"Sir, + +"I am extremely glad to hear you are come to town, for in your absence we +were all mightily surprised with an unaccountable paper, signed 'Richard +Steele,' who is esteemed by those that know him, to be a man of wit and +honour; and therefore we took it either to be a counterfeit, or a perfect +Christmas frolic of that ingenious gentleman. But then, your paper +ceasing immediately after, we were at a loss what to think: If you were +weary of the work you had so long carried on, and had given this Mr. +Steele orders to signify so to the public, he should have said it in +plain terms; but as that paper is worded, one would be apt to judge, that +he had a mind to persuade the town that there was some analogy between +Isaac Bickerstaff and him. Possibly there may be a secret in this which I +cannot enter into; but I flatter my self that you never had any thoughts +of giving over your labours for the benefit of mankind, when you cannot +but know how many subjects are yet unexhausted, and how many others, as +being less obvious, are wholly untouched. I dare promise, not only for my +self, but many other abler friends, that we shall still continue to +furnish you with hints on all proper occasions, which is all your genius +requires. I think, by the way, you cannot in honour have any more to do +with Morphew and Lillie, who have gone beyond the ordinary pitch of +assurance, and transgressed the very letter of the proverb, by +endeavouring to cheat you of your Christian and surname too. Wishing you, +Sir, long to live for our instruction and diversion, and to the defeating +of all impostors, I remain, + +"Your most obedient humble servant, + +"and affectionate kinsman, + +"HUMPHRY WAGSTAFF." + +[Footnote 1: _Amphitryon_, I. i 282. "Who am I, at all events, if I am +not Sosia? I ask you _that_."--H.T. RILEY. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: _I.e._ 1710-11. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: This, no doubt, was Steele's last "Tatler," No. 271. [T. +S.]] + + +THE TATLER, No. 2. + +_Alios viri reverentia, vultusque ad continendum populum mire formatus, +alios etiam, quibus ipse interesse non potuit, vis scribendi tamen, +et magni nominis autoritas pervicere._--TULL. EPIST.[1] + +FROM SATURD. JAN. 13. TO TUESDAY JAN, l6. 1710.[2] + + +I remember Ménage,[3] tells a story of Monsieur Racan, who had appointed +a day and hour to meet a certain lady of great wit whom he had never +seen, in order to make an acquaintance between them. "Two of Racan's +friends, who had heard of the appointment, resolved to play him a trick. +The first went to the lady two hours before the time, said his name was +Racan, and talked with her an hour; they were both mightily pleased, +began a great friendship, and parted with much satisfaction. A few +minutes after comes the second, and sends up the same name; the lady +wonders at the meaning, and tells him, Mr. Racan had just left her. The +gentleman says it was some rascally impostor, and that he had been +frequently used in that manner. The lady is convinced, and they laugh at +the oddness of the adventure. She now calls to mind several passages, +which confirm her that the former was a cheat. He appoints a second +meeting, and takes his leave. He was no sooner gone, but the true Racan +comes to the door, and desires, under that name, to see the lady. She was +out of all patience, sends for him up, rates him for an impostor, and, +after a thousand injuries, flings a slipper at his head. It was +impossible to pacify or disabuse her; he was forced to retire, and it was +not without some time, and the intervention of friends, that they could +come to an _éclaircissement_." This, as I take it, is exactly the case +with Mr. S[tee]le, the pretended "TATLER" from Morphew, and myself, only +(I presume) the world will be sooner undeceived than the lady in Ménage. +The very day my last paper came out, my printer brought me another of the +same date, called "The Tatler," by Isaac Bickerstaff Esq; and, which was +still more pleasant, with an advertisement[4] at the end, calling me the +"_Female_ TATLER": it is not enough to rob me of my name, but now they +must impose a sex on me, when my years have long since determined me to +be of none at all. There is only one thing wanting in the operation, that +they would renew my age, and then I will heartily forgive them all the +rest. In the mean time, whatever uneasiness I have suffered from the +little malice of these men, and my retirement in the country, the +pleasures I have received from the same occasion, will fairly balance the +account. On the one hand, I have been highly delighted to see my name and +character assumed by the scribblers of the age, in order to recommend +themselves to it; and on the other, to observe the good taste of the +town, in distinguishing and exploding them through every disguise, and +sacrificing their trifles to the supposed _manes_ of Isaac Bickerstaff +Esquire. But the greatest merit of my journey into Staffordshire, is, +that it has opened to me a new fund of unreproved follies and errors that +have hitherto lain out of my view, and, by their situation, escaped my +censure. For, as I have lived generally in town, the images I had of the +country were such only as my senses received very early, and my memory +has since preserved with all the advantages they first appeared in. + +Hence it was that I thought our parish church the noblest structure in +England, and the Squire's Place-House, as we called it, a most +magnificent palace. I had the same opinion of the alms-house in the +churchyard, and of a bridge over the brook that parts our parish from the +next. It was the common vogue of our school, that the master was the best +scholar in Europe, and the usher the second. Not happening to correct +these notions, by comparing them with what I saw when I came into the +world, upon returning back, I began to resume my former imaginations, and +expected all things should appear in the same view as I left them when +I was a boy: but to my utter disappointment I found them wonderfully +shrunk, and lessened almost out of my knowledge. I looked with contempt +on the tribes painted on the church walls, which I once so much admired, +and on the carved chimneypiece in the Squire's Hall. I found my old +master to be a poor ignorant pedant; and, in short, the whole scene to be +extremely changed for the worse. This I could not help mentioning, +because though it be of no consequence in itself, yet it is certain, that +most prejudices are contracted and retained by this narrow way of +thinking, which, in matters of the greatest moment are hardly shook off: +and which we only think true, because we were made to believe so, before +we were capable to distinguish between truth and falsehood. But there was +one prepossession which I confess to have parted with, much to my regret: +I mean the opinion of that native honesty and simplicity of manners, +which I had always imagined to be inherent in country-people. I soon +observed it was with them and us, as they say of animals; That every +species at land has one to resemble it at sea; for it was easy to +discover the seeds and principles of every vice and folly that one meets +with in the more known world, though shooting up in different forms. I +took a fancy out of the several inhabitants round, to furnish the camp, +the bar, and the Exchange, and some certain chocolate and coffeehouses, +with exact parallels to what, in many instances, they already produce. +There was a drunken quarrelsome smith, whom I have a hundred times +fancied at the head of a troop of dragoons. A weaver, within two doors of +my kinsman, was perpetually setting neighbours together by the ears. I +lamented to see how his talents were misplaced, and imagined what a +figure he might make in Westminster-Hall. Goodman Crop of Compton Farm, +wants nothing but a plum and a gold chain to qualify him for the +government of the City. My kinsman's stable-boy was a gibing companion +that would always have his jest. He would often put cow-itch in the +maids' beds, pull stools from under folks, and lay a coal upon their +shoes when they were asleep. He was at last turned off for some notable +piece of roguery, and when I came away, was loitering among the +ale-houses. Bless me, thought I, what a prodigious wit would this have +been with us! I could have matched all the sharpers between St. James's +and Covent Garden, with a notable fellow in the same neighbourhood, +(since hanged for picking pockets at fairs) could he have had the +advantages of their education. So nearly are the corruptions of the +country allied to those of the town, with no further difference than what +is made by another turn of thought and method of living! + +[Footnote 1: "A reverend aspect, and a countenance formed to command, +have power to restrain some people; while others, who pay no regard to +those, are prevailed upon by the dint of writing, and the authority of a +great name." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: _I.e._ 1710-11. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Gilles Ménage (1613-1692). The story is given in "Menagiana" +(vol. ii. pp. 49-51, second edition, 1695). C. Sorel, however, in his +"Francion" (1623) tells a similar story of a poet named Saluste, who +was fooled in like manner. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Morphew's "Tatler" for January 13th, 1710 (No. 276), +contains the following: "Whereas an advertisement was yesterday delivered +out by the author of the late 'Female Tatler,' insinuating, [according to +his custom] that he is Isaac Bickerstaff Esq.; This is to give notice, +that this paper is continued to be sold by John Morphew as formerly," +etc. + +"The Female Tatler, by Mrs. Crackenthorpe, a Lady that knows every thing," +had been begun July 8th, 1709, but was now defunct. [T.S.]] + + +THE TATLER, No. 5. + +----_Laceratque, trahitque_ +_Molle pecus_ VIR.[1] + +FROM TUESDAY JAN. 23. TO SATURDAY JAN. 27. 1710.[2] + + +Amongst other severities I have met with from some critics, the cruellest +for an old man is, that they will not let me be at quiet in my bed, but +pursue me to my very dreams. I must not dream but when they please, nor +upon long continued subjects, however visionary in their own natures; +because there is a manifest moral quite through them, which to produce as +a dream is improbable and unnatural. The pain I might have had from this +objection, is prevented by considering they have missed another, against +which I should have been at a loss to defend myself. They should have +asked me, whether the dreams I publish can properly be called +Lucubrations, which is the name I have given to all my papers, whether in +volumes or half-sheets: so manifest a contradiction _in terminis_, that I +wonder no sophister ever thought of it: But the other is a cavil. I +remember when I was a boy at school, I have often dreamed out the whole +passages of a day; that I rode a journey, baited, supped, went to bed, +and rose the next morning: and I have known young ladies who could dream +a whole contexture of adventures in one night large enough to make a +novel. In youth the imagination is strong, not mixed with cares, nor +tinged with those passions that most disturb and confound it, such as +avarice, ambition, and many others. Now as old men are said to grow +children again, so in this article of dreaming, I am returned to my +childhood. My imagination is at full ease, without care, avarice, or +ambition, to clog it; by which, among many others, I have this advantage +of doubling the small remainder of my time, and living four-and-twenty +hours in the day. However, the dream I am now going to relate, is as wild +as can well be imagined, and adapted to please these refiners upon sleep, +without any moral that I can discover. + +"It happened that my maid left on the table in my bedchamber, one of her +story books (as she calls them) which I took up, and found full of +strange impertinences, fitted to her taste and condition; of poor +servants that came to be ladies, and serving-men of low degree, who +married kings' daughters. Among other things, I met this sage +observation, 'That a lion would never hurt a true virgin.' With this +medley of nonsense in my fancy I went to bed, and dreamed that a friend +waked me in the morning, and proposed for pastime to spend a few hours in +seeing the parish lions, which he had not done since he came to town; and +because they showed but once a week, he would not miss the opportunity. I +said I would humour him; though, to speak the truth, I was not fond of +those cruel spectacles; and if it were not so ancient a custom, founded, +as I had heard, upon the wisest maxims, I should be apt to censure the +inhumanity of those who introduced it." All this will be a riddle to the +waking reader, till I discover the scene my imagination had formed upon +the maxim, "That a lion would never hurt a true virgin." "I dreamed, that +by a law of immemorial time, a he-lion was kept in every parish at the +common charge, and in a place provided, adjoining to the churchyard: +that, before any one of the fair sex was married, if she affirmed herself +to be a virgin, she must on her wedding day, and in her wedding clothes, +perform the ceremony of going alone into the den, and stay an hour with +the lion let loose, and kept fasting four-and-twenty hours on purpose. At +a proper height, above the den, were convenient galleries for the +relations and friends of the young couple, and open to all spectators. No +maiden was forced to offer herself to the lion; but if she refused, it +was a disgrace to marry her, and every one might have liberty of calling +her a whore. And methought it was as usual a diversion to see the parish +lions, as with us to go to a play or an opera. And it was reckoned +convenient to be near the church, either for marrying the virgin if she +escaped the trial, or for burying the bones when the lion had devoured +the rest, as he constantly did." + +To go on therefore with the dream: "We called first (as I remember) to +see St. Dunstan's lion, but we were told they did not shew to-day: From +thence we went to that of Covent-Garden, which, to my great surprise, we +found as lean as a skeleton, when I expected quite the contrary; but the +keeper said it was no wonder at all, because the poor beast had not got +an ounce of woman's flesh since he came into the parish. This amazed me +more than the other, and I was forming to myself a mighty veneration for +the ladies in that quarter of the town, when the keeper went on, and +said, He wondered the parish would be at the charge of maintaining a lion +for nothing. Friend, (said I) do you call it nothing, to justify the +virtue of so many ladies, or has your lion lost his distinguishing +faculty? Can there be anything more for the honour of your parish, than +that all the ladies married in your church were pure virgins? That is +true, (said he) and the doctor knows it to his sorrow; for there has not +been a couple married in our church since his worship has been amongst +us. The virgins hereabouts are too wise to venture the claws of the lion; +and because nobody will marry them, have all entered into vows of +virginity. So that in proportion we have much the largest nunnery in +the whole town. This manner of ladies entering into a vow of virginity, +because they were not virgins, I easily conceived; and my dream told me, +that the whole kingdom was full of nunneries, plentifully stocked from +the same reason. + +"We went to see another lion, where we found much company met in the +gallery; the keeper told us, we should see sport enough, as he called it; +and in a little time, we saw a young beautiful lady put into the den, who +walked up towards the lion with all imaginable security in her +countenance, and looked smiling upon her lover and friends in the +gallery; which I thought nothing extraordinary, because it was never +known that any lion had been mistaken. But, however, we were all +disappointed, for the lion lifted up his right paw, which was the fatal +sign, and advancing forward, seized her by the arm, and began to tear it: +The poor lady gave a terrible shriek, and cried out, 'The lion is just, I +am no true virgin! Oh! Sappho, Sappho.' She could say no more, for the +lion gave her the _coup de grace_, by a squeeze in the throat, and she +expired at his feet. The keeper dragged away her body to feed the animal +when the company was gone, for the parish-lions never used to eat in +public. After a little pause, another lady came on towards the lion in +the same manner as the former; we observed the beast smell her with great +diligence, he scratched both her hands with lifting them to his nose, and +clapping a claw on her bosom, drew blood; however he let her go, and at +the same time turned from her with a sort of contempt, at which she was +not a little mortified, and retired with some confusion to her friends in +the gallery. Methought the whole company immediately understood the +meaning of this, that the easiness of the lady had suffered her to admit +certain imprudent and dangerous familiarities, bordering too much upon +what is criminal; neither was it sure whether the lover then present +had not some sharers with him in those freedoms, of which a lady can +never be too sparing. + +"This happened to be an extraordinary day, for a third lady came into the +den, laughing loud, playing with her fan, tossing her head, and smiling +round on the young fellows in the gallery. However, the lion leaped on +her with great fury, and we gave her for gone; but on a sudden he let go +his hold, turned from her as if he were nauseated, then gave her a lash +with his tail; after which she returned to the gallery, not the least out +of countenance: and this, it seems, was the usual treatment of coquettes. + +"I thought we had now seen enough, but my friend would needs have us go +and visit one or two lions in the city. We called at two or three dens +where they happened not to shew, but we generally found half a score +young girls, between eight and eleven years old, playing with each lion, +sitting on his back, and putting their hands into his mouth; some of them +would now and then get a scratch; but we always discovered, upon +examining, that they had been hoydening with the young apprentices. One +of them was calling to a pretty girl of about twelve years, that stood by +us in the gallery, to come down to the lion, and upon her refusal, said, +'Ah! Miss Betty, we could never get you to come near the lion, since you +played at hoop and hide with my brother in the garret.' + +"We followed a couple, with the wedding-folks, going to the church of St. +Mary-Axe. The lady, though well stricken in years, extremely crooked and +deformed, was dressed out beyond the gaiety of fifteen; having jumbled +together, as I imagined, all the tawdry remains of aunts, godmothers, and +grandmothers, for some generations past: One of the neighbours whispered +me, that she was an old maid, and had the clearest reputation of any in +the parish. There is nothing strange in that, thought I, but was much +surprised, when I observed afterwards that she went towards the lion with +distrust and concern. The beast was lying down, but upon sight of her, +snuffed up his nose two or three times, and then giving the sign of +death, proceeded instantly to execution. In the midst of her agonies, she +was heard to name the words, 'Italy' and 'artifices,' with the utmost +horror, and several repeated execrations: and at last concluded, 'Fool +that I was, to put so much confidence in the toughness of my skin.' + +"The keeper immediately set all in order again for another customer, +which happened to be a famous prude, whom her parents after long +threatenings, and much persuasion, had with the extremest difficulty +prevailed on to accept a young handsome goldsmith, that might have +pretended to five times her fortune. The fathers and mothers in the +neighbourhood used to quote her for an example to their daughters. Her +elbows were rivetted to her sides, and her whole person so ordered as to +inform everybody that she was afraid they should touch her. She only +dreaded to approach the lion, because it was a he one, and abhorred to +think an animal of that sex should presume to breathe on her. The sight +of a man at twenty yards distance made her draw back her head. She always +sat upon the farther corner of the chair, though there were six chairs +between her and her lover, and with the door wide open, and her little +sister in the room. She was never saluted but at the tip of her ear, and +her father had much ado to make her dine without her gloves, when there +was a man at table. She entered the den with some fear, which we took to +proceed from the height of her modesty, offended at the sight of so many +men in the gallery. The lion beholding her at a distance, immediately +gave the deadly sign; at which the poor creature (methinks I see her +still) miscarried in a fright before us all. The lion seemed to be +surprised as much as we, and gave her time to make her confession, 'That +she was four months gone, by the foreman of her father's shop, that this +was her third big belly;' and when her friends asked, why she would +venture the trial? she said, 'Her nurse assured her, that a lion would +never hurt a woman with child.'" Upon this I immediately waked, and could +not help wishing, that the deputy-censors of my late institution were +endued with the same instinct as these parish-lions were. + +[Footnote 1: + "Manditque, trahitque +Molle pecus." + _Aeneid_, ix. 340-341. +"Devours and tears the peaceful flock." + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: _I.e._ 1710-11. [T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 298.[1] + +_Ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes, +Emollit mores._ OVID.[2] + +FROM SATURDAY MARCH 3. TO TUESDAY MARCH 6. 1710.[3] + + +_From my own Apartment in Channel-Row, March 5_. + +Those inferior duties of life which the French call _les petites +morales,_ or the smaller morals, are with us distinguished by the name of +good manners,[4] or breeding. This I look upon, in the general notion of +it, to be a sort of artificial good sense, adapted to the meanest +capacities, and introduced to make mankind easy in their commerce +with each other. Low and little understandings, without some rules of +this kind, would be perpetually wandering into a thousand indecencies and +irregularities in behaviour, and in their ordinary conversation fall into +the same boisterous familiarities that one observes amongst them, when a +debauch has quite taken away the use of their reason. In other instances, +it is odd to consider, that for want of common discretion the very end of +good breeding is wholly perverted, and civility, intended to make us +easy, is employed in laying chains and fetters upon us, in debarring us +of our wishes, and in crossing our most reasonable desires and +inclinations. This abuse reigns chiefly in the country, as I found to my +vexation, when I was last there, in a visit I made to a neighbour about +two miles from my cousin. As soon as I entered the parlour, they forced +me into the great chair that stood close by a huge fire, and kept me +there by force till I was almost stifled. Then a boy came in great hurry +to pull off my boots, which I in vain opposed, urging that I must return +soon after dinner. In the mean time the good lady whispered her eldest +daughter, and slipped a key into her hand. She returned instantly with +a beer glass half full of _aqua mirabilis_ and syrup of gillyflowers. +I took as much as I had a mind for; but Madam vowed I should drink it +off, (for she was sure it would do me good after coming out of the cold +air) and I was forced to obey, which absolutely took away my stomach. +When dinner came in, I had a mind to sit at a distance from the fire; but +they told me, it was as much as my life was worth, and set me with my +back just against it. Though my appetite was quite gone, I resolved to +force down as much as I could, and desired the leg of a pullet. "Indeed, +Mr. Bickerstaff," says the lady, "you must eat a wing to oblige me," and +so put a couple upon my plate. I was persecuted at this rate during the +whole meal. As often as I called for small beer, the master tipped the +wink, and the servant brought me a brimmer of October. Some time after +dinner, I ordered my cousin's man who came with me to get ready the +horses; but it was resolved I should not stir that night; and when I +seemed pretty much bent upon going, they ordered the stable door to be +locked, and the children hid away my cloak and boots. The next question +was, what I would have for supper? I said I never eat anything at +night, but was at last in my own defence obliged to name the first thing +that came into my head. After three hours spent chiefly in apology for my +entertainment, insinuating to me, "That this was the worst time of the +year for provisions, that they were at a great distance from any market, +that they were afraid I should be starved, and they knew they kept me to +my loss," the lady went, and left me to her husband (for they took +special care I should never be alone.) As soon as her back was turned, +the little misses ran backwards and forwards every moment; and constantly +as they came in or went out, made a curtsy directly at me, which in good +manners I was forced to return with a bow, and "Your humble servant +pretty Miss." Exactly at eight the mother came up, and discovered by the +redness of her face, that supper was not far off. It was twice as large +as the dinner, and my persecution doubled in proportion. I desired at +my usual hour to go to my repose, and was conducted to my chamber by the +gentleman, his lady, and the whole train of children. They importuned me +to drink something before I went to bed, and upon my refusing, at last +left a bottle of stingo, as they called it, for fear I should wake and be +thirsty in the night. I was forced in the morning to rise and dress +myself in the dark, because they would not suffer my kinsman's servant to +disturb me at the hour I had desired to be called. I was now resolved to +break through all measures to get away, and after sitting down to a +monstrous breakfast of cold beef, mutton, neats'-tongues, venison-pasty, +and stale beer, took leave of the family; but the gentleman would needs +see me part of my way, and carry me a short cut through his own grounds, +which he told me would save half a mile's riding. This last piece of +civility had like to have cost me dear, being once or twice in danger of +my neck, by leaping over his ditches, and at last forced to alight in the +dirt, when my horse, having slipped his bridle, ran away, and took us up +more than an hour to recover him again. + +It is evident that none of the absurdities I met with in this visit +proceeded from an ill intention, but from a wrong judgment of +complaisance, and a misapplication of the rules of it. I cannot so easily +excuse the more refined critics upon behaviour, who having professed no +other study, are yet infinitely defective in the most material parts of +it. Ned Fashion has been bred all his life about Court, and understands +to a tittle all the punctilios of a drawing-room. He visits most of the +fine women near St. James's, and upon all occasions says the civilest and +softest things to them of any man breathing. To Mr. Isaac[5] he owes an +easy slide in his bow, and a graceful manner of coming into a room. But +in some other cases he is very far from being a well-bred person: He +laughs at men of far superior understanding to his own, for not being as +well dressed as himself, despises all his acquaintance that are not +quality, and in public places has on that account often avoided taking +notice of some of the best speakers in the House of Commons. He rails +strenuously at both Universities before the members of either, and never +is heard to swear an oath, or break in upon morality or religion, but in +the company of divines. On the other hand, a man of right sense has all +the essentials of good breeding, though he may be wanting in the forms of +it. Horatio has spent most of his time at Oxford. He has a great deal of +learning, an agreeable wit, and as much modesty as serves to adorn +without concealing his other good qualities. In that retired way of +living, he seems to have formed a notion of human nature, as he has found +it described in the writings of the greatest men, not as he is like to +meet with it in the common course of life. Hence it is, that he gives no +offence, that he converses with great deference, candour, and humanity. +His bow, I must confess, is somewhat awkward; but then he has an +extensive, universal, and unaffected knowledge, which makes some amends +for it. He would make no extraordinary figure at a ball; but I can +assure the ladies in his behalf, and for their own consolation, that he +has writ better verses on the sex than any man now living, and is +preparing such a poem for the press as will transmit their praises and +his own to many generations. + +[Footnote 1: In the reprint of "The Tatler," volume v., this number was +called No. 20. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: _Epist. ex Ponto_, II. ix. 47-48. + +"An understanding in the liberal arts +Softens men's manners." + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: _I.e._ 1710-11. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Compare Swift's "Treatise on Good Manners and Good +Breeding." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: A famous dancing-master in those days. [FAULKNER.] He died +in 1740. [T.S.]] + + +THE TATLER, NUMB, 302.[1] + +_O Lycida, vivi pervenimus, advena nostri, +(Quod numquam veriti sumus) ut possessor agelli +Diceret, Haec mea sunt, veteres migrate coloni._ +VIRG.[2] + + +FROM TUESDAY MARCH 13. TO THURSDAY MARCH 15. 1710.[3] + +_From my own Apartment in Channel-Row, March 14._ + +The dignity and distinction of men of wit is seldom enough considered, +either by themselves or others; their own behaviour, and the usage they +meet with, being generally very much of a piece. I have at this time in +my hands an alphabetical list of the _beaux esprits_ about this town, +four or five of whom have made the proper use of their genius, by gaining +the esteem of the best and greatest men, and by turning it to their own +advantage in some establishment of their fortunes, however unequal to +their merit; others satisfying themselves with the honour of having +access to great tables, and of being subject to the call of every man +of quality, who upon occasion wants one to say witty things for the +diversion of the company. This treatment never moves my indignation so +much, as when it is practised by a person, who though he owes his own +rise purely to the reputation of his parts, yet appears to be as much +ashamed of it, as a rich city knight to be denominated from the trade +he was first apprenticed to, and affects the air of a man born to his +titles, and consequently above the character of a wit, or a scholar. If +those who possess great endowments of the mind would set a just value +upon themselves, they would think no man's acquaintance whatsoever a +condescension, nor accept it from the greatest upon unworthy or +ignominious terms. I know a certain lord that has often invited a set +of people, and proposed for their diversion a buffoon player, and an +eminent poet, to be of the party; and which was yet worse, thought them +both sufficiently recompensed by the dinner, and the honour of his +company. This kind of insolence is risen to such a height, that I my self +was the other day sent to by a man with a title, whom I had never seen, +desiring the favour that I would dine with him and half a dozen of his +select friends. I found afterwards, the footman had told my maid below +stairs, that my lord having a mind to be merry, had resolved right or +wrong to send for honest Isaac. I was sufficiently provoked with the +message; however I gave the fellow no other answer, than that "I believed +he had mistaken the person, for I did not remember that his lord had ever +been introduced to me." I have reason to apprehend that this abuse hath +been owing rather to a meanness of spirit in men of parts, than to the +natural pride or ignorance of their patrons. Young students coming up +to town from the places of their education, are dazzled with the grandeur +they everywhere meet, and making too much haste to distinguish their +parts, instead of waiting to be desired and caressed, are ready to pay +their court at any rate to a great man, whose name they have seen in a +public paper, or the frontispiece of a dedication. It has not always been +thus: wit in polite ages has ever begot either esteem or fear. The hopes +of being celebrated, or the dread of being stigmatized, procured an +universal respect and awe for the persons of such as were allowed to have +the power of distributing fame or infamy where they pleased. Aretine had +all the princes of Europe his tributaries, and when any of them had +committed a folly that laid them open to his censure, they were forced by +some present extraordinary to compound for his silence; of which there is +a famous instance on record. When Charles the Fifth had miscarried +in his African expedition, which was looked upon as the weakest +undertaking of that great Emperor, he sent Aretine[4] a gold chain, who +made some difficulty of accepting it, saying, "It was too small a present +in all reason for so great a folly." For my own part, in this point I +differ from him, and never could be prevailed upon, by any valuable +consideration to conceal a fault or a folly since I first took the +censorship upon me. + +Having long considered with my self the ill application that some make of +their talents, I have this day erected a Court of Alienation, by the +statutes of which the next a kin is empowered to _beg_ the parts and +understanding of any such person as can be proved, either by embezzling, +making a wrong use, or no use at all of the said parts and understanding, +not to know the true value thereof: who shall immediately be put out of +possession, and disqualified for ever; the said kinsman giving sufficient +security that he will employ them as the court shall direct. I have set +down under certain heads the several ways by which men prostitute and +abuse their parts, and from thence have framed a table of rules, whereby +the plaintiff may be informed when he has a good title to eject the +defendant. I may in a following paper give the world some account of the +proceedings of this court. I have already got two able critics for my +assessors upon the bench, who, though they have always exercised their +pens in taking off from the wit of others, have never pretended to +challenge any themselves, and consequently are in no danger of being +engaged in making claims, or of having any suits commence against them. +Every writer shall be tried by his peers, throughly versed in that point +wherein he pretends to excel; for which reason the jury can never consist +of above half the ordinary number. I shall in general be very tender how +I put any person out of his wits; but as the management of such +possessions is of great consequence to the world, I shall hold my self +obliged to vest the right in such hands as will answer the great purposes +they were intended for, and leave the former proprietors to seek their +fortune in some other way. + +[Footnote 1: Called No. 24 in the reprint of "The Tatler," vol. v. [T. +S.]] + +[Footnote 2: _Eclogues_, ix. 2-4. + + "O Lycidas, + We never thought, yet have we lived to see + A stranger seize our farm, and say, 'Tis mine, + Begone, ye old inhabitants."--C.R. KENNEDY. + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: _I.e._ 1710-11. Under date March 14th Swift writes to +Stella: "Little Harrison the 'Tatler' came to me, and begged me to +dictate a paper to him, which I was forced in charity to do." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Pietro Aretino (1492-1557), called "the scourge of Princes." +His prose is fiercely satirical, and his poetry as strongly obscene. His +works were condemned for their indecency and impiety. He received +numerous and valuable gifts from those who were afraid of his criticisms. +His sonnets, written to accompany engravings by Marc Antonio, from +designs by Giulio Romano (1524), largely contributed to his reputation +for obscenity. [T.S.]] + + + +THE TATLER, NUMB. 306.[1] + + + _Morte carent animae; semperque, priore relictâ + Sede, novis domibus habitant vivuntque receptae. + Ipse ego (nam memini) Trojani tempore belli + Panthoides Euphorbus eram_-- + OVID. MET.[2] + +FROM THURSDAY MARCH 22, TO SATURDAY MARCH 24, 1710.[3] + + +_From my own Apartment, March 22._ + +My other correspondents will excuse me if I give the precedency to a +lady, whose letter, amongst many more, is just come to hand. + +"DEAR ISAAC, + +"I burn with impatience to know what and who you are. The curiosity of my +whole sex is fallen upon me, and has kept me waking these three nights. I +have dreamed often of you within this fortnight, and every time you +appeared in a different form. As you value my repose, tell me in which of +them I am to be + +"Your admirer, + +"SYLVIA." + +It is natural for a man who receives a favour of this kind from an +unknown fair, to frame immediately some idea of her person, which being +suited to the opinion we have of our own merit, is commonly as beautiful +and perfect as the most lavish imagination can furnish out. Strongly +possessed with these notions, I have read over Sylvia's billet; and +notwithstanding the reserve I have had upon this matter, am resolved to +go a much greater length, than I yet ever did, in making my self known to +the world, and, in particular, to my charming correspondent. In order to +it I must premise, that the person produced as mine in the play-house +last winter, did in nowise appertain to me. It was such a one however as +agreed well with the impression my writings had made, and served the +purpose I intended it for; which was to continue the awe and reverence +due to the character I was vested with, and, at the same time, to let my +enemies see how much I was the delight and favourite of this town. This +innocent imposture, which I have all along taken care to carry on, as +it then was of some use, has since been of singular service to me, and by +being mentioned in one of my papers, effectually recovered my egoity out +of the hands of some gentlemen who endeavoured to wrest it from me. This +is saying, in short, what I am not: what I am, and have been for many +years, is next to be explained. Here it will not be improper to remind +Sylvia, that there was formerly such a philosopher as Pythagoras, who, +amongst other doctrines, taught the transmigration of souls, which, if +she sincerely believes, she will not be much startled at the following +relation. + +I will not trouble her, nor my other readers, with the particulars of all +the lives I have successively passed through since my first entrance into +mortal being, which is now many centuries ago. It is enough that I have +in every one of them opposed myself with the utmost resolution to the +follies and vices of the several ages I have been acquainted with, that I +have often rallied the world into good manners, and kept the greatest +princes in awe of my satire. There is one circumstance which I shall not +omit, though it may seem to reflect on my character, I mean that infinite +love of change which has ever appeared in the disposal of my existence. +Since the days of the Emperor Trajan, I have not been confined to the +same person for twenty years together; but have passed from one abode to +another, much quicker than the Pythagorean system generally allows. By +this means, I have seldom had a body to myself, but have lodged up and +down wherever I found a genius suitable to my own. In this manner I +continued, some time with the top wit of France, at another with that of +Italy, who had a statue erected to his memory in Rome. Towards the end of +the 17th century, I set out for England; but the gentleman I came over in +dying as soon as he got to shore, I was obliged to look out again for a +new habitation. It was not long before I met with one to my mind, for +having mixed myself invisibly with the _literati_ of this kingdom, I +found it was unanimously agreed amongst them, That nobody was endowed +with greater talents than Hiereus;[4] or, consequently, would be better +pleased with my company. I slipped down his throat one night as he was +fast asleep, and the next morning, as soon as he awaked, he fell to +writing a treatise that was received with great applause, though he had +the modesty not to set his name to that nor to any other of our +productions. Some time after, he published a paper of predictions, +which were translated into several languages, and alarmed some of the +greatest princes in Europe. To these he prefixed the name of Isaac +Bickerstaff, Esq; which I have been extremely fond of ever since, and +have taken care that most of the writings I have been concerned in should +be distinguished by it; though I must observe, that there have been many +counterfeits imposed upon the public by this means. This extraordinary +man being called out of the kingdom by affairs of his own, I resolved, +however, to continue somewhat longer in a country where my works had +been so well received, and accordingly bestowed myself with Hilario.[5] +His natural wit, his lively turn of humour, and great penetration into +human nature, easily determined me to this choice, the effects of which +were soon after produced in this paper, called "The Tatler." I know not +how it happened, but in less than two years' time Hilario grew weary of +my company, and gave me warning to be gone. In the height of my +resentment, I cast my eyes on a young fellow,[6] of no extraordinary +qualifications, whom, for that very reason, I had the more pride in +taking under my direction, and enabling him, by some means or other, to +carry on the work I was before engaged in. Lest he should grow too vain +upon this encouragement, I to this day keep him under due mortification. +I seldom reside with him when any of his friends are at leisure to +receive me, by whose hands, however, he is duly supplied. As I have +passed through many scenes of life, and a long series of years, I choose +to be considered in the character of an old fellow, and take care that +those under my influence should speak consonantly to it. This account, I +presume, will give no small consolation to Sylvia, who may rest assured, +that Isaac Bickerstaff is to be seen in more forms than she dreamt of; +out of which variety she may choose what is most agreeable to her fancy. +On Tuesdays, he is sometimes a black, proper, young gentleman, with a +mole on his left cheek. On Thursdays, a decent well-looking man, of a +middle stature, long flaxen hair, and a florid complexion. On Saturdays, +he is somewhat of the shortest, and may be known from others of that size +by talking in a low voice, and passing through the streets without much +precipitation. + +[Footnote 1: No. 28 in the reprint of "The Tatler," vol. v. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: _Metamorphoses_, xv. 158-161. + + "Nor dies the spirit, but new life repeats + In other forms, and only changes seats. + Ev'n I, who these mysterious truths declare, + Was once Euphorbus in the Trojan war." + +J. DRYDEN. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: I.e. 1710-11. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Swift. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Steele. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: Harrison. [T.S.]] + + + * * * * * * + + + +CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE EXAMINER." + + +NOTE. + + +The new ministry, which came into power on the fall of the able +administration of Godolphin in 1710, was the famous Oxford ministry +headed by Harley and St. John. The new leaders were well aware that they +would have to use all the means in their power not only to justify +themselves to the English nation, but successfully to defeat the strong +opposition which had such a man as Marlborough for its moving spirit. The +address to Queen Anne from the Commons, showing undoubted evidences of +St. John's hand, was the first employment of a means by which this +ministry hoped to appeal to the public. But this remarkable literary +effort had already been preceded by the establishment of a weekly +political paper, entitled "The Examiner," a few weeks before +Godolphin's fall. During the months of August, September, and +October, in which were issued twelve papers, Dr. Freind, Atterbury, +Prior and St. John, were the men employed to arouse the nation to a +necessary condition of discontent. Now that the ministry was in +power, the necessity for continuing these public appeals was felt to be +all the stronger; and Harley's shrewdness in selecting Swift to take +this important matter in hand shows his ability as a party leader. + +The first number of "The Examiner" was issued on August 3rd, 1710, +and the paper was continued until July 26th, 1711. On December 6th, +1711, William Oldisworth revived it, and issued it weekly until December +18th, 1712, after which date it was published twice a week until +July 26th, 1714, though it occasionally happened that only one was +issued in a week. The last number was No. 19 of the sixth volume, so +that Oldisworth edited vols. ii., iii., iv., v., and what was published +of vol. vi. The death of the Queen put an end to the publication. + +Swift was called to his work about the middle of October of 1710, +and his first paper appeared in No. 14. From that number to No. 45, +Swift continued with unabated zeal and with masterly effect to carry +out the policy of his friends. He also wrote a part of No. 46, and Nos. +16 and 21 of the third volume, which appeared on January 16th and +February 2nd, 1712-13. These two last numbers are not included in +the present volume; since they have been printed in the fifth volume +of this edition of Swift's works with the titles "An Appendix to the +Conduct of the Allies" and "The Vindication of Erasmus Lewis." + +The appearance of "The Examiner" had brought an opposition paper into the +field, entitled "The Whig Examiner," a periodical that ably maintained +its party's stand in the face of St. John's attacks. But this paper only +lasted for five weeks, and when Swift took charge of the Tory organ, the +position of "The Examiner" was entirely altered. As Mr. Churton Collins +ably remarks: "It became a voice of power in every town and in every +hamlet throughout England. It was an appeal made, not to the political +cliques of the metropolis, but to the whole kingdom; and to the whole +kingdom it spoke.... No one who will take the trouble to glance at +Swift's contributions to 'The Examiner' will be surprised at their +effect. They are masterpieces of polemical skill. Every sentence--every +word--comes home. Their logic, adapted to the meanest capacity, smites +like a hammer. Their statements, often a tissue of mere sophistry and +assumption, appear so plausible, that it is difficult even for the cool +historian to avoid being carried away by them. At a time when party +spirit was running high, and few men stopped to weigh evidence, they must +have been irresistible." ("Jonathan Swift," 1893, p. 81.) + +In his "Memoirs relating to that Change" (vol. v., p 384), Swift gives +the following explanation of the foundation of this paper. "Upon the rise +of this ministry the principal persons in power thought it necessary that +some weekly paper should be published, with just reflections upon former +proceedings, and defending the present measures of Her Majesty. This was +begun about the time of the Lord Godolphin's removal, under the name of +'The Examiner.' ... The determination was that I should continue it, +which I did accordingly for about eight months." + +Gay remarks in his pamphlet, "The Present State of Wit, in a Letter to a +Friend in the Country," 1711: "'The Examiner' is a paper which all men, +who speak without prejudice, allow to be well writ. Though his subject +will admit of no great variety, he is continually placing it on so many +different lights, and endeavouring to inculcate the same thing by so many +beautiful changes of expressions, that men who are concerned in no party, +may read him with pleasure. His way of assuming the question in debate is +extremely artful; and his 'Letter to Crassus' [No. 28] is, I think, a +masterpiece.... I presume I need not tell you that 'The Examiner' carries +much the more sail as 'tis supposed to be writ by the direction, and +under the eye of some great persons who sit at the helm of affairs, and +is consequently looked on as a sort of public notice which way they are +steering us. The reputed author is Dr. S[wif]t, with the assistance +sometimes of Dr. Att[erbur]y and Mr. P[rio]r." With the fall of +Bolingbroke on the death of Queen Anne and the accession of George I., +"The Examiner" collapsed. [T.S.] + + + +THE EXAMINER. + + +NUMB. 14.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY OCTOBER 26 TO THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2, 1710. + + --_Longa est injuria, longae + Ambages, sed summa sequar fastigia rerum_.[2] + + +It is a practice I have generally followed, to converse in equal freedom +with the deserving men of both parties; and it was never without some +contempt, that I have observed persons wholly out of employment, affect +to do otherwise: I doubted whether any man could owe so much to the side +he was of, though he were retained by it; but without some great point of +interest, either in possession or prospect, I thought it was the mark of +a low and narrow spirit. + +It is hard, that, for some weeks past, I have been forced in my own +defence, to follow a proceeding that I have so much condemned in others. +But several of my acquaintance among the declining party, are grown so +insufferably peevish and splenetic, profess such violent apprehensions +for the public, and represent the state of things in such formidable +ideas, that I find myself disposed to share in their afflictions, though +I know them to be groundless and imaginary, or, which is worse, purely +affected. To offer them comfort one by one, would be not only an +endless, but a disobliging task. Some of them, I am convinced would be +less melancholy, if there were more occasion. I shall therefore, instead +of hearkening to further complaints, employ some part of this paper for +the future, in letting such men see, that their natural or acquired fears +are ill-grounded, and their artificial ones as ill-intended. That all +our present inconveniencies,[3] are the consequence of the very counsels +they so much admire, which would still have increased, if those had +continued: and that neither our constitution in Church or State, could +probably have been long preserved, without such methods as have been +lately taken. + +The late revolutions at court, have given room to some specious +objections, which I have heard repeated by well-meaning men, just as they +had taken them up on the credit of others, who have worse designs. They +wonder the Queen would choose to change her ministry at this juncture,[4] +and thereby give uneasiness to a general who has been so long successful +abroad; and might think himself injured, if the entire ministry were not +of his own nomination. That there were few complaints of any consequence +against the late men in power, and none at all in Parliament; which on +the contrary, passed votes in favour of the chief minister. That if her +Majesty had a mind to introduce the other party, it would have been more +seasonable after a peace, which now we have made desperate, by spiriting +the French, who rejoice at these changes, and by the fall of our credit, +which unqualifies us for continuing the war. That the Parliament so +untimely dissolved,[5] had been diligent in their supplies, and dutiful +in their behaviour. That one consequence of these changes appears already +in the fall of the stocks: that we may soon expect more and worse: and +lastly, that all this naturally tends to break the settlement of the +Crown, and call over the Pretender. + +These and the like notions are plentifully scattered abroad, by the +malice of a ruined party, to render the Queen and her administration +odious, and to inflame the nation. And these are what, upon occasion, I +shall endeavour to overthrow, by discovering the falsehood and absurdity +of them. + +It is a great unhappiness, when in a government constituted like ours, it +should be so brought about, that the continuance of a war, must be for +the interest of vast numbers (peaceable as well as military) who would +otherwise have been as unknown as their original. I think our present +condition of affairs, is admirably described by two verses in Lucan, + + _Hinc usura vorax, avidumque in tempore foenus, + Hinc concussa fides, et multis utile bellum_,[6] + +which without any great force upon the words, may be thus translated, + +"Hence are derived those exorbitant interests and annuities; hence those +large discounts for advances and prompt payment; hence public credit is +shaken, and hence great numbers find their profit in prolonging the war." + +It is odd, that among a free trading people, as we take ourselves to be, +there should so many be found to close in with those counsels, who have +been ever averse from all overtures towards a peace. But yet there is no +great mystery in the matter. Let any man observe the equipages in this +town; he shall find the greater number of those who make a figure, to be +a species of men quite different from any that were ever known before the +Revolution, consisting either of generals and colonels, or of such whose +whole fortunes lie in funds and stocks: so that power, which according to +the old maxim, was used to follow land, is now gone over to money; and +the country gentleman is in the condition of a young heir, out of whose +estate a scrivener receives half the rents for interest, and hath a +mortgage on the whole, and is therefore always ready to feed his vices +and extravagancies while there is any thing left. So that if the war +continues some years longer, a landed man will be little better than a +farmer at a rack rent, to the army, and to the public funds. + +It may perhaps be worth inquiring from what beginnings, and by what steps +we have been brought into this desperate condition: and in search of +this, we must run up as high as the Revolution. + +Most of the nobility and gentry who invited over the Prince of Orange, or +attended him in his expedition, were true lovers of their country and its +constitution, in Church and State; and were brought to yield to those +breaches in the succession of the crown, out of a regard to the necessity +of the kingdom, and the safety of the people, which did, and could only, +make them lawful; but without intention of drawing such a practice into +precedent, or making it a standing measure by which to proceed in all +times to come; and therefore we find their counsels ever tended to keep +things as much as possible in the old course. But soon after, an under +set of men, who had nothing to lose, and had neither borne the burthen +nor heat of the day, found means to whisper in the king's ear, that the +principles of loyalty in the Church of England, were wholly inconsistent +with the Revolution.[7] Hence began the early practice of caressing +the dissenters, reviling the universities, as maintainers of arbitrary +power, and reproaching the clergy with the doctrines of divine-right, +passive obedience and non-resistance.[8] At the same time, in order to +fasten wealthy people to the new government, they proposed those +pernicious expedients of borrowing money by vast _premiums_, and at +exorbitant interest: a practice as old as Eumenes,[9] one of Alexander's +captains, who setting up for himself after the death of his master, +persuaded his principal officers to lend him great sums, after which they +were forced to follow him for their own security. + +This introduced a number of new dexterous men into business and credit: +It was argued, that the war could not last above two or three campaigns, +and that it was easier for the subject to raise a fund for paying +interest, than to tax them annually to the full expense of the war. +Several persons who had small or encumbered estates, sold them, and +turned their money into those funds to great advantage: merchants, as +well as other moneyed men, finding trade was dangerous, pursued the same +method: But the war continuing, and growing more expensive, taxes were +increased, and funds multiplied every year, till they have arrived at the +monstrous height we now behold them. And that which was at first a +corruption, is at last grown necessary, and what every good subject must +now fall in with, though he may be allowed to wish it might soon have an +end; because it is with a kingdom, as with a private fortune, where every +new incumbrance adds a double weight. By this means the wealth of the +nation, that used to be reckoned by the value of land, is now computed by +the rise and fall of stocks: and although the foundation of credit be +still the same, and upon a bottom that can never be shaken; and though +all interest be duly paid by the public, yet through the contrivance and +cunning of stock-jobbers, there has been brought in such a complication +of knavery and cozenage, such a mystery of iniquity, and such an +unintelligible jargon of terms to involve it in, as were never known in +any other age or country of the world. I have heard it affirmed by +persons skilled in these calculations, that if the funds appropriated to +the payment of interest and annuities, were added to the yearly taxes, +and the four-shilling aid[10] strictly exacted in all counties of the +kingdom, it would very near, if not fully, supply the occasions of the +war, at least such a part, as in the opinion of very able persons, had +been at that time prudence not to exceed. For I make it a question, +whether any wise prince or state, in the continuance of a war, which was +not purely defensive, or immediately at his own door, did ever propose +that his expense should perpetually exceed what he was able to impose +annually upon his subjects? Neither if the war lasts many years longer, +do I see how the next generation will be able to begin another, which in +the course of human affairs, and according to the various interests and +ambition of princes, may be as necessary for them as it has been for us. +And had our fathers left us as deeply involved as we are like to leave +our children, I appeal to any man, what sort of figure we should have +been able to make these twenty years past. Besides, neither our enemies, +nor allies, are upon the same foot with us in this particular. France and +Holland, our nearest neighbours, and the farthest engaged, will much +sooner recover themselves after a war. The first, by the absolute power +of the prince who being master of the lives and fortunes of his subjects, +will quickly find expedients to pay his debts: and so will the other, by +their prudent administration, the greatness of their trade, their +wonderful parsimony, the willingness of their people to undergo all kind +of taxes, and their justice in applotting as well as collecting them. But +above all, we are to consider that France and Holland fight in the +continent, either upon, or near their own territories, and the greatest +part of the money circulates among themselves; whereas ours crosses the +sea either to Flanders, Spain, or Portugal, and every penny of it, +whether in specie or returns, is so much lost to the nation for ever. + +Upon these considerations alone, it was the most prudent course +imaginable in the Queen, to lay hold of the disposition of the people for +changing the Parliament and ministry at this juncture, and extricating +herself, as soon as possible, out of the pupillage of those who found +their accounts only in perpetuating the war. Neither have we the least +reason to doubt, but the ensuing Parliament will assist her Majesty with +the utmost vigour,[11] till her enemies _again_ be brought to sue for +peace, and _again_ offer such terms as will make it both honourable and +lasting; only with this difference, that the Ministry perhaps will not +_again_ refuse them.[12] + + _Audiet pugnas vitio parentum + Rara Juventus_.[13] + +[Footnote 1: No. 13 in the reprint. The No. 13 (from Thursday, October +19, to Thursday, October 26, 1710) of the original is omitted from the +reprint, and the Nos. from 14 to 48 are slipped back one. No. 49 also +is omitted, and Nos. 50 to 52 slipped back two. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Virgil, "Aeneid," i. 341-2. + + "Her whole tale of wrong + 'Twere tedious to relate. But I will give + The leading facts."--R. KENNEDY. + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "The Observator" of Nov. 8th, commenting on this statement, +remarks: "All the inconveniences we labour under at present, are so far +from being the consequence of the counsels of the late ministry, that +they are visibly the consequence of those of the 'Examiner's' party, +who brought the nation to the brink of Popery and slavery, from which +they were delivered by the Revolution; and are pursuing the same +measures again," etc. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: See "Memoirs relating to that Change" (vol. v., pp. 359-90). +The Queen's action in dismissing her ministers and dissolving Parliament +in September was, even to Swift himself, a matter for wonder: +"I never remember," he writes to Stella (Sept. 20th, 1710), "such +bold steps taken by a Court." And Tindal, commenting on the change, +says: "So sudden and so entire a change in the ministry is scarce to be +found in our history, especially where men of great abilities had served +with such zeal and success." ("Hist. of England," iv. 192.) [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Parliament was dissolved by proclamation on September 21st. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: "Pharsalia," i. 181-2. + + "Hence debt unthrifty, careless to repay, + And usury still watching for its day: + Hence perjuries in every wrangling court; + And war, the needy bankrupt's last resort," + N. ROWE. + +Lucan wrote "_et_ concussa," [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: Commenting on this passage, "The Observator" of Nov. 8th +remarked: "One would take the author to be some very great man, since +he speaks so contemptuously of both Houses of Parliament; for they +actually found those doctrines, as then preached up, to be inconsistent +with the Revolution, and declared it loudly to the world without +whispering." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: Writing to the Earl of Peterborough (Feb. 1710/1), Swift +refers to "a pamphlet come out, called 'A Letter to Jacob Banks,' showing +that the liberty of Sweden was destroyed by the principle of passive +obedience." The pamphlet was written by one W. Benson, and bore +the title, "A Letter to Sir J---- B----, By Birth a S----,... Concerning +the late Minehead doctrine," etc., 1711. "This dispute," says +Swift to Peterborough, "would soon be ended, if the dunces who write +on each side, would plainly tell us what the object of this passive +obedience is in our country." (Scott, vol. xv., p. 423.) + +See also, on this matter, "Examiner," Nos. 34 and 40 _post_. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: Eumenes of Cardia was secretary to Alexander the Great, and +distinguished himself both as a statesman and general. He was killed +B.C. 316. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: The land tax at the time was four shillings in the pound. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: In her speech to Parliament on Nov. 27th, 1710, Anne said: +"The carrying on the war in all its parts, but particularly in Spain, +with the utmost vigour, is the likeliest means, with God's blessing, to +procure a safe and honourable peace for us and all our allies, whose +support and interest I have truly at heart" ("Journals of House of +Lords," xix, 166).] + +[Footnote 12: This is a dig at the Duke of Marlborough, for what the +Tories thought an unnecessarily harsh insistence on the inclusion of a +clause in the preliminaries of the Gertruydenberg Treaty, which it was +thought he must have known would be rejected by Louis. They suspected +Marlborough did this in order to keep the war going, and so permit +himself further opportunities for enriching himself. The treaty for +peace, carried on at Gertruydenberg in 1710, was discussed by Marlborough +and Townshend acting for England, the Marquis de Torcy acting for France, +and Buys and Vanderdussen for the States. Several conferences took place, +and preliminary articles were even signed, but the Allies demanded a +security for the delivering of Spain. This Louis XIV. refused to do, and +the conference broke up in July, 1710. See Swift's "Conduct of the Allies" +(vol. v., pp. 55-123). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: Horace, "Odes," I. ii. 23, 24. +"Our youth will hear, astonished at our crimes, +That Roman armies Romans slew; +Our youth, alas! will then be few."--A. MAYNWARING. +[T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 15.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2, TO THURSDAY NOVEMBER 9, 1710. + + _E quibis hi vacuas implent sermonibus aures, + Hi narrata ferunt alio: mensuraque ficti + Crescit, et auditis aliquid novus adjicit autor, + Illic Credulitas, illic temerarius Error, + Vanaque Laetitia est, consternatique Timores, + Seditioque recens, dubioque autore susurri._[2] + + +I am prevailed on, through the importunity of friends, to interrupt the +scheme I had begun in my last paper, by an Essay upon the Art of +Political Lying. We are told, "the Devil is the father of lies, and was a +liar from the beginning"; so that beyond contradiction, the invention is +old: And which is more, his first essay of it was purely political, +employed in undermining the authority of his Prince, and seducing a third +part of the subjects from their obedience. For which he was driven down +from Heaven, where (as Milton expresseth it) he had been viceroy of a +great western province;[3] and forced to exercise his talent in inferior +regions among other fallen spirits, or poor deluded men, whom he still +daily tempts to his own sin, and will ever do so till he is chained in +the bottomless pit. + +But though the Devil be the father of lies, he seems, like other great +inventors, to have lost much of his reputation, by the continual +improvements that have been made upon him. + +Who first reduced lying into an art, and adapted it to politics, is not +so clear from history, though I have made some diligent enquiries: I +shall therefore consider it only according to the modern system, as it +has been cultivated these twenty years past in the southern part of our +own island. + +The poets tell us, that after the giants were overthrown by the gods, the +earth in revenge produced her last offspring, which was Fame.[4] And the +fable is thus interpreted; that when tumults and seditions are quieted, +rumours and false reports are plentifully spread through a nation. So +that by this account, _lying_ is the last relief of a routed, earth-born, +rebellious party in a state. But here, the moderns have made great +additions, applying this art to the gaining of power, and preserving it, +as well as revenging themselves after they have lost it: as the same +instruments are made use of by animals to feed themselves when they are +hungry, and bite those that tread upon them. + +But the same genealogy cannot always be admitted for _political lying;_ I +shall therefore desire to refine upon it, by adding some circumstances of +its birth and parents. A political lie is sometimes born out of a +discarded statesman's head, and thence delivered to be nursed and dandled +by the mob. Sometimes it is produced a monster, and _licked_ into shape; +at other times it comes into the world completely formed, and is spoiled +in the licking. It is often born an infant in the regular way, and +requires time to mature it: and often it sees the light in its full +growth, but dwindles away by degrees. Sometimes it is of noble birth; and +sometimes the spawn of a stock-jobber. _Here_, it screams aloud at the +opening of the womb; and _there_, it is delivered with a whisper. I know +a lie that now disturbs half the kingdom with its noise, which though too +proud and great at present to own its parents, I can remember in its +whisper-hood. To conclude the nativity of this monster; when it comes +into the world without a _sting_, it is still-born; and whenever it loses +its sting, it dies. + +No wonder, if an infant so miraculous in its birth, should be destined +for great adventures: and accordingly we see it has been the guardian +spirit of a prevailing party for almost twenty years. It can conquer +kingdoms without fighting, and sometimes with the loss of a battle: It +gives and resumes employments; can sink a mountain to a mole-hill, and +raise a mole-hill to a mountain; has presided for many years at +committees of elections; can wash a blackamoor white; make a saint of an +atheist, and a patriot of a profligate; can furnish foreign ministers +with intelligence, and raise or let fall the credit of the nation. This +goddess flies with a huge looking-glass in her hands, to dazzle the +crowd, and make them see, according as she turns it, their ruin in their +interest, and their interest in their ruin. In this glass you will behold +your best friends clad in coats powdered with _flower-de-luces_[5] and +triple crowns; their girdles hung round with chains, and beads, and +wooden shoes: and your worst enemies adorned with the ensigns of liberty, +property, indulgence, and moderation, and a cornucopia in their hands. +Her large wings, like those of a flying-fish, are of no use but while +they are moist; she therefore dips them in mud, and soaring aloft +scatters it in the eyes of the multitude, flying with great swiftness; +but at every turn is forced to stoop in dirty way for new supplies. + +I have been sometimes thinking, if a man had the art of the second sight +for seeing lies, as they have in Scotland for seeing spirits, how +admirably he might entertain himself in this town; to observe the +different shapes, sizes, and colours, of those swarms of lies which buzz +about the heads of some people, like flies about a horse's ears in +summer: or those legions hovering every afternoon in Popes-head Alley[6], +enough to darken the air; or over a club of discontented grandees, and +thence sent down in cargoes to be scattered at elections. + +There is one essential point wherein a political liar differs from others +of the faculty; that he ought to have but a short memory, which is +necessary according to the various occasions he meets with every hour, of +differing from himself, and swearing to both sides of a contradiction, as +he finds the persons disposed, with whom he has to deal. In describing +the virtues and vices of mankind, it is convenient upon every article, to +have some eminent person in our eye, from whence we copy our description. +I have strictly observed this rule; and my imagination this minute +represents before me a certain great man[7] famous for this talent, to +the constant practice of which he owes his twenty years' reputation of +the most skilful head in England, for the management of nice affairs. The +superiority of his genius consists in nothing else but an inexhaustible +fund of political lies, which he plentifully distributes every minute he +speaks, and by an unparalleled generosity forgets, and consequently +contradicts the next half-hour. He never yet considered whether any +proposition were true or false, but whether it were convenient for the +present minute or company to affirm or deny it; so that if you think to +refine upon him, by interpreting every thing he says, as we do dreams by +the contrary, you are still to seek, and will find yourself equally +deceived, whether you believe him or no: the only remedy is to suppose +that you have heard some inarticulate sounds, without any meaning at all. +And besides, that will take off the horror you might be apt to conceive +at the oaths wherewith he perpetually tags both ends of every +proposition: though at the same time I think he cannot with any justice +be taxed for perjury, when he invokes God and Christ, because he has +often fairly given public notice to the world, that he believes in +neither. + +Some people may think that such an accomplishment as this, can be of no +great use to the owner or his party, after it has been often practised, +and is become notorious; but they are widely mistaken: Few lies carry the +inventor's mark; and the most prostitute enemy to truth may spread a +thousand without being known for the author. Besides, as the vilest +writer has his readers, so the greatest liar has his believers; and it +often happens, that if a lie be believed only for an hour, it has done +its work, and there is no farther occasion for it. Falsehood flies, and +Truth comes limping after it; so that when men come to be undeceived, it +is too late, the jest is over, and the tale has had its effect: like a +man who has thought of a good repartee, when the discourse is changed, or +the company parted: or, like a physician who has found out an infallible +medicine, after the patient is dead. + +Considering that natural disposition in many men to lie, and in +multitudes to believe, I have been perplexed what to do with that maxim, +so frequent in every body's mouth, that "Truth will at last prevail." +Here, has this island of ours, for the greatest part of twenty years, +lain under the influence of such counsels and persons, whose principle +and interest it was to corrupt our manners, blind our understandings, +drain our wealth, and in time destroy our constitution both in Church and +State; and we at last were brought to the very brink of ruin; yet by the +means of perpetual misrepresentations, have never been able to +distinguish between our enemies and friends. We have seen a great part of +the nation's money got into the hands of those, who by their birth, +education and merit, could pretend no higher than to wear our liveries; +while others,[8] who by their credit, quality and fortune, were only able +to give reputation and success to the Revolution, were not only laid +aside, as dangerous and useless; but loaden with the scandal of +Jacobites, men of arbitrary principles, and pensioners to France; while +Truth, who is said to lie in a well, seemed now to be buried there under +a heap of stones. But I remember, it was a usual complaint among the +Whigs, that the bulk of landed men was not in their interests, which some +of the wisest looked on as an ill omen; and we saw it was with the utmost +difficulty that they could preserve a majority, while the court and +ministry were on their side; till they had learned those admirable +expedients for deciding elections, and influencing distant boroughs by +_powerful motives_ from the city. But all this was mere force and +constraint, however upheld by most dexterous artifice and management: +till the people began to apprehend their properties, their religion, and +the monarchy itself in danger; then we saw them greedily laying hold on +the first occasion to interpose. But of this mighty change in the +dispositions of the people, I shall discourse more at large in some +following paper; wherein I shall endeavour to undeceive those deluded or +deluding persons, who hope or pretend, it is only a short madness in the +vulgar, from which they may soon recover. Whereas I believe it will +appear to be very different in its causes, its symptoms, and its +consequences; and prove a great example to illustrate the maxim I lately +mentioned, that "Truth" (however sometimes late) "will at last prevail." + + +[Footnote 1: No. 14 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Ovid, "Metamorphoses," xii. 56-61. + +"The troubled air with empty sounds they beat. +Intent to hear, and eager to repeat. +Error sits brooding there, with added train +Of vain Credulity, and Joys as vain: +Suspicion, with Sedition joined, are near, +And Rumours raised, and Murmurs mixed, and panic Fear." + J. DRYDEN. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "Paradise Lost," v. 708-710. Milton makes Satan say: "We +possess the quarters of the North," and places his throne in "the limits +of the North." By speaking of a _western_ province Swift intends Ireland, +then under the government of the Earl of Wharton. This paper may be read +in connection with the 23rd number of "The Examiner," and the "Short +Character of Wharton" (vol. v., pp. 1-28). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Fama was said to be a daughter of Terra. See Virgil, +"Aeneid," iv. 173-178. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: A reply to the insinuations that the Tories were sympathetic +to France, and that the Whigs were the true patriots. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: The reprint has "Exchange Alley." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The Earl of Wharton. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: Refers to the Tories generally, and in particular to Sir +Thomas Osborne, Bart. (1631-1712), who was created Duke of Leeds in 1694. +In 1679, as Earl of Danby, he was impeached by the Commons, and +imprisoned in the Tower for five years. "He assisted greatly," says +Scott, "in the Revolution, yet continued a steady Tory, and avowed at +Sacheverell's trial, that, had he known the Prince of Orange designed +to assume the crown, he never would have drawn a sword for him." +[T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 16.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY NOVEMBER 9, TO THURSDAY NOVEMBER 16, 1710. + + + ---_medioque ut limite curras, + Icare, ait, moneo: ne si demissior ibis, + Unda gravet pennas, si celsior, ignis adurat._[2] + + +It must be avowed, that for some years past, there have been few things +more wanted in England, than such a paper as this ought to be; and such +as I will endeavour to make it, as long as it shall be found of any use, +without entering into the violences of either party. Considering the many +grievous misrepresentations of persons and things, it is highly +requisite, at this juncture, that the people throughout the kingdom, +should, if possible, be set right in their opinions by some impartial +hand, which has never been yet attempted: those who have hitherto +undertaken it, being upon every account the least qualified of all +human-kind for such a work. + +We live here under a limited monarchy, and under the doctrine and +discipline of an excellent Church: We are unhappily divided into two +parties, both which pretend a mighty zeal for our religion and +government, only they disagree about the means.[3] The evils we must +fence against are, on one side, fanaticism and infidelity in religion; +and anarchy, under the name of a commonwealth, in government: on the +other side, popery, slavery, and the Pretender from France. Now to inform +and direct us in our sentiments, upon these weighty points; here are on +one side two stupid, illiterate scribblers, both of them fanatics by +profession; I mean the "Review"[4] and "Observator."[5] On the other side +we have an open Nonjuror,[6] whose character and person, as well as good +learning and sense, discovered upon other subjects, do indeed deserve +respect and esteem; but his "Rehearsal," and the rest of his political +papers, are yet more pernicious than those of the former two. If the +generality of the people know not how to talk or think, till they have +read their lesson in the papers of the week, what a misfortune is it that +their duty should be conveyed to them through such vehicles as those? For +let some gentlemen think what they please, I cannot but suspect, that the +two worthies I first mentioned, have in a degree done mischief among us; +the mock authoritative manner of the one, and the insipid mirth of the +other, however insupportable to reasonable ears, being of a level with +great numbers among the lowest part of mankind. Neither was the author of +the "Rehearsal," while he continued that paper, less infectious to many +persons of better figure, who perhaps were as well qualified, and much +less prejudiced, to judge for themselves. + +It was this reason, that moved me to take the matter out of those rough, +as well as those dirty hands, to let the remote and uninstructed part of +the nation see, that they have been misled on both sides, by mad, +ridiculous extremes, at a wide distance on each side from the truth; +while the right path is so broad and plain, as to be easily kept, if they +were once put into it. + +Further, I had lately entered on a resolution to take very little notice +of other papers, unless it were such, where the malice and falsehood, had +so great a mixture of wit and spirit, as would make them dangerous; which +in the present circle of scribbles, from twelvepence to a halfpenny, I +could easily foresee would not very frequently occur. But here again, I +am forced to dispense with my resolution, though it be only to tell my +reader, what measures I am like to take on such occasions for the future. +I was told that the paper called "The Observator," was twice filled last +week with remarks upon a late "Examiner."[7] These I read with the first +opportunity, and to speak in the news-writers' phrase, they gave me +occasion for many speculations. I observed with singular pleasure, the +nature of those things, which the owners of them, usually call _answers_; +and with what dexterity this matchless author had fallen into the whole +art and cant of them. To transcribe here and there three or four detached +lines of least weight in a discourse, and by a foolish comment mistake +every syllable of the meaning, is what I have known many of a superior +class, to this formidable adversary, entitle an "Answer."[8] This is what +he has exactly done in about thrice as many words as my whole discourse; +which is so mighty an advantage over me, that I shall by no means engage +in so unequal a combat; but as far as I can judge of my own temper, +entirely dismiss him for the future; heartily wishing he had a match +exactly of his own size to meddle with, who should only have the odds of +truth and honesty; which as I take it, would be an effectual way to +silence him for ever. Upon this occasion, I cannot forbear a short story +of a fanatic farmer who lived in my neighbourhood, and was so great a +disputant in religion, that the servants in all the families thereabouts, +reported, how he had confuted the bishop and all his clergy. I had then a +footman who was fond of reading the Bible, and I borrowed a comment for +him, which he studied so close, that in a month or two I thought him a +match for the farmer. They disputed at several houses, with a ring of +servants and other people always about them, where Ned explained his +texts so full and clear, to the capacity of his audience, and showed the +insignificancy of his adversary's cant, to the meanest understanding, +that he got the whole country of his side, and the farmer was cured of +his itch of disputation for ever after. + +The worst of it is, that this sort of outrageous party-writers I have +above spoke of, are like a couple of make-bates, who inflame small +quarrels by a thousand stories, and by keeping friends at a distance +hinder them from coming to a good understanding, as they certainly would, +if they were suffered to meet and debate between themselves. For let any +one examine a reasonable honest man of either side, upon those opinions +in religion and government, which both parties daily buffet each other +about, he shall hardly find one material point in difference between +them. I would be glad to ask a question about two great men[9] of the +late ministry, how they came to be Whigs? and by what figure of speech, +half a dozen others, lately put into great employments, can be called +Tories? I doubt, whoever would suit the definition to the persons, must +make it directly contrary to what we understood it at the time of the +Revolution. + +In order to remove these misapprehensions among us, I believe it will be +necessary upon occasion, to detect the malice and falsehood of some +popular maxims, which those idiots scatter from the press twice a week, +and draw an hundred absurd consequences from them. + +For example, I have heard it often objected as a great piece of insolence +in the clergy and others, to say or hint that the Church was in danger, +when it was voted otherwise in Parliament some years ago: and the Queen +herself in her last speech, did openly condemn all such insinuations.[10] +Notwithstanding which, I did then, and do still believe, the Church has, +since that vote, been in very imminent danger; and I think I might then +have said so, without the least offence to her Majesty, or either of the +two Houses. The Queen's words, as near as I can remember, mentioned the +Church being in danger from her administration; and whoever says or +thinks that, deserves, in my opinion, to be hanged for a traitor. But +that the Church and State may be both in danger under the best princes +that ever reigned, and without the least guilt of theirs, is such a +truth, as a man must be a great stranger to history or common sense, to +doubt. The wisest prince on earth may be forced, by the necessity of his +affairs, and the present power of an unruly faction, or deceived by the +craft of ill designing men: One or two ministers, most in his confidence, +may _at first_ have good intentions, but grow corrupted by time, by +avarice, by love, by ambition, and have fairer terms offered them, to +gratify their passions or interests, from _one set of men_ than another, +till they are too far involved for a retreat; and so be forced to take +"seven spirits more wicked than themselves." This is a very possible +case; and will not "the last state of such men be worse than the first"? +that is to say, will not the public, which was safe at first, grow in +danger by such proceedings as these? And shall a faithful subject, who +foresees and trembles at the consequences, be called _disaffected_, +because he delivers his opinion, though the prince declares, as he justly +may, that the danger is not owing to his administration? Or, shall the +prince himself be blamed, when in such a juncture he puts his affairs +into other hands, with the universal applause of his people? As to the +vote against those who should affirm the Church was in danger, I think it +likewise referred to danger from or under the Queen's administration, +(for I neither have it by me, nor can suddenly have recourse to it;) but +if it were otherwise, I know not how it can refer to any dangers but what +were past, or at that time present; or how it could affect the future, +unless the senators were all _inspired_, or at least that majority which +voted it. Neither do I see any crime further than ill manners, to differ +in opinion from a majority of either or both Houses; and that ill +manners, I must confess I have been often guilty of for some years past, +though I hope I never shall again. + +Another topic of great use to these weekly inflamers, is the young +Pretender[11] in France, to whom their whole party is in a high measure +indebted for all their greatness; and whenever it lies in their power, +they may perhaps return their acknowledgments, as out of their zeal for +frequent revolutions, they were ready to do to his supposed father: +which is a piece of secret history, that I hope will one day see the +light; and I am sure it shall, if ever I am master of it, without +regarding whose ears may tingle.[12] But at present, the word _Pretender_ +is a term of art in their possession: A secretary of state cannot desire +leave to resign, but the Pretender is at bottom: the Queen cannot +dissolve a Parliament, but it is a plot to dethrone herself, and bring in +the Pretender. Half a score stock-jobbers are playing the knave in +Exchange-Alley, and there goes the Pretender with a sponge. One would be +apt to think they bawl out the Pretender so often, to take off the +terror; or tell so many lies about him, to slacken our caution, that when +he is really coming, _by their connivance_, we may not believe them; as +the boy served the shepherds about the coming of the wolf. Or perhaps +they scare us with the Pretender, because they think he may be like some +diseases, that come with a fright. Do they not believe that the Queen's +present ministry love her Majesty, at least as well as _some others_ +loved the Church? And why is it not as great mark of disaffection now to +say the Queen is in danger, as it was some months ago to affirm the same +of the Church? Suppose it be a false opinion, that the Queen's right is +hereditary and indefeasible; yet how is it possible that those who hold +and believe that doctrine, can be in the Pretender's interest? His title +is weakened by every argument that strengthens hers. It is as plain as +the words of an Act of Parliament can make it, that her present Majesty +is heir to the survivor of the late King and Queen her sister. Is not +that an hereditary right? What need we explain it any further? I have +known an Article of Faith expounded in much looser and more general +terms, and that by an author whose opinions are very much followed by a +certain party.[13] Suppose we go further, and examine the word +_indefeasible_, with which some writers of late have made themselves so +merry: I confess it is hard to conceive, how any law which the supreme +power makes, may not by the same power be repealed: so that I shall not +determine, whether the Queen's right be indefeasible or no. But this I +will maintain, that whoever affirms it so, is not guilty of a crime. For +in that settlement of the crown after the Revolution, where her present +Majesty is named in remainder,[14] there are (as near as I can remember) +these remarkable words, "to which we bind ourselves and our posterity for +ever." Lawyers may explain this, or call them words of form, as they +please: and reasoners may argue that such an obligation is against the +very nature of government; but a plain reader, who takes the words in +their natural meaning, may be excused, in thinking a right so confirmed, +is _indefeasible_; and if there be an absurdity in such an opinion, he is +not to answer for it. + +_P.S._ When this paper was going to the press, the printer brought me two +more _Observators_,[15] wholly taken up in my _Examiner_ upon lying, +which I was at the pains to read; and they are just such an answer, as +the two others I have mentioned. This is all I have to say on that +matter. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 15 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Ovid, "Metamorphoses," viii. 203-5. + + "My boy, take care + To wing your course along the middle air: + If low, the surges wet your flagging plumes; + If high, the sun the melting wax consumes." + S. CROXALL. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: See the pamphlets: "The Thoughts of an Honest Tory," 1710 +[by Bp. Hoadly]; "Faults on both Sides ... by way of answer to +'The Thoughts of an Honest Tory,'" 1710 [by a Mr. Clements]; and +"Faults in the Fault-Finder: or, a Specimen of Errors in ... 'Faults +on Both Sides,'" 1710; etc., etc. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: "The Review" was edited by Daniel Defoe. He commenced +it on February 19th, 1703/4, as "A Weekly Review of the Affairs of +France"; but about this time it had lost much of its early spring and +verve. It was discontinued after June 11th, 1713. Gay thought, +speaking of "The Review," that Defoe was "a lively instance of +those wits, who, as an ingenious author says, will endure but one +skimming" ("Present State of Wit"). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: "The Observator" was founded by John Tutchin. The first +number was issued April 1st, 1702, and it appeared, with some intervals, +until July, 1712, though Tutchin himself died in 1707. For his +partisanship for Monmouth poor Tutchin came under the anger of Judge +Jeffreys, who sentenced him to several floggings. Pope's couplet in +the "Dunciad" has immortalized him: + + "Earless on high stood unabashed De Foe, + And Tutchin flagrant from the scourge below." + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: This was the Rev. Charles Leslie, whose periodical, "The +Rehearsal," was avowedly Jacobite. The paper appeared from August +5th, 1704, until March 26th, 1709. In 1708-9 all the numbers were +republished in four volumes folio, with the title: "A View of the +Times, their Principles and Practices: in the First [Second, etc.] +Volume of the Rehearsals," and under the pseudonym "Philalethes." +Later he engaged in a controversy with Bishop Hoadly. See also +note on p. 354, vol. v. + +Of Swift's use of the term "Nonjuror," "The Medley" (June 18th, +1711, No. 38) made the following remarks: "If he speaks of him with +relation to his party, there can be nothing so inconsistent as a Whig +and a Nonjuror: and if he talks of him merely as an author, all the +authors in the world are Nonjurors, but the ingenious divine who writ +'The Tale of a Tub' ... for he is the first man who introduced those +figures of rhetoric we call swearing and cursing in print." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: "The Observator" for November 8th, 1710 (vol. ix., No. 85), +was filled with _more_ remarks on the fourteenth "Examiner." Presumably +the issue for November 4th, which is not accessible, commenced the +attack. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: A humorous specimen of this kind of an "Answer" was given by +Swift in No. 23 of "The Examiner," _post._ [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: The Duke of Marlborough and Lord Godolphin, who commenced +their political career as Tories, and only became Whigs through the +necessity of identifying their own principles with that of the party +which supported their power. [S.]] + +[Footnote 10: On December 6th, 1705, the House of Lords passed the +following resolution: "That the Church of England ... is now, by God's +blessing, under the happy reign of her Majesty, in a most safe and +flourishing condition; and that whoever goes about to suggest and +insinuate, that the Church is in danger under her Majesty's +administration, is an enemy to the Queen, the Church, and the Kingdom" +("Jls. of House of Lords," xviii. 43). On December 8th the House of +Commons, by a majority of 212 against 162, agreed to this resolution. In +her speech at the prorogation of Parliament on April 5th, 1710, the Queen +said: "The suppressing immorality ... is what I have always earnestly +recommended; ... but, this being an evil complained of in all times, it +is very injurious to take a pretence from thence, to insinuate that the +Church is in any danger from my administration" ("Jls. Of House of +Lords," xix. 145). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: James, Duke of Cornwall (1688-1766), known as the Chevalier +de St. George. At one time the belief was current that the wife of James +II. did not give birth to a child, and the "young Pretender" was supposed +to be a son of one Mary Grey (see note on p. 409 of vol. v. of present +edition of Swift's works). See also: "State-Amusements, Serious and +Hypocritical ... Birth of the Pretended Prince of Wales," 1711; +"Seasonable Queries relating to the Birth and Birthright of a Certain +Person," 1714; and other pamphlets. In the Act for the Succession to the +Crown (6 Ann. c. 41), he is styled, "the Pretended Prince of Wales." +History afterwards called him the "Old Pretender" to distinguish him from +Charles Edward, the "bonnie Prince Charlie," the Young Pretender. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: Swift kept his word. See "An Enquiry into ... the Queen's +Last Ministry," 1715 (Swift's Works, vol. v., p. 458 _sq._), and his +"History of the Four Last Years of the Queen," 1758. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: By Bishop Burnet in his "Exposition of the Thirty-Nine +Articles." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: The reference here is to the Bill of Rights (1 William and +Mary, Sess. 2, c. 2), where it is said: "And thereunto the said Lords +spiritual and temporal and Commons do, in the name of all the people +aforesaid, most humbly and faithfully submit themselves, their heirs and +posterities, for ever." In the recital in the Act of Settlement (12 and +13 W. III. c. 2) the words "for ever" are omitted. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: "The Observator" of November 11th and 15th (vol. ix., Nos. +86 and 87). In No. 86 "The Examiner" is given "a spiritual shove," and, +quoting his statement that a political liar "ought to have but a short +memory" to meet occasions "of differing from himself, and swearing to +both sides of a contradiction," adds, "the 'Examiner' has this essential +qualification of a political liar." It is amusing to find in the same +issue "The Observator" calling Jezebel a Tory, and Elijah and Naboth, +Whigs! [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 17.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY NOVEMBER 16, TO THURSDAY NOVEMBER 23, 1710. + +_Qui sunt boni cives? Qui belli, qui domi de patriâ bene merentes, nisi +qui patriae beneficia meminerunt?_[2] + + +I will employ this present paper upon a subject, which of late hath very +much affected me, which I have considered with a good deal of +application, and made several enquiries about, among those persons who I +thought were best able to inform me; and if I deliver my sentiments with +some freedom, I hope it will be forgiven, while I accompany it with that +tenderness which so nice a point requires. + +I said in a former paper (Numb. 14) that one specious objection to the +late removals at court, was the fear of giving uneasiness to a general, +who has been long successful abroad: and accordingly, the common clamour +of tongues and pens for some months past, has run against the baseness, +the inconstancy and ingratitude of the whole kingdom to the Duke of +M[arlborough], in return of the most eminent services that ever were +performed by a subject to his country; not to be equalled in history. And +then to be sure some bitter stroke of detraction against Alexander and +Caesar, who never did us the least injury. Besides, the people that read +Plutarch come upon us with parallels drawn from the Greeks and Romans, +who ungratefully dealt with I know not how many of their most deserving +generals: while the profounder politicians, have seen pamphlets, where +Tacitus and Machiavel have been quoted to shew the danger of too +resplendent a merit. Should a stranger hear these furious outcries of +ingratitude against our general, without knowing the particulars, he +would be apt to enquire where was his tomb, or whether he were allowed +Christian burial? not doubting but we had put him to some ignominious +death. Or, has he been tried for his life, and very narrowly escaped? has +he been accused of high crimes and misdemeanours? has the prince seized +on his estate, and left him to starve? has he been hooted at as he passed +the streets, by an ungrateful mob? have neither honours, offices nor +grants, been conferred on him or his family? have not he and they been +barbarously stripped of them all? have not he and his forces been ill +paid abroad? and does not the prince by a scanty, limited commission, +hinder him from pursuing his own methods in the conduct of the war? +has he no power at all of disposing commissions as he pleases? is he not +severely used by the ministry or Parliament, who yearly call him to a +strict account? has the senate ever thanked him for good success, and +have they not always publicly censured him for the least miscarriage? +Will the accusers of the nation join issue upon any of these particulars, +or tell us in what point, our damnable sin of ingratitude lies? Why, it +is plain and clear; for while he is commanding abroad, the Queen +dissolves her Parliament, and changes her ministry at home: in which +universal calamity, no less than two persons[3] allied by marriage to the +general, have lost their places. Whence came this wonderful sympathy +between the civil and military powers? Will the troops in Flanders refuse +to fight, unless they can have their own lord keeper, their own lord +president of the council, their own chief Governor of Ireland, and their +own Parliament? In a kingdom where the people are free, how came they to +be so fond of having their councils under the influence of their army, or +those that lead it? who in all well instituted states, had no commerce +with the civil power, further than to receive their orders, and obey them +without reserve. + +When a general is not so popular, either in his army or at home, as one +might expect from a long course of success; it may perhaps be ascribed to +his wisdom, or perhaps to his complexion. The possession of some one +quality, or a defect in some other, will extremely damp the people's +favour, as well as the love of the soldiers. Besides, this is not an age +to produce favourites of the people, while we live under a Queen who +engrosses all our love, and all our veneration; and where, the only way +for a great general or minister, to acquire any degree of subordinate +affection from the public, must be by all marks of the most entire +submission and respect, to her sacred person and commands;[4] otherwise, +no pretence of great services, either in the field or the cabinet, will +be able to screen them from universal hatred. + +But the late ministry was closely joined to the general, by friendship, +interest, alliance, inclination and opinion, which cannot be affirmed of +the present; and the ingratitude of the nation, lies in the people's +joining as one man, to wish, that such a ministry should be changed. Is +it not at the same time notorious to the whole kingdom, that nothing but +a tender regard to the general, was able to preserve that ministry so +long, till neither God nor man could suffer their continuance? Yet in the +highest ferment of things, we heard few or no reflections upon this great +commander, but all seemed unanimous in wishing he might still be at the +head of the confederate forces; only at the same time, in case he were +resolved to resign, they chose rather to turn their thoughts somewhere +else, than throw up all in despair. And this I cannot but add, in defence +of the people, with regard to the person we are speaking of, that in the +high station he has been for many years past, his real defects (as +nothing human is without them) have in a detracting age been very +sparingly mentioned, either in libels or conversation, and all his +successes very freely and universally applauded. + +There is an active and a passive ingratitude; applying both to this +occasion, we may say, the first is, when a prince or people returns good +services with cruelty or ill usage: the other is, when good services are +not at all, or very meanly rewarded. We have already spoke of the former; +let us therefore in the second place, examine how the services of our +general have been rewarded; and whether upon that article, either prince +or people have been guilty of ingratitude? + +Those are the most valuable rewards, which are given to us from the +certain knowledge of the donor, that they _fit our temper best:_ I shall +therefore say nothing of the title of Duke, or the Garter, which the +Queen bestowed [on] the general in the beginning of her reign; but I +shall come to more substantial instances, and mention nothing which has +not been given in the face of the world.[5] The lands of Woodstock, may, +I believe, be reckoned worth 40,000_l_. On the building of Blenheim +Castle 200,000_l_. have been already expended, though it be not yet near +finished. The grant of 5,000_l. per ann._ on the post-office, is richly +worth 100,000_l_. His principality in Germany may be computed at +30,000_l_. Pictures, jewels, and other gifts from foreign princes, +60,000_l_. The grant at the Pall-Mall, the rangership, &c. for want of +more certain knowledge, may be called 10,000,_l_. His own, and his +duchess's employments at five years value, reckoning only the known and +avowed salaries, are very low rated at 100,000_l_. Here is a good deal +above half a million of money, and I dare say, those who are loudest with +the clamour of ingratitude, will readily own, that all this is but a +trifle in comparison of what is untold.[6] + +The reason of my stating this account is only to convince the world, that +we are not quite so ungrateful either as the Greeks or the Romans. And in +order to adjust this matter with all fairness, I shall confine myself to +the latter, who were much the more generous of the two. A victorious +general of Rome in the height of that empire, having entirely subdued his +enemy, was rewarded with the larger triumph; and perhaps a statue in the +Forum, a bull for a sacrifice, an embroidered garment to appear in: a +crown of laurel, a monumental trophy with inscriptions; sometimes five +hundred or a thousand copper coins were struck on occasion of the +victory, which doing honour to the general, we will place to his account; +and lastly, sometimes, though not very frequently, a triumphal arch. +These are all the rewards that I can call to mind, which a victorious +general received after his return from the most glorious expedition, +conquered some great kingdom, brought the king himself, his family and +nobles to adorn the triumph in chains, and made the kingdom either a +Roman province, or at best a poor depending state, in humble alliance to +that empire. Now of all these rewards, I find but two which were of real +profit to the general; the laurel crown, made and sent him at the charge +of the public, and the embroidered garment; but I cannot find whether +this last were paid for by the senate or the general: however, we will +take the more favourable opinion, and in all the rest, admit the whole +expense, as if it were ready money in the general's pocket. Now according +to these computations on both sides, we will draw up two fair accounts, +the one of Roman gratitude, and the other of British ingratitude, and set +them together in balance. + +A BILL OF ROMAN GRATITUDE. + + l. s. d. +Imprimis for frankincense and earthen pots +to burn it in 4 10 0 +A bull for sacrifice 8 0 0 +An embroidered garment 50 0 0 +A crown of laurel 0 0 2 +A statue 100 0 0 +A trophy 80 0 0 +A thousand copper medals value half pence +a piece 2 1 8 +A triumphal arch 500 0 0 +A triumphal car, valued as a modern coach 100 0 0 +Casual charges at the triumph 150 0 0 + ------------- + Sum total 994 11 10 + +A BILL OF BRITISH INGRATITUDE. + + l. s. d. +Imprimis Woodstock 40,000 0 0 +Blenheim 200,000 0 0 +Post-office grant 100,000 0 0 +Mildenheim 30,000 0 0 +Pictures, jewels, &c. 60,000 0 0 +Pall-Mall grant, &c. 10,000 0 0 +Employments 100,000 0 0 + ----------------- + Sum total[7] 540,000 0 0 + +This is an account of the visible profits on both sides; and if the Roman +general had any private perquisites, they may be easily discounted, and +by more probable computations, and differ yet more upon the balance; if +we consider, that all the gold and silver for safeguards and +contributions, also all valuable prizes taken in the war were openly +exposed in the triumph, and then lodged in the Capitol for the +public service. + +So that upon the whole, we are not yet quite so bad at _worst_, as the +Romans were at _best_. And I doubt, those who raise this hideous cry of +ingratitude, may be mightily mistaken in the consequence they propose +from such complaints. I remember a saying of Seneca, _Multos ingratos +invenimus, plures facimus;_ "We find many ungrateful persons in the +world, but we _make_ more," by setting too high a rate upon our +pretensions, and under-valuing the rewards we receive. When unreasonable +bills are brought in, they ought to be taxed, or cut off in the middle. +Where there have been long accounts between two persons, I have known one +of them perpetually making large demands and pressing for payments, who +when the accounts were cast up on both sides, was found to be creditor +for some hundreds. I am thinking if a proclamation were issued out for +every man to send in his _bill of merits_, and the lowest price he set +them at, what a pretty sum it would amount to, and how many such islands +as this must be sold to pay them. I form my judgment from the practice of +those who sometimes happen to pay themselves, and I dare affirm, would +not be so unjust to take a farthing more than they think is due to their +deserts. I will instance only in one article. A lady of my +acquaintance,[8] appropriated twenty-six pounds a year out of her +allowance, for certain uses, which her woman received, and was to pay to +the lady or her order, as it was called for. But after eight years, it +appeared upon the strictest calculation, that the woman had paid but four +pound a year, and sunk two-and-twenty for her own pocket. It is but +supposing instead of twenty-six pound, twenty-six thousand, and by that +you may judge what the pretensions of _modern merit_ are, where it +happens to be its own paymaster. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 16 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: "Who are the good citizens? Who are they who--whether at +war or at home--deserve well of their country, but those who bear in +mind the benefits she has already conferred upon them?" [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: The Earl of Sunderland and Lord Godolphin. Sunderland was +succeeded by Dartmouth, in June, as Secretary of State, and Godolphin +returned his staff of treasurer in August, the office being placed in +commission. Sunderland and Godolphin were both related to Marlborough +by marriage. The former married Anne, and the son of the latter +Henrietta, daughters of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: See "Memoirs relating to that Change" (Swift's Works, vol. +v., pp. 367-8). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: The Queen's Message, proposing to grant to the Duke of +Marlborough the Manor of Woodstock and Hundred of Wootton, was read +January 17th, 1704/5. A Bill carrying this proposal into effect was +introduced January 25th, and passed February 3rd. Blenheim House, erected +at the Queen's expense, was settled to go with the dukedom by a Bill +introduced in the House of Lords, which passed all its stages in the +Commons December 20th, 1706. The pension of £5,000 per annum upon the +revenue of the Post Office, granted by the Queen for her lifetime +in December, 1702--at a time when the Commons expressed their "trouble" +that they could not comply--was made perpetual by a Bill introduced +January 14th, 1706/7, passed January 18th, Royal Assent given January +28th (see "Journals of House of Commons," xiv. and xv.). [T.S.] ] + +[Footnote 6: A broadside, printed in 1712, entitled, "The D----e and D--- +-s of M----h's Loss; being an Estimate of their former Yearly Income," +reckons the duke's emoluments at £54,825 per annum, and those of the +duchess at £7,500. In the second edition the following paragraph is +added: + +"The following sums have been rec'd since the year 1701: + +"Receiv'd on Accompt of Bread and Bread-waggons £63,319 3 7 +Receiv'd 10,000,_l_. by Annual Contingencies 100,000 0 0 +Receiv'd by 2 and 1/2 _per cent_, from the +payment of Troops 460,062 6 7-3/4 + ----------------- + 623,381 10 2-3/4" + -----------------] + + +[Footnote 7: In the tenth number of "The Medley" (December 4th, 1710) +occurs the following: "'The Examiner,' having it in his thoughts to +publish the falsest, as well as the most impudent paper that ever was +printed, writ a previous discourse about lying, as a necessary +introduction to what was to follow. The first paper was the precept, and +the second was the example. By the falsest paper that ever was printed, I +mean the 'Examiner' Numb. 17, in which he pretends to give an account of +what the Duke of Marlborough has got by his services." The writer in the +"Medley," admitting even the correctness of the "Examiner's" sum of +£540,000, sets off against this the value of the several battles won by +the Duke, and "twenty seven towns taken, which being reckoned at +300,000_l_. a town (the price that Dunkirk was sold at before it was +fortified) amounts in all, throwing in the battles and the +fortifications, to 8,100,000_l_." The balance in favour of the Duke, and +presumably in justification of the gifts made him, gave a net result of +£7,560,000. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The Duchess of Marlborough, who admitted that the comparison +was intended for herself, explained the matter thus: "At the Queen's +accession to the government, she ... desired me to take out of the +privy-purse 2,000_l_. a year, in order to some purchase for my advantage +... I constantly declined it; until the time, that, notwithstanding the +uncommon regard I had shown to Her Majesty's interest and honour in the +execution of my trusts, she was pleased to dismiss me from her service +... By the advice of my friends, I sent the Queen one of her own letters, +in which she had pressed me to take the 2,00_l_. a year; and I wrote at +the same time to ask Her Majesty whether she would allow me to charge in +the privy-purse accounts, which I was to send her, that yearly sum from +the time of the offer, amounting to 18,000_l_. Her Majesty was pleased to +answer, that I might charge it. This therefore I did" ("An Account of the +Conduct of ... Duchess of Marlborough," 1742, pp. 293-5). The Duchess of +Somerset and Mrs. Masham superseded the Duchess of Marlborough in +January, 1710/1. [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 18.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY NOVEMBER 23, TO THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 1710. + +_Quas res luxuries in flagitus,... avaritia in rapinis, superbia in +contumeliis efficere potuisset; eas omnes sese hoc uno praetore per +triennium pertulisse aiebant_.[2] + +When I first undertook this paper, I was resolved to concern myself only +with things, and not with persons. Whether I have kept or broken this +resolution, I cannot recollect; and I will not be at the pains to +examine, but leave the matter to those little antagonists, who may want a +topic for criticism. Thus much I have discovered, that it is in writing +as in building; where, after all our schemes and calculations, we are +mightily deceived in our accounts, and often forced to make use of any +materials we can find, that the work may be kept a going. Besides, to +speak my opinion, the things I have occasion to mention, are so closely +linked to persons, that nothing but Time (the father of Oblivion) can +separate them. Let me put a parallel case: Suppose I should complain, +that last week my coach was within an inch of overturning, in a smooth, +even way, and drawn by very gentle horses; to be sure, all my friends +would immediately lay the fault upon John,[3] because they knew, he then +presided in my coach-box. Again, suppose I should discover some +uneasiness to find myself, I knew not how, over head-and-ears in debt, +though I was sure my tenants paid their rents very well, and that I never +spent half my income; they would certainly advise me to turn off Mr. +Oldfox[4] my receiver, and take another. If, as a justice of peace, I +should tell a friend that my warrants and mittimuses were never drawn up +as I would have them; that I had the misfortune to send an honest man to +gaol, and dismiss a knave; he would bid me no longer trust Charles and +Harry,[5] my two clerks, whom he knew to be ignorant, wilful, assuming +and ill-inclined fellows. If I should add, that my tenants made me very +uneasy with their squabbles and broils among themselves; he would +counsel me to cashier Will Bigamy,[6] the seneschal of my manor. And +lastly, if my neighbour and I happened to have a misunderstanding about +the delivery of a message, what could I do less than strip and discard +the blundering or malicious rascal that carried it?[7] + +It is the same thing in the conduct of public affairs, where they have +been managed with rashness or wilfulness, corruption, ignorance or +injustice; barely to relate the facts, at least, while they are fresh in +memory, will as much reflect upon the persons concerned, as if we had +told their names at length. + +I have therefore since thought of another expedient, frequently practised +with great safety and success by satirical writers: which is, that of +looking into history for some character bearing a resemblance to the +person we would describe; and with the absolute power of altering, adding +or suppressing what circumstances we please, I conceived we must have +very bad luck, or very little skill to fail. However, some days ago in a +coffee-house, looking into one of the politic weekly papers; I found the +writer had fallen into this scheme, and I happened to light on that part, +where he was describing a person, who from small beginnings grew (as I +remember) to be constable of France, and had a very haughty, imperious +wife.[8] I took the author as a friend to our faction, (for so with great +propriety of speech they call the Queen and ministry, almost the whole +clergy, and nine parts in ten of the kingdom)[9] and I said to a +gentleman near me, that although I knew well enough what persons the +author meant, yet there were several particulars in the husband's +character, which I could not reconcile, for that of the lady was just and +adequate enough; but it seems I mistook the whole matter, and applied all +I had read to a couple of persons, who were not at that time in the +writer's thoughts. + +Now to avoid such a misfortune as this, I have been for some time +consulting Livy and Tacitus, to find out a character of a _Princeps +Senatus,_ a _Praetor Urbanus,_ a _Quaestor Aerarius_, a _Caesari ab +Epistolis_, and a _Proconsul_;[10] but among the worst of them, I cannot +discover one from whom to draw a parallel, without doing injury to a +Roman memory: so that I am compelled to have recourse to Tully. But this +author relating facts only as an orator, I thought it would be best to +observe his method, and make an extract from six harangues of his against +Verres, only still preserving the form of an oration. I remember a +younger brother of mine, who deceased about two months ago, presented +the world with a speech of Alcibiades against an Athenian brewer:[11] +Now, I am told for certain, that in those days there was no ale in +Athens; and therefore that speech, or at least a great part of it, must +needs be spurious. The difference between me and my brother is this; he +makes Alcibiades say a great deal more than he really did, and I make +Cicero say a great deal less.[12] This Verres had been the Roman governor +of Sicily for three years; and on return from his government, the +Sicilians entreated Cicero to impeach him in the Senate, which he +accordingly did in several orations, from whence I have faithfully +translated and abstracted that which follows. + +"MY LORDS,[13] + +"A pernicious opinion hath for some time prevailed, not only at Rome, but +among our neighbouring nations, that a man who has money enough, though +he be ever so guilty, cannot be condemned in this place. But however +industriously this opinion be spread, to cast an odium on the Senate, we +have brought before your lordships Caius Verres, a person, for his life +and actions, already condemned by all men; but as he hopes, and gives +out, by the influence of his wealth, to be here absolved. In condemning +this man, you have an opportunity of belying that general scandal, of +redeeming the credit lost by former judgments, and recovering the love of +the Roman people, as well as of our neighbours. I have brought a man here +before you, my lords, who is a robber of the public treasure, an +overturner of law and justice, and the disgrace, as well as destruction, +of the Sicilian province: of whom, if you shall determine with equity and +due severity, your authority will remain entire, and upon such an +establishment as it ought to be: but if his great riches will be able to +force their way through that religious reverence and truth, which become +so awful an assembly, I shall, however, obtain thus much, that the defect +will be laid where it ought, and that it shall not be objected that the +criminal was not produced, or that there wanted an orator to accuse him. +This man, my lords, has publicly said, that those ought to be afraid of +accusations who have only robbed enough for their own support and +maintenance; but that _he_ has plundered sufficient to bribe numbers, and +that nothing is so high or so holy which money cannot corrupt. Take that +support from him, and he can have no other left. For what eloquence will +be able to defend a man, whose life has been tainted with so many +scandalous vices, and who has been so long condemned by the universal +opinion of the world? To pass over the foul stains and ignominy of his +youth, his corrupt management in all employments he has borne, his +treachery and irreligion, his injustice and oppression, he has left of +late such monuments of his villainies in Sicily, made such havoc and +confusion there, during his government, that the province cannot by any +means be restored to its former state, and hardly recover itself at all +under many years, and by a long succession of good governors. While this +man governed in that island, the Sicilians had neither the benefit of our +laws, nor their own, nor even of common right. In Sicily, no man now +possesses more than what the governor's lust and avarice have overlooked, +or what he was forced to neglect out of mere weariness and satiety of +oppression. Every thing where he presided, was determined by his +arbitrary will, and the best subjects he treated as enemies. To recount +his abominable debaucheries, would offend any modest ear, since so many +could not preserve their daughters and wives from his lust. I believe +there is no man who ever heard his name, that cannot relate his +enormities. We bring before you in judgment, my lords, a public robber, +an adulterer, a DEFILER OF ALTARS,[14] an enemy of religion, and of all +that is sacred; he sold all employments in Sicily of judicature, +magistracy, and trust, places in the council, and the priesthood itself, +to the highest bidder; and has plundered that island of forty millions of +sesterces. And here I cannot but observe to your lordships, in what +manner Verres passed the day: the morning was spent in taking bribes, and +selling employments, the rest of it in drunkenness and lust. His +discourse at table was scandalously unbecoming the dignity of his +station; noise, brutality, and obsceneness. One particular I cannot omit, +that in the high character of governor of Sicily, upon a solemn day, a +day set apart for public prayer for the safety of the commonwealth; he +stole at evening, in a chair, to a married woman of infamous +character,[15] against all decency and prudence, as well as against all +laws both human and divine. Didst thou think, O Verres, the government of +Sicily was given thee with so large a commission, only by the power of +that to break all the bars of law, modesty, and duty, to suppose all +men's fortunes thine, and leave no house free from thy rapine, or lust? +&c." + +This extract, to deal ingenuously, has cost me more pains than I think it +is worth, having only served to convince me, that modern corruptions are +not to be paralleled by ancient examples, without having recourse to +poetry or fable. For instance, I never read in story of a law enacted to +take away the force of all laws whatsoever;[16] by which a man may safely +commit upon the last of June, what he would infallibly be hanged for if +he committed on the first of July; by which the greatest criminals may +escape, provided they continue long enough in power to antiquate their +crimes, and by stifling them a while, can deceive the legislature into an +amnesty, of which the enactors do not at that time foresee the +consequence. A cautious merchant will be apt to suspect, when he finds a +man who has the repute of a cunning dealer, and with whom he has old +accounts, urging for a general release. When I reflect on this +proceeding, I am not surprised, that those who contrived a parliamentary +sponge for their crimes, are now afraid of a new revolution sponge for +their money: and if it were possible to contrive a sponge that could only +affect those who had need of the other, perhaps it would not be ill +employed. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 17 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Cicero, "In Q. Caec." i. 3: "They said that whatever luxury +could accomplish in the way of vice,... avarice in the way of plunder, or +arrogance in the way of insult, had all been borne by them for the last +three years, while this one man was praetor."--C.D. YONGE. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: John Churchill, Duke of Maryborough, who had been +Captain-General since 1702. He was dismissed from all his offices, +December 31st, 1711. The Duke of Ormonde was appointed Commander-in-Chief +on January 4th. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Godolphin, Lord-Treasurer, nicknamed Volpone. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Charles, Earl of Sunderland, and Henry Boyle (1670-1725), +were Secretaries of State. Boyle was created Lord Carleton in 1714. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: William; Earl Cowper (1665-1723), was Lord Chancellor under +Godolphin's administration (1707-1710), and also in 1714-1718. The +"Biographia Britannica" (second edition, vol. iv., p. 389 _n_.) refers to +a story that Cowper went through an informal marriage in the early +part of his life with a Mrs. Elizabeth Culling, of Hungerfordbury Park. +Cowper's first wife was Judith, daughter of Sir Robert Booth, of London; +and after her death he married Mary Clavering. See also "Examiner," +No. 23, _post_. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: Horatio Walpole, secretary to the English Embassy at the +treaty of Gertruydenberg. See Swift's accusation against him in "The +Conduct of the Allies" (vol. v of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: "The Medley" (Nos. 6 and 7, November 6th and 13th, 1710) +contains a "Story of the Marquiss D'Ancre and his Wife Galigai," from +the French of M. Le Vassor. The Marquis is there described as "the +greatest cheat in the whole world"; and "Galigai had the insolence +to say a thousand offensive things." The article was intended as a +reflection on Harley and Mrs. Masham; but Swift takes it as for the +Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. Certainly the character of Galigai +may with greater justice be applied to the Duchess. (See "Histoire +du regne de Louis XIII. par M. Michel Le Vassor.") Concino Concini, +Maréchal D'Ancre, was born at Florence, and died in 1617. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: "The Medley" was constantly deriding this alleged +proportion. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: "The Observator" for December 6th remarks: "If the +'Examiner' don't find better parallels for his _Princeps Senates, Praetor +Urbanus, Quaestor Aerarius_, and _Caesari ab Epistolis_, than he has done +for his Proconsul, Roger, the gentlemen he aims at may sleep without +disturbance." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: "The Whig Examiner" (No. 3, September 28th, 1710) prints a +speech alleged to have been made by Alcibiades in a contest with an +Athenian brewer named Taureas. The allusion was to the Westminster +election, when General Stanhope was opposed by a brewer named Thomas +Cross. "The Whig Examiner" was written by Addison. Five numbers only were +issued (September 14th to October 12th, 1710). "The light and comic style +of Addison's parody," notes Scott, may be compared "with the fierce, +stern, and vindictive tone of Swift's philippic against the Earl of +Wharton, under the name of Verres." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: "The Medley" (No. 11, December 11th, 1710) remarks of this +adaptation from Cicero, that the writer "has added more rude reflections +of his own than are to be found in that author, whose only fault is his +falling too much into such reflections." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: See also Swift's "Short Character," etc. (vol. v., pp. 1-28 +of present edition), and note _in loco_. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: Hawkesworth notes: "The story of the Lord Wharton is true; +who, with some other wretches, went into a pulpit, and defiled it in +the most filthy manner." See also "Examiner," No. 23, _post_. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: Probably Mrs. Coningsby. See Swift's "Short Character" +(vol. v., p. 27). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 16: The "Act for the Queen's most gracious, general, and free +pardon" was passed in 1708 (7 Ann., c. 22). The Earl of Wharton himself +profited by this Act. A Mr. George Hutchinson gave Wharton £1,000 +to procure his appointment to the office of Register of the Seizures. +This was proved before the House of Commons in May, 1713, and the +House resolved that it was "a scandalous corruption," and that as it +took place "before the Act of Her Majesty's most gracious, general, +and free pardon; this House will proceed no further in that matter." +("Journals of House of Commons," vol. xvii., p. 356.) [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 19.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, TO THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 1710. + + +_Quippe ubi fas versunt atque nefas: tot bella per orbem: +Tam multae, scelerum facies_----[2] + +I am often violently tempted to let the world freely know who the author +of this paper is; to tell them my name and titles at length; which would +prevent abundance of inconsistent criticisms I daily hear upon it. Those +who are enemies to the notions and opinions I would advance, are +sometimes apt to quarrel with the "Examiner" as defective in point of +wit, and sometimes of truth. At other times they are so generous and +candid, to allow, it is written by a club, and that very great hands have +fingers in it. As for those who only appear its adversaries in print, +they give me but very little pain: The paper I hold lies at my mercy, and +I can govern it as I please; therefore, when I begin to find the wit too +bright, the learning too deep, and the satire too keen for me to deal +with, (a very frequent case no doubt, where a man is constantly attacked +by such shrewd adversaries) I peaceably fold it up, or fling it aside, +and read no more. It would be happy for me to have the same power over +people's tongues, and not be forced to hear my own work railed at and +commended fifty times a day, affecting all the while a countenance wholly +unconcerned, and joining out of policy or good manners with the judgment +of both parties: this, I confess, is too great a hardship for so bashful +and unexperienced a writer.[3] + +But, alas, I lie under another discouragement of much more weight: I was +very unfortunate in the choice of my party when I set up to be a writer; +where is the merit, or what opportunity to discover our wit, our courage, +or our learning, in drawing our pens for the defence of a cause, which +the Queen and both Houses of Parliament, and nine parts in ten of the +kingdom, have so unanimously embraced? I am cruelly afraid, we politic +authors must begin to lessen our expenses, and lie for the future at the +mercy of our printers. All hopes now are gone of writing ourselves into +places or pensions. A certain starveling author who worked under the late +administration, told me with a heavy heart, above a month ago, that he +and some others of his brethren had secretly offered their service +dog-cheap to the present ministry, but were all refused, and are now +maintained by contribution, like Jacobites or fanatics. I have been of +late employed out of perfect commiseration, in doing them good offices: +for, whereas some were of opinion that these hungry zealots should not be +suffered any longer in their malapert way to snarl at the present course +of public proceedings; and whereas, others proposed, that they should be +limited to a certain number, and permitted to write for their masters, in +the same manner as counsel are assigned for _other_ criminals; that is, +to say all they can in defence of their client, but not reflect upon the +court: I humbly gave my advice, that they should be suffered to write on, +as they used to do; which I did purely out of regard to their persons: +for I hoped it would keep them out of harm's way, and prevent them from +falling into evil courses, which though of little consequence to the +public, would certainly be fatal to themselves. If I have room at the +bottom of this paper, I will transcribe a petition to the present +ministry, sent me by one of these authors, in behalf of himself and +fourscore others of his brethren. + +For my own part, notwithstanding the little encouragement to be hoped for +at this time from the men in power, I shall continue my paper till either +the world or myself grow weary of it: the latter is easily determined; +and for the former, I shall not leave it to the partiality of either +party, but to the infallible judgment of my printer. One principal end I +designed by it, was to undeceive those well-meaning people, who have been +drawn unaware into a wrong sense of things, either by the common +prejudices of education and company, the great personal qualities of some +party leaders, or the foul misrepresentations that were constantly made +of all who durst differ from them in the smallest article. I have known +such men struck with the thoughts of some late changes, which, as they +pretend to think, were made without any reason visible to the world. In +answer to this, it is not sufficient to allege, what nobody doubts, that +a prince may choose his own servants without giving a reason to his +subjects; because it is certain, that a wise and good prince will not +change his ministers without very important reasons; and a good subject +ought to suppose, that in such a case there are such reasons, though he +be not apprised of them, otherwise he must inwardly tax his prince of +capriciousness, inconstancy, or ill-design. Such reasons indeed, may not +be obvious to persons prejudiced, or at great distance, or short +thinkers; and therefore, if they be no secrets of state, nor any ill +consequences to be apprehended from their publication; it is no +uncommendable work in any private hand to lay them open for the +satisfaction of all men. And if what I have already said, or shall +hereafter say of this kind, be thought to reflect upon persons, though +none have been named, I know not how it can possibly be avoided. The +Queen in her speech mentions, "with great concern," that "the navy and +other offices are burthened with heavy debts, and desires that the like +may be prevented for the time to come."[4] And, if it be _now_ possible +to prevent the continuance of an evil that has been so long growing upon +us, and is arrived to such a height, surely those corruptions and +mismanagements must have been great which first introduced them, before +our taxes were eaten up by annuities. + +If I were able to rip up, and discover in all their colours, only about +eight or nine thousand of the most scandalous abuses,[5] that have been +committed in all parts of public management for twenty years past, by a +certain set of men and their instruments, I should reckon it some service +to my country, and to posterity. But to say the truth, I should be glad +the authors' names were conveyed to future times along with their +actions. For though the present age may understand well enough the little +hints we give, the parallels we draw, and the characters we describe, yet +this will all be lost to the next. However, if these papers, reduced into +a more durable form, should happen to live till our grandchildren are +men, I hope they may have curiosity enough to consult annals, and compare +dates, in order to find out what names were then intrusted with the +conduct of affairs, in the consequences whereof, themselves will so +deeply share; like a heavy debt in a private family, which often lies an +incumbrance upon an estate for three generations. + +But leaving the care of informing posterity to better pens, I shall with +due regard to truth, discretion, and the safety of my person from the men +of the new-fangled moderation, continue to take all proper opportunities +of letting the misled part of the people see how grossly they have been +abused, and in what particulars: I shall also endeavour to convince them, +that the present course we are in, is the most probable means, with the +blessing of God, to extricate ourselves out of all our difficulties. + +Among those who are pleased to write or talk against this paper, I have +observed a strange manner of reasoning, which I should be glad to hear +them explain themselves upon. They make no ceremony of exclaiming upon +all occasions against a change of ministry, in so critical and dangerous +a conjuncture. What shall we, who heartily approve and join in those +proceedings, say in defence of them? We own the juncture of affairs to be +as they describe: we are pushed for an answer, and are forced at last +freely to confess, that the corruptions and abuses in every branch of +the administration, were so numerous and intolerable, that all things +must have ended in ruin, without some speedy reformation. This I have +already asserted in a former paper; and the replies I have read or heard, +have been in plain terms to affirm the direct contrary; and not only to +defend and celebrate the late persons and proceedings, but to threaten me +with law and vengeance, for casting reflections on so many great and +honourable men, whose birth, virtue and abilities, whose morals and +religion, whose love of their country and its constitution in Church and +State, were so universally allowed; and all this set off with odious +comparisons reflecting on the present choice. Is not this in plain and +direct terms to tell all the world that the Qu[een] has in a most +dangerous crisis turned out a whole set of the best ministers that ever +served a prince, without any manner of reason but her royal pleasure, and +brought in others of a character directly contrary? And how so vile an +opinion as this can consist with the least pretence to loyalty or good +manners, let the world determine. + +I confess myself so little a refiner in the politics, as not to be able +to discover, what other motive besides obedience to the Queen, a sense of +public danger, and a true love of their country, joined with invincible +courage, could spirit those great men, who have now under her Majesty's +authority undertaken the direction of affairs. What can they expect but +the utmost efforts of malice from a set of enraged domestic adversaries, +perpetually watching over their conduct, crossing all their designs, and +using every art to foment divisions among them, in order to join with the +weakest upon any rupture? The difficulties they must encounter are nine +times more and greater than ever; and the prospects of interest, after +the reapings and gleanings of so many years, nine times less. Every +misfortune at home or abroad, though the necessary consequence of former +counsels, will be imputed to them; and all the good success given to the +merit of former schemes. A sharper has held your cards all the evening, +played booty, and lost your money, and when things are almost desperate, +you employ an honest gentleman to retrieve your losses. + +I would ask whether the Queen's speech does not contain her intentions, +in every particular relating to the public, that a good subject, a Briton +and a Protestant can possibly have at heart? "To carry on the war in all +its parts, particularly in Spain,[6] with the utmost vigour, in order to +procure a safe and honourable peace for us and our allies; to find some +ways of paying the debts on the navy; to support and encourage the Church +of England; to preserve the British constitution according to the Union; +to maintain the indulgence by law allowed to scrupulous consciences; and +to employ none but such as are for the Protestant succession in the house +of Hanover."[7] It is known enough, that speeches on these occasions, are +ever digested by the advice of those who are in the chief confidence, and +consequently that these are the sentiments of her Majesty's ministers, as +well as her own; and we see, the two Houses have unanimously agreed with +her in every article. When the least counterpaces[8] are made to any of +these resolutions, it will then be time enough for our malcontents to +bawl out Popery, persecution, arbitrary power, and the Pretender. In the +mean while, it is a little hard to think, that this island can hold but +six men of honesty and ability enough to serve their prince and country; +or that our safety should depend upon their credit, any more than it +would upon the breath in their nostrils. Why should not a revolution in +the ministry be sometimes necessary as well as a revolution in the crown? +It is to be presumed, the former is at least as lawful in itself, and +perhaps the experiment not quite so dangerous. The revolution of the sun +about the earth was formerly thought a necessary expedient to solve +appearances, though it left many difficulties unanswered; till +philosophers contrived a better, which is that of the earth's revolution +about the sun. This is found upon experience to save much time and +labour, to correct many irregular motions, and is better suited to the +respect due from a planet to a fixed star. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 18 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Virgil, "Georgics," i. 505-6: + +"For right and wrong we see perverted here: +So many wars arise, such countless forms +Of crime and evil agitate the globe."--R. KENNEDY. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: This remark seems to have tickled the writer of the twelfth +number of "The Medley," who professed to be transported at the idea of +the "Examiner" being a bashful writer. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: In her speech at the opening of Parliament on November 27th, +1710, the Queen said: "I cannot without great concern mention to you, +that the Navy and other offices are burthened with heavy debts, which so +far affect the public service, that I most earnestly desire you to find +some way to answer those demands, and to prevent the like for the time to +come." ("Journals of House of Lords," vol. xix., p. 166.) [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: "The Medley" (No. 13, December 25th, 1710) remarks: "When +he ... promises to discover 'only about eight or nine thousand of their +most scandalous abuses,' without pretending to discover one; and when he +audaciously reviles a general, whose services have been the wonder both +of friends and enemies ... all this he calls 'defending the cause of the +Q---- and both Houses of Parliament, and nine parts in ten of the +kingdom.'" [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: It was a general complaint, that the war in Spain had been +neglected, in order to supply that army which was more immediately under +the management of Marlborough. [S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The quotation is not given verbatim, but is substantially +correct. See "Journals of House of Lords," vol. xix., p. 166. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The word is defined by Dr. Murray as "a movement in a +contrary or reverse direction; a movement or step against something." +[T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 20.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, TO THURSDAY DECEMBER 14, 1710. + + + _Sunt quibus in Satira videor nimis acer, et ultra + Legem tendere opus: sine nervis altera, quicquid + Composui, pars esse putat----_[2] + + +When the printer came last week for his copy, he brought along with him a +bundle of those papers,[3] which in the phrase of Whig coffee-houses have +"swinged off" the "Examiner," most of which I had never seen nor heard of +before. I remember some time ago in one of the "Tatlers" to have read a +letter,[4] wherein several reasons are assigned for the present +corruption and degeneracy of our taste, but I think the writer has +omitted the principal one, which I take to be the prejudice of parties. +Neither can I excuse either side of this infirmity; I have heard the +arrantest drivellers _pro_ and _con_ commended for their smartness even +by men of tolerable judgment; and the best performances exploded as +nonsense and stupidity. This indeed may partly be imputed to policy and +prudence; but it is chiefly owing to that blindness, which prejudice and +passion cast over the understanding: I mention this because I think it +properly within my province in quality of _Examiner_. And having granted +more than is usual for an enemy to do, I must now take leave to say, that +so weak a cause, and so ruined a faction, were never provided with pens +more resembling their condition, or less suited to their occasions. + + _Non tali auxilio, nec defensoribus istis + Tempus eget----_[5] + +This is the more to be wondered at, when we consider they have the full +liberty of the press, that they have no other way left to recover +themselves, and that they want not men of excellent parts to set their +arguments in the best light they will bear. Now if two men would argue on +both sides with fairness, good sense, and good manners, it would be no +ill entertainment to the town, and perhaps be the most effectual means to +reconcile us. But I am apt to think that men of a great genius are hardly +brought to prostitute their pens in a very odious cause; which besides, +is more properly undertaken by noise and impudence, by gross railing and +scurrility, by calumny and lying, and by little trifling cavils and +carpings in the wrong place, which those whifflers use for arguments and +answers. + +I was well enough pleased with a story of one of these answerers, who in +a paper[6] last week found many faults with a late calculation of mine. +Being it seems more deep learned than his fellows, he was resolved to +begin his answer with a Latin verse, as well as other folks: His business +was to look out for something against an "Examiner" that would pretend +to _tax_ accounts; and turning over Virgil, he had the luck to find these +words, + + ------_fugiant examina taxos;_[7] + +so down they went, and out they would have come, if one of his unlucky +prompters had not hindered it. + +I here declare once for all, that if these people will not be quiet, I +shall take the bread out of their mouths, and answer the "Examiner" +myself;[8] which I protest I have never yet done, though I have been +often charged with it; neither have those answers been written or +published with my privity, as malicious people are pleased to give out; +nor do I believe the common Whiggish report, that the authors are hired +by the ministry to give my paper a value. + +But the friends of this paper have given me more uneasiness with their +impatience, than its enemies by their answers. I heard myself censured +last week by some of the former, for promising to discover the +corruptions in the late administration, but never performing any thing. +The latter on the other side, are thundering out their anathemas against +me for discovering so many. I am at a loss how to decide between these +contraries, and shall therefore proceed after my own way, as I have +hitherto done: my design being of more importance than that of writing +only to gratify the spleen of one side, or provoke that of the other, +though it may occasionally have both effects. + +I shall therefore go on to relate some facts that in my humble opinion +were no hindrance to the change of the ministry. + +The first I shall mention, was that of introducing certain new phrases +into the court style, which had been very seldom or never made use of in +former times. They usually ran in the following terms: "Madam, I cannot +serve you while such a one is in employment: I desire humbly to resign my +commission, if Mr. ------ continues secretary of state: I cannot answer +that the city will lend money, unless my L-- ------ be pr[esiden]t of the +c[ounc]il. I must beg leave to surrender, except ------ has the staff. I +must not accept the seals, unless ------ comes into the other office." +This has been the language of late years from subjects to their +prince.[9] Thus they stood upon terms, and must have their own conditions +to ruin the nation. Nay, this dutiful manner of capitulating, had spread +so far, that every understrapper began at length to perk up and assume: +he "expected a regiment"; or "his son must be a major"; or "his brother +a collector", else he threatened to vote "according to his conscience." + +Another of their glorious attempts, was the clause intended in the bill +for the encouragement of learning;[10] for taking off the obligation upon +fellows of colleges in both Universities to enter upon holy orders: the +design of which, as I have heard the undertakers often confess, was to +remove the care of educating youth out of the hands of the clergy, who +are apt to infuse into their pupils too great a regard for the Church and +the Monarchy. But there was a farther secret in this clause, which may +best be discovered by the first projectors, or at least the garblers of +it; and these are known to be C[o]ll[i]ns[11] and Tindal,[12] in +conjunction with a most pious lawyer their disciple.[13] + +What shall we say to their prodigious skill in arithmetic, discovered so +constantly in their decision of elections; where they were able to make +out by the _rule of false_, that three were more than three-and-twenty, +and fifteen than fifty? Nay it was a maxim which I never heard any of +them dispute, that in determining elections, they were not to consider +where the right lay, but which of the candidates was likelier to be true +to "the cause." This they used to illustrate by a very apt and decent +similitude, of gaming with a sharper; if you cannot cheat as well as he, +you are certainly undone. + +Another cast of their politics was that of endeavouring to impeach an +innocent l[a]dy, for no reason imaginable, but her faithful and diligent +service to the Q[ueen],[14] and the favour her M[ajesty] bore to her upon +that account, when others had acted contrary in so shameful a manner. +What else was the crime? Had she treated her royal mistress with +insolence or neglect? Had she enriched herself by a long practice of +bribery, and obtaining exorbitant grants? Had she engrossed her +M[ajest]y's favours, without admitting any access but through her means? +Had she heaped employments upon herself, her family and dependants? Had +she an imperious, haughty behaviour? Or, after all, was it a perfect +blunder and mistake of one person for another? I have heard of a man who +lay all night on a rough pavement; and in the morning, wondering what it +could possibly be, that made him rest so ill, happened to see a feather +under him, and imputed the uneasiness of his lodging to that. I remember +likewise the story of a giant in Rabelais,[15] who used to feed upon +wind-mills, but was unfortunately choked with a small lump of fresh +butter, before a warm oven. + +And here I cannot but observe how very refined some people are in their +generosity and gratitude. There is a certain great person[16] (I shall +not say of what sex) who for many years past, was the constant mark and +butt, against which our present malcontents used to discharge their +resentment: upon whom they bestowed all the terms of scurrility, that +malice, envy and indignation could invent; whom they publicly accused of +every vice that can possess a human heart: pride, covetousness, +ingratitude, oppression, treachery, dissimulation, violence and fury, all +in the highest extremes: but of late, they have changed their language on +a sudden; that person is now the most faithful and just that ever served +a prince; that person, originally differing from them in principles, as +far as east and west, but united in practice, and falling together, they +are now reconciled, and find twenty resemblances between each other, +which they could never discover before. _Tanti est ut placeam tibi +perire._[17] + +But to return: How could it be longer suffered in a free nation, that all +avenues to preferment should be shut up, except a very few, when one or +two stood constant sentry, who docked all favours they handed down; or +spread a huge invisible net, between the prince and subject, through +which nothing of value could pass? And here I cannot but admire at one +consequence from this management, which is of an extraordinary nature: +Generally speaking, princes who have ill ministers are apt to suffer in +their reputation, as well as in the love of the people: but it was not so +with the Q[ueen]. When the sun is overcast by those clouds he exhales +from the earth, we still acknowledge his light and influence, and at last +find he can dispel and drive them down to the horizon. The wisest prince, +by the necessity of affairs, the misrepresentations of designing men, or +the innocent mistakes, even of a good predecessor, may find himself +encompassed by a crew of courtiers, whom time, opportunity and success, +have miserably corrupted. And if he can save himself and his people from +ruin, under the _worst_ administration, what may not his subjects hope +for, when with their universal applause, he changes hands, and makes use +of the _best_? + +Another great objection with me against the late party, was the cruel +tyranny they put upon conscience, by a barbarous inquisition, refusing to +admit the least toleration or indulgence. They imposed a hundred tests, +but could never be prevailed with to dispense with, or take off the +smallest, nor even admit of _occasional_ conformity;[18] but went on +daily (as their apostle Tindal expresseth it) narrowing their terms of +communion; pronouncing nine parts in ten of the kingdom heretics, and +shutting them out of the pale of their Church. These very men, who talk +so much of a comprehension in religion among us, how came they to allow +so little of it in politics, which is _their sole religion?_ You shall +hear them pretending to bewail the animosities kept up between the +Church of England and Dissenters, where the differences in opinion are so +few and inconsiderable; yet these very sons of moderation were pleased to +excommunicate every man who disagreed with them in the smallest article +of their _political creed_, or who refused to receive any new article, +how difficult soever to digest, which the leaders imposed at pleasure to +serve their own interest. + +I will quit this subject for the present, when I have told one story.[19] +"There was a great king in Scythia, whose dominions were bounded to the +north, by the poor, mountainous territories of a petty lord, who paid +homage as the king's vassal. The Scythian prime minister being largely +bribed, indirectly obtained his master's consent to suffer this lord to +build forts, and provide himself with arms, under pretence of preventing +the inroads of the Tartars. This little depending sovereign, finding he +was now in a condition to be troublesome, began to insist upon terms, and +threatened upon every occasion to unite with the Tartars: upon which, +the prime minister, who began to be in pain about his head, proposed a +match betwixt his master, and the only daughter of this tributary lord, +which he had the good luck to bring to pass: and from that time, valued +himself as author of a most glorious union, which indeed was grown of +absolute necessity by his corruption." This passage, cited literally from +an old history of Sarmatia, I thought fit to set down, on purpose to +perplex little smattering remarkers, and put them upon the hunt for an +application. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 19 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Horace, "Satires," II. i. 1-3: + + "There are, to whom too poignant I appear; + Beyond the laws of satire too severe. + My lines are weak, unsinewed, others say."--P. FRANCIS. + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: One of these papers was "The Observator." The issue for +December 6th (vol. ix., No. 93) dealt largely with "The Examiner's" +attack on Verres (No. 18, _ante_), and the following number returned to +the charge, criticizing the attacks made in Nos. 17 and 18 of "The +Examiner" on the Duke of Marlborough. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: This appears to refer to "The Tatler," No. 183 (June 10th, +1710), where Steele writes: "The ridicule among us runs strong against +laudable actions. Nay, in the ordinary course of things, and the +common regards of life, negligence of the public is an epidemic vice... +It were to be wished, that love of their country were the first principle +of action in men of business." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Virgil, "Aeneid," ii. 521-2: + + "'Tis not such aid or such defence as thine + The time demands."---R. KENNEDY. + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: The paper in all probability was "The Medley," No. 10 +(December 4th), which was mainly devoted to a reply to Swift's +"calculation" as to the rewards of the Duke of Marlborough. Scott thinks +the answerer may have been Defoe, for in No. 114 (of vol. vii.) of his +"Review of the State of the British Nation," he has a passage evidently +directed at Swift: "I know another, that is an orator in the Latin, a +walking index of books, has all the libraries in Europe in his head, from +the Vatican at Rome, to the learned collection of Dr. Salmon at +Fleet-Ditch; but at the same time, he is a cynic in behaviour, a fury in +temper, impolite in conversation, abusive and scurrilous in language, and +ungovernable in passion. Is this to be learned? Then may I be still +_illiterate_. I have been in my time, pretty well master of five +languages, and have not lost them yet, though I write no bill over my +door, or set _Latin quotations_ in the front of the 'Review.' But, to my +irreparable loss, I was bred but by halves; for my father, forgetting +Juno's royal academy, left the language of Billingsgate quite out of my +education: hence I am perfectly _illiterate_ in the polite style of the +street, and am not fit to converse with the porters and carmen of quality, +who grace their diction with the beauties of calling names, and +curse their neighbour with a _bonne grace_." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: "Eclogues," ix. 30: + + "So may thy bees the poisonous yew forgo." + ARCHDN. F. WRANGHAM. + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: See No. 23, _post._ [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: See Swift's account of the intrigues of the Duke of +Marlborough and Lord Godolphin to secure Harley's dismissal in his +"Memoirs Relating to that Change" (vol. v., pp. 370-371 of present +edition), and "Some Considerations" (vol. v., pp. 421-422, _ibid._).] + +[Footnote 10: The "Bill for the Encouragement of Learning" was introduced +in the House of Commons, January 11th, 1709/10, passed March 14th, and +obtained royal assent April 5th, 1710. There were several amendments, +but the "Journals of the House of Commons" throw no light on their +purport. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: Anthony Collins (1676-1729), the deist, who wrote "A +Discourse of Free-Thinking" (1713), which received a reply from Swift +(see vol. iii., pp. 163-192 of present edition). The most thorough reply, +however, was made by Bentley, under the pen-name "Phileleutherus +Lipsiensis." Collins's controversies with Dr. Samuel Clarke were the +outcome of the former's thinking on Locke's teaching. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: Matthew Tindal (1657?-1733) was the author of "The Rights +of the Christian Church Asserted" (1706), a work that created a great +stir at the time, and occasioned many replies. Swift deals with him in +his "Remarks upon a Book, intituled, 'The Rights of the Christian +Church'" (see vol. iii., pp. 79-124, also note on p. 9 of same volume +of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: The pious lawyer was John Asgill (1659-1738), who was +called to the bar in 1692. He was elected to Parliament for Bramber +(1698-1700 and 1702-1707), but was expelled the House of Commons for +blasphemy (see note on p. 9 of vol. iii, of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: Mrs. Masham, when Abigail Hill, was appointed +bedchamber-woman to the Princess of Denmark. See vol. v., p. 365 of +present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: The giant Widenostrils had swallowed every pan, kettle, +"dripping-pan, and brass and iron pot in the land, for want of windmills, +which, were his daily food." But he "choked himself with eating a huge +lump of fresh butter at the mouth of a hot oven, by the advice of +physicians."--RABELAIS, iv. 17; Motteux's translation. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 16: Daniel Finch, second Earl of Nottingham (1647-1730), was +Secretary of State (1689-1693 and 1702-1704). He is the Don Diego +Dismallo of "The Tatler" (No. 21). See also vol. v., p. 247, of present +edition of Swift's works. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 17: "It is worth while to perish that I may give you pleasure." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 18: The Occasional Conformity Bill was rejected in 1702, and +again in 1703 and 1704. It was, however, passed in 1711; but repealed in +1718. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 19: "The Medley," No. 14 (January 1st, 1710) [_sic_], translates +this story into an account of the Union. It is the same story, in +effect, which gave great offence to the Scotch peers when printed in "The +Public Spirit of the Whigs." The "Medley's" version runs: "England being +bounded on the north by a poor mountainous people called Scots, who were +vassals to that crown, and the English prime minister, being largely +bribed, obtained the Q----'s consent for the Scots to arm and exercise +themselves; and they finding they were now in a condition to be +troublesome, began to insist upon terms, and threatened upon every +occasion to join with the French. Upon which the prime minister, who +began to be in pain about his head, set on foot a treaty to unite the two +kingdoms, which he had the good luck to bring to pass, and from that time +valued himself as author of a most glorious union, which indeed was grown +of absolute necessity by his corruption." [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 21.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY DECEMBER 14, TO THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 1710. + + _----Pugnacem scirent sapiente minorem._[2] + +I am very much at a loss how to proceed upon the subject intended in this +paper, which a new incident has led me to engage in: The subject I mean, +is that of soldiers and the army; but being a matter wholly out of my +trade, I shall handle it in as cautious a manner as I am able. + +It is certain, that the art of war hath suffered great changes, almost in +every age and country of the world; however, there are some maxims +relating to it, that will be eternal truths, and which every reasonable +man will allow. + +In the early times of Greece and Rome, the armies of those states were +composed of their citizens, who took no pay, because the quarrel was +their own; and therefore the war was usually decided in one campaign; or, +if it lasted longer, however in winter the soldiers returned to their +several callings, and were not distinguished from the rest of the people. +The Gothic governments in Europe, though they were of military +institution, yet observed almost the same method. I shall instance only +here in England. Those who held lands _in capite_ of the king, were +obliged to attend him in his wars with a certain number of men, who +all held lands from them at easy rents on that condition. These fought +without pay, and when the service was over, returned again to their +farms. It is recorded of William Rufus, that being absent in Normandy, +and engaged in a war with his brother, he ordered twenty thousand men to +be raised, and sent over from hence to supply his army;[3] but having +struck up a peace before they were embarked, he gave them leave to +disband, on condition they would pay him ten shillings a man, which +amounted to a mighty sum in those days. + +Consider a kingdom as a great family, whereof the prince is the father, +and it will appear plainly that mercenary troops are only servants armed, +either to awe the children at home; or else to defend from invaders, the +family who are otherwise employed, and choose to contribute out of their +stock for paying their defenders, rather than leave their affairs to be +neglected in their absence. The art of making soldiery a trade, and +keeping armies in pay, seems in Europe to have had two originals. The +first was usurpation, when popular men destroyed the liberties of their +country, and seized the power into their own hands, which they were +forced to maintain by hiring guards to bridle the people. Such were +anciently the tyrants in most of the small states in Greece, and such +were those in several parts of Italy, about three or four centuries ago, +as Machiavel informs us. The other original of mercenary armies, seems to +have risen from larger kingdoms or commonwealths, which had subdued +provinces at a distance, and were forced to maintain troops upon them, to +prevent insurrections from the natives: Of this sort were Macedon, +Carthage and Rome of old; Venice and Holland at this day; as well as most +kingdoms of Europe. So that mercenary forces in a free state, whether +monarchy or commonwealth, seem only necessary, either for preserving +their conquests, (which in such governments it is not prudent to extend +too far) or else for maintaining a war at distance. + +In this last, which at present is our most important case, there are +certain maxims that all wise governments have observed. + +The first I shall mention is, that no private man should have a +commission to be general for life,[4] let his merit and services be ever +so great. Or, if a prince be unadvisedly brought to offer such a +commission in one hand, let him (to save time and blood) deliver up his +crown with the other. The Romans in the height and perfection of their +government, usually sent out one of the new consuls to be general against +their most formidable enemy, and recalled the old one, who often returned +before the next election, and according as he had merit was sent to +command in some other part, which perhaps was continued to him for a +second, and sometimes a third year. But if Paulus Aemilius,[5] or +Scipio[6] himself, had presumed to move the Senate to continue their +commissions for life, they certainly would have fallen a sacrifice to the +jealousy of the people. Caesar indeed (between whom and a certain +general, some of late with much discretion have made a parallel) had his +command in Gaul continued to him for five years, and was afterwards made +perpetual Dictator, that is to say, general for life, which gave him the +power and the will of utterly destroying the Roman liberty. But in his +time the Romans were very much degenerated, and great corruptions crept +into their morals and discipline. However, we see there still were some +remains of a noble spirit among them; for when Caesar sent to be chosen +consul, notwithstanding his absence, they decreed he should come in +person, give up his command, and _petere more majorum._[7] + +It is not impossible but a general may desire such a commission out of +inadvertency, at the instigation of his friends, or perhaps of his +enemies, or merely for the benefit and honour of it, without intending +any such dreadful consequences; and in that case, a wise prince or state +may barely refuse it without shewing any marks of their displeasure. But +the request in its own nature is highly criminal, and ought to be entered +so upon record, to terrify others in time to come from venturing to make +it. + +Another maxim to be observed by a free state engaged in war, is to keep +the military power in absolute subjection to the civil, nor ever suffer +the former to influence or interfere with the latter. A general and his +army are servants hired by the civil power to act as they are directed +from thence, and with a commission large or limited as the administration +shall think fit; for which they are largely paid in profit and honour. +The whole system by which armies are governed, is quite alien from the +peaceful institutions of states at home; and if the rewards be so +inviting as to tempt a senator to take a post in the army, while he is +there on his duty, he ought to consider himself in no other capacity. I +know not any sort of men so apt as soldiers are, to reprimand those who +presume to interfere in what relates to their trade. When they hear any +of us in a coffeehouse, wondering that such a victory was not pursued, +complaining that such a town cost more men and money than it was worth to +take it; or that such an opportunity was lost, of fighting the enemy; +they presently reprove us, and often with justice enough, for meddling in +matters out of our sphere, and clearly convince us of our mistakes in +terms of art that none of us understand. Nor do we escape so; for they +reflect with the utmost contempt of our ignorance, that we who sit at +home in ease and security, never stirring from our firesides, should +pretend from books, and general reason, to argue upon military affairs; +which after all, if we may judge from the share of intellectuals in some +who are said to excel that way, is not so very profound or difficult a +science. But if there be any weight in what they offer, as perhaps there +may be a great deal; surely these gentlemen have a much weaker pretence +to concern themselves in matters of the cabinet, which are always either +far above, or much beside their capacities. Soldiers may as well pretend +to prescribe rules for trade, to determine points in philosophy, to be +moderators in an assembly of divines, or direct in a court of justice, as +to misplace their talent in examining affairs of state, especially in +what relates to the choice of ministers, who are never so likely to be +ill chosen as when approved by them. It would be endless to shew how +pernicious all steps of this nature have been in many parts and ages of +the world. I shall only produce two at present; one in Rome, and the +other in England. The first is of Caesar, when he came to the city with +his soldiers to settle the ministry, there was an end of their liberty +for ever. The second was in the great rebellion against King Charles the +First. The King and both Houses were agreed upon the terms of a peace, +but the officers of the army (as Ludlow relates it) sets a guard upon the +House of Commons, took a list of the members, and kept all by force out +of the House, except those who were for bringing the King to a trial.[8] +Some years after, when they erected a military government, and ruled the +island by major-generals, we received most admirable instances of their +skill in politics. To say the truth, such formidable sticklers[9] can +have but two reasons for desiring to interfere in the administration; the +first is that of Caesar and Cromwell, of which, God forbid, I should +accuse or suspect any body; since the second is pernicious enough, and +that is, to preserve those in power who are for perpetuating a war, +rather than see others advanced, who they are sure will use all proper +means to promote a safe and honourable peace. + +Thirdly, Since it is observed of armies, that in the present age they are +brought to some degree of humanity, and a more regular demeanour to each +other and to the world, than in former times; it is certainly a good +maxim to endeavour preserving this temper among them, without which +they would soon degenerate into savages. To this end, it would be prudent +among other things, to forbid that detestable custom of drinking to the +damnation or confusion of any person whatsoever. + +Such desperate acts, and the opinions infused along with them, into heads +already inflamed by youth and wine, are enough to scatter madness and +sedition through a whole camp. So seldom upon their knees to pray, and so +often to curse! This is not properly atheism, but a sort of anti-religion +prescribed by the Devil, and which an atheist of common sense would scorn +as an absurdity. I have heard it mentioned as a common practice last +autumn, somewhere or other, to drink damnation and confusion[10] (and +this with circumstances very aggravating and horrid) to the new ministry, +and to those who _had any hand_ in turning out the old; that is to say, +to those persons whom her Majesty has thought fit to employ in her +greatest affairs, with something more than a glance against the Qu[een] +herself. And if it be true that these orgies were attended with certain +doubtful words of standing by their g[enera]l, who without question +abhorred them; let any man consider the consequence of such dispositions, +if they should happen to spread. I could only wish for the honour of the +Army, as well as of the Qu[een] and ministry, that a remedy had been +applied to the disease, in the place and time where it grew. If men of +such principles were able to propagate them in a camp, and were sure of a +general for life, who had any tincture of ambition, we might soon bid +farewell to ministers and parliaments, whether new or old. + +I am only sorry such an accident has happened towards the close of a war, +when it is chiefly the interest of those gentlemen who have posts in the +army, to behave themselves in such a manner as might encourage the +legislature to make some provision for them, when there will be no +further need of their services. They are to consider themselves as +persons by their educations unqualified for many other stations of life. +Their fortunes will not suffer them to retain to a party after its fall, +nor have they weight or abilities to help towards its resurrection. Their +future dependence is wholly upon the prince and Parliament, to which they +will never make their way, by solemn execrations of the ministry; a +ministry of the Qu[een]'s own election, and fully answering the wishes of +her people. This unhappy step in some of their brethren, may pass for an +uncontrollable argument, that politics are not their business or their +element. The fortune of war hath raised several persons up to swelling +titles, and great commands over numbers of men, which they are too apt to +transfer along with them into civil life, and appear in all companies as +if it were at the head of their regiments, with a sort of deportment +that ought to have been dropt behind, in that short passage to Harwich. +It puts me in mind of a dialogue in Lucian,[11] where Charon wafting one +of their predecessors over Styx, ordered him to strip off his armour and +fine clothes, yet still thought him too heavy; "But" (said he) "put off +likewise that pride and presumption, those high-swelling words, and that +vain-glory;" because they were of no use on the other side the water. +Thus if all that array of military grandeur were confined to the proper +scene, it would be much more for the interest of the owners, and less +offensive to their fellow subjects.[12] + + +[Footnote: 1: No. 20 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Ovid, "Metamorphoses," xiii. 353: + +"Well assured, that art +And conduct were of war the better part." + J. DRYDEN. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: A.D. 1093. See Matthew Paris. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Lord Campbell, in his "Lives of the Chancellors" (vol. iv., +p. 322), states that Marlborough, in order to increase the confidence of +the allies, proposed "he should receive a patent as commander-in-chief +for life." On consulting with Lord Chancellor Cowper he was told +that such a proceeding would be unconstitutional. Marlborough, however, +petitioned the Queen, who rejected his application. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Aemilius Paulus, the celebrated Roman general, and conqueror +of Macedonia, was twice consul, and died B.C. 160. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: Scipio Africanus, the greatest of Roman generals and the +conqueror of Carthage, who died _c._ B.C. 184. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: Julius Caesar "applied to the Senate to be exempted from the +usual law, and to become a candidate in his absence" ("Dict. of Greek and +Roman Biog."). This was strongly opposed; so that to be a candidate it +was necessary for him "to solicit after the custom of his ancestors." +[T.S.] + +The "Examiner" seems to allude to the remarkable, and, to say the least, +imprudent, article in "The Tatler," No. 37. Such a passage, published by +so warm an adherent of Marlborough as Steele, gives credit to +Macpherson's assertion, that there really was some intention of +maintaining the Duke in power, by his influence in the army. It is even +affirmed, that under pretence his commission under the great seal could +not be superseded by the Queen's order of dismissal, it was designed that +he should assemble the troops which were in town, and secure the court +and capital. To prevent which, his commission was superseded by another +under the great seal being issued as speedily as possible. The +industrious editor of "The Tatler," in 1786, is of opinion, that the +article was written by Addison; but the violent counsels which it +intimates seem less congenial to his character than to that of Steele, a +less reflecting man, and bred a soldier. It is worthy of notice, that +the passage is cancelled in all subsequent editions of "The Tatler," +till restored from the original folio in that of 1786. This evidently +implies Steele's own sense, that more was meant than met the ear; and +it affords a presumptive proof, that very violent measures had at least +been proposed, if not agreed upon, by some of Marlborough's adherents. +[S.]] + +[Footnote 8: General Ireton and Colonel Pride placed guards outside the +entrances to the House of Commons "that none might be permitted to pass +into the House but such as had continued faithful to the public interest" +(Ludlow's "Memoirs," vol. i., p. 270). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: The judges of the field, in a formal duel, whose duty it was +to interfere when the rules of judicial combat were violated, were called +sticklers, from the wooden truncheons which they held in their hands. +Hence the verb to _stickle_. [S.]] + +[Footnote 10: In his "Journal to Stella" Swift writes, under date +December 13th, 1710: "You hear the havoc making in the army: Meredyth, +Macartney, and Col. Honeywood, are obliged to sell their commands at half +value, and leave the army, for drinking destruction to the present +ministry," etc. (see vol. ii., p. 71, of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: "Dialogues of the Dead. X. Charon, Hermes, and a number of +Ghosts." Hermes required Lampichus to leave behind him his pride, folly, +insolence, etc. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: Of this paper "The Medley," No. 14 (January 1st, 1710 +[_sic_]), says: "He not only writes whatever he believes or knows to be +false, but plainly shows 'tis his business and duty to do so, and that +this alone is the merit of his service." [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 22.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, TO THURSDAY DECEMBER 28, 1710.[2] + +_Nam et, majorum instituta tueri sacris, ceremoniisque retinendis, + sapientis est. + --Ruituraque semper + Stat (mirum!) moles--_[3] + + +Whoever is a true lover of our constitution, must needs be pleased to see +what successful endeavours are daily made to restore it in every branch +to its ancient form, from the languishing condition it hath long lain in, +and with such deadly symptoms. + +I have already handled some abuses during the late management, and shall +in convenient time go on with the rest. Hitherto I have confined myself +to those of the State; but with the good leave of those who think it a +matter of small moment, I shall now take liberty to say something of the +Church.[4] + +For several years past, there hath not I think in Europe, been any +society of men upon so unhappy a foot, as the clergy of England, nor more +hardly treated, by those very persons from whom they deserved much better +quarter, and in whose power they chiefly had put it to use them so ill. +I would not willingly misrepresent facts; but I think it generally +allowed by enemies and friends, that the bold and brave defences made +before the Revolution against those many invasions of our rights, +proceeded principally from the clergy; who are likewise known to have +rejected all advances made them to close with the measures at that time +concerting; while the Dissenters, to gratify their ambition and revenge, +fell into the basest compliances with the court, approved of all +proceedings by their numerous and fulsome addresses, and took employments +and commissions by virtue of the dispensing power, against the direct +laws of the land.[5] All this is so true, that if ever the Pretender comes +in, they will, next to those of his own religion, have the fairest claim +and pretensions to his favour, from their merit and eminent services to +his supposed father, who, without such encouragement, would probably +never have been misled to go the lengths he did. It should likewise be +remembered to the everlasting honour of the London divines, that in those +dangerous times, they writ and published the best collection of arguments +against Popery, that ever appeared in the world. At the Revolution, the +body of the clergy joined heartily in the common cause (except a few, +whose sufferings perhaps have atoned for their mistakes) like men who are +content to go about, for avoiding a gulf or a precipice, but come into +the old straight road again as soon as they can. But another temper had +now begun to prevail. For as in the reign of K. Charles the First, +several well-meaning people were ready to join in reforming some abuses; +while others who had deeper designs, were still calling out for a +thorough reformation, which ended at last in the ruin of the kingdom; so +after the late king's coming to the throne, there was a restless cry from +men of the same principles, for a thorough revolution, which as some were +carrying it on, must have ended in the destruction of the Monarchy and +Church. + +What a violent humour hath run ever since against the clergy, and from +what corner spread and fomented, is, I believe, manifest to all men. It +looked like a set quarrel against Christianity, and if we call to mind +several of the leaders, it must in a great measure have been actually so. +Nothing was more common in writing and conversation, than to hear that +reverend body charged in gross with what was utterly inconsistent: +despised for their poverty, hated for their riches; reproached with +avarice, and taxed with luxury; accused for promoting arbitrary power, +and resisting the prerogative; censured for their pride, and scorned for +their meanness of spirit. The representatives of the lower clergy railed +at for disputing the power of the bishops, by the known abhorrers of +episcopacy; and abused for doing nothing in their convocations, by those +very men who helped to bind up their hands. The vice, the folly, the +ignorance of every single man, were laid upon the character; their +jurisdiction, censures and discipline trampled under foot, yet mighty +complaints against their excessive power.[6] The men of wit employed to +turn the priesthood itself into ridicule. In short, groaning every where +under the weight of poverty, oppression, contempt and obloquy. A fair +return for the time and money spent in their education to fit them for +the service of the Altar; and a fair encouragement for worthy men to come +into the Church. However, it may be some comfort for persons of that holy +function, that their Divine Founder as well as His harbinger, met with +the like reception. "John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say +he hath a devil; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, +behold a glutton and a wine-bibber, &c." + +In this deplorable state of the clergy, nothing but the hand of +Providence, working by its glorious instrument, the QUEEN, could have +been able to turn the people's hearts so surprisingly in their favour. +This Princess, destined for the safety of Europe, and a blessing to her +subjects, began her reign with a noble benefaction to the Church;[7] and +it was hoped the nation would have followed such an example, which +nothing could have prevented, but the false politics of a set of men, who +form their maxims upon those of every tottering commonwealth, which is +always struggling for life, subsisting by expedients, and often at the +mercy of any powerful neighbour. These men take it into their +imagination, that trade can never flourish unless the country becomes +a common receptacle for all nations, religions and languages; a system +only proper for small popular states, but altogether unworthy, and below +the dignity of an imperial crown; which with us is best upheld by a +monarch in possession of his just prerogative, a senate of nobles and +of commons, and a clergy established in its due rights with a suitable +maintenance by law. But these men come with the spirit of shopkeepers to +frame rules for the administration of kingdoms; or, as if they thought +the whole art of government consisted in the importation of nutmegs, and +the curing of herrings. Such an island as ours can afford enough to +support the majesty of a crown, the honour of a nobility, and the dignity +of a magistracy; we can encourage arts and sciences, maintain our bishops +and clergy, and suffer our gentry to live in a decent, hospitable manner; +yet still there will remain hands sufficient for trade and manufactures, +which do always indeed deserve the best encouragement, but not to a +degree of sending every living soul into the warehouse or the workhouse. + +This pedantry of republican politics hath done infinite mischief among +us. To this we owe those noble schemes of treating Christianity as a +system of speculative opinions, which no man should be bound to believe; +of making the being and the worship of God, a creature of the state. In +consequence of these, that the teachers of religion ought to hold their +maintenance at pleasure, or live by the alms and charitable collection of +the people, and be equally encouraged of all opinions: that they should +be prescribed what to teach, by those who are to learn from them; and, +upon default, have a staff and a pair of shoes left at their door;[8] +with many other projects of equal piety, wisdom, and good nature. + +But, God be thanked, they and their schemes are vanished, and "their +places shall know them no more." When I think of that inundation of +atheism, infidelity, profaneness and licentiousness which were like to +overwhelm us, from what mouths and hearts it first proceeded, and how the +people joined with the Queen's endeavours to divert this flood, I cannot +but reflect on that remarkable passage in the Revelation,[9] where "the +serpent with seven heads cast out of his mouth water after the woman like +a flood, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood: But the +earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up +the flood which the dragon had cast out of his mouth." For the Queen +having changed her ministry suitable to her own wisdom, and the wishes of +her subjects, and having called a free Parliament; at the same time +summoned the convocation, by her royal writ,[10] "as in all times had +been accustomed," and soon after their meeting, sent a most gracious +letter[11] to the Archbishop of Canterbury, to be communicated to the +bishops and clergy of his province; taking notice of "the loose and +profane principles which had been openly scattered and propagated among +her subjects: that the consultations of the clergy were particularly +requisite to repress and prevent such daring attempts, for which her +subjects, from all parts of the kingdom, have shown their just +abhorrence. She hopes, the endeavours of the clergy, in this respect, +will not be unsuccessful; and for her part, is ready to give them all fit +encouragement, to proceed in the dispatch of such business as properly +belongs to them; and to grant them powers requisite to carry on so good a +work." In conclusion, "earnestly recommending to them, to avoid disputes, +and determining to do all that in her lies to compose and extinguish +them." + +It is to be hoped, that this last part of her Majesty's letter, will be +the first she will please to execute; for, it seems, this very letter +created the first dispute.[12] The fact whereof is thus related: The +Upper House having formed an address to the QUEEN, before they received +her Majesty's letter, sent both address and letter together, to the Lower +House, with a message, excusing their not mentioning the letter in the +address, because this was formed before the other was received:[l3] The +Lower House returned them, with a desire, that an address might be +formed, with due regard and acknowledgments for the letter. After some +difficulties, the same address was sent down again with a clause +inserted, making some short mention of the said letter. This the Lower +House did not think sufficient, and sent it back again with the same +request: whereupon the archbishop, after a short consultation with _some_ +of his brethren, immediately adjourned the convocation for a month, and +no address at all was sent to the QUEEN. + +I understand not ecclesiastical affairs well enough to comment upon this +matter;[14] but it seems to me, that all methods of doing service to the +Church and kingdom, by means of a convocation, may be at any time eluded, +if there be no remedy against such an incident. And if this proceeding be +agreeable to the institution, spiritual assemblies must needs be +strangely contrived, very different from any lay senate yet known in the +world. Surely, from the nature of such a synod, it must be a very unhappy +circumstance, when the majority of the bishops draws one way, and that +of the lower clergy another. The latter, I think, are not at this time +suspected for any principles bordering upon those professed by enemies to +episcopacy; and if they happen to differ from the greater part of the +present set of bishops, I doubt it will call some things to mind, that +may turn the scale of general favour on the inferior clergy's side, who +with a profound duty to her Majesty, are perfectly pleased with the +present turn of affairs. Besides, curious people will be apt to enquire +into the dates of some promotions, to call to mind what designs were then +upon the anvil, and from thence make malicious deductions. Perhaps they +will observe the manner of voting on the bishops' bench, and compare it +with what shall pass in the upper house of convocation. There is, +however, one comfort, that under the present dispositions of the kingdom, +a dislike to the proceedings of any of their lordships, even to the +number of a majority, will be purely personal, and not turned to the +disadvantage of the order. And for my part, as I am a true lover of the +Church, I had rather find the inclinations of the people favourable to +episcopacy in general, than see a majority of prelates cried up by those +who are known enemies to the character. Nor, indeed, hath anything given +me more offence for several years past, than to observe how some of that +bench have been caressed by certain persons; and others of them openly +celebrated by the infamous pens of atheists, republicans and fanatics. + +Time and mortality can only remedy these inconveniencies in the Church, +which are not to be cured like those in the State, by a change of +ministry. If we may guess the temper of a convocation, from the choice of +a prolocutor,[15] as it is usual to do that of a House of Commons by the +speaker, we may expect great things from that reverend body, who have +done themselves much reputation, by pitching upon a gentleman of so much +piety, wit and learning, for that office; and one who is so thoroughly +versed in those parts of knowledge which are proper for it. I am sorry +that the three Latin speeches, delivered upon presenting the prolocutor, +were not made public;[16] they might perhaps have given us some light +into the dispositions of each house: and besides, one of them is said to +be so peculiar in the style and matter, as might have made up in +entertainment what it wanted in instruction. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 21 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Under date January 1st, 1710/1, Swift writes to Stella: "Get +the 'Examiners,' and read them; the last nine or ten are full of the +reasons for the late change, and of the abuses of the last ministry; and +the great men assure me they are all true. They are written by their +encouragement and direction" (vol. ii., p. 88, of present edition). +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: + +"For it is the part of a wise man to defend the institutions of his +forefathers, and uphold the sacred rites and ceremonies. + And ever threatening to fall + The mass--a marvel--stands." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: A pamphlet, ascribed to W. Wotton, was issued in reply to +this paper. It was entitled, "The Case of the Present Convocation +Consider'd; In Answer to the Examiner's Unfair Representation of it, and +Unjust Reflections upon it." 1711.] + +[Footnote 5: The Dissenters were at first +disposed to make common cause with the Catholics in favour of the +dispensing power claimed by James II.; and an address from the +Presbyterians went so far as to praise the king for having "restored to +God His empire over conscience." [S.]] + +[Footnote 6: "The Case etc. Consider'd," remarks: "The boldest, and the +most insolent book of that sort, is the 'Rights of the Church' ... Yet +how long was Dr. T[inda]ll, then Fellow of All Souls, suffered at Oxford +after the 'Rights' appeared?" Dr. Matthew Tindal, author of "The Rights +of the Christian Church" (1706), was a fellow of All Souls College, +Oxford, from 1678 till his death in 1733. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: "At this time [February, 1703/4] Queen Anne gave up the +_first-fruits_ and _tenths_, which had long been possessed by the crown, +to be appropriated to a fund for the increase of small livings. This fund +is known as Queen Anne's Bounty" (Lathbury's "Hist. of Convocation," +second edition, p. 386). The Queen's Message to Parliament was dated +February 7th, 1703/4, and the Bill was introduced February 17th, and +received the royal assent April 3rd, 1704. See also Swift's +"Answer" in the following number. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: A hint to withdraw. [T.S.] +This is said to have been the mode in which the governors of a Dutch +province were wont to give intimation to those who intermeddled with +state affairs, that they would do wisely to withdraw themselves from the +state. [S.]] + +[Footnote 9: Swift notices his own misquotation in the succeeding number +(_q.v._). See a further reference to the subject in No. 26. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: Convocation was assembled on November 25th, and the Latin +sermon preached by Kennet. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: Queen Anne's letter was printed in "The Daily Courant" for +December 19th. It is dated December 12th, and says: "It is with +great grief of heart we observe the scandalous attempts which of late +years have been made to infect the minds of our good subjects by loose +and profane principles openly scattered and propagated among them. +We think the consultations of the clergy particularly requisite to +repress these daring attempts and to prevent the like for the future. The +just abhorrence that our subjects from all parts of the kingdom have +expressed of such wicked principles and their abettors, give us good +ground to hope that the endeavours of the clergy in this respect will +not be unsuccessful. For our part we are ready to give them all fitting +encouragement to proceed in the dispatch of such business as properly +belongs to them, and to grant them such powers as shall be thought +requisite," etc. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: The Queen's letter was intended to put an end to disputes +in Convocation. She expressed her hope that her royal intentions would +not be frustrated "by any unseasonable disputes between the two Houses of +Convocation about unnecessary forms and methods of proceeding." She +earnestly recommended that such disputes might cease. The bishops +prepared an address, but the Lower House insisted "on the enlarging the +fourth paragraph, and upon answering the several heads of the Queen's +letter" (Chamberlen's "History of Queen Anne," p. 365, and "Daily +Courant," Dec. 19th). The real reason for the disputes between the two +Houses at this time lay in the fact that the Upper House, owing to +Tenison's influence, was largely Low Church in sympathy, whereas the +Lower House, with Atterbury as its leader, was of the High Church party. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: Dr. Smalridge (1662-1719) called for the Queen's letter to +be read. The Archbishop prorogued Convocation for two days, and then +again until January 17th. An address to the Queen was presented on +January 26th (Lathbury's "History of Convocation," second edition, +p. 407). Smalridge was Dean of Carlisle, 1711-13, and Bishop of +Bristol, 1714-19. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: "The Case etc. Consider'd" quotes on the title-page: "Jude +10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: "Dr. Atterbury, in preference to Dr. Kennet, was chosen +prolocutor by a great majority."--TINDAL, iv. 206. [T.S.]] + +Footnote 16: The Latin speeches were made on December 6th, when the +prolocutor was presented to the Archbishop, by Dr. Smalridge, Atterbury, +and Tenison. The one speech to which Swift refers may have been +Tenison's, whose style was fairly dull. [T.S.] + + + +NUMB. 23.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY DECEMBER 28, TO THURSDAY JANUARY 4, 1710.[2] + + +_Nullae sunt occultiores insidiae, quam eae quae latent in simulatione +officii, aut in aliquo necessitudinis nomine._[3] + +_The following answer is written in the true style, and with the usual +candour of such pieces; which I have imitated to the best of my skill, +and doubt not but the reader will be extremely satisfied with it._ + +_The Examiner cross-examined, or, +A full Answer to the last Examiner._ + +If I durst be so bold with this author, I would gladly ask him a familiar +question; Pray, Sir, who made you an Examiner? He talks in one of his +insipid papers, of eight or nine thousand corruptions,[4] while _we_ were +at the head of affairs, yet, in all this time, he has hardly produced +fifty: + +_Parturiunt montes, &c._[5] + +But I shall confine myself, at present, to his last paper. He tells us, +"The Queen began her reign with a noble benefaction to the Church." +Here's priestcraft with a witness; this is the constant language of your +highfliers, to call those who are hired to teach _the religion of the +magistrate_ by the name of the Church.[6] But this is not all; for, in +the very next line he says, "It was hoped the nation would have followed +this example." You see the faction begins already to speak out; this is +an open demand for the abbey-lands; this furious zealot would have us +priest-ridden again, like our popish ancestors: but, it is to be hoped +the government will take timely care to suppress such audacious attempts, +else we have spent so much blood and treasure to very little purpose, in +maintaining religion and Revolution. But what can we expect from a man, +who at one blow endeavours to ruin our trade? "A country" (says he) "may +flourish" (these are his own words) "without being the common receptacle +for all nations, religions, and languages." What! We must immediately +banish or murder the Palatines; forbid all foreign merchants, not only +the Exchange, but the kingdom; persecute the Dissenters with fire and +faggot, and make it high-treason to speak any other tongue but English. +In another place he talks of a "serpent with seven heads," which is a +manifest corruption of the text; for the words "_seven heads_" are not +mentioned in that verse.[7] However, we know what serpent he would mean; +a serpent with fourteen legs; or, indeed, no serpent at all, but seven +great men, who were the best ministers, the truest Protestants, and the +most disinterested patriots that ever served a prince.[8] But nothing is +so inconsistent as this writer; I know not whether to call him a Whig or +a Tory, a Protestant or a Papist; he finds fault with convocations; says, +"they are assemblies strangely contrived;" and yet lays the fault upon +us, that we bound their hands: I wish we could have bound their tongues +too; but as fast as their hands were bound, they could make a shift to +hold their pens, and have their share in the guilt of ruining the +hopefullest party and ministry that ever prescribed to a crown. This +captious gentleman is angry to "see a majority of prelates cried up by +those who are enemies to the character"; now I always thought, that the +concessions of enemies were more to a man's advantage than the praise of +his friends. "Time and mortality," he says, "can only remedy these +inconveniencies in the Church." That is, in other words, when certain +bishops are dead, we shall have others of our own stamp. Not so fast; you +are not yet so sure of your game. We have already got one comfortable +loss in Spain, though by a G[enera]l of our own.[9] For joy of which, our +J[un]to had a merry meeting at the house of their great proselyte, on the +very day we received the happy news. One or two more such blows would, +perhaps, set us right again, and then we can employ "mortality" as well +as others. He concludes with wishing, that "three letters, spoke when the +prolocutor was presented, were made public." I suppose he would be +content with one, and that is more than we shall humour him to grant. +However, I hope he will allow it possible to have grace, without either +eloquence or Latin, which is all I shall say to his malicious innuendo. + +Having thus, I hope, given a full and satisfactory answer to the +Examiner's last paper, I shall now go on to a more important affair; +which is, to prove, by several undeniable instances, that the late +m[inist]ry, and their abettors, were true friends to the Church. It is +yet, I confess, a secret to the clergy, wherein this friendship did +consist. For information therefore of that reverend body, that they may +never forget their benefactors, as well as of all others who may be +equally ignorant, I have determined to display _our_ merits to the world +upon that weighty article. And I could wish, that what I am to say were +to be written in brass, for an eternal memorial; the rather, because for +the future, the Church must endeavour to stand unsupported by those +patrons, who expired in doing it their last good office, and will never +rise to preserve it any more. + +Let us therefore produce the pious endeavours of these church-defenders, +who were its patrons by their power and authority, as well as ornaments +of it by their exemplary lives. + +First, St. Paul tells us, "there must be heresies in the Church, that the +truth may be manifest"; and therefore, by due course of reasoning, the +more heresies there are, the more manifest will the truth be made. This +being maturely considered by these lovers of the Church, they endeavoured +to propagate as many heresies as they could, that the light of truth +might shine the clearer. + +Secondly, To shew their zeal for the Church's defence, they took the care +of it entirely out of the hands of God Almighty (because that was a +foreign jurisdiction) and made it their own creature, depending +altogether upon them; and issued out their orders to Tindal, and others, +to give public notice of it. + +Thirdly, Because charity is the most celebrated of all Christian virtues, +therefore they extended theirs beyond all bounds; and instead of shutting +the Church against Dissenters, were ready to open it to all comers, and +break down its walls, rather than that any should want room to enter. The +strength of a state, we know, consists in the number of people, how +different soever in their callings; and why should not the strength of a +Church consist in the same, how different soever in their creeds? For +that reason, they charitably attempted to abolish the test, which tied up +so many hands from getting employments, in order to protect the Church. + +I know very well that this attempt is objected to us as a crime, by +several malignant Tories, and denied as a slander by many unthinking +people among ourselves. The latter are apt in their defence to ask such +questions as these; Was your test repealed?[10] Had we not a majority? +Might we not have done it if we pleased? To which the others answer, You +did what you could; you prepared the way, but you found a fatal +impediment from that quarter, whence the sanction of the law must come, +and therefore to save your credit, you condemned a paper to be burnt +which yourselves had brought in.[11] But alas! the miscarriage of that +noble project for the safety of the Church, had another original; the +knowledge whereof depends upon a piece of secret history that I shall now +lay open. + +These church-protectors had directed a Presbyterian preacher to draw up a +bill for repealing the test; it was accordingly done with great art, and +in the preamble, several expressions of civility to the established +Church; and when it came to the qualifications of all those who were to +enter on any office, the compiler had taken special care to make them +large enough for all Christians whatsoever, by transcribing the very +words (only formed into an oath) which Quakers are obliged to profess by +a former Act of Parliament; as I shall here set them down.[12] "I _A.B._ +profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His eternal Son, the +true God, and in the Holy Spirit one God blessed for evermore; and do +acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given +by divine inspiration." This bill was carried to the chief leaders for +their approbation, with these terrible words turned into an oath: What +should they do? Those few among them who fancied they believed in God, +were sure they did not believe in Christ, or the Holy Spirit, or one +syllable of the Bible; and they were as sure that every body knew their +opinion in those matters, which indeed they had been always too sincere +to disguise; how therefore could they take such an oath as that, without +ruining their reputation with Tindal, Toland,[13] Coward,[14] Collins, +Clendon,[15] and all the tribe of free-thinkers, and so give a scandal to +weak unbelievers. Upon this nice point of honour and conscience the +matter was hushed, the project for repealing the test let fall, and the +Sacrament left as the smaller evil of the two. + +Fourthly, These pillars of the Church, because "the harvest was great, +and the labourers few," and because they would ease the bishops from that +grievous trouble of laying on hands: were willing to allow that power to +all men whatsoever, to prevent that terrible consequence of unchurching +those, who thought a hand from under a cloak as effectual as from +lawn-sleeves. And indeed, what could more contribute to the advancement +of true religion, than a bill of general naturalization for priesthood? + +Fifthly, In order to fix religion in the minds of men, because truth +never appears so fair as when confronted with falsehood; they directed +books to be published, that denied the being of a God, the divinity of +the Second and Third Person, the truth of all revelation, and the +immortality of the soul. To this we owe that great sense of religion, +that respect and kindness to the clergy, and that true love of virtue so +manifest of late years among the youth of our nation. Nor could anything +be more discreet, than to leave the merits of each cause to such wise +impartial judges, who might otherwise fall under the slavery of believing +by education and prejudice. + +Sixthly, Because nothing so much distracts the thoughts, as too great a +variety of subjects; therefore they had kindly prepared a bill, to +prescribe the clergy what subjects they should preach upon, and in what +manner, that they might be at no loss; and this no doubt, was a proper +work for such hands, so thoroughly versed in the theory and practice of +all Christian duties. + +Seventhly, To save trouble and expense to the clergy, they contrived that +convocations should meet as seldom as possible; and when they were +suffered to assemble, would never allow them to meddle with any business; +because they said, the office of a clergyman was enough to take up the +whole man. For the same reason they were very desirous to excuse the +bishops from sitting in Parliament, that they might be at more leisure to +stay at home and look after their clergy. + +I shall mention at present but one more instance of their pious zeal for +the Church. They had somewhere heard the maxim, that _Sanguis martyrum +est semen ecclesiae_;[16] therefore in order to sow this seed, they began +with impeaching a clergyman: and that it might be a true martyrdom in +every circumstance, they proceeded as much as possible against common +law,[17] which the long-robe part of the managers knew was in a hundred +instances directly contrary to all their positions, and were sufficiently +warned of it beforehand; but their love of the Church prevailed. Neither +was this impeachment an affair taken up on a sudden. For, a certain great +person (whose Character has been lately published by some stupid and +lying writer)[18] who very much distinguished himself by his zeal in +forwarding this impeachment, had several years ago endeavoured to +persuade the late King to give way to just such another attempt. He told +his Majesty, there was a certain clergyman preached very dangerous +sermons, and that the only way to put a stop to such insolence, was to +impeach him in Parliament. The King enquired the character of the man; +"O, sir," said my lord, "the most violent, hot, positive fellow in +England; so extremely wilful, that I believe he would be heartily glad to +be a martyr." The King answered, "Is it so? Then I am resolved to +disappoint him"; and would never hear more of the matter; by which that +hopeful project unhappily miscarried. + +I have hitherto confined myself to those endeavours for the good of the +Church, which were common to all the leaders and principal men of our +party; but if my paper were not drawing towards an end, I could produce +several instances of particular persons, who by their exemplary lives and +actions have confirmed the character so justly due to the whole body. I +shall at present mention only two, and illustrate the merits of each by a +matter of fact. + +That worthy patriot, and true lover of the Church, whom the late +"Examiner" is supposed to reflect on under the name of Verres,[19] felt a +pious impulse to be a benefactor to the Cathedral of Gloucester, but how +to do it in the most decent, generous manner, was the question. At last +he thought of an expedient: One morning or night he stole into the +Church, mounted upon the altar, and there did that which in cleanly +phrase is called disburthening of nature: He was discovered, prosecuted, +and condemned to pay a thousand pounds, which sum was all employed to +support the Church, as, no doubt, the benefactor meant it. + +There is another person whom the same writer is thought to point at under +the name of Will Bigamy.[20] This gentleman, knowing that marriage fees +were a considerable perquisite to the clergy, found out a way of +improving them _cent. per cent._ for the good of the Church. His +invention was to marry a second wife while the first was alive, +convincing her of the lawfulness by such arguments, as he did not doubt +would make others follow the same example: These he had drawn up in +writing with intention to publish for the general good; and it is hoped +he may now have leisure to finish them.[21] + + +[Footnote 1: No. 22 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: _I. e._ 1710-11. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Cicero, "in Verrem," II. i. 15: "There are no intrigues more +difficult to guard against than those which are concealed under a +pretence of duty, or under the name of some intimate connexion."--C.D. +YONGE. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: See No. 19, _ante_ (not quoted correctly). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Horace, "Ars Poetica," 139: + +"The mountains laboured with prodigious throes."--P. FRANCIS. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: See No. 22, _ante_. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The serpent, or dragon, is said to have seven heads in an +earlier verse of the same chapter. See Rev. xii., 3, 9, 15. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The Earl of Sunderland and Henry Boyle (Secretaries of +State), Earl of Godolphin (Lord Treasurer), Lord Somers (President of the +Council), Lord Cowper (Lord Chancellor), Duke of Marlborough +(Captain General), and Horatio Walpole (Secretary of War). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: General Stanhope, at Brihuega, was surprised and compelled +to surrender on December 9th, 1710. Oldmixon's "Sequel" (p. 452) +remarks: "The misfortune which happened to General Stanhope at +Brihuega, where he was surrounded by the French and Spanish, armies, +and after a most gallant defence, obliged to surrender himself with +several English battalions prisoners of war, was some relief to +high-church; ... they did not stick to rejoice at it." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: The Test Act was passed in 1672 and repealed only in 1828. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: This paper was a pamphlet by Charles Leslie, published +October, 1708, which was condemned to be burnt by the House of Commons in +January, 1709/10. It was entitled, "A Letter from a Gentleman in +Scotland to his Friend in England, against the Sacramental Test." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: This declaration was prescribed by the Act I William and +Mary, c. 18, s. 13. It was repealed in 1871. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: John Toland, author of "Christianity not Mysterious" (1696) +and other works. See note on p. 9 of vol. iii. of present edition. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: William Coward (1656-1725), physician, was the author of +"Second Thoughts Concerning Human Soul" (1702), and "The Grand Essay; +or A Vindication of Reason and Religion" (1703/4). Both these works +were ordered by the House of Commons to be burnt, March 17th, +1703/4. See also note on p. 9 of vol. iii. of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: John Clendon was the author of "A Treatise of the Word +Person" (17-09/10) which the House of Commons ordered to be burnt, March +24, 17-09/10. See also note on p. 185 of vol. iii. of present edition. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 16: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 17: For preaching a sermon at St. Paul's on "Perils from false +brethren" (November 5th, 1709), Dr. Sacheverell was, on the complaint +of Mr. Dolben (December 13th), impeached in the House of Commons on +December 14th, 1709, and in the House of Lords on December 15th. The +sermon was printed and widely circulated, and Sacheverell received for it +the thanks of the Lord Mayor. Mr. Dolben objected to Godolphin being +referred to as Volpone. Out of this arose the famous Sacheverell trial, +so disastrous in its effect on the Whig ministry. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 18: Lord Wharton. See vol. v., pp. 1-28 of present edition of +Swift's Works. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 19: Lord Wharton. But see correction in No. 25, _post_. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 20: See previous note on Lord Cowper. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 21: Cowper was at this time out of office. [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 24.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY JANUARY 4, TO THURSDAY JANUARY 11, 1710.[2] + +_Bellum ita suscipiatur, ut nihil aliud nisi Pax quaesita videatur._[3] + +I am satisfied, that no reasonable man of either party, can justly be +offended at any thing I said in one of my papers relating to the Army;[4] +from the maxims I there laid down, perhaps many persons may conclude, +that I had a mind the world should think, there had been occasion given +by some late abuses among men of that calling; and they conclude right. +For my intention is, that my hints may be understood, and my quotations +and allegories applied; and I am in some pain to think, that in the +Orcades on one side, and the western coasts of Ireland on the other, the +"Examiner" may want a key in several parts, which I wish I could furnish +them with. As for the French king, I am under no concern at all; I hear +he has left off reading my papers, and by what he has found in them, +dislikes our proceedings more than ever, and intends either to make great +additions to his armies, or propose new terms for a peace: So false is +that which is commonly reported, of his mighty satisfaction in our change +of ministry: And I think it clear that his late letter of "Thanks to the +Tories of Great Britain,"[5] must either have been extorted from him +against his judgment, or was a cast of his politics to set the people +against the present ministry, wherein it has wonderfully succeeded. + +But though I have never heard, or never regarded any objections made +against that paper, which mentions the army; yet I intended this as a +sort of apology for it. And first, I declare, (because we live in a +mistaking world) that in hinting at some proceedings, wherein a few +persons are said to be concerned, I did not intend to charge them upon +the body of the army. I have too much detested that barbarous injustice +among the writers of a late party, to be ever guilty of it myself; I mean +the accusing societies for the crimes of a few. On the other side, I must +take leave to believe, that armies are no more exempt from corruptions +than other numbers of men. The maxims proposed were occasionally +introduced by the report of certain facts, which I am bound to believe is +true, because I am sure, considering what has passed, it would be a crime +to think otherwise. All posts in the army, all employments at court, and +many others, are (or ought to be) given and resumed at the mere pleasure +of the prince; yet when I see a great officer broke, a change made in the +court or the ministry, and this under the most just and gracious Princess +that ever reigned, I must naturally conclude it is done upon prudent +considerations, and for some great demerit in the sufferers. But then; is +not the punishment sufficient? Is it generous or charitable to trample on +the unfortunate, and expose their faults to the world in the strongest +colours? And would it not suit better with magnanimity as well as common +good-nature, to leave them at quiet to their own thoughts and repentance? +Yes without question, provided it could be so contrived that their very +names, as well as actions, might be forgotten for ever; _such_ an act of +oblivion would be for the honour of our nation, and beget a better +opinion of us with posterity; and then I might have spared the world and +myself the trouble of _examining_. But at present, there is a cruel +dilemma in the case: The friends and abettors of the late ministry are +every day publishing their praises to the world, and casting reflections +upon the present persons in power. This is so barefaced an aspersion upon +the Q[ueen], that I know not how any good subject can with patience +endure it, though he were ever so indifferent with regard to the opinions +in dispute. Shall they who have lost all power and love of the people, be +allowed to scatter their poison; and shall not those, who are, at least, +of the strongest side, be suffered to bring an antidote? And how can we +undeceive the deluded remainder, but by letting them see, that those +discarded statesmen were justly laid aside, and producing as many +instances to prove it as we can? not from any personal hatred to them, +but in justification to the best of queens. The many scurrilities I have +heard and read against this poor paper of mine, are in such a strain, +that considering the present state of affairs, they look like a jest. +They usually run after the following manner: "What? shall this insolent +writer presume to censure the late ministry, the ablest, the most +faithful, and truest lovers of their country, and its constitution that +ever served a prince? Shall he reflect on the best H[ouse] of C[ommons] +that ever sat within those walls? Has not the Queen changed both for a +ministry and Parliament of Jacobites and highfliers, who are selling us +to France, and bringing over the Pretender?" This is the very sum and +force of all their reasonings, and this their method of complaining +against the "Examiner." In _them_ it is humble and loyal to reflect upon +the Q[ueen] and the ministry, and Parliament she has chosen with the +universal applause of her people; in _us_ it is insolent to defend her +Majesty and her choice, or to answer their objections, by shewing the +reasons why those changes were necessary. + +The same style has been used in the late case relating to some gentlemen +in the army;[6] such a clamour was raised by a set of men, who had the +boldness to tax the administration with cruelty and injustice, that I +thought it necessary to interfere a little, by shewing the ill +consequences that might arise from some proceedings, though without +application to particular persons. And what do they offer in answer? +Nothing but a few poor common-places against calumny and informers, which +might have been full as just and seasonable in a plot against the sacred +person of the Q[ueen]. + +But, by the way; why are these idle people so indiscreet to name those +two words, which afford occasion of laying open to the world such an +infamous scene of subornation and perjury, as well as calumny and +informing, as I believe is without example: when a whole cabal attempted +an action, wherein a condemned criminal refused to join with them for +the reward of his life?[7] Not that I disapprove their sagacity, who +could foretell so long before, by what hand they should one day fall, and +therefore thought any means justifiable by which they might prevent it. + +But waiving this at present, it must be owned in justice to the army, +that those violences did not proceed so far among them as some have +believed; nor ought the madness of a few to be laid at their doors. For +the rest, I am so far from denying the due praises to those victorious +troops, who did their part in procuring so many victories for the allies, +that I could wish every officer and private soldier had their full share +of honour in proportion to their deserts; being thus far of the +Athenians' mind, who when it was proposed that the statue of Miltiades +should be set up alone in some public place of the city, said they would +agree to it, _whenever he conquered alone_, but not before. Neither do I +at all blame the officers of the army, for preferring in their hearts the +late ministry before the present; or, if wishing alone could be of any +use, to wish their continuance, because then they might be secure of the +war's continuance too: whereas, since affairs have been put into other +hands, they may perhaps lie under some apprehensions of a peace, which no +army, especially in a course of success, was ever inclined to, and which +all wise states have in such a juncture, chiefly endeavoured. This is +a point wherein the civil and military politics have always disagreed. +And for that reason, I affirmed it necessary in all free governments, +that the latter should be absolutely in subjection to the former; +otherwise, one of these two inconveniencies must arise, either to be +perpetually in war, or to turn the civil institution into a military. + +I am ready to allow all that has been said of the valour and experience +of our troops, who have fully contributed their part to the great +successes abroad; nor is it their fault, that those important victories +had no better consequences at home, though it may be their advantage. War +is their trade and business: to improve and cultivate the advantages of +success, is an affair of the cabinet; and the neglect of this, whether +proceeding from weakness or corruption, according to the usual +uncertainty of wars, may be of the most fatal consequence to a nation. +For, pray let me represent our condition in such a light, as I believe +both parties will allow, though perhaps not the consequences I shall +deduce from it. We have been for above nine years, blessed with a QUEEN, +who besides all virtues that can enter into the composition of a private +person, possesses every regal quality that can contribute to make a +people happy: of great wisdom, yet ready to receive the advice of her +counsellors: of much discernment in choosing proper instruments, when she +follows her own judgment, and only capable of being deceived by that +excess of goodness which makes her judge of others by herself. Frugal in +her management in order to contribute to the public, which in proportion +she does, and that voluntarily, beyond any of her subjects; but from her +own nature, generous and charitable to all that want or deserve; and in +order to exercise those virtues, denying herself all entertainments of +expense which many others enjoy. Then if we look abroad, at least in +Flanders, our arms have been crowned with perpetual success in battles +and sieges, not to mention several fortunate actions in Spain. These +facts being thus stated, which none can deny, it is natural to ask how we +have improved such advantages, and to what account they have turned? I +shall use no discouraging terms. When a patient grows daily worse by the +tampering of mountebanks, there is nothing left but to call in the best +physicians before the case grows desperate: But I would ask, whether +France or any other kingdom, would have made so little use of such +prodigious opportunities, the fruits whereof could never have fallen to +the ground, without the extremist degree of folly and corruption, and +where those have lain, let the world judge? Instead of aiming at peace, +while we had the advantage of the war, which has been the perpetual maxim +of all wise states, it has been reckoned factious and malignant even to +express our wishes for it; and such a condition imposed, as was never +offered to any prince who had an inch of ground to dispute; _Quae enim +est conditio pacis; in qua ei cum quo pacem facias, nihil concedi +potest?_[8] + +It is not obvious to conceive what could move men who sat at home, and +were called to consult upon the good of the kingdom, to be so utterly +averse from putting an end to a long expensive war, which the victorious, +as well as conquered side, were heartily weary of. Few or none of them +were men of the sword; they had no share in the honour; they had made +large fortunes, and were at the head of all affairs. But they well knew +by what tenure they held their power; that the Qu[een] saw through their +designs, that they had entirely lost the hearts of the clergy; that the +landed men were against them; that they were detested by the body of the +people; and that nothing bore them up but their credit with the bank and +other stocks, which would be neither formidable nor necessary when the +war was at an end. For these reasons they resolved to disappoint all +overtures of a peace, till they and their party should be so deeply +rooted as to make it impossible to shake them. To this end, they began to +precipitate matters so fast, as in a little time must have ruined the +constitution, if the crown had not interposed, and rather ventured the +accidental effects of their malice, than such dreadful consequences of +their power. And indeed, had the former danger been greater than some +hoped or feared, I see no difficulty in the choice, which was the same +with his, who said, "he had rather be devoured by wolves than by rats." I +therefore still insist that we cannot wonder at, or find fault with the +army, for concurring with a ministry who was for prolonging the war. The +inclination is natural in them all, pardonable in those who have not yet +made their fortunes, and as lawful in the rest, as love of power or love +of money can make it. But as natural, as pardonable, and as lawful as +this inclination is, when it is not under check of the civil power, or +when a corrupt ministry joins in giving it too great a scope, the +consequence can be nothing less than infallible ruin and slavery to a +state. + +After I had finished this Paper, the printer sent me two small pamphlets, +called "The Management of the War,"_[9] written with some plausibility, +much artifice, and abundance of misrepresentation, as well as direct +falsehoods in point of fact. These I have thought worth _Examining_, +which I shall accordingly do when I find an opportunity. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 23 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: I.e. 1710-11. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Cicero, "De Officiis," i. 23: "In the undertaking of a war +there should be such a prospect, as if the only end of it were peace."-- +SIR R. L'ESTRANGE. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: See "Examiner," No. 21. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Scott mistakes this as the pretended letter quoted in "The +Medley," No. 14. Swift refers to a half sheet printed for A. Baldwin in +the latter part of 1710, and entitled: "The French King's Thanks to the +Tories of Great-Britain." It was ascribed to Hoadly. + +In this print Louis XIV. is made to thank the Tories for "what hath given +me too deep and lasting impressions of respect, and gratitude, ever to be +forgotten. If I should endeavour to recount all the numerous obligations +I have to you, I should not know where to begin, nor where to make an +end.... To you and your predecessors I owe that supineness and negligence +of the English court, which, gave me opportunity and ability to form and +prosecute my designs." Alluding to William III. he says: "To you I owed +the impotence of his life and the comfort of his death. At that juncture +how vast were my hopes?... But a princess ascended your throne, whom you +seemed to court with some personal fondness ... She had a general whom +her predecessor had wrought into the confidence and favour of the +Allies.... It is with pleasure I have observed, that every victory he +hath obtained abroad, hath been retrieved by your management at home.... +What a figure have your tumults, your addresses, and the progresses of +your Doctor, made in my Gazettes? What comfort have I received from +them?... And with what impatience do we now wait for that dissolution, +with the hopes of which you have so long flattered us ?... Blessed be the +engines, to which so glorious events are owing. Republican, +Antimonarchical, Danger of the Church, Non-resistance, Hereditary and +Divine Right, words of force and energy!... How great are my obligations +to all these!" In a postscript, King Louis is made to say further: "My +Brother of England [i.e. the Pretender] ... thanks you for ... your late +loyal addresses; your open avowal in them of that unlimited non-resistance +by which he keeps up his claim," etc. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: "Lieut.-Gen. Meredith, Major-Gen. Macartney, and Brigadier +Honeywood were superseded, upon an information laid before the Q----, +that these three gentlemen had, in their cups, drank Damnation and +Confusion to the new ministry, and to those who had any hand in turning +out of the old."--TINDAL, iv. 195. See also No. 21 and note, p. 127. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: William Gregg, a clerk in Harley's office, who was convicted +of a treasonable correspondence with France. See Swift's "Some Remarks," +etc., in vol. v., p. 38, of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: "For what condition of peace is that in which nothing is +conceded him with whom you are making peace?" [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: The two pamphlets referred to were both written by Dr. +Francis Hare, chaplain-general to the Duke of Marlborough, and afterwards +Bishop of Chichester. The first was dated November 23rd, 1710, and +was entitled, "The Management of the War. In a Letter to a Tory-Member." +The second was called, "The Management of the War. In a Second Letter to +a Tory-Member," and was dated November 30th, 1710. The pamphlets are again +referred to in the twenty-ninth number of "The Examiner," where the writer +states that on second thoughts he has decided to deal with them "in a +discourse by itself." This he did. See note on p. 184. [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 25.[1] + + +FROM THURSDAY JANUARY 11, TO THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 1710.[2] + + _Parva momenta in spem metumque impellunt animos._[3] + +Hopes are natural to most men, especially to sanguine complexions, and +among the various changes that happen in the course of public affairs, +they are seldom without some grounds: Even in desperate cases, where it +is impossible they should have any foundation, they are often affected, +to keep a countenance, and make an enemy think we have some resource +which they know nothing of. This appears to have been for some months +past the condition of those people, whom I am forced, for want of other +phrases, to called the _ruined party_. They have taken up since their +fall, some real, and some pretended hopes. When the E. of S[underlan]d +was discarded, they _hoped_ her M[ajesty] would proceed no farther in the +change of her ministry, and had the insolence to misrepresent her words +to foreign states. They _hoped_, nobody durst advise the dissolution of +the Parliament. When this was done, and further alterations made at +Court, they _hoped_ and endeavoured to ruin the credit of the nation. +They likewise _hoped_ that we should have some terrible loss abroad, +which would force us to unravel all, and begin again upon their bottom. +But, of all their _hopes_, whether real or assumed, there is none more +extraordinary than that which they now would seem to place their whole +confidence in: that this great turn of affairs was only occasioned by a +short madness of the people, from which they will recover in a little +time, when their eyes are open, and they grow cool and sober enough to +consider the truth of things, and how much they have been deceived. It +is not improbable, that some few of the deepest sighted among these +reasoners, are well enough convinced how vain all such _hopes_ must be: +but for the rest, the wisest of them seem to have been very ill judges of +the people's dispositions, the want of which knowledge was a principal +occasion to hasten their ruin; for surely had they suspected which way +the popular current inclined, they never would have run against it by +that impeachment. I therefore conclude, they generally are so blind, as +to imagine some comfort from this fantastical opinion, that the people of +England are at present distracted, but will shortly come to their senses +again. + +For the service therefore of our adversaries and friends, I shall briefly +_examine_ this point, by shewing what are the causes and symptoms of a +people's madness, and how it differs from their natural bent and +inclination. + +It is Machiavel's observation, that the people when left to their own +judgment, do seldom mistake their true interests; and indeed they +naturally love the constitution they are born under, never desiring to +change but under great oppressions. However, they are to be deceived by +several means. It has often happened in Greece, and sometimes in Rome, +that those very men who have contributed to shake off a former tyranny, +have, instead of restoring the old constitution, deluded the People into +a worse and more ignominious slavery. Besides, all great changes have the +same effect upon commonwealths that thunder has upon liquors, making the +dregs fly up to the top: the lowest plebeians rise to the head of +affairs, and there preserve themselves by representing the nobles and +other friends to the old government, as enemies to the public. The +encouraging of new mysteries and new deities, with the pretences of +further purity in religion, hath likewise been a frequent topic to +mislead the people. And, not to mention more, the promoting false reports +of dangers from abroad, hath often served to prevent them from fencing +against real dangers at home. By these and the like arts, in conjunction +with a great depravity of manners, and a weak or corrupt administration, +the madness of the people hath risen to such a height as to break in +pieces the whole frame of the best instituted governments. But however, +such great frenzies being artificially raised, are a perfect force and +constraint upon human nature, and under a wise steady prince, will +certainly decline of themselves, settling like the sea after a storm, and +then the true bent and genius of the people will appear. Ancient and +modern story are full of instances to illustrate what I say. In our own +island we had a great example of a long madness in the people, kept up by +a thousand artifices like intoxicating medicines, till the constitution +was destroyed; yet the malignity being spent, and the humour exhausted +that served to foment it; before the usurpers could fix upon a new +scheme, the people suddenly recovered, and peaceably restored the old +constitution. + +From what I have offered, it will be easy to decide, whether this late +change in the dispositions of the people were a new madness, or a +recovery from an old one. Neither do I see how it can be proved that such +a change had in any circumstance the least symptoms of madness, whether +my description of it be right or no. It is agreed, that the truest way of +judging the dispositions of the people in the choice of their +representatives, is by computing the county-elections; and in these, it +is manifest that five in six are entirely for the present measures; +although the court was so far from interposing its credit, that there was +no change in the admiralty, not above one or two in the lieutenancy, nor +any other methods used to influence elections.[4] The free unextorted +addresses[5] sent some time before from every part of the kingdom, +plainly shewed what sort of bent the people had taken, and from what +motives. The election of members for this great city,[6] carried contrary +to all conjecture, against the united interest of those two great bodies, +the Bank and East India Company, was another convincing argument. +Besides, the Whigs themselves have always confessed, that the bulk of +landed men in England was generally of Tories. So that this change must +be allowed to be according to the natural genius and disposition of the +people, whether it were just and reasonable in itself or not. + +Notwithstanding all which, you shall frequently hear the partisans of the +late men in power, gravely and decisively pronounce, that the present +ministry cannot possibly stand.[7] Now, they who affirm this, if they +believe themselves, must ground their opinion, upon the iniquity of the +_last_ being so far established, and deeply rooted, that no endeavours of +honest men, will be able to restore things to their former state. Or +else these reasoners have been so misled by twenty years' mismanagement, +that they have forgot our constitution, and talk as if our monarchy and +revolution began together. But the body of the people is wiser, and by +the choice they have made, shew they _do_ understand our constitution, +and would bring it back to the old form; which if the new ministers take +care to maintain, they will and ought to stand, otherwise they may fall +like their predecessors. But I think we may easily foresee what a +Parliament freely chosen, without threatening or corruption, is likely to +do, when no man shall be in any danger to lose his place by the freedom +of his voice. + +But, who are those advancers of this opinion, that the present ministry +cannot hold? It must be either such as are afraid to be called to an +account, in case it should hold; or those who keep offices, from which +others, better qualified, were removed; and may reasonably apprehend to +be turned out, for worthier men to come in their places, since perhaps +it will be necessary to make some changes, that the public business of +the nation may go on: or lastly, stock-jobbers, who industriously spread +such reports that actions may fall, and their friends buy to advantage. + +Yet these hopes, thus freely expressed, as they are more sincere, so they +are more supportable, than when they appear under the disguise and +pretence of fears. Some of these gentlemen are employed to shake their +heads in proper companies; to doubt where all this will end; to be in +mighty pain for the nation; to shew how impossible it is, that the public +credit can be supported: to pray that all may do well in whatever hands; +but very much to doubt that the Pretender is at the bottom. I know not +any thing so nearly resembling this behaviour, as what I have often seen +among the friends of a sick man, whose interest it is that he should die: +The physicians protest they see no danger; the symptoms are good, the +medicines answer expectation; yet still they are not to be comforted; +they whisper, he is a gone man; it is not possible he should hold out; he +has perfect death in his face; they never liked this doctor: At last the +patient recovers, and their joy is as false as their grief. + +I believe there is no man so sanguine, who did not apprehend some ill +consequences from the late change, though not in any proportion to the +good ones: but it is manifest, the former have proved much fewer and +lighter than were expected, either at home or abroad, by the fears of our +friends, or the hopes of our enemies. Those remedies that stir the +humours in a diseased body, are at first more painful than the malady +itself; yet certain death is the consequence of deferring them too long. +Actions have fallen, and the loans are said to come in slowly. But +beside, that something of this must have been, whether there had been any +change or no; beside, that the surprise of every change, for the better +as well as the worse, is apt to affect credit for a while; there is a +further reason, which is plain and scandalous. When the late party was at +the helm, those who were called the Tories, never put their resentments +in balance with the safety of the nation, but cheerfully contributed to +the common cause. Now the scene is changed, the fallen party seems to act +from very different motives: they have _given the word about;_ they will +keep their money and be passive; and in this point stand upon the same +foot with Papists and Nonjurors. What would have become of the public, if +the present great majority had acted thus, during the late +administration? Had acted thus, before the others were masters of that +wealth they have squeezed out of the landed men, and with the strength of +that, would now hold the kingdom at defiance? + +Thus much I have thought fit to say, without pointing reflections upon +any particular person; which I have hitherto but sparingly done, and that +only towards those whose characters are too profligate, that the managing +of them should be of any consequence: Besides as it is a talent I am not +naturally fond of, so, in the subjects I treat, it is generally needless. +If I display the effects of avarice and ambition, of bribery and +corruption, of gross immorality and irreligion, those who are the least +conversant in things, will easily know where to apply them. Not that I +lay any weight upon the objections of such who charge me with this +proceeding: it is notorious enough that the writers of the other side +were the first aggressors. Not to mention their scurrilous libels many +years ago, directly levelled at particular persons; how many papers do +now come out every week, full of rude invectives against the present +ministry, with the first and last letters of their names to prevent +mistakes? It is good sometimes to let these people see, that we neither +want spirit nor materials to retaliate; and therefore in this point +_alone_, I shall follow their example, whenever I find myself +sufficiently provoked; only with one addition, that whatever charges I +bring, either general or particular, shall be religiously true, either +upon avowed facts which none can deny, or such as I can prove from my own +knowledge. + +Being resolved publicly to acknowledge any mistakes I have been guilty +of; I do here humbly desire the reader's pardon for one of mighty +importance, about a fact in one of my papers, said to be done in the +cathedral of Gloucester.[8] A whole Hydra of errors in two words: For as +I am since informed, it was neither in the cathedral, nor city, nor +county of Gloucester, but some other church of that diocese. If I had +ever met any other objection of equal weight, though from the meanest +hands, I should certainly have answered it. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 24 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: I.e. 1710-11. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "The merest trifles affect our spirits, and fill us with +hope or fear." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: See Swift's "Memoirs Relating to that Change," etc., vol. +v., p. 386 of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: "The general ferment soon after [1710, summer] broke out +into numerous addresses, of very different style and tenor, that were +presented to the Queen. ... The high-church addresses not only exceeded +the others in number, but were also far better received; as complimenting +the Queen with a more extensive prerogative, and an hereditary title" +(Chamberlen's "History of Queen Anne," p. 347). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: At the general election in October and November, 1710, the +City of London returned four Tories: Sir Wm. Withers, Sir R. Hoare, Sir +G. Newland, and Mr. John Cass. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: Harley's ministry continued in power until July, 1714. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: This act of Wharton's was alluded to by the Duke of Leeds in +the House of Lords on December 6th, 1705. See Dartmouth's note on +Burnet's "Own Times," vol. ii., p. 435, and compare "History of +Parliament," and "Journals of House of Lords." When the Duke of +Leeds insinuated pretty plainly to Wharton the nature of his offence, +Dartmouth remarks that the "Lord Wharton was very silent for the +rest of that day, and desired no further explanations." [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 26.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY JANUARY 18, TO THURSDAY JANUARY 25, 1710-11. + +[Greek: Dialexamenoi tina haesuchae, to men sumpan epi te tae dunas eia +kai kata ton echthron sunomosan.] + +_Summissa quaedam voce collocuti sunt; quorum summa erat de dominatione +sibi confirmanda, ac inimicis delendis conjuratio._[2] + +Not many days ago I observed a knot of discontented gentlemen cursing the +Tories to Hell for their uncharitableness, in affirming, that if the late +ministry had continued to this time, we should have had neither Church +nor Monarchy left. They are usually so candid as to call that the opinion +of a party, which they hear in a coffeehouse, or over a bottle from some +warm young people, whom it is odds but they have provoked to say more +than they believed, by some positions as absurd and ridiculous of their +own. And so it proved in this very instance: for, asking one of these +gentlemen, what it was that provoked those he had been disputing with, to +advance such a paradox? he assured me in a very calm manner, it was +nothing in the world, but that himself and some others of the company had +made it appear, that the design of the present P[arliamen]t and +m[inistr]y, was to bring in Popery, arbitrary power, and the Pretender: +which I take to be an opinion fifty times more improbable, as well as +more uncharitable, than what is charged upon the Whigs: because I defy +our adversaries to produce one single reason for suspecting such designs +in the persons now at the helm; whereas I can upon demand produce twenty +to shew, that some late men had strong views towards a commonwealth, and +the alteration of the Church. + +It is natural indeed, when a storm is over, that has only untiled our +houses, and blown down some of our chimneys, to consider what further +mischiefs might have ensued, if it had lasted longer. However, in the +present case, I am not of the opinion above-mentioned; I believe the +Church and State might have lasted somewhat longer, though the late +enemies to both had done their worst: I can hardly conceive how things +would have been so soon ripe for a new revolution. I am convinced, that +if they had offered to make such large and sudden strides, it must have +come to blows, and according to the computation we have now reason to +think a right one, I can partly guess what would have been the issue. +Besides, we are sure the Q[uee]n would have interposed before they came +to extremities, and as little as they regarded the regal authority, would +have been a check in their career. + +But instead of this question; What would have been the consequence if the +late ministry had continued? I will propose another, which will be more +useful for us to consider; and that is, What we may reasonably expect +they will do, if ever they come into power again? This, we know, is the +design and endeavour of all those scribbles that daily fly about in their +favour; of all the false, insolent, and scandalous libels against the +present administration; and of all those engines set at work to sink the +actions, and blow up the public credit. As for those who shew their +inclinations by writing, there is one consideration, which I wonder does +not sometimes affect them: for how can they forbear having a good opinion +of the gentleness and innocence of those, who permit them to employ their +pens as they do? It puts me in mind of an insolent pragmatical orator +somewhere in Greece, who railing with great freedom at the chief men in +the state, was answered by one who had been very instrumental in +recovering the liberty of the city, that "he thanked the gods they had +now arrived to the condition he always wished them, when every man in +that city might securely say what they pleased." I wish these gentlemen +would however compare the liberty they take with what their masters used +to give: how many messengers and warrants would have gone out against any +that durst have opened their lips, or drawn their pens, against the +persons and proceedings of their juntoes and cabals? How would their +weekly writers have been calling out for prosecution and punishment? We +remember when a poor nickname,[3] borrowed from an old play of Ben +Jonson, and mentioned in a sermon without any particular application, was +made use of as a motive to spur an impeachment. But after all, it must be +confessed, they had reasons to be thus severe, which their successors +have not: _their_ faults would never endure the light; and to have +exposed them sooner, would have raised the kingdom against the actors, +before the time. + +But, to come to the subject I have now undertaken; which is to _examine_, +what the consequences would be, upon supposition that the Whigs were now +restored to their power. I already imagine the present free P[arliamen]t +dissolved, and another of a different epithet met, by the force of money +and management. I read immediately a dozen or two stinging votes against +the proceedings of the late ministry. The bill now to be repealed would +then be re-enacted, and the birthright of an Englishman reduced again to +the value of twelvepence.[4] But to give the reader a stronger +imagination of such a scene; let me represent the designs of some men, +lately endeavoured and projected, in the form of a paper of votes. + +"Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for repealing the Sacramental Test. + +"A petition of T[in]d[a]l, C[o]ll[in]s, Cl[en]d[o]n, C[o]w[ar]d, +T[o]l[a]nd,[5] in behalf of themselves and many hundreds of their +disciples, some of which are Members of this honourable H[ouse], desiring +that leave be given to bring in a Bill for qualifying Atheists, Deists +and Socinians, to serve their Country in any employment. + +"Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the prayer +of the said petition, and that Mr. L[ec]h[me]re[6] do prepare and bring +it in. + +"Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for removing the education of youth +out of the hands of the Clergy. + +"Another, to forbid the Clergy preaching certain duties in religion, +especially obedience to Princes. + +"Another, to take away the jurisdiction of Bishops. + +"Another, for constituting a General for life; with instructions to the +committee, that care may be taken to make the war last as long as the +life of the said General. + +"A Bill of Attainder against C[harles] D[uke] of Sh[rewsbury], J[ohn] +D[uke] of B[uckingham], L[aurence] E[arl] of R[ochester], Sir S[imon] +H[arcourt], k[nigh]t, R[obert] H[arley], H[enry] S[t. John],[7] Esqs; +A[bigail] M[asham], spinster,[8] and others, for high treason against the +j[u]nto. + +"Resolved, That S[ara]h D[uchess] of M[arlborough] hath been a most +dutiful, just, and grateful servant to Her M[ajest]y. + +"Resolved, That to advise the dissolution of a W[hi]g Parliament, or the +removal of a W[hi]g Ministry, was in order to bring in Popery and the +Pretender; and that the said advice was high treason. + +"Resolved, That by the original compact the Government of this Realm is +by a junto, and a K[ing] or Qu[een]; but the Administration solely in the +junto. + +"Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for further limiting the Prerogative. + +"Ordered, That it be a standing order of this H[ouse] that the merit of +elections be not determined by the number of voices, or right of +electors, but by weight; and that one Whig shall weigh down ten Tories. + +"A motion being made, and the question being put, that when a Whig is +detected of manifest bribery, and his competitor being a Tory, has ten to +one a majority, there shall be a new election; it passed in the negative. + +"Resolved, That for a K[ing] or Q[ueen] of this Realm, to read or examine +a paper brought them to be signed by a j[un]to Minister, is arbitrary and +illegal, and a violation of the liberties of the people." + + * * * * * + +These and the like reformations would, in all probability, be the first +fruits of the Whigs' resurrection; and what structures such able artists +might in a short time build upon such foundations, I leave others to +conjecture. All hopes of a peace cut off; the nation industriously +involved in further debts to a degree, that none would dare undertake +the management of affairs, but those whose interest lay in ruining the +constitution. I do not see how the wisest prince under such necessities +could be able to extricate himself. Then, as to the Church, the bishops +would by degrees be dismissed, first from the Parliament, next from their +revenues, and at last from their office; and the clergy, instead of their +idle claim of independency on the state, would be forced to depend for +their daily bread on every individual. But what system of future +government was designed; whether it were already digested, or would have +been left for time and incidents to mature, I shall not now _Examine_. +Only upon this occasion I cannot help reflecting on a fact, which it is +probable, the reader knows as well as myself. There was a picture drawn +some time ago, representing five persons as large as the life, sitting at +council together like a Pentarchy. A void space was left for a sixth, +which was to have been the Qu[een], to whom they intended that honour: +but her M[ajest]y having since fallen under their displeasure, they have +made a shift to crowd in two better friends in her place, which makes it +a complete Heptarchy.[9] This piece is now in the country, reserved till +better times, and hangs in a hall, among the pictures of Cromwell, +Bradshaw, Ireton, and some other predecessors. + +I must now desire leave to say something to a gentleman, who has been +pleased to publish a discourse against a paper of mine relating to the +convocation.[10] He promises to set me right, without any undue +reflections or undecent language. I suppose he means in comparison with +others, who pretend to answer the "Examiner": So far he is right; but if +he thinks he has behaved himself as becomes a candid antagonist, I +believe he is mistaken. He says, in his title-page, my "representations +are unfair, and my reflections unjust." And his conclusion is yet more +severe,[11] where he "doubts I and my friends are enraged against the +Dutch, because they preserved us from Popery and arbitrary power at the +Revolution; and since that time, from being overrun by the exorbitant +power of France, and becoming a prey to the Pretender." Because this +author seems in general to write with an honest meaning, I would +seriously put to him the question, whether he thinks I and my friends +are for Popery, arbitrary power, France and the Pretender? I omit other +instances of smaller moment, which however do not suit in my opinion with +due reflection or decent language. The fact relating to the convocation, +came from a good hand, and I do not find this author differs from me +in any material circumstance about it. My reflections were no more than +what might be obvious to any other gentleman, who had heard of their late +proceedings. If the notion be right which this author gives us of a Lower +House of Convocation, it is a very melancholy one,[12] and to me seems +utterly inconsistent with that of a body of men whom he owns to have a +negative; and therefore, since a great majority of the clergy differs +from him in several points he advances, I shall rather choose to be of +their opinion than his. I fancy, when the whole synod met in one house, +as this writer affirms, they were upon a better foot with their bishops, +and therefore whether this treatment so extremely _de haut en bas_, since +their exclusion, be suitable to primitive custom or primitive humility +towards brethren, is not my business to enquire. One may allow the divine +or apostolic right of Episcopacy, and their great superiority over +presbyters, and yet dispute the methods of exercising the latter, which +being of human institution, are subject to encroachments and usurpations. +I know, every clergyman in a diocese has a good deal of dependence upon +his bishop, and owes him canonical obedience: but I was apt to think, +when the whole representative of the clergy met in a synod, they were +considered in another light, at least since they are allowed to have a +negative. If I am mistaken, I desire to be excused, as talking out of my +trade: only there is one thing wherein I entirely differ from this +author. Since in the disputes about privileges, one side must recede; +where so very few privileges remain, it is a hundred to one odds, the +encroachments are not on the inferior clergy's side; and no man can blame +them for insisting on the small number that is left. There is one fact +wherein I must take occasion to set this author right; that the person +who first moved the QUEEN to remit the first-fruits and tenths to the +clergy, was an eminent instrument in the late turn of affairs;[13] and as +I am told, has lately prevailed to have the same favour granted for the +clergy of Ireland.[14] + +But I must beg leave to inform the author, that this paper is not +intended for the management of controversy, which would be of very little +import to most readers, and only misspend time, that I would gladly +employ to better purposes. For where it is a man's business to entertain +a whole room-full, it is unmannerly to apply himself to a particular +person, and turn his back upon the rest of the company. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 25 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: "They met and whispered together; and their entire aim was +the confirmation of their own power and an oath for the destruction of +their enemies." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: The following is the passage in Sacheverell's sermon in +which the nickname is used: "What dependence can there be upon a man of +no principles? ... In what moving and lively colours does the holy +Psalmist paint out the crafty insidiousness of such wily Volpones!" +Godolphin, in spite of Somers's protest against such action, brought +about the preacher's impeachment, for this description of himself, as he +took it. See also vol. v., p. 219 and note of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: An attempt was made to repeal the Act for Naturalizing +Foreign Protestants (7 Ann. c. 5), which received the royal assent, March +23rd, 170-8/9, by a Bill which passed the House of Commons, January 31st, +171-0/1, but was thrown out by the Lords, February 5th. Persons +naturalized under this Act had to pay a fee of one shilling on taking the +prescribed oath of allegiance. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: See Nos. 20 and 23, _ante_, and notes pp. 118 and 141. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: Nicholas Lechmere (1675-1727), member for Appleby (1708-10), +Cockermouth (1710-17), and Tewkesbury (1717-21), was one of the +managers in the impeachment of Sacheverell. He, with Addison, +Hoadly, and Minshull corrected Steele's draft of "The Crisis" for +publication. He was created Lord Lechmere in 1721, after he had held +the offices of solicitor-general (1714-18) and attorney-general (1718-20). +See also vol. v., p. 326 note, of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: "R.H. H.S. Esqs;" in both editions. In Faulkner's collected +reprint the second name was altered to William Shippen, and Scott +follows Faulkner; but there can be no doubt that the initials were +intended for St. John, since the persons named were those who succeeded +to the places of the dismissed ministers. Shippen was a prominent +member of the October Club, but he did not hold any public office. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: In No. 19 of "The Medley," the writer calls "The Examiner" +to account for writing Abigail Masham, _spinster_. She was then Mrs. +Masham. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: See No. 23, _ante_, and notes p. 138. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: "The Case of the Present Convocation Consider'd; In Answer +to the Examiner's Unfair Representation of it, and Unjust Reflections +upon it." 1711, See note p. 129. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: "They [the Dutch] have a right to put us in mind, that +without their assistance in 1688, Popery and arbitrary power must, without +a miracle, have over-run us; and that even since that time, we must have +sunk under the exorbitant power of France, and our Church and Queen +must have been a prey to a Pretender imposed upon us by this exorbitant +power, if that tottering commonwealth ... had not heartily joined with +us.... But I forget my self, and I doubt, allege those very things in +their favour, for which the 'Examiner' and his friends, are the most +enraged against them." ("The Case," etc., p. 24). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: They [_i.e._ the bishops] say that the prolocutor is "the +referendary of the lower house, _i.e._ one who is to carry messages and +admonitions from the upper house to the lower, and to represent their +sense, and to carry their petitions to the upper: That originally the +synod met all in one house in this, as it still does in the other +province." ("The Case," etc., p. 14). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: Bishop Burnet had made a similar proposal to Queen Mary +several years before, "so that she was fully resolved, if ever she had +lived to see peace and settlement, ... to have applied it to the +augmentation of small benefices." He had also laid it very fully before +the Princess of Denmark in the reign of King William ("Hist. Own Times," +ii. 370). + +"This very project ... was first set on foot by a great minister in the +last reign. It was then far advanced, and would have been finished, had +he stayed but a few months longer in the ministry" ("The Case," etc., p. +23). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: Swift's own Memorial to Harley, petitioning the Queen to +surrender the first-fruits in Ireland is given in Scott's edition (vol. +xv., pp. 381-4). It was on behalf of these first-fruits that Swift came +to England, in 1707, on a commission from Archbishop King. Then he made +his application as a Whig to a Whig government, but failing with Somers +and Halifax both in this and in his hopes for advancement, he joined +Harley's fortunes. [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 27.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY JANUARY 25, TO THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1, 1710-11.[2] + +_Ea autem est gloria, laus recte factorum, magnorumque in rempublicam +meritorum: Quae cum optimi cujusque, tum etiam multitudinis testimonio +comprobatur._[3] + +I am thinking, what a mighty advantage it is to be entertained as a +writer to a ruined cause. I remember a fanatic preacher, who was inclined +to come into the Church, and take orders; but upon mature thoughts was +diverted from that design, when he considered that the collections of the +_godly_ were a much heartier and readier penny, than he could get by +wrangling for tithes. He certainly had reason, and the two cases are +parallel. If you write in defence of a fallen party, you are maintained +by contribution as a necessary person, you have little more to do than to +carp and cavil at those who hold the pen on the other side; you are sure +to be celebrated and caressed by all your party, to a man. You may affirm +and deny what you please, without truth or probability, since it is but +loss of time to contradict you. Besides, commiseration is often on your +side, and you have a pretence to be thought honest and disinterested, for +adhering to friends in distress. After which, if your party ever happens +to turn up again, you have a strong fund of merit towards making your +fortune. Then, you never fail to be well furnished with materials, every +one bringing in his _quota_, and falsehood being naturally more plentiful +than truth. Not to mention the wonderful delight of libelling men in +power, and hugging yourself in a corner with mighty satisfaction for what +you have done. + +It is quite otherwise with us, who engage as volunteers in the service of +a flourishing ministry, in full credit with the Q[uee]n, and beloved by +the people, because they have no sinister ends or dangerous designs, but +pursue with steadiness and resolution the true interests of both. Upon +which account they little want or desire our assistance; and we may write +till the world is weary of reading, without having our pretences allowed +either to a place or a pension: besides, we are refused the common +benefit of the party, to have our works cried up of course; the readers +of our own side being as ungentle and hard to please, as if we writ +against them; and our papers never make their way in the world, but +barely in proportion to their merit. The design of _their_ labours who +write on the conquered side, is likewise of greater importance than ours; +they are like cordials for dying men, which must be repeated; whereas +ours are, in the Scripture phrase, but "meat for babes": at least, all I +can pretend, is to undeceive the ignorant and those at distance; but +their task is to keep up the sinking spirits of a whole party. + +After such reflections, I cannot be angry with those gentlemen for +perpetually writing against me: it furnishes them largely with topics, +and is besides, their proper business: neither is it affectation, or +altogether scorn, that I do not reply. But as things are, we both act +suitable to our several provinces: mine is, by laying open some +corruptions in the late management, to set those who are ignorant, right +in their opinions of persons and things: it is theirs to cover with +fig-leaves all the faults of their friends, as well as they can: When I +have produced my facts, and offered my arguments, I have nothing farther +to advance; it is their office to deny and disprove; and then let the +world decide. If I were as they, my chief endeavour should certainly be +to batter down the "Examiner," therefore I cannot but approve their +design, Besides, they have indeed another reason for barking incessantly +at this paper: they have in their prints openly taxed a most ingenious +person as author of it;[4] one who is in great and very deserved +reputation with the world, both on account of his poetical works, and his +talents for public business. They were wise enough to consider, what +a sanction it would give their performances, to fall under the +animadversion of such a pen; and have therefore used all the forms of +provocation commonly practised by little obscure pedants, who are fond of +distinguishing themselves by the fame of an adversary. So nice a taste +have these judicious critics, in pretending to discover an author by his +style and manner of thinking: not to mention the justice and candour of +exhausting all the stale topics of scurrility in reviling a paper, and +then flinging at a venture the whole load upon one who is entirely +innocent; and whose greatest fault, perhaps, is too much gentleness +toward a party, from whose leaders he has received quite contrary +treatment. + +The concern I have for the ease and reputation of so deserving a +gentleman, hath at length forced me, much against my interest and +inclination, to let these angry people know who is _not_ the author of +the "Examiner."[5] For, I observed, the opinion began to spread, and I +chose rather to sacrifice the honour I received by it, than let +injudicious people entitle him to a performance, that perhaps he might +have reason to be ashamed of: still faithfully promising, never to +disturb those worthy advocates; but suffer them in quiet to roar on at +the "Examiner," if they or their party find any ease in it; as physicians +say there is, to people in torment, such as men in the gout, or women in +labour. + +However, I must acknowledge myself indebted to them for one hint, which I +shall now pursue, though in a different manner. Since the fall of the +late ministry, I have seen many papers filled with their encomiums; I +conceive, in imitation of those who write the lives of famous men, where, +after their deaths, immediately follow their characters. When I saw the +poor virtues thus dealt at random, I thought the disposers had flung +their names, like valentines into a hat, to be drawn as fortune pleased, +by the j[u]nto and their friends. There, Crassus[6] drew liberty and +gratitude; Fulvia,[7] humility and gentleness; Clodius,[8] piety and +justice; Gracchus,[9] loyalty to his prince; Cinna,[10] love of his +country and constitution; and so of the rest. Or, to quit this allegory, +I have often seen of late, the whole set of discarded statesmen, +celebrated by their judicious hirelings, for those very qualities which +their admirers owned they chiefly wanted. Did these heroes put off and +lock up their virtues when they came into employment, and have they now +resumed them since their dismissions? If they wore them, I am sure it was +_under_ their greatness, and without ever once convincing the world of +their visibility or influence. + +But why should not the present ministry find a pen to praise them as well +as the last? This is what I shall now undertake, and it may be more +impartial in me, from whom they have deserved so little. I have, _without +being called_, served them half a year in quality of champion,[11] and by +help of the Qu[een] and a majority of nine in ten of the kingdom, have +been able to protect them against a routed cabal of hated politicians, +with a dozen of scribblers at their head; yet so far have they been from +rewarding me suitable to my deserts, that to this day they never so much +as sent to the printer to enquire who I was; though I have known a time +and a ministry, where a person of half my merit and consideration would +have had fifty promises, and in the mean time a pension settled on him, +whereof the _first quarter_ should be honestly paid. Therefore my +resentments shall so far prevail, that in praising those who are now at +the head of affairs, I shall at the same time take notice of their +defects. + +Was any man more eminent in his profession than the present l[or]d +k[eepe]r,[12] or more distinguished by his eloquence and great abilities +in the House of Commons? And will not his enemies allow him to be fully +equal to the great station he now adorns? But then it must be granted, +that he is wholly ignorant in the speculative as well as practical part +of polygamy: he knows not how to metamorphose a sober man into a +lunatic:[13] he is no freethinker in religion, nor has courage to be +patron of an atheistical book,[14] while he is guardian of the Qu[een]'s +conscience. Though after all, to speak my private opinion, I cannot think +these such mighty objections to his character, as some would pretend. + +The person who now presides at the council,[15] is descended from a great +and honourable father, not from the dregs of the people; he was at the +head of the treasury for some years, and rather chose to enrich his +prince than himself. In the height of favour and credit, he sacrificed +the greatest employment in the kingdom to his conscience and honour: he +has been always firm in his loyalty and religion, zealous for supporting +the prerogative of the crown, and preserving the liberties of the people. +But then, his best friends must own that he is neither Deist nor +Socinian: he has never conversed with T[o]l[a]nd, to open and enlarge his +thoughts, and dispel the prejudices of education; nor was he ever able to +arrive at that perfection of gallantry, to ruin and imprison the husband, +in order to keep the wife without disturbance.[16] + +The present l[or]d st[ewa]rd[17] has been always distinguished for his +wit and knowledge; is of consummate wisdom and experience in affairs; has +continued constant to the true interest of the nation, which he espoused +from the beginning, and is every way qualified to support the dignity of +his office: but in point of oratory must give place to his +predecessor.[18] + +The D. of Sh[rewsbur]y[19] was highly instrumental in bringing about the +Revolution, in which service he freely exposed his life and fortune. He +has ever been the favourite of the nation, being possessed of all the +amiable qualities that can accomplish a great man; but in the +agreeableness and fragrancy of his person, and the profoundness of his +politics, must be allowed to fall very short of ----.[20] + +Mr. H[arley] had the honour of being chosen Speaker successively to three +Parliaments;[21] he was the first of late years, that ventured to restore +the forgotten custom of treating his PRINCE with duty and respect. Easy +and disengaged in private conversation, with such a weight of affairs +upon his shoulders;[22] of great learning, and as great a favourer and +protector of it; intrepid by nature, as well as by the consciousness of +his own integrity, and a despiser of money; pursuing the true interest of +his PRINCE and country against all obstacles. Sagacious to view into the +remotest consequences of things, by which all difficulties fly before +him. A firm friend, and a placable enemy, sacrificing his justest +resentments, not only to public good, but to common intercession and +acknowledgment. Yet with all these virtues it must be granted, there is +some mixture of human infirmity: His greatest admirers must confess his +skill at cards and dice to be very low and superficial: in horse-racing +he is utterly ignorant:[23] then, to save a few millions to the public, +he never regards how many worthy citizens he hinders from making up their +plum. And surely there is one thing never to be forgiven him, that he +delights to have his table filled with black coats, whom he uses as if +they were gentlemen. + +My Lord D[artmouth][24] is a man of letters, full of good sense, good +nature and honour, of strict virtue and regularity in life; but labours +under one great defect, that he treats his clerks with more civility and +good manners, than others, in his station, have done the Qu[een].[25] + +Omitting some others, I will close this character of the present +ministry, with that of Mr. S[t. John],[26] who from his youth applying +those admirable talents of nature and improvements of art to public +business, grew eminent in court and Parliament at an age when the +generality of mankind is employed in trifles and folly. It is to be +lamented, that he has not yet procured himself a busy, important +countenance, nor learned that profound part of wisdom, to be difficult of +access. Besides, he has clearly mistaken the true use of books, which he +has thumbed and spoiled with reading, when he ought to have multiplied +them on his shelves:[27] not like a great man of my acquaintance, who +knew a book by the back, better than a friend by the face, though he +had never conversed with the former, and often with the latter. + + + +[Footnote 1: No. 26 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + + + +[Footnote 2: Writing to Stella, under date February 3rd, 1710/1, Swift +says: "They are plaguy Whigs, especially the sister Armstrong [Mrs. +Armstrong, Lady Lucy's sister], the most insupportable of all women +pretending to wit, without any taste. She was running down the last +'Examiner,' the prettiest I had read, with a character of the present +ministry" (vol. ii., p. 112 of present edition.) [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "For that is true glory and praise for noble deeds that +deserve well of the state, when they not only win the approval of the +best men but also that of the multitude." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: It was reported that the author of "The Examiner" was +Matthew Prior, late under-secretary of state. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: To Stella Swift wrote in his "Journal," under date February +9th:--"The account you give of that weekly paper [_i.e._ 'The Examiner,'] +agrees with us here. Mr. Prior was like to be insulted in the street for +being supposed the author of it, but one of the last papers cleared him. +Nobody knows who it is, but those few in the secret. I suppose the +ministry and the printer" (vol. ii., p. 116 of present edition).] + +[Footnote 6: The Duke of Marlborough. See "The Examiner," No. 28, +p. 177. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The Duchess of Marlborough. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: Earl of Wharton, notorious for his profligacy. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: This may refer to Godolphin. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: Probably Earl Cowper. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: This applies to the paper. "The Examiner" had existed for +six months, but Swift had written it for only three months, at this time. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: Sir Simon Harcourt (1661?-1727) who was lord chancellor, +1713-14. He was made lord keeper, October 19th, 1710, after Cowper +resigned the chancellorship. In the Sacheverell trial Harcourt was the +doctor's counsel. He was created Baron Harcourt in 1711. See also note on +p. 213 of vol. v. of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: This refers to the case of Richard, fifth Viscount Wenman, +against whom Cowper, in 1709, granted a commission of lunacy. He was +under the care of Francis Wroughton, Esq., whose sister, Susannah, he had +married in the early part of 1709. His brother-in-law sued him for +payment of his sister's portion, and asked that trustees be appointed for +his estate. Cowper decided against Wenman, and the commission granted. + +The case is referred to in No. 40 of "The Tatler" (July 12th, 1709). +Campbell says ("Chancellors," iv. 330) the commission "very properly +issued." Luttrell in his "Diary" (July 30th, 1709) notes that "the jury +yesterday brought it in that he [Wenman] was no idiot" (vi. 470). Lord +Wenman died November 28th, 1729. See also Nos. 18 and 23, _ante_, and +note, p. 101. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: Tindal dedicated to Cowper "a pious work which was not +altogether orthodox" (Campbell's "Chancellors," iv. 330). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: Laurence Hyde (1641-1711), created Earl of Rochester in +1682, was appointed lord president of the council, September 21st, 1710, +succeeding Somers. See also No. 41, _post._ Swift unkindly sneers at +Somers's low birth. See note on Somers on p. 29 of vol. i. of present +edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 16: Mrs. Manley, in her "Memoirs of Europe towards the Close of +the Eighth Century," has something very characteristic to say on this +subject. Speaking of Somers under the name Cicero, she says: "Cicero, +Madam, is by birth a plebeian" ... "Cicero himself, an oracle of wisdom, +was whirled about by his lusts, at the pleasure of a fantastic worn-out +mistress. He prostituted his inimitable sense, reason, and good nature, +either to revenge, or reward, as her caprice directed; and what made this +commerce more detestable, this mistress of his was a wife!" ... "that she +was the wife of an injured friend! a friend who passionately loved her, +and had tenderly obliged him, rather heightened his desires" (i., 200; +ii., 54, 83). The mistress is said to be Mrs. Blunt, daughter of Sir R. +Fanshaw. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 17: John Sheffield (1647-1721), third Earl of Mulgrave, was +created Marquess of Normanby, 1694, and Duke of Buckingham and Normanby +in 1702/3. He succeeded the Duke of Devonshire as lord steward of the +household on September 21st, 1710. He was the author of a poetical "Essay +on Poetry," and an interesting prose "Account of the Revolution." As +patron to Dryden he received the dedication of that poet's "Aurengzebe." +Pope edited his collected works in 1722-23. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 18: William Cavendish (1673?-1729) succeeded his father as +second Duke of Devonshire in 1707. He was lord steward, 1707-10, and +lord president, 1716-17.] + +[Footnote 19: Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury, is styled by Swift +elsewhere (Letter to Archbishop King, October 20th, 1713; Scott's +edition, xvi. 71), "the finest gentleman we have" (see note on p. 377 of +vol. v. of present edition). He was lord chamberlain, 1710-14. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 20: Henry de Grey (1664?-1740) succeeded his father as eleventh +Earl of Kent in 1702. He was created Marquess of Kent, 1706, and Duke +of Kent, 1710. He held the office of lord chamberlain of the household +from 1704 to 1710. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 21: Harley was first chosen Speaker, February 10th, 1700/1, for +a Parliament that lasted nine months; then again, December 30th, 1701, +for a Parliament that lasted only six months; and finally October 20th or +21st, 1702. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 22: "The Queen dismissed the Earl of Godolphin from being lord +treasurer, and put the treasury in commission: Lord Powlet was the first +in form, but Mr. Harley was the person with whom the secret was lodged" +(Burnet, "Own Times," ii. 552-3). He was appointed August 10th, 1710. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 23: Godolphin was very devoted to the turf. See Swift's poem +entitled, "The Virtues of Sid Hamet's Rod" (Aldine edition, iii. 10). +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 24: William Legge (1672-1750) succeeded his father as second +Lord Dartmouth in 1691, and was created Earl of Dartmouth in 1711. On +June 14th, 1710, he was appointed secretary of state in place of the Earl +of Sunderland. See note on p. 229 of vol. v. of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 25: The Earl of Sunderland was rude and overbearing in his +manner towards the Queen. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 26: Henry St. John (1678-1751) was created Viscount Bolingbroke +in 1712. He was secretary of war, 1704-1708, and secretary of state, +1710-14. In 1715 he was attainted and left England to enter the service +of the Pretender. See also Swift's "An Enquiry," etc. (vol. v., p. 430 of +present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 27: "Those more early acquaintance of yours, your books, which +a friend of ours once wittily said, 'Your L--p had mistaken the true use +of, by thumbing and spoiling them with reading'" ("A Letter to the +Rt. Hon. the Ld. Viscount B--ke," 1714-15). [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 28.[1] + + + +FROM THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1, TO THURSDAY FEBRUARY 8, 1710-11. + +_Caput est in omni procuratione negotii et muneris publici, ut +avaritiae pellatur etiam minima suspicio._[2] + + +There is no vice which mankind carries to such wild extremes as that of +avarice: Those two which seem to rival it in this point, are lust and +ambition: but, the former is checked by difficulties and diseases, +destroys itself by its own pursuits, and usually declines with old age: +and the latter requiring courage, conduct and fortune in a high degree, +and meeting with a thousand dangers and oppositions, succeeds too seldom +in an age to fall under common observation. Or, is avarice perhaps the +same passion with ambition, only placed in more ignoble and dastardly +minds, by which the object is changed from power to money? Or it may be, +that one man pursues power in order to wealth, and another wealth in +order to power; which last is the safer way, though longer about, and +suiting with every period as well as condition of life, is more generally +followed. + +However it be, the extremes of this passion are certainly more frequent +than of any other, and often to a degree so absurd and ridiculous, that +if it were not for their frequency, they could hardly obtain belief. The +_stage_, which carries other follies and vices beyond nature and +probability, falls very short in the representations of avarice; nor are +there any extravagances in this kind described by ancient or modern +comedies, which are not outdone by an hundred instances, commonly told, +among ourselves. + +I am ready to conclude from hence, that a vice which keeps so firm a hold +upon human nature, and governs it with so unlimited a tyranny, since it +cannot be wholly eradicated, ought at least to be confined to particular +objects, to thrift and penury, to private fraud and extortion, and never +suffered to prey upon the public; and should certainly be rejected as the +most unqualifying circumstance for any employment, where bribery and +corruption can possibly enter. + +If the mischiefs of this vice, in a public station, were confined to +enriching only those particular persons employed, the evil would be more +supportable; but it is usually quite otherwise. When a steward defrauds +his lord, he must connive at the rest of the servants, while they are +following the same practice in their several spheres; so that in some +families you may observe a subordination of knaves in a link downwards to +the very helper in the stables, all cheating by concert, and with +impunity: And even if this were all, perhaps the master could bear it +without being undone; but it so happens, that for every shilling the +servant gets by his iniquity, the master loses twenty; the perquisites +of servants being but small compositions for suffering shopkeepers to +bring in what bills they please.[3] It is exactly the same thing in a +state: an avaricious man in office is in confederacy with the whole +_clan_ of his district or dependence, which in modern terms of art is +called, "To live, and let live;" and yet _their_ gains are the smallest +part of the public's loss. Give a guinea to a knavish land-waiter, and +he shall connive at the merchant for cheating the Queen of an hundred. A +brewer gives a bribe to have the privilege of selling drink to the Navy; +but the fraud is ten times greater than the bribe, and the public is at +the whole loss.[4] + +Moralists make two kinds of avarice; that of Catiline, _alieni appetens, +sui profusus;_[5] and the other more generally understood by that name; +which is, the endless desire of hoarding: But I take the former to be +more dangerous in a state, because it mingles well with ambition, which I +think the latter cannot; for though the same breast may be capable of +admitting both, it is not able to cultivate them; and where the love of +heaping wealth prevails, there is not in my opinion, much to be +apprehended from ambition. The disgrace of that sordid vice is sooner apt +to spread than any other, and is always attended with the hatred and +scorn of the people: so that whenever those two passions happen to meet +in the same subject, it is not unlikely that Providence hath placed +avarice to be a check upon ambition; and I have reason to think, some +great ministers of state have been of my opinion. + +The divine authority of Holy Writ, the precepts of philosophers, the +lashes and ridicule of satirical poets, have been all employed in +exploding this insatiable thirst of money, and all equally controlled by +the daily practice of mankind. Nothing new remains to be said upon the +occasion, and if there did, I must remember my character, that I am an +_Examiner_ only, and not a Reformer. + +However, in those cases where the frailties of particular men do nearly +affect the public welfare, such as a prime minister of state, or a great +general of an army; methinks there should be some expedient contrived, to +let them know impartially what is the world's opinion in the point: +Encompassed with a crowd of depending flatterers, they are many degrees +blinder to their own faults than the common infirmities of human nature +can plead in their excuse; Advice dares not be offered, or is wholly +lost, or returned with hatred: and whatever appears in public against +their prevailing vice, goes for nothing; being either not applied, or +passing only for libel and slander, proceeding from the malice and envy +of a party. + +I have sometimes thought, that if I had lived at Rome in the time of the +first Triumvirate, I should have been tempted to write a letter, as from +an unknown hand, to those three great men, who had then usurped the +sovereign power; wherein I would freely and sincerely tell each of them +that fault which I conceived was most odious, and of most consequence +to the commonwealth: That, to Crassus, should have been sent to him after +his conquests in Mesopotamia, and in the following terms.[6] + +"_To Marcus Crassus, health._ + +"_If you apply as you ought, what I now write,[7] you will be more +obliged to me than to all the world, hardly excepting your parents or +your country. I intend to tell you, without disguise or prejudice, the +opinion which the world has entertained of you: and to let you see I +write this without any sort of ill will, you shall first hear the +sentiments they have to your advantage. No man disputes the gracefulness +of your person; you are allowed to have a good and clear understanding, +cultivated by the knowledge of men and manners, though not by literature. +You are no ill orator in the Senate; you are said to excel in the art of +bridling and subduing your anger, and stifling or concealing your +resentments. You have been a most successful general, of long experience, +great conduct, and much personal courage. You have gained many important +victories for the commonwealth, and forced the strongest towns in +Mesopotamia to surrender, for which frequent supplications have been +decreed by the Senate. Yet with all these qualities, and this merit, give +me leave to say, you are neither beloved by the patricians, or plebeians +at home, nor by the officers or private soldiers of your own army abroad: +And, do you know, Crassus, that this is owing to a fault, of which you +may cure yourself, by one minutes reflection? What shall I say? You are +the richest person in the commonwealth; you have no male child, your +daughters are all married to wealthy patricians; you are far in the +decline of life; and yet you are deeply stained with that odious and +ignoble vice of covetousness:[8] It is affirmed, that you descend even to +the meanest and most scandalous degrees of it; and while you possess so +many millions, while you are daily acquiring so many more, you are +solicitous how to save a single sesterce, of which a hundred ignominious +instances are produced, and in all men's mouths. I will only mention that +passage of the buskins,[9] which after abundance of persuasion, you would +hardly suffer to be cut from your legs, when they were so wet and cold, +that to have kept them on, would have endangered your life. + +"Instead of using the common arguments to dissuade you from this weakness, +I will endeavour to convince you, that you are really guilty of it, and +leave the cure to your own good sense. For perhaps, you are not yet +persuaded that this is your crime, you have probably never yet been +reproached for it to your face, and what you are now told, comes from one +unknown, and it may be, from an enemy. You will allow yourself indeed to +be prudent in the management of your fortune; you are not a prodigal, +like Clodius[10] or Catiline, but surely that deserves not the name of +avarice. I will inform you how to be convinced. Disguise your person; go +among the common people in Rome; introduce discourses about yourself; +inquire your own character; do the same in your camp, walk about it in +the evening, hearken at every tent, and if you do not hear every mouth +censuring, lamenting, cursing this vice in you, and even you for this +vice, conclude yourself innocent. If you are not yet persuaded, send for +Atticus,[11] Servius Sulpicius, Cato or Brutus, they are all your +friends; conjure them to tell you ingenuously which is your great fault, +and which they would chiefly wish you to correct; if they do not all +agree in their verdict, in the name of all the gods, you are acquitted. + +"When your adversaries reflect how far you are gone in this vice, they are +tempted to talk as if we owed our success, not to your courage or +conduct, but to those veteran troops you command, who are able to conquer +under any general, with so many brave and experienced officers to lead +them. Besides, we know the consequences your avarice hath often +occasioned. The soldier hath been starving for bread, surrounded with +plenty, and in an enemy's country, but all under safeguards and +contributions; which if you had sometimes pleased to have exchanged for +provisions, might at the expense of a few talents in a campaign, have so +endeared you to the army, that they would have desired you to lead them +to the utmost limits of Asia. But you rather chose to confine your +conquests within the fruitful country of Mesopotamia, where plenty of +money might be raised. How far that fatal greediness of gold may have +influenced you, in breaking off the treaty[12] with the old Parthian King +Orodes,[13] you best can tell; your enemies charge you with it, your +friends offer nothing material in your defence; and all agree, there is +nothing so pernicious, which the extremes of avarice may not be able to +inspire. + +"The moment you quit this vice, you will be a truly great man; and still +there will imperfections enough remain to convince us, you are not a god. +Farewell."_ + +Perhaps a letter of this nature, sent to so reasonable a man as Crassus, +might have put him upon _Examining_ into himself, and correcting that +little sordid appetite, so utterly inconsistent with all pretences to a +hero. A youth in the heat of blood may plead with some shew of reason, +that he is not able to subdue his lusts; An ambitious man may use the +same arguments for his love of power, or perhaps other arguments to +justify it. But, excess of avarice hath neither of these pleas to offer; +it is not to be justified, and cannot pretend temptation for excuse: +Whence can the temptation come? Reason disclaims it altogether, and it +cannot be said to lodge in the blood, or the animal spirits. So that I +conclude, no man of true valour and true understanding, upon whom this +vice has stolen unawares, when he is convinced he is guilty, will suffer +it to remain in his breast an hour. + +[Footnote 1: No. 27 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: "It is of the greatest importance in the discharge of every +office of trade, or of the public treasury, that the least suspicion of +avarice should be avoided." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: The Commissioners for examining the public accounts reported +to the House of Commons (December 21st, 1711) that the Duke of +Marlborough had received from Sir Solomon de Medina (army contractor +for bread) and his predecessor, during the years 1702 to 1711, +a sum of £63,319 3s. 7d. "In this report was contained the deposition +of Sir Solomon Medina, charging the Duke of Marlborough and +Adam Cardonell, his secretary, of various peculations, with regard to +the contracts for bread and bread-wagons for the army in Flanders." +The Duke admitted the fact in a letter to the Queen, dated November +10th, 1711, but said that the whole sum had "been constantly employed +for the service of the public, in keeping secret correspondence, +and in getting intelligence of the enemy's motions and designs" +(Macpherson's "Great Britain," ii. 512; Tindal's "History," iv. +232; and "Journals of House of Commons," xvii. 16). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: See the remarks in No. 39, _post_, p.250. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Sallust, "Catiline," 5. "Greedy of what was not his own, +lavish of what was." Catiline was extravagant and profligate, and quite +unscrupulous in the pursuit of his many pleasures. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: A most severe censure on the Duke of Marlborough. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: Commenting on this "The Medley" (No. 20, February 12th, +1711) remarks: "Of all that ever made it their business to defame, +there never was such a bungler sure as my friend. He writes a letter +now to Crassus, as a man marked out for destruction, because that hint +was given him six months ago; and does not seem to know yet that he +is still employed, and that in attacking him, he affronts the Q[uee]n." + +Writing to Stella, under date February 18th, Swift says: "Lord Rivers, +talking to me the other day, cursed the paper called 'The Examiner,' for +speaking civilly of the Duke of Marlborough: this I happened to talk of +to the Secretary [St. John], who blamed the warmth of that lord, and some +others, and swore, that, if their advice were followed, they would be +blown up in twenty-four hours" (vol. ii., p. 123 of present edition). +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: To Stella Swift writes somewhat later (March 7th): "Yes, I +do read the 'Examiners,' and they are written very finely as you judge. +I do not think they are too severe on the Duke; they only tax him of +avarice, and his avarice has ruined us. You may count upon all things in +them to be true. The author has said, it is not Prior; but perhaps it may +be Atterbury" (vol. ii., p. 133 of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: Wet stockings. [FAULKNER.]] + +[Footnote 10: Clodius Albinus, the Roman general, died 197 A.D. The +reference here is to the Earl of Wharton (see No. 27, _ante_, p. 169). +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: T. Pomponius Atticus, the friend and correspondent of +Cicero. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: The Treaty of Gertruydenberg (see No. 14, _ante_, and note +on p. 77; see also note on pp. 201-2 of vol. v. of present edition). +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: Orodes I. (Arsaces XIV.), King of Parthia, defeated +Crassus, B.C. 53. [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 29.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY FEBRUARY 8, TO THURSDAY FEBRUARY 15, 1710-11. + +_Inultus ut tu riseris Cotyttia?_[2] + +An Answer to the "Letter to the Examiner."[3] + + +London, Feb. 15, 1710/11. + +Sir, + +Though I have wanted leisure to acknowledge the honour of a letter you +were pleased to write to me about six months ago; yet I have been very +careful in obeying some of your commands, and am going on as fast as I +can with the rest. I wish you had thought fit to have conveyed them to me +by a more private hand, than that of the printing-house: for though I was +pleased with a pattern of style and spirit which I proposed to imitate, +yet I was sorry the world should be a witness how far I fell short in +both. + +I am afraid you did not consider what an abundance of work you have cut +out for me; neither am I at all comforted by the promise you are so kind +to make, that when I have performed my task,[4] "D[olbe]n shall blush in +his grave among the dead, W[alpo]le among the living, and even Vol[pon]e +shall feel some remorse." How the gentleman in his grave may have kept +his countenance, I cannot inform you, having no acquaintance at all with +the sexton; but for the other two, I take leave to assure you, there have +not yet appeared the least signs of blushing or remorse in either, though +some very good opportunities have offered, if they had thought fit to +accept them; so that with your permission, I had rather engage to +continue this work till they are in their graves too, which I am sure +will happen much sooner than the other. + +You desire I would collect "some of those indignities offered last year +to her M[ajest]y." I am ready to oblige you; and have got a pretty +tolerable collection by me, which I am in doubt whether to publish by +itself in a large volume in folio, or scatter them here and there +occasionally in my papers. Though indeed I am sometimes thinking to +stifle them altogether; because such a history will be apt to give +foreigners a monstrous opinion of our country. But since it is your +absolute opinion, the world should be informed; I will with the first +occasion pick out a few choice instances, and let them take their chance +in the ensuing papers. I have likewise in my cabinet certain quires of +paper filled with facts of corruption, mismanagement, cowardice, +treachery, avarice, ambition, and the like, with an alphabetical table, +to save trouble. And perhaps you will not wonder at the care I take to be +so well provided, when you consider the vast expense I am at: I feed +weekly two or three wit-starved writers, who have no other visible +support; besides several others that live upon my offals. In short, I am +like a nurse who suckles twins at one time, and has likewise one or two +whelps constantly to draw her breasts. + +I must needs confess, (and it is with grief I speak it) that I have been +the innocent cause of a great circulation of dullness: at the same time, +I have often wondered how it has come to pass, that these industrious +people, after poring so constantly upon the "Examiner,"[5] a paper writ +with plain sense, and in a tolerable style, have made so little +improvement. I am sure it would have fallen out quite otherwise with me; +for, by what I have seen of their performances (and I am credibly +informed they are all of a piece) if I had perused them till now, I +should have been fit for little but to make an advocate in the same +cause. + +You, Sir, perhaps will wonder, as most others do, what end these angry +folks propose, in writing perpetually against the "Examiner": it is not +to beget a better opinion of the late ministry, or with any hope to +convince the world that I am in the wrong in any one fact I relate; they +know all that to be lost labour; and yet their design is important +enough: they would fain provoke me by all sort of methods, within the +length of their capacity, to answer their papers; which would render mine +wholly useless to the public; for if it once came to rejoinder and reply, +we should be all upon a level, and then their work would be done. + +There is one gentleman indeed, who has written three small pamphlets upon +"the Management of the War," and "the Treaty of Peace:"[6] These I had +intended to have bestowed a paper in _Examining_, and could easily have +made it appear, that whatever he says of truth, relates nothing at all to +the evils we complain of, or controls one syllable of what I have ever +advanced. Nobody that I know of did ever dispute the Duke of +M[arlboroug]h's courage, conduct or success, they have been always +unquestionable, and will continue to be so, in spite of the malice of his +enemies, or, which is yet more, the _weakness of his advocates_. The +nation only wished to see him taken out of ill hands, and put into +better. But, what is all this to the conduct of the late m[i]n[i]stry, +the shameful mismanagements in Spain, or the wrong steps in the treaty of +peace, the secret of which will not bear the light, and is consequently +by this author very poorly defended? These and many other things I +would have shewn; but upon second thoughts determined to have done it in +a discourse by itself,[7] rather than take up room here, and break into +the design of this paper, from whence I have resolved to banish +controversy as much as possible. But the postscript to his third pamphlet +was enough to disgust me from having any dealings at all with such a +writer; unless that part was left to some footman[8] he had picked up +among the boys who follow the camp, whose character it would suit much +better than that of the supposed author.[9] At least, the foul language, +the idle impotent menace, and the gross perverting of an innocent +expression in the 4th "Examiner,"[10] joined to that respect I shall ever +have for the function of a divine, would incline me to believe so. But +when he turns off his footman, and disclaims that postscript, I will tear +it out, and see how far the rest deserves to be considered. + +But, Sir, I labour under a much greater difficulty, upon which I should +be glad to hear your advice. I am worried on one side by the Whigs for +being too severe, and by the Tories on the other for being too gentle. I +have formerly hinted a complaint of this; but having lately received two +peculiar letters, among many others, I thought nothing could better +represent my condition, or the opinion which the warm men of both sides +have of my conduct, than to send you a transcript of each. The former is +exactly in these words. + +"_To the 'Examiner.'_ + +"_MR. EXAMINER,_ + +"_By your continual reflecting upon the conduct of the late m[i]n[i]stry, +and by your encomiums on the present, it is as clear as the sun at noon- +day, that your are a Jesuit or Nonjuror, employed by the friends of the +Pretender, to endeavour to introduce Popery, and slavery, and arbitrary +power, and to infringe the sacred Act of Toleration of Dissenters. Now, +Sir, since the most ingenious authors who write weekly against you, are +not able to teach you better manners, I would have you to know, that +those great and excellent men, as low as you think them at present, do +not want friends that will take the first proper occasion to cut your +throat, as all such enemies to moderation ought to be served. It is well +you have cleared another person[11] from being author of your cursed +libels; though d--mme, perhaps after all, that may be a bamboozle too. +However I hope we shall soon ferret you out. Therefore I advise you as a +friend, to let fall your pen, and retire betimes; for our patience is now +at an end. It is enough to lose our power and employments, without +setting the whole nation against us. Consider three years is the life of +a party; and d--mme, every dog has his day, and it will be our turn next; +therefore take warning, and learn to sleep in a whole skin, or whenever +we are uppermost, by G--d you shall find no mercy._" + +The other letter was in the following terms. + +"_To the 'Examiner.'_ + +"_SIR,_, + +"_I am a country member, and constantly send a dozen of your papers down +to my electors. I have read them all, but I confess not with the +satisfaction I expected. It is plain you know a great deal more than you +write; why will you not let us have it all out? We are told, that the +Qu[een] has been a long time treated with insolence by those she has +most obliged; Pray, Sir, let us have a few good stories upon that head. +We have been cheated of several millions; why will you not set a mark on +the knaves who are guilty, and shew us what ways they took to rob the +public at such a rate? Inform us how we came to be disappointed of peace +about two years ago: In short, turn the whole mystery of iniquity +inside-out, that every body may have a view of it. But above all, explain +to us, what was at the bottom of that same impeachment: I am sure I never +liked it; for at that very time, a dissenting preacher in our +neighbourhood, came often to see our parson; it could be for no good, for +he would walk about the barns and stables, and desire to look into the +church, as who should say, These will shortly be mine; and we all +believed he was then contriving some alterations against he got into +possession: And I shall never forget, that a Whig justice offered me then +very high for my bishop's lease. I must be so bold to tell you, Sir, that +you are too favourable: I am sure, there was no living in quiet for us +while they were in the saddle. I was turned out of the commission, and +called a Jacobite, though it cost me a thousand pound in joining with +the Prince of Orange at the Revolution. The discoveries I would have you +make, are of some facts for which they ought to be hanged; not that I +value their heads, but I would see them exposed, which may be done upon +the owners' shoulders, as well as upon a pole, &c."_ + + +These, Sir, are the sentiments of a whole party on one side, and of +considerable numbers on the other: however, taking the _medium_ between +these extremes, I think to go on as I have hitherto done, though I am +sensible my paper would be more popular, if I did not lean too much to +the favourable side. For nothing delights the people more than to see +their oppressors humbled, and all their actions, painted with proper +colours, set out in open view. _Exactos tyrannos densum humeris bibit +aure vulgus._[12] + +But as for the Whigs, I am in some doubt whether this mighty concern they +shew for the honour of the late ministry, may not be affected, at least +whether their masters will thank them for their zeal in such a cause. It +is I think, a known story of a gentleman who fought another for calling +him "son of a whore;" but the lady desired her son to make no more +quarrels upon that subject, _because it was true_. For pray, Sir; does it +not look like a jest, that such a pernicious crew, after draining our +wealth, and discovering the most destructive designs against our Church +and State, instead of thanking fortune that they are got off safe in +their persons and plunder, should hire these bullies of the pen to defend +their reputations? I remember I thought it the hardest case in the world, +when a poor acquaintance of mine, having fallen among sharpers, where he +lost all his money, and then complaining he was cheated, got a good +beating into the bargain, for offering to affront gentlemen. I believe +the only reason why these purloiners of the public, cause such a clutter +to be made about their reputations, is to prevent inquisitions, that +might tend towards making them refund: like those women they call +shoplifters, who when they are challenged for their thefts, appear to be +mighty angry and affronted, for fear of being searched. + +I will dismiss you, Sir, when I have taken notice of one particular. +Perhaps you may have observed in the tolerated factious papers of the +week, that the E[arl] of R[ochester][13] is frequently reflected on for +having been ecclesiastical commissioner and lord treasurer, in the reign +of the late King James. The fact is true; and it will not be denied to +his immortal honour, that because he could not comply with the measures +then taking, he resigned both those employments; of which the latter was +immediately supplied by a commission, composed of two popish lords and +the present E[ar]l of G[o]d[o]l[phi]n.[14] + + +[Footnote 1: No. 28 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Horace, "Epodes," xvii. 56. + + "Safely shalt thou Cotytto's rites + Divulge?"--J. DUNCOMBE. + + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "A Letter to the Examiner. Printed in the year, 1710," +appeared shortly after the issue of the second number of "The Examiner." +It was attributed to St. John. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The writer of the "Letter" invited the "Examiner" to "paint +... the present state of the war abroad, and expose to public view those +principles upon which, of late, it has been carried on ... Collect some +few of the indignities which have been this year offered to her +Majesty.... When this is done, D----n shall blush in his grave among the +dead, W----le among the living, and even Vol----e shall feel some +remorse." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: "The Medley" treated "The Examiner" with scant courtesy, and +never failed to cast ridicule on its work. In No. 21 (February 19th, +1711) the writer says: "No man of common sense ever thought any body +wrote the paper but Abel Roper, or some of his allies, there being not +one quality in 'The Examiner' which Abel has not eminently distinguished +himself by since he set up for a political writer. 'Tis true, Abel is the +more modest of the two, and it never entered into his head to say, as my +friend does of his paper, 'Tis writ with plain sense and in a tolerable +style.'" In No. 23 (March 5th) he says: "There is indeed a great +resemblance between his brother Abel and himself; and I find a great +dispute among the party, to which of them to give the preference. They +are both news writers, as they utter things which no body ever heard of +_but from their papers_." + +Abel Roper conducted the Tory paper called "The Post Boy." (See note on +p. 290 of vol. v. of present edition.) [T.S.] ] + +[Footnote 6: Two of these pamphlets were already referred to in a +postscript to No. 24 of "The Examiner" (see note, p. 151). The third was +"The Negotiations for a Treaty of Peace, in 1709. Consider'd, In a Third +Letter to a Tory-Member. Part the First." Dated December 22nd, 1710, The +"Fourth Letter" was dated January 10th, 1710/11. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: It may be that Swift's intention was carried out in two +pamphlets, one entitled, "An Examination of the Management of the War. In +a Letter to My Lord * * *," published March 3rd, 1710/1; and the other +styled, "An Examination of the Third and Fourth Letters to a Tory +Member, relating to the Negociations for a Treaty of Peace in 1709. In +a Second Letter to My Lord * * *" [With a Postscript to the Medley's +Footman], published March 15th of the same year. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The postscript to "An Examination of the Third and Fourth +Letters" mentions a pamphlet, "An Answer to the Examination of the +Management of the War," by the Medley's Footman. "The Medley," No. 21 +(February 19th), remarks: "He could also prove there were wrong steps in +the Treaty of Peace, the Allies would have all; but he won't do it, +because he is treated like a footman." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: _I. e._ Dr. Francis Hare. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: Dr. Hare, in the postscript to his third pamphlet, said: +"The Examiner is extremely mistaken, if he thinks I shall enter the lists +with so prostitute a writer, who can neither speak truth, nor knows when +he hears it." He calls the writer "a mercenary scribbler," and speaks of +his paper as "weekly libels." He then quotes an expression from the +fourth number (published before Swift undertook "The Examiner"), and +concludes by saying that he had met more than his match in the +ingenious writer of "The Medley," even were he much abler than he is. + +The fourth "Examiner" had printed a "Letter from the Country," in which +the following passage occurs: "Can any wise people think it possible, +that the Crown should be so mad as to choose ministers, who would not +support public credit? ... This is such a wildness as is never ... to be +met with in the Roman story; except in a devouring Sejanus at home, or an +ambitious Catiline at the head of a mercenary army." + +The writer of "An Examination of the Third and Fourth Letters," says: +"The words indeed are in the paper quoted, that is, 'The Examiner,' No. +4, but the application is certainly the proper thought of the author of +the postscript" (p. 28). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: _I. e._ Prior. See No. 27, p. 168. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: Horace, "Odes," II. xiii. 31-2. + "Tyrants slain, +In thicker crowds the shadowy throng +Drink deeper down the martial song."--P. FRANCIS. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester, was lord treasurer from +168 4/5 to 168 6/7, when five commissioners were appointed: Lord +Belasyse, Lord Godolphin, Lord Dover, Sir John Ernle (chancellor of the +exchequer), and Sir Stephen Foxe. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: "The Medley," No. 22 (February 26th, 1711) remarks on this: +"He might have said with as much truth, 'twas supplied by my Lord G---- +and two Protestant knights, Sir Stephen Fox and Sir John Ernle." [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 30.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY FEBRUARY 15, TO THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22, 1710-11. + +_Laus summa in fortunae bonis, non extulisse se in potestate, non fuisse +insolentem in pecuniâ, non se praetulisse aliis propter abundantiam +fortunae._[2] + +I am conscious to myself that I write this paper with no other intention +but that of doing good: I never received injury from the late ministry, +nor advantage from the present, further than in common with every good +subject. There were among the former one or two, who must be allowed to +have possessed very valuable qualities; but proceeding by a system of +politics, which our constitution could not suffer; and discovering a +contempt of all religion, but especially of that which hath been so +happily established among us ever since the Reformation, they seem to +have been justly suspected of no very good inclinations to either. + +It is possible, that a man may speculatively prefer the constitution of +another country, or an Utopia of his own, before that of the nation where +he is born and lives; yet from considering the dangers of innovation, the +corruptions of mankind, and the frequent impossibility of reducing ideas +to practice, he may join heartily in preserving the present order of +things, and be a true friend to the government already settled. So in +religion; a man may perhaps have little or none of it at heart; yet if he +conceals his opinions, if he endeavours to make no proselytes, advances +no impious tenets in writing or discourse: if, according to the common +atheistical notion, he believes religion to be only a contrivance of +politicians for keeping the vulgar in awe, and that the present model is +better adjusted than any other to so useful an end: though the condition +of such a man as to his own future state be very deplorable; yet +Providence, which often works good out of evil, can make even such a +man an instrument for contributing toward the preservation of the Church. + +On the other side, I take a state to be truly in danger, both as to its +religion and government, when a set of ambitious politicians, bred up in +a hatred to the constitution, and a contempt for all religion, are forced +upon exerting these qualities in order to keep or increase their power, +by widening their bottom, and taking in (like Mahomet) some principles +from every party, that is any way discontented at the present faith and +settlement; which was manifestly our case. Upon this occasion I remember +to have asked some considerable Whigs, whether it did not bring a +disreputation upon their body, to have the whole herd of Presbyterians, +Independents, Atheists, Anabaptists, Deists, Quakers and Socinians, +openly and universally listed under their banners? They answered, that +all this was absolutely necessary, in order to make a balance against +the Tories, and all little enough: for indeed, it was as much as they +could possibly do, though assisted with the absolute power of disposing +every employment; while the bulk of English gentry kept firm to their old +principles in Church and State. + +But notwithstanding whatever I have hitherto said, I am informed, several +among the Whigs continue still so refractory, that they will hardly allow +the heads of their party to have entertained any designs of ruining the +constitution, or that they would have endeavoured it, if they had +continued in power, I beg their pardon if I have discovered a secret; but +who could imagine they ever intended it should be one, after those overt +acts with which they thought fit to conclude their farce? But perhaps +they _now_ find it convenient to deny vigorously, that the question may +remain; "Why was the old ministry changed?" which they urge on without +ceasing, as if no occasion in the least had been given, but that all were +owing to the insinuations of crafty men, practising upon the weakness of +an easy pr[inc]e. I shall therefore offer among a hundred, one reason for +this change, which I think would justify any monarch that ever reigned, +for the like proceeding. + +It is notorious enough, how highly princes have been blamed in the +histories of all countries, particularly of our own; upon the account of +minions; who have been ever justly odious to the people, for their +insolence and avarice, and engrossing the favour of their masters. +Whoever has been the least conversant in the English story cannot but +have heard of Gaveston[3], the Spencers[4], and the Earl of Oxford[5]; +who by the excess and abuse of their power, cost the princes they served, +or rather governed, their crowns and lives. However, in the case of +minions, it must at least be acknowledged that the prince is pleased and +happy, though his subjects be aggrieved; and he has the plea of +friendship to excuse him, which is a disposition of generous minds. +Besides, a wise minion, though he be haughty to others, is humble and +insinuating to his master, and cultivates his favour by obedience and +respect. But _our_ misfortune has been a great deal worse: we have +suffered for some years under the oppression, the avarice and insolence +of those, for whom the Qu[ee]n had neither esteem nor friendship; who +rather seemed to snatch their own dues, than receive the favour of their +sovereign, and were so far from returning respect, that they forgot +common good manners. They imposed on their prince, by urging the +necessity of affairs of their own creating: they first raised +difficulties, and then offered them as arguments to keep themselves in +power. They united themselves against nature and principle, to a party +they had always abhorred, and which was now content to come in upon any +terms, leaving them and their creatures in full possession of the court. +Then they urged the formidable strength of that party, and the dangers +which must follow by disobliging of it. So that it seems almost a +miracle, how a prince, thus besieged on all sides, could _alone_ have +courage and prudence enough to extricate herself. + +And indeed there is a point of history relating to this matter, which +well deserves to be considered. When her M[ajest]y came to the crown, she +took into favour and employment, several persons who were esteemed the +best friends of the old constitution; among whom none were reckoned +further gone in the high church principles (as they are usually called) +than two or three, who had at that time most credit, and ever since, till +within these few months, possessed all power at court. So that the first +umbrage given to the Whigs, and the pretences for clamouring against +France and the Pretender, were derived from them. And I believe nothing +appeared then more unlikely, than that such different opinions should +ever incorporate; that party having upon former occasions treated those +very persons with enmity enough. But some l[or]ds then about court, and +in the Qu[een]'s good graces, not able to endure those growing +impositions upon the prince and people, presumed to interpose, and were +consequently soon removed and disgraced: However, when a most exorbitant +grant was proposed,[6] antecedent to any visible merit, it miscarried in +Parliament, for want of being seconded by those who had most credit in +the House, and who having always opposed the like excesses in a former +reign, thought it their duty to do so still, to shew the world that the +dislike was not against persons but things. But this was to cross the +oligarchy in the tenderest point, a point which outweighed all +considerations of duty and gratitude to their prince, or regard to the +constitution. And therefore after having in several private meetings +concerted measures with their old enemies, and granted as well as +received conditions, they began to change their style and their +countenance, and to put it as a maxim in the mouths of their emissaries, +that England must be saved by the Whigs. This unnatural league was +afterwards cultivated by another incident; I mean the Act of Security,[7] +and the consequences of it, which every body knows; when (to use the +words of my correspondent)[8] "the sovereign authority was parcelled out +among a faction, and made the purchase of indemnity for an offending +M[iniste]r:" Thus the union of the two kingdoms improved that between the +ministry and the j[u]nto, which was afterwards cemented by their mutual +danger in that storm they so narrowly escaped about three years ago;[9] +but however was not quite perfected till the Prince's death;[10] and then +they went lovingly on together, both satisfied with their several shares, +at full liberty to gratify their predominant inclinations; the first, +their avarice and ambition; the other, their models of innovation in +Church and State. + +Therefore, whoever thinks fit to revive that baffled question, "Why was +the late ministry changed?" may receive the following answer; That it was +become necessary by the insolence and avarice of some about the Qu[een], +who in order to perpetuate their tyranny had made a monstrous alliance +with those who profess principles destructive to our religion and +government: If this will not suffice, let him make an abstract of all the +abuses I have mentioned in my former papers, and view them together; +after which if he still remains unsatisfied, let him suspend his opinion +a few weeks longer. Though after all, I think the question as trifling as +that of the Papists, when they ask us, "where was our religion before +Luther?" And indeed, the ministry was changed for the same reason that +religion was reformed, because a thousand corruptions had crept into the +discipline and doctrine of the state, by the pride, the avarice, the +fraud, and the ambition of those who administered to us in secular +affairs. + +I heard myself censured the other day in a coffee-house, for seeming to +glance in the letter to Crassus,[11] against a great man, who is still in +employment, and likely to continue so. What if I had really intended that +such an application should be given it? I cannot perceive how I could be +justly blamed for so gentle a reproof. If I saw a handsome young fellow +going to a ball at court with a great smut upon his face, could he take +it ill in me to point out the place, and desire him with abundance of +good words to pull out his handkerchief and wipe it off; or bring him to +a glass, where he might plainly see it with his own eyes? Does any man +think I shall suffer my pen to inveigh against vices, only because they +are charged upon persons who are no longer in power? Every body knows, +that certain vices are more or less pernicious, according to the stations +of those who possess them. For example, lewdness and intemperance +are not of so bad consequences in a town rake as a divine. Cowardice in a +lawyer is more supportable than in an officer of the army. If I should +find fault with an admiral because he wanted politeness, or an alderman +for not understanding Greek; that indeed would be to go out of my way, +for an occasion of quarrelling; but excessive avarice in a g[enera]l, is +I think the greatest defect he can be liable to, next to those of courage +and conduct, and may be attended with the most ruinous consequences, as +it was in Crassus, who to that vice alone owed the destruction of himself +and his army.[12] It is the same thing in praising men's excellencies, +which are more or less valuable, as the person you commend has occasion +to employ them. A man may perhaps mean honestly, yet if he be not able to +spell, he shall never have my vote for a secretary: Another may have wit +and learning in a post where honesty, with plain common sense, are of +much more use: You may praise a soldier for his skill at chess, because +it is said to be a military game, and the emblem of drawing up an army; +but this to a tr[easure]r would be no more a compliment, than if you +called him a gamester or a jockey.[13] + +P.S. I received a letter relating to Mr. Greenshields; the person who +sent it may know, that I will say something to it in the next paper. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 29 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: "Tractanda in laudationibus etiam haec sunt naturae et +fortunae bona, in quibus est summa laus: non extulisse," etc.--CICERO, +_De Oratore_ ii. 84. + +"These blessings of nature and fortune fall within the province of +panegyric, the highest strain of which is, that a man possessed power +without pride, riches without insolence, and the fullness of fortune +without the arrogance of greatness."--W. GUTHRIE. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, the favourite of Edward +II. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Hugh le Despencer, Earl of Winchester, and his son of the +same name, both favourites of Edward II., and both hanged in 1326. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford, favourite of Richard II. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: See No. 17, _ante_, and note, p. 95. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The Bill of Security passed the Scottish Parliament in 1703, +but was refused the Royal Assent. It provided for the separation of the +Crowns of England and Scotland unless security was given to the latter +for full religious and commercial independence. It was again passed +in 1704. (See also note in vol. v., p. 336 of present edition.) [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The writer of the "Letter" does not ascribe this result to +the Act of Security, but to the Queen raising some of her servants to the +highest degree of power who were unable "to associate with, men of +honester principles than themselves," which led to "subjection to the +will of an arbitrary junto and to the caprice of an insolent woman." [T. +S.]] + +[Footnote 9: The Duke of Marlborough and Lord Godolphin threatened to +resign in February, 1707/8, unless Harley was dismissed. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: Prince George died October 28th, 1708. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: "The Medley," No. 20 (February 12th) was largely taken up +with remarks on this letter, which appeared in "The Examiner," No. 28. +See passage there quoted in the note, p. 177. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: Crassus was defeated by Orodes, King of Parthia, through +the treachery of Ariamnes. After Crassus was beheaded Orodes caused +molten gold to be poured into his mouth. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: Godolphin. See No. 27, _ante_, p. 172. [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 31.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22, TO THURSDAY MARCH 1, 1710-11. + + +_Quae enim domus tam stabilis, quae tam firma civitas est, quae non odiis +atque discidiis funditus possit everti?_[2] + +If we examine what societies of men are in closest union among +themselves, we shall find them either to be those who are engaged in some +evil design, or who labour under one common misfortune: Thus the troops +of _banditti_ in several countries abroad, the knots of highwaymen in our +own nation, the several tribes of sharpers, thieves and pickpockets, with +many others, are so firmly knit together, that nothing is more difficult +than to break or dissolve their several gangs. So likewise those who are +fellow-sufferers under any misfortune, whether it be in reality or +opinion, are usually contracted into a very strict union; as we may +observe in the Papists throughout this kingdom, under those real +difficulties which are justly put on them; and in the several schisms of +Presbyterians, and other sects, under that grievous persecution of the +modern kind, called want of power. And the reason why such confederacies, +are kept so sacred and inviolable, is very plain, because in each of +those cases I have mentioned, the whole body is moved by one common +spirit, in pursuit of one general end, and the interest of individuals is +not crossed by each other, or by the whole. + +Now, both these motives are joined to unite the high-flying Whigs at +present: they have been always engaged in an evil design, and of late +they are faster rivetted by that terrible calamity, the loss of power. So +that whatever designs a mischievous crew of dark confederates may +possibly entertain, who will stop at no means to compass them, may be +justly apprehended from these. + +On the other side, those who wish well to the public, and would gladly +contribute to its service, are apt to differ in their opinions about the +methods of promoting it, and when their party flourishes, are sometimes +envious at those in power, ready to overvalue their own merit, and be +impatient till it is rewarded by the measure they have prescribed for +themselves. There is a further topic of contention, which a ruling party +is apt to fall into, in relation to retrospections, and enquiry into past +miscarriages; wherein some are thought too warm and zealous; others too +cool and remiss; while in the meantime these divisions are industriously +fomented by the discarded faction; which though it be an old practice, +hath been much improved in the schools of the Jesuits, who when they +despaired of perverting this nation to popery, by arguments or plots +against the state, sent their emissaries to subdivide us into schisms.[3] +And this expedient is now with great propriety taken up by our men of +incensed moderation, because they suppose themselves able to attack the +strongest of our subdivisions, and so subdue us one after another. +Nothing better resembles this proceeding, than that famous combat between +the Horatii and Curiatii,[4] where two of the former being killed, the +third, who remained entire and untouched, was able to kill his three +wounded adversaries, after he had divided them by a stratagem. I well +know with how tender a hand all this should be touched; yet at the same +time I think it my duty to warn the friends as well as expose the enemies +of the public weal, and to begin preaching up union upon the first +suspicion that any steps are made to disturb it. + +But the two chief subjects of discontent, which, in most great changes, +in the management of public affairs, are apt to breed differences among +those who are in possession, are what I have just now mentioned; a desire +of punishing the corruptions of former managers; and the rewarding merit, +among those who have been any way instrumental or consenting to the +change. The first of these is a point so nice, that I shall purposely +waive it; but the latter I take to fall properly within my district: By +merit I here understand that value which every man puts upon his own +deservings from the public. And I believe there could not be a more +difficult employment found out, than that of paymaster general to this +sort of merit; or a more noisy, crowded place, than a court of +judicature, erected to settle and adjust every man's claim upon that +article. I imagine, if this had fallen into the fancy of the ancient +poets, they would have dressed it up after their manner into an agreeable +fiction, and given us a genealogy and description of merit, perhaps not +very different from that which follows. + +_A Poetical Genealogy and Description of_ MERIT. + +That true Merit, was the son of Virtue and Honour; but that there was +likewise a spurious child who usurped the name, and whose parents were +Vanity and Impudence. That, at a distance, there was a great resemblance +between them, and they were often mistaken for each other. That the +bastard issue had a loud shrill voice, which was perpetually employed in +cravings and complaints; while the other never spoke louder than a +whisper, and was often so bashful that he could not speak at all. That in +all great assemblies, the false Merit would step before the true, and +stand just in his way; was constantly at court, or great men's levees, or +whispering in some minister's ear. That the more you fed him, the more +hungry and importunate he grew. That he often passed for the true son of +Virtue and Honour, and the genuine for an impostor. That he was born +distorted and a dwarf, but by force of art appeared of a handsome shape, +and taller than the usual size; and that none but those who were wise and +good, as well as vigilant, could discover his littleness or deformity. +That the true Merit had been often forced to the indignity of applying to +the false, for his credit with those in power, and to keep himself from +starving. That he filled the antechambers with a crew of his dependants +and creatures, such as projectors, schematises, occasional converts to a +party, prostitute flatterers, starveling writers, buffoons, shallow +politicians, empty orators, and the like, who all owned him for their +patron, and grew discontented if they were not immediately fed. + + +This metaphorical description of false Merit, is, I doubt, +calculated for most countries in Christendom; and as to +our own, I believe it may be said with a sufficient reserve of charity, +that we are fully able to reward every man among us according to his real +deservings. And I think I may add, without suspicion of flattery, that +never any prince had a ministry with a better judgment to distinguish +between false and real merit, than that which is now at the helm; or +whose inclination as well as interest it is to encourage the latter. And +it ought to be observed, that those great and excellent persons we see at +the head of affairs, are of the Qu[een]'s own personal voluntary choice; +not forced upon her by any insolent, overgrown favourite; or by the +pretended necessity of complying with an unruly faction. + +Yet these are the persons whom those scandals to the press, in their +daily pamphlets and papers, openly revile at so ignominious a rate, as I +believe was never tolerated before under any government. For surely no +lawful power derived from a prince, should be so far affronted, as to +leave those who are in authority exposed to every scurrilous libeller. +Because in this point I make a mighty difference between those who are +_in_, and those who are _out_ of power; not upon any regard to their +persons, but the stations they are placed in by the sovereign. And if my +distinction be right, I think I might appeal to any man, whether if a +stranger were to read the invectives which are daily published against +the present ministry, and the outrageous fury of the authors against me +for censuring the _last_; he would not conclude the Whigs to be at this +time in full possession of power and favour, and the Tories entirely at +mercy? But all this now ceases to be a wonder, since the Qu[een] herself +is no longer spared; witness the libel published some days ago under the +title of "A Letter to Sir J[aco]b B[an]ks,"[5] where the reflections upon +her sacred Majesty are much more plain and direct, than ever the +"Examiner" thought fit to publish against the most obnoxious persons in a +m[inistr]y, discarded for endeavouring the ruin of their prince and +country. Caesar indeed threatened to hang the pirates for presuming to +disturb him while he was their prisoner aboard their ship.[6] But it was +Caesar who did so, and he did it to a crew of public robbers; and it +became the greatness of his spirit, for he lived to execute what he had +threatened. Had _they_ been in his power, and sent such a message, it +could be imputed to nothing but the extremes of impudence, folly or +madness. + +I had a letter last week relating to Mr. Greenshields[7] an Episcopal +clergyman of Scotland, and the writer seems to be a gentleman of that +part of Britain. I remember formerly to have read a printed account of +Mr. Greenshields's case, who has been prosecuted and silenced for no +other reason beside reading divine service, after the manner of the +Church of England, to his own congregation, who desired it: though, as +the gentleman who writes to me says, there is no law in Scotland against +those meetings; and he adds, that the sentence pronounced against Mr. +Greenshields, "will soon be affirmed, if some care be not taken to +prevent it." I am altogether uninformed in the particulars of this case, +and besides to treat it justly, would not come within the compass of my +paper; therefore I could wish the gentleman would undertake it in a +discourse by itself; and I should be glad he would inform the public in +one fact, whether Episcopal assemblies are freely allowed in Scotland? It +is notorious that abundance of their clergy fled from thence some years +ago into England and Ireland, as from a persecution; but it was alleged +by their enemies, that they refused to take the oaths to the government, +which however none of them scrupled when they came among us. It is +somewhat extraordinary to see our Whigs and fanatics keep such a stir +about the sacred Act of Toleration, while their brethren will not allow a +connivance in so near a neighbourhood; especially if what the gentleman +insists on in his letter be true, that nine parts in ten of the nobility +and gentry, and two in three of the commons, be Episcopal; of which one +argument he offers, is the present choice of their representatives in +both Houses, though opposed to the utmost by the preachings, threatenings +and anathemas of the kirk. Such usage to a majority, may, as he thinks, +be of dangerous consequence; and I entirely agree with him. If these be +the principles of high kirk, God preserve at least the southern parts +from their tyranny! + + +[Footnote 1: No. 30 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Cicero, "De Amicitiâ," vii. "For what family is so firmly +rooted, what state so strong, as not to be liable to complete overthrow +from hatred and strife."--G.H. Wells. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Refers to the October Club. See Swift's "Memoirs Relating to +that Change," etc. (vol. v., pp. 385-6 of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The contest is the subject of one of Macaulay's "Lays." +Three brothers named Horatius fought with three named Curiatius, and the +fight resulted in Publius Horatius being the sole survivor. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: In his letter to the Earl of Peterborough, dated February, +1710/1 (Scott, vol. xv., pp. 422-3), Swift speaks more favourably of this +pamphlet. His remarks to the Earl throw considerable light on Swift's own +position as a Tory: "The piece is shrewdly written; and, in my opinion, +not to be answered, otherwise than by disclaiming that sort of passive +obedience which the Tories are charged with. This dispute would soon be +ended, if the dunces who write on each side would plainly tell us what the +object of this passive obedience is in our country; for I dare swear nine +in ten of the Whigs will allow it to be the legislature, and as many of +the Tories deny it to the prince alone; and I hardly ever saw a Whig +and a Tory together, whom I could not immediately reconcile on that +article when I made them explain themselves." + +The pamphlet was written by a Mr. Benson in reply to Sir Jacob Banks, +who, as member for Minehead, had, in 1709-10 presented an address from +his constituents in which it was pretty broadly avowed that subjects must +obey their monarch, since he was responsible to God alone. The writer of +the letter institutes a clever parallel between England and Sweden. See +note to No. 14, _ante_, and No. 34, _post_, pp. 75 and 216. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: Julius Caesar was captured by pirates off the coast of +Miletus (_c._ 75 B.C.) and held to ransom. The threat of crucifixion he +then held out to his captors he afterwards fulfilled. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The Rev. James Greenshields was imprisoned (September 15th, +1709) for conducting in Edinburgh the service according to the English +Prayer Book. He appealed to the House of Lords, and the judgment against +him was reversed, March 1st. 1710/1 ("Journals of House of Lords," xix). +[T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 32.[1] + + +FROM THURSDAY MARCH 1, TO THURSDAY MARCH 8, 1710-11. + + _----Garrit aniles + Ex re fabellas_.[2] + + + + +I had last week sent me by an unknown hand, a passage +out of Plato,[3] with some hints how to apply it. That author puts a +fable into the mouth of Aristophanes, with an account of the original of +love. That, mankind was at first created with four arms and legs, and all +other parts double to what they are now; till Jupiter, as a punishment for +his sins, cleft him in two with a thunderbolt, since which time we are +always looking for our _other half_; and this is the cause of love. But +Jupiter threatened, that if they did not mend their manners, he would give +them t'other slit, and leave them to hop about in the shape of figures in +_basso relievo_. The effect of this last threatening, my correspondent +imagines, is now come to pass; and that as the first splitting was the +original of love, by inclining us to search for our t'other half, so the +second was the cause of hatred, by prompting us to fly from our other side, +and dividing the same body into two, gave each slice the name of a party. + +I approve the fable and application, with this refinement upon it. For +parties do not only split a nation, but every individual among them, +leaving each but half their strength, and wit, and honesty, and good +nature; but one eye and ear for their sight and hearing, and equally +lopping the rest of the senses: Where parties are pretty equal in a +state, no man can perceive one bad quality in his own, or good one in his +adversaries. Besides, party being a dry disagreeable subject, it renders +conversation insipid or sour, and confines invention. I speak not here of +the leaders, but the insignificant crowd of followers in a party, who +have been the instruments of mixing it in every condition and +circumstance of life. As the zealots among the Jews bound the law about +their foreheads, and wrists, and hems of their garments; so the women +among us have got the distinguishing marks of party in their muffs, their +fans, and their furbelows. The Whig ladies put on their patches in a +different manner from the Tories.[4] They have made schisms in the +playhouse, and each have their particular sides at the opera: and when a +man changes his party, he must infallibly count upon the loss of his +mistress. I asked a gentleman the other day, how he liked such a lady? +but he would not give me his opinion till I had answered him whether she +were a Whig or a Tory. Mr.----[5] since he is known to visit the present +m[inist]ry, and lay some time under a suspicion of writing the +"Examiner," is no longer a man of wit; his very poems have contracted a +stupidity many years after they were printed. + +Having lately ventured upon a metaphorical genealogy of Merit, I thought +it would be proper to add another of Party, or rather, of Faction, (to +avoid mistake) not telling the reader whether it be my own or a +quotation, till I know how it is approved; but whether I read or dreamed +it, the fable is as follows. + +"_Liberty, the daughter of Oppression, after having brought forth several +fair children, as Riches, Arts, Learning, Trade, and many others, was at +last delivered of her youngest daughter, called Faction; whom Juno, doing +the office of the midwife, distorted in its birth, out of envy to the +mother, from whence it derived its peevishness and sickly constitution. +However, as it is often the nature of parents to grow most fond of their +youngest and disagreeablest children, so it happened with Liberty, who +doted on this daughter to such a degree, that by her good will she would +never suffer the girl to be out of her sight. As Miss Faction grew up, +she became so termagant and froward, that there was no enduring her any +longer in Heaven. Jupiter gave her warning to be gone; and her mother +rather than forsake her, took the whole family down to earth. She landed +at first in Greece, was expelled by degrees through all the Cities by her +daughter's ill-conduct; fled afterwards to Italy, and being banished +thence, took shelter among the Goths, with whom she passed into most +parts of Europe; but driven out every where, she began to lose esteem, +and her daughter's faults were imputed to herself. So that at this time, +she has hardly a place in the world to retire to. One would wonder what +strange qualities this daughter must possess, sufficient to blast the +influence of so divine a mother, and the rest of her children: She always +affected to keep mean and scandalous company; valuing nobody, but just +as they agreed with her in every capricious opinion she thought fit to +take up; and rigorously exacting compliance, though she changed her +sentiments ever so often. Her great employment was to breed discord among +friends and relations, and make up monstrous alliances between those +whose dispositions least resembled each other. Whoever offered to +contradict her, though in the most insignificant trifle, she would be +sure to distinguish by some ignominious appellation, and allow them to +have neither honour, wit, beauty, learning, honesty or common sense. She +intruded into all companies at the most unseasonable times, mixed at +balls, assemblies, and other parties of pleasure; haunted every coffee- +house and bookseller's shop, and by her perpetual talking filled all +places with disturbance and confusion. She buzzed about the merchant in +the Exchange, the divine in his pulpit, and the shopkeeper behind his +counter. Above all, she frequented public assemblies, where she sat in +the shape of an obscene, ominous bird, ready to prompt her friends as +they spoke_." + +If I understand this fable of Faction right, it ought to be applied to +those who set themselves up against the true interest and constitution of +their country; which I wish the undertakers for the late m[inistr]y would +please to take notice of; or tell us by what figure of speech they +pretend to call so great and _unforced_ a majority, with the Qu[een] at +the head, by the name of "the Faction": which is unlike the phrase of the +Nonjurors, who dignifying one or two deprived bishops, and half a score +clergymen of the same stamp, with the title of the "Church of England," +exclude all the rest as schismatics; or like the Presbyterians, laying +the same accusation, with equal justice, against the established +religion. + +And here it may be worth inquiring what are the true characteristics of a +faction, or how it is to be distinguished from that great body of the +people who are friends to the constitution? The heads of a faction, are +usually a set of upstarts, or men ruined in their fortunes, whom some +great change in a government, did at first, out of their obscurity +produce upon the stage. They associate themselves with those who dislike +the old establishment, religious and civil. They are full of new schemes +in politics and divinity; they have an incurable hatred against the old +nobility, and strengthen their party by dependants raised from the lowest +of the people; they have several ways of working themselves into power; +but they are sure to be called when a corrupt administration wants to be +supported, against those who are endeavouring at a reformation; and they +firmly observe that celebrated maxim of preserving power by the same arts +it is attained. They act with the spirit of those who believe their _time +is but short;_ and their first care is to heap up immense riches at the +public expense; in which they have two ends, beside that common one of +insatiable avarice; which are, to make themselves necessary, and to keep +the Commonwealth in dependence: Thus they hope to compass their design, +which is, instead of fitting their principles to the constitution, to +alter and adjust the constitution to their own pernicious principles. + +It is easy determining by this test, to which side the name of faction +most properly belongs. But however, I will give them any system of law or +regal government, from William the Conqueror to this present time, to try +whether they can tally it with their late models; excepting only that of +Cromwell, whom perhaps they will reckon for a monarch. + +If the present ministry, and so great a majority in the Parliament and +Kingdom, be only a faction, it must appear by some actions which answers +the idea we usually conceive from that word. Have they abused the +prerogatives of the prince, or invaded the rights and liberties of the +subject? Have they offered at any dangerous innovations in Church or +State? Have they broached any doctrines of heresy, rebellion or tyranny? +Have any of them treated their sovereign with insolence, engrossed and +sold all her favours, or deceived her by base, gross misrepresentations +of her most faithful servants? These are the arts of a faction, and +whoever has practised them, they and their followers must take up with +the name. + +It is usually reckoned a Whig principle to appeal to the people; but that +is only when they have been so wise as to poison their understandings +beforehand: Will they now stand to this appeal, and be determined by +their _vox populi_, to which side their title of faction belongs? And +that the people are now left to the natural freedom of their +understanding and choice, I believe our adversaries will hardly deny. +They will now refuse this appeal, and it is reasonable they should; and I +will further add, that if our people resembled the old Grecians, there +might be danger in such a trial. A pragmatical orator told a great man at +Athens, that whenever the people were in their rage, they would certainly +tear him to pieces; "Yes," says the other, "and they will do the same to +you, whenever they are in their wits." But God be thanked, our populace +is more merciful in their nature, and at present under better direction; +and the orators among us have attempted to confound both prerogative and +law, in their sovereign's presence, and before the highest court of +judicature, without any hazard to their persons. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 31 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + + +[Footnote 2: Horace, "Satires," II. vi. 77-8. +"To club his part in pithy tales."--P. FRANCIS. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: The "Symposium," 189-192. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: See "The Spectator," No. 81 (June 2nd, 1711): "Their patches +were placed in those different situations, as party signals to +distinguish friends from foes." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Matthew Prior. [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 33.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY MARCH 8, TO THURSDAY MARCH 15, 1710-11.[2] + + +_Non ea est medicina, cum sanae parti corporis scalpellum adhibetur, +atque integrae; carnificina est ista, et crudelitas. Hi medentur +Reipublicae qui exsecant pestem aliquam, tanquam strumam Civitatis_.[3] + +I am diverted from the general subject of my discourses, to reflect upon +an event of a very extraordinary and surprising nature: A great minister, +in high confidence with the Queen, under whose management the weight of +affairs at present is in a great measure supposed to lie; sitting in +council, in a royal palace, with a dozen of the chief officers of the +state, is stabbed at the very board,[4] in the execution of his office, +by the hand of a French Papist, then under examination for high treason. +The assassin redoubles his blow, to make sure work; and concluding the +chancellor was dispatched, goes on with the same rage to murder a +principal secretary of state: and that whole noble assembly are forced to +rise, and draw their swords in their own defence, as if a wild beast had +been let loose among them. + +This fact hath some circumstances of aggravation not to be paralleled by +any of the like kind we meet with in history. Caesar's murder being +performed in the Senate, comes nearest to the case; but that was an +affair concerted by great numbers of the chief senators, who were +likewise the actors in it, and not the work of a vile, single ruffian. +Harry the Third of France was stabbed by an enthusiastic friar,[5] whom +he suffered to approach his person, while those who attended him stood at +some distance. His successor met the same fate in a coach, where neither +he nor his nobles, in such a confinement, were able to defend themselves. +In our own country we have, I think, but one instance of this sort, which +has made any noise, I mean that of Felton, about fourscore years ago: but +he took the opportunity to stab the Duke of Buckingham in passing through +a dark lobby, from one room to another:[6] The blow was neither seen nor +heard, and the murderer might have escaped, if his own concern and +horror, as it is usual in such cases, had not betrayed him. Besides, that +act of Felton will admit of some extenuation, from the motives he is said +to have had: but this attempt of Guiscard seems to have outdone them all +in every heightening circumstance, except the difference of persons +between a king and a great minister: for I give no allowance at all to +the difference of success (which however is yet uncertain and depending) +nor think it the least alleviation to the crime, whatever it may be to +the punishment. + +I am sensible, it is ill arguing from particulars to generals, and that +we ought not to charge upon a nation the crimes of a few desperate +villains it is so unfortunate to produce: Yet at the same time it must be +avowed, that the French have for these last centuries, been somewhat too +liberal of their daggers, upon the persons of their greatest men; such +as the Admiral de Coligny,[7] the Dukes of Guise,[8] father and son, and +the two kings I last mentioned. I have sometimes wondered how a people, +whose genius seems wholly turned to singing and dancing, and prating, to +vanity and impertinence; who lay so much weight upon modes and gestures; +whose essentialities are generally so very superficial; who are usually +so serious upon trifles, and so trifling upon what is serious, have been +capable of committing such solid villanies; more suitable to the gravity +of a Spaniard, or silence and thoughtfulness of an Italian: unless it be, +that in a nation naturally so full of themselves, and of so restless +imaginations, when any of them happen to be of a morose and gloomy +constitution, that huddle of confused thoughts, for want of evaporating, +usually terminates in rage or despair. D'Avila[9] observes, that Jacques +Clément was a sort of buffoon, whom the rest of the friars used to make +sport with: but at last, giving his folly a serious turn, it ended in +enthusiasm, and qualified him for that desperate act of murdering his +king. + +But in the Marquis de Guiscard there seems to have been a complication of +ingredients for such an attempt: He had committed several enormities in +France, was extremely prodigal and vicious; of a dark melancholy +complexion, and cloudy countenance, such as in vulgar physiognomy is +called an ill look. For the rest, his talents were very mean, having a +sort of inferior cunning, but very small abilities; so that a great man +of the late m[inist]ry, by whom he was invited over,[10] and with much +discretion raised at first step from a profligate popish priest to a +lieutenant-general, and colonel of a regiment of horse, was forced at +last to drop him for shame.[11] + +Had such an accident happened[12] under that m[inis]try, and to so +considerable a member of it, they would have immediately charged it upon +the whole body of those they are pleased to call "the faction." This +would have been styled a high-church principle; the clergy would have +been accused as promoters and abettors of the fact; com[mittee]s would +have been sent to promise the criminal his life provided they might have +liberty to direct and dictate his confession: and a black list would have +been printed of all those who had been ever seen in the murderer's +company. But the present men in power hate and despise all such +detestable arts, which they might now turn upon their adversaries with +much more plausibility, than ever these did their honourable negotiations +with Gregg.[13] + +And here it may be worth observing how unanimous a concurrence there is +between some persons once in great power, and a French Papist; both +agreeing in the great end of taking away Mr. Harley's life, though +differing in their methods: the first proceeding by subornation, the +other by violence; wherein Guiscard seems to have the advantage, as +aiming no further than his life; while the others designed to destroy at +once both that and his reputation. The malice of both against this +gentleman seems to have risen from the same cause, his discovering +designs against the government. It was Mr. Harley who detected the +treasonable correspondence of Gregg, and secured him betimes; when a +certain great man who shall be nameless, had, out of the depth of his +politics, sent him a caution to make his escape; which would certainly +have fixed the appearance of guilt[14] upon Mr. Harley: but when that was +prevented, they would have enticed the condemned criminal with promise of +a pardon, to write and sign an accusation against the secretary. But to +use Gregg's own expression, "His death was nothing near so ignominious, +as would have been such a life that must be saved by prostituting his +conscience." The same gentleman lies now stabbed by his other enemy, a +Popish spy, whose treason he has discovered. God preserve the rest of +her Majesty's ministers from such Protestants, and from such Papists! + +I shall take occasion to hint at some particularities in this surprising +fact, for the sake of those at distance, or who may not be thoroughly +informed.[15] The murderer confessed in Newgate, that his chief design +was against Mr. Secretary St. John, who happened to change seats with Mr. +Harley, for more convenience of examining the criminal:[16] and being +asked what provoked him to stab the chancellor? he said, that not being +able to come at the secretary, as he intended, it was some satisfaction +to murder the person whom he thought Mr. St. John loved best.[17] + +And here, if Mr. Harley has still any enemies left, whom his blood spilt +in the public service cannot reconcile, I hope they will at least admire +his magnanimity, which is a quality esteemed even in an enemy: and I +think there are few greater instances of it to be found in story. After +the wound was given, he was observed neither to change his countenance, +nor discover any concern or disorder in his speech: he rose up, and +walked along the room while he was able, with the greatest tranquillity, +during the midst of the confusion. When the surgeon came, he took him +aside, and desired he would inform him freely whether the wound +were mortal, because in that case, he said, he had some affairs to +settle, relating to his family. The blade of the penknife, broken by the +violence of the blow against a rib, within a quarter of an inch of the +handle, was dropt out (I know not whether from the wound, or his clothes) +as the surgeon was going to dress him; he ordered it to be taken up, and +wiping it himself, gave it some body to keep, saying, he thought "it now +properly belonging to him." He shewed no sort of resentment, or spoke one +violent word against Guiscard, but appeared all the while the least +concerned of any in the company--a state of mind, which in such an +exigency, nothing but innocence can give, and is truly worthy of a +Christian philosopher. + +If there be really so great a difference in principle between the +high-flying Whigs, and the friends of France, I cannot but repeat the +question, how come they to join in the destruction of the same man? Can +his death be possibly for the interest of both? or have they both the +same quarrel against him, that he is perpetually discovering and +preventing the treacherous designs of our enemies? However it be, this +great minister may now say with St. Paul, that he hath been "in perils by +his own countrymen, and in perils by strangers." + +In the midst of so melancholy a subject, I cannot but congratulate with +our own country, that such a savage monster as the Marquis de Guiscard, +is none of her production; a wretch perhaps more detestable in his own +nature, than even this barbarous act has been yet able to represent him +to the world. For there are good reasons to believe, from several +circumstances, that he had intentions of a deeper dye, than those he +happened to execute;[18] I mean such as every good subject must tremble +to think on. He hath of late been frequently seen going up the back +stairs at court, and walking alone in an outer room adjoining to her +Ma[jest]y's bed-chamber. He has often and earnestly pressed for some time +to have access to the Qu[een], even since his correspondence with France; +and he has now given such a proof of his disposition, as leaves it easy +to guess what was before in his thoughts, and what he was capable of +attempting. + +It is humbly to be hoped, that the legislature[19] will interpose on so +extraordinary an occasion as this, and direct a punishment[20] some way +proportionable to so execrable a crime. + + _Et quicunque tuum violavit vulnere corpus, + Morte luat merita_----[21] + + +[Footnote 1: No. 32 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: To this number the writer of "The Political State of Great +Britain" made a pretty tart reply. In the issue for April, 1711, pp. +315-320 he says: "One of the Tory writers, shall I call him? or rather +libellers--one who presumptuously sets up for an Examiner--who, in order, +as he fondly expects, to make his court to some men in power, with equal +insolence and malice, makes it his weekly business to slander the +moderate party; who, without the least provocation, brandishes his +virulent pen against the best men ... instances in the murders of Caesar, +Henry III. and Henry IV. of France, and of the Duke of Buckingham; and +having extenuated the last, 'from the motives Felton is said to have +had,' he concludes," etc. The writer further goes on to say: "As to the +imputation of villanous assassinations, which the Examiner charges so +home on the French nation, I am heartily sorry he has given them so fair +an opportunity to retort the unfair and unjust argument from particulars +to generals. For, without mentioning Felton, whose crime this writer has +endeavoured _to extenuate_, no foreign records can afford a greater +number of murders, parricides, and, to use the Examiner's expression, +solid villanies, than our English history." Swift retorted on this writer +in No. 42, _post_, pp. 276, 277. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Cicero, "Pro Sestio," 65. "But that is not a remedy when the +knife is applied to some sound and healthy part of the body; that is the +act of an executioner and mere inhumanity. Those are the men who really +apply healing remedies to the republic, who cut out some pestilence as if +it were a wen on the person of the state."--C.D. YONGE. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: This refers to the attempted assassination of Harley and St. +John by the Marquis de Guiscard. See Swift's "Memoirs Relating to that +Change," etc. (vol. v., pp. 387-9 of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Henri III. was assassinated by Jacques Clément, a Dominican +friar, August 1st, 1589. Henri IV. was assassinated by François +Ravaillac, May 14th, 1610. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: George Villiers, fourth Duke of Buckingham, was stabbed by +Lieut. John Felton, August 23rd, 1628. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: Admiral de Coligny was assassinated August 23rd, 1572. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: Francois de Lorraine, Due de Guise, was shot in 1563. His +son and successor (Henri le Balafré) was killed December 23rd, 1588. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: Davila was the author of "Historia delle Guerre Civili di +Francia" (_c._ 1630). He was assassinated in 1631. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: "The first thing I would beg of this libeller," asks "The +Medley" (No. 25, March 19th, 1711), "is to make out what he affirms of +his being 'invited over.' If he would but prove that one particular, I +would forgive him all his lies past and yet to come." + +Of course. Swift's extreme phrase of "invited over" referred to the fact +that Guiscard had a Whig commission in the army. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: Antoine de Guiscard, at one time Abbé de la Bourlie, was +born in 1658. For misconduct he was compelled, in 1703, to forsake his +benefice and his country, and he undertook the cause of the Protestant +Camisards in the Cevennes, in their insurrection against Louis XIV. It is +known that he had been envoy to Turin, and had received a pension from +Holland. On taking refuge in England he obtained a pension from the +government, and by means of the influence of the Duke of Ormonde, who was +his brother's friend, became a frequenter in fashionable circles. The +death, however, of his friend Count Briançon seems to have deprived him +of means. He fell into bad ways, became poor, and solicited a pension +from the Queen, through St. John whose acquaintance he had made. A +pension of £500 was granted him; but this sum Harley reduced. Afraid that +even this means of a livelihood would be taken from him he opened a +treasonable correspondence with one Moreau, a Parisian banker. The rest +of the story of this poor wretch's life may be gathered from the +excellent account of the Harley-Guiscard incident given by W. Sichel in +his "Bolingbroke and his Times" (pp. 308-313). + +N. Luttrell has several entries in his Diary relating to Guiscard and the +attempted assassination of Harley, and there is a long account of him in +Boyer's "Political State" (vol. i., pp. 275-314). See also Portland +MS., vol. iv., Wentworth Papers, and Swift's "Journal to Stella," and +"Some Remarks," etc. (vol. v. of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: "Had such an accident ... against the secretary." The +writer of "A Letter to the Seven Lords" (1711) quotes this passage, and +remarks that "The Examiner" "intended seriously to charge you all, with +subornation, in order to proceed to murder." See also Swift's "Some +Remarks," etc. (vol. v., pp. 29-53 of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: See note on p. 263. Also note on p. 30 of vol. v. of +present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: William Gregg declared in his last confession that Mr. +Harley "was not privy to my writing to France, directly nor indirectly," +and he thanked God for touching his "conscience so powerfully ... as to +prevent my prostituting the same to save my life."--"William Gregg's +Paper," "Published by Authority," 1708. Gregg told the Rev. Paul +Lorrain "that he was profferred his life, and a great reward, if he +would accuse his master" (F. Hoffman's "Secret Transactions," 1711, +p. 8). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: Swift furnished Mrs. Manley with hints for her pamphlet +entitled, "A True Narrative Of what pass'd at the Examination Of the +Marquis De Guiscard," 1711. See note on p. 41 of vol. v. of present +edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 16: "The matter was thus represented in the weekly paper called +'The Examiner'; which Mr. St. John perused before it was printed, but +made no alteration in that passage." Swift's "Memoirs Relating to +that Change," etc. (vol v., p. 389 of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 17: Guiscard could hardly have been aware of St. John's true +sentiments towards Harley. In 1717 Bolingbroke, writing in his "Letter to +Sir William Windham," says: "I abhorred Oxford to that degree, that I +could not bear to be joined with him in any case" (edit. 1753, p. 94). +And yet, when it was feared that Harley might die from his wound, +St. John remarked to Swift that "he was but an ill dissembler" and +Harley's life was "absolutely necessary." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 18: "It was thought he had a design against the Queen's person, +for he had tried by all the ways that he could contrive to be admitted to +speak with her in private." (BURNET'S "Own Times," ii., 566). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 19: An Act to make an Attempt on the Life of a Privy Councillor +in the Execution of his Office to be Felony without Benefit of Clergy (9 +Ann. c. 21). This Act, which indemnified all those who had caused +Guiscard's death, was recommended in a Royal Message, March 14th, +introduced April 5th, passed the House of Commons, April 19th, and +received the Royal Assent, May 16th, 1711. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 20: Writing to Stella, under date March 15th, Swift says: "I +am sorry he [Guiscard] is dying; for they had found out a way to hang +him. He certainly had an intention to murder the Queen." Two days later +he says: "The coroner's inquest have found that he was killed by bruises +received from a messenger, so to clear the cabinet counsellors from whom +he received his wounds." (Vol. ii., p. 139 of present edition.) [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 21: +"He who profaned thy body by a wound +Must pay the penalty of death." +[T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 34.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY MARCH 15, TO THURSDAY MARCH 22, 1710-11. + + +_De Libertate retinenda, qua certe nihil est dulcius, tibi assentior._[2] + +The apologies of the ancient Fathers are reckoned to have been the most +useful parts of their writings, and to have done greatest service to the +Christian religion, because they removed those misrepresentations which +had done it most injury. The methods these writers took, was openly and +freely to discover every point of their faith, to detect the falsehood of +their accusers, and to charge nothing upon their adversaries but what +they were sure to make good. This example has been ill followed of later +times; the Papists since the Reformation using all arts to palliate the +absurdities of their tenets, and loading the Reformers with a thousand +calumnies; the consequence of which has been only a more various, wide, +and inveterate separation. It is the same thing in civil schisms: a Whig +forms an image of a Tory, just after the thing he most abhors, and that +image serves to represent the whole body. + +I am not sensible of any material difference there is between those who +call themselves the Old Whigs, and a great majority of the present +Tories; at least by all I could ever find, from examining several persons +of each denomination. But it must be confessed that the present body of +Whigs, as they now constitute that party, is a very odd mixture of +mankind, being forced to enlarge their bottom by taking in every +heterodox professor either in religion or government, whose opinions they +were obliged to encourage for fear of lessening their number; while the +bulk of the landed men and people were entirely of the old sentiments. +However, they still pretended a due regard to the monarchy and the +Church, even at the time when they were making the largest steps towards +the ruin of both: but not being able to wipe off the many accusations +laid to their charge, they endeavoured, by throwing of scandal, to make +the Tories appear blacker than themselves, that so the people might join +with _them_, as the smaller evil of the two. + +But among all the reproaches which the Whigs have flung upon their +adversaries, there is none hath done them more service than that of +_passive obedience_, as they represent it, with the consequences of +non-resistance, arbitrary power, indefeasible right, tyranny, popery, and +what not? There is no accusation which has passed with more plausibility +than this, nor any that is supported with less justice. In order +therefore to undeceive those who have been misled by false +representations, I thought it would be no improper undertaking to set +this matter in a fair light, which I think has not yet been done. A Whig +asks whether you hold passive obedience? you affirm it: he then +immediately cries out, "You are a Jacobite, a friend of France and the +Pretender;" because he makes you answerable for the definition he has +formed of that term, however different it be from what you understand. I +will therefore give two descriptions of passive obedience; the first as +it is falsely charged by the Whigs; the other as it is really professed +by the Tories, at least by nineteen in twenty of all I ever conversed +with. + +Passive Obedience as charged by the Whigs. + +_The doctrine of passive obedience is to believe that a king, even in a +limited monarchy, holding his power only from God, is only answerable to +Him. That such a king is above all law, that the cruellest tyrant must be +submitted to in all things; and if his commands be ever so unlawful, you +must neither fly nor resist, nor use any other weapons than prayers and +tears. Though he should force your wife or daughter, murder your children +before your face, or cut off five hundred heads in a morning for his +diversion, you are still to wish him a long prosperous reign, and to be +patient under all his cruelties, with the same resignation as under a +plague or a famine; because to resist him would be to resist God in the +person of His vicegerent. If a king of England should go through the +streets of London, in order to murder every man he met, passive obedience +commands them to submit. All laws made to limit him signify nothing, +though passed by his own consent, if he thinks fit to break them. God +will indeed call him to a severe account, but the whole people, united to +a man, cannot presume to hold his hands, or offer him the least active +disobedience. The people were certainly created for him, and not he for +the people. His next heir, though worse than what I have described, +though a fool or a madman, has a divine undefeasible right to succeed +him, which no law can disannul; nay though he should kill his father upon +the throne, he is immediately king to all intents and purposes, the +possession of the crown wiping off all stains. But whosoever sits on the +throne without this title, though never so peaceably, and by consent of +former kings and parliaments, is an usurper, while there is any where in +the world another person who hath a nearer hereditary right, and the +whole kingdom lies under mortal sin till that heir be restored; because +he has a divine title which no human law can defeat._ + +This and a great deal more hath, in a thousand papers[3] and pamphlets, +been laid to that doctrine of passive obedience, which the Whigs are +pleased to charge upon us. This is what they perpetually are instilling +into the people to believe, as the undoubted principles by which the +present ministry, and a great majority in Parliament, do at this time +proceed. This is what they accuse the clergy of delivering from the +pulpits, and of preaching up as doctrines absolutely necessary to +salvation. And whoever affirms in general, that passive obedience is due +to the supreme power, he is presently loaden by our candid adversaries +with such consequences as these. Let us therefore see what this doctrine +is, when stripped of such misrepresentations, by describing it as really +taught and practised by the Tories, and then it will appear what grounds +our adversaries have to accuse us upon this article. + +Passive Obedience, as professed and practised by the Tories. + +_They think that in every government, whether monarchy or republic, there +is placed a supreme, absolute, unlimited power, to which passive +obedience is due. That wherever is entrusted the power of making laws, +that power is without all bounds, can repeal or enact at pleasure +whatever laws it thinks fit, and justly demands universal obedience and +non-resistance. That among us, as every body knows, this power is lodged +in the king or queen, together with the lords and commons of the kingdom; +and therefore all decrees whatsoever, made by that power, are to be +actively or passively obeyed. That the administration or executive part +of this power is in England solely entrusted with the prince, who in +administering those laws, ought to be no more resisted than the +legislative power itself. But they do not conceive the same absolute +passive obedience to be due to a limited prince's commands, when they are +directly contrary to the laws he has consented to, and sworn to maintain. +The crown may be sued as well as a private person; and if an arbitrary +king of England should send his officers to seize my lands or goods +against law, I can lawfully resist them. The ministers by whom he acts +are liable to prosecution and impeachment, though his own person be +sacred. But if he interposes his royal authority to support their +insolence, I see no remedy, till it grows a general grievance, or till +the body of the people have reason to apprehend it will be so; after +which it becomes a case of necessity, and then I suppose a free people +may assert their own rights, yet without any violation to the person or +lawful power of the prince. But although the Tories allow all this, and +did justify it by the share they had in the Revolution, yet they see no +reason for entering upon so ungrateful a subject, or raising controversies +upon it, as if we were in daily apprehensions of tyranny, under the reign +of so excellent a princess, and while we have so many laws[4] of late +years made to limit the prerogative; when according to the judgment of +those who know our constitution best, things rather seem to lean to the +other extreme, which is equally to be avoided. As to the succession; the +Tories think an hereditary right to be the best in its own nature, and +most agreeable to our old constitution; yet at the same time they allow +it to be defeasible by Act of Parliament, and so is_ Magna Charta _too, +if the legislature thinks fit; which is a truth so manifest, that no man +who understands the nature of government, can be in doubt concerning it._ + +These I take to be the sentiments of a great majority among the Tories, +with respect to passive obedience: and if the Whigs insist, from the +writings or common talk of warm and ignorant men, to form a judgment of +the whole body, according to the first account I have here given, I will +engage to produce as many of their side, who are utterly against passive +obedience even to the legislature; who will assert the last resort of +power to be in the people, against those whom they have chosen and +trusted as their representatives, with the prince at the head; and who +will put wild improbable cases to shew the reasonableness and necessity +of resisting the legislative power, in such imaginary junctures. Than +which however nothing can be more idle; for I dare undertake in any +system of government, either speculative or practic, that was ever yet in +the world, from Plato's "Republic" to Harrington's "Oceana,"[5] to put +such difficulties as cannot be answered. + +All the other calumnies raised by the Whigs may be as easily wiped off; +and I have charity to wish they could as fully answer the just +accusations we have against them. Dodwell, Hicks, and Lesley,[6] are +gravely quoted, to prove that the Tories design to bring in the +Pretender; and if I should quote them to prove that the same thing is +intended by the Whigs, it would be full as reasonable, since I am sure +they have at least as much to do with Nonjurors as we. But our objections +against the Whigs are built upon their constant practice for many years, +whereof I have produced a hundred instances, against any single one of +which no answer hath yet been attempted, though I have been curious +enough to look into all the papers I could meet with that are writ +against the "Examiner"; such a task as I hope no man thinks I would +undergo for any other end, but that of finding an opportunity to own and +rectify my mistakes; as I would be ready to do upon call of the meanest +adversary. Upon which occasion, I shall take leave to add a few words. + +I flattered myself last Thursday, from the nature of my subject, and the +inoffensive manner I handled it, that I should have one week's respite +from those merciless pens, whose severity will some time break my heart; +but I am deceived, and find them more violent than ever. They charge me +with two lies and a blunder. The first lie is a truth, that Guiscard was +invited over:[7] but it is of no consequence; I do not tax it as a fault; +such sort of men have often been serviceable: I only blamed the +indiscretion of raising a profligate abbot, at the first step, to a +lieutenant-general and colonel of a regiment of horse, without staying +some reasonable time, as is usual in such cases, till he had given some +proofs of his fidelity, as well as of that interest and credit he +pretended to have in his country: But that is said to be another lie, for +he was a Papist, and could not have a regiment. However this other lie is +a truth too; for a regiment he had, and paid by us, to his agent Monsieur +Le Bas, for his use. The third is a blunder, that I say Guiscard's design +was against Mr. Secretary St. John, and yet my reasonings upon it, are, +as if it were personal against Mr. Harley. But I say no such thing, and +my reasonings are just; I relate only what Guiscard said in Newgate, +because it was a particularity the reader might be curious to know (and +accordingly it lies in a paragraph by itself, after my reflections)[8] +but I never meant to be answerable for what Guiscard said, or thought it +of weight enough for me to draw conclusions from thence, when I had the +Address of both Houses to direct me better; where it is expressly +said,[9] "That Mr. Harley's fidelity to her Majesty, and zeal for her +service, have drawn upon him the hatred of all the abettors of Popery and +faction."[10] This is what I believe, and what I shall stick to. + +But alas, these are not the passages which have raised so much fury +against me. One or two mistakes in facts of no importance, or a single +blunder, would not have provoked them; they are not so tender of my +reputation as a writer. All their outrage is occasioned by those passages +in that paper, which they do not in the least pretend to answer, and with +the utmost reluctancy are forced to mention. They take abundance of pains +to clear Guiscard from a design against Mr. Harley's life, but offer not +one argument to clear their other friends, who in the business of Gregg, +were equally guilty of the same design against the same person; whose +tongues were very swords, and whose penknives were axes. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 33 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Cicero, "Ep. ad Att.," xv. 13. "As to the maintenance of +liberty--surely the most precious thing in the world--I agree with +you."--E.S. SHUCKBURGH.] + +[Footnote 3: The following pamphlets may be instanced:--"Julian the +Apostate," [by S. Johnson], 1682; "[Passive Obedience] A Sermon preached +before the ... Lord Mayor," etc., by B. Calamy, 1683; "Passive Obedience +Stated and Asserted," by T. Pomfret, 1683; "The Doctrine of +Non-Resistance," [by E. Bohun], 1689; "History of Passive Obedience," [by +A. Seller], 1689; "A Discourse concerning the Unreasonableness," etc. [by +E. Stillingfleet], 1689; "Christianity, a Doctrine of the Cross," [by J. +Kettlewell], 1691; and "The Measures of Submission," by B. Hoadly, 1706. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The Act declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject +(1 Will. and Mary, Sess. 2, c. 2), and the Act for the Further Limitation +of the Crown (12 and 13 Will. III. c. 2), limited the power of the Crown +in various respects. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: "The Commonwealth of Oceana," by James Harrington, 1656. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: Henry Dodwell (1641-1711), non-juror, and author of "An +Admonitory Discourse ... Schism" (1704), "Occasional Communion" (1705), +etc. + +George Hickes (1642-1715), non-juror. Dean of Worcester (1683-91), and +author of "The Pretences of the Prince of Wales Examined, and Rejected" +(1701). + +Charles Leslie, see No. 16, _ante_, and note, p. 85. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: "Such, a vile slanderer is the 'Examiner,' who says: 'he was +invited over by the late ministry, preferred to a regiment, and made +lieut.-general,' when there is an Act of Parliament against Papists being +so."--"The Medley," No. 25 (March 19th). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: See No. 33, _ante_, p. 212. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: This is fairly quoted, changing the person. See Swift's +remarks in the following number. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: "A Letter to the Seven Lords" says: "The Examiner knows +_you_ are as much intended by 'faction,' as Guiscard was by 'Popery.'" +[T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 35.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY MARCH 22, TO THURSDAY MARCH 29, 1711. + + _--Sunt hic etiam sua praemia laudi; + Sunt lacrimae rerum, et mentem mortalia tangunt._[2] + + +I begin to be heartily weary of my employment as _Examiner_; which I wish +the m[inist]ry would consider, with half so much concern as I do, and +assign me some other with less pains, and a larger pension. There may +soon be a vacancy, either on the bench, in the revenue, or the army, and +I am _equally_ qualified for each: but this trade of _Examining_, I +apprehend may at one time or other go near to sour my temper. I did +lately propose that some of those ingenious pens, which are engaged on +the other side, might be employed to succeed me, and I undertook to +bring them over for _t'other crown;_ but it was answered, that those +gentlemen do much better service in the stations where they are. It was +added, that abundance of abuses yet remained to be laid open to the +world, which I had often promised to do, but was too much diverted by +other subjects that came into my head. On the other side, the advice of +some friends, and the threats of many enemies, have put me upon +considering what would become of me if _times should alter._ This I have +done very maturely, and the result is, that I am in no manner of pain. I +grant, that what I have said upon occasion, concerning the late men in +power, may be called satire by some unthinking people, as long as that +faction is down; but if ever they come into play again, I must give them +warning beforehand, that I shall expect to be a favourite, and that those +pretended advocates of theirs, will be pilloried for libellers. For I +appeal to any man, whether I ever charged that party, or its leaders, +with one single action or design, which (if we may judge by their former +practices) they will not openly profess, be proud of, and score up for +merit, when they come again to the head of affairs? I said, they were +insolent to the Qu[een]; will they not value themselves upon that, as an +argument to prove them bold assertors of the people's liberty? I affirmed +they were against a peace; will they be angry with me for setting forth +the refinements of their politics, in pursuing the _only_ method left to +preserve them in power? I said, they had involved the nation in debts, +and engrossed much of its money; they go beyond me, and boast they have +got it all, and the credit too. I have urged the probability of their +intending great alterations in religion and government: if they destroy +both at their next coming, will they not reckon my foretelling it, rather +as a panegyric than an affront? I said,[3] they had formerly a design +against Mr. H[arle]y's life: if they were now in power, would they not +immediately cut off his head, and thank me for justifying the sincerity +of their intentions? In short, there is nothing I ever said of those +worthy patriots, which may not be as well excused; therefore, as soon as +they resume their places, I positively design to put in my claim; and, I +think, may do it with much better grace, than many of that party who +now make their court to the present m[inist]ry. I know two or three great +men, at whose levees you may daily observe a score of the most forward +faces, which every body is ashamed of, except those that wear them. But I +conceive my pretensions will be upon a very different foot: Let me offer +a parallel case. Suppose, King Charles the First had entirely subdued the +rebels at Naseby, and reduced the kingdom to his obedience: whoever had +gone about to reason, from the former conduct of those _saints_, that if +the victory had fallen on their side, they would have murdered their +prince, destroyed monarchy and the Church and made the king's party +compound for their estates as delinquents; would have been called a +false, uncharitable libeller, by those very persons who afterwards +gloried in all this, and called it the "work of the Lord," when they +happened to succeed. I remember there was a person fined and imprisoned +for _scandalum magnatum_, because he said the Duke of York was a Papist; +but when that prince came to be king, and made open profession of his +religion, he had the justice immediately to release his prisoner, who in +his opinion had put a compliment upon him, and not a reproach: and +therefore Colonel Titus,[4] who had warmly asserted the same thing in +Parliament, was made a privy-councillor. + +By this rule, if that which, for some politic reasons, is now called +scandal upon the late m[inist]ry, proves one day to be only an abstract +of such a character as they will assume and be proud of; I think I may +fairly offer my pretensions, and hope for their favour. And I am the more +confirmed in this notion by what I have observed in those papers, that +come weekly out against the "Examiner." The authors are perpetually +telling me of my ingratitude to my masters, that I blunder, and betray +the cause; and write with more bitterness against those that hire me, +than against the Whigs. Now I took all this at first only for so many +strains of wit, and pretty paradoxes to divert the reader; but upon +further thinking I find they are serious. I imagined I had complimented +the present ministry for their dutiful behaviour to the Queen; for their +love of the old constitution in Church and State; for their generosity +and justice, and for their desire of a speedy, honourable peace: but it +seems I am mistaken, and they reckon all this for satire, because it is +directly contrary to the practice of all those whom they set up to +defend, and utterly against all their notions of a good ministry. +Therefore I cannot but think they have reason on their side: for suppose +I should write the character of an honest, a religious, and a learned +man; and send the first to Newgate, the second to the Grecian +Coffee-house, and the last to White's;[5] would they not all pass for +satires, and justly enough, among the companies to whom they were sent? + +Having therefore employed several papers in such sort of panegyrics, and +but very few on what they understand to be satires; I shall henceforth +upon occasion be more liberal of the latter, of which they are like to +have a taste, in the remainder of this present paper. + +Among all the advantages which the kingdom hath received by the late +change of ministry, the greatest must be allowed to be the calling of the +present Parliament, upon the dissolution of the last. It is acknowledged, +that this excellent assembly hath entirely recovered the honour of +P[arliamen]ts, which had been unhappily prostituted for some years past +by the factious proceedings of an unnatural majority, in concert with a +most corrupt administration. It is plain, by the present choice of +members, that the electors of England, when left to themselves, do +rightly understand their true interest. The moderate Whigs begin to be +convinced that we have been all this while in wrong hands, and that +things are now as they should be. And as the present House of Commons is +the best representative of the nation that hath ever been summoned in our +memories; so they have taken care in their first session, by that noble +Bill of Qualification,[6] that future Parliaments should be composed of +landed men, and our properties lie no more at mercy of those who have +none themselves, or at least only what is transient or imaginary. If +there be any gratitude in posterity, the memory of this assembly will be +always celebrated; if otherwise, at least we, who share in the blessings +they derive to us, ought with grateful hearts to acknowledge them. + +I design, in some following papers, to draw up a list (for I can do no +more) of the great things this Parliament hath already performed, the +many abuses they have detected; their justice in deciding elections +without regard of party; their cheerfulness and address in raising +supplies for the war, and at the same time providing for the nation's +debts; their duty to the Queen, and their kindness to the Church. In the +mean time I cannot forbear mentioning two particulars, which in my +opinion do discover, in some measure, the temper of the present +Parliament; and bear analogy to those passages related by Plutarch, in +the lives of certain great men; which, as himself observes, "Though they +be not of actions which make any great noise or figure in history, yet +give more light into the characters of persons, than we could receive +from an account of their most renowned achievements." + +Something like this may be observed from two late instances of decency +and good nature, in that illustrious assembly I am speaking of. The first +was, when after that inhuman attempt upon Mr. Harley, they were pleased +to vote an Address to the Queen,[7] wherein they express their utmost +detestation of the fact, their high esteem and great concern for that +able minister, and justly impute his misfortunes to that zeal for her +Majesty's service, which had "drawn upon him the hatred of all the +abettors of Popery and faction." I dare affirm, that so distinguishing a +mark of honour and good will from such a Parliament, was more acceptable +to a person of Mr. H[arle]y's generous nature, than the most bountiful +grant that was ever yet made to a subject; as her Majesty's answer, +filled with gracious expressions in his favour, adds more to his real +glory, than any _titles_ she could bestow. The prince and representatives +of the whole kingdom, join in their concern for so important a life. +These are the true rewards of virtue, and this is the commerce between +noble spirits, in a coin which the giver knows where to bestow, and the +receiver how to value, though neither avarice nor ambition would be able +to comprehend its worth. + +The other instance I intended to produce of decency and good nature, in +the present House of Commons, relates to their most worthy Speaker;[8] +who having unfortunately lost his eldest son,[9] the assembly, moved with +a generous pity for so sensible an affliction, adjourned themselves for a +week, that so good a servant of the public, might have some interval to +wipe away a father's tears: And indeed that gentleman has too just an +occasion for his grief, by the death of a son, who had already acquired +so great a reputation for every amiable quality, and who might have lived +to be so great an honour and an ornament to his ancient family. + +Before I conclude, I must desire one favour of the reader, that when he +thinks it worth his while to peruse any paper writ against the +"Examiner," he will not form his judgment by any mangled quotation out of +it which he finds in such papers, but be so just to read the paragraph +referred to; which I am confident will be found a sufficient answer to +all that ever those papers can object. At least I have seen above fifty +of them, and never yet observed one single quotation transcribed with +common candour. + + +[Footnote: 1 No. 34 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote: 2 Virgil, "Aeneid," i. 461-2. +"Even here +Has merit its reward. Woe wakens tears, +And mortal sufferings touch the heart of man."--R. KENNEDY. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: See No. 33, _ante_, p. 211. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Silas Titus (1622-1704) was the author of "Killing no +Murder," published in 1657. He sat in Parliament successively for +Ludgershall, Lostwithiel, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Ludlow, In +1688 he was made a privy councillor. In his notes on Burnet Swift says: +"Titus was the greatest rogue in England" (Burnet's "Own Times," +i. 11). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: For the signification of these coffee-houses see the remarks +prefixed to the "Tatlers" in this volume, p. 4. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: An Act for Securing the Freedom of Parliaments (9 Ann. c. 5) +provided that English members should show a land qualification. It was +introduced December 13th, 1710, and received the Royal Assent, February +28th. See also No. 45, _post_, p. 294. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The Address to the Queen was presented on March 13th, Swift +somewhat strengthens the language of the address, the original words +stating that the Houses had "to our great concern been informed," etc.; +and "we cannot but be most deeply affected to find such an instance of +inveterate malice, against one employed in your Majesty's council," etc. +The Queen, in her reply, referred to "that barbarous attempt on Mr. +Harley, whose zeal and fidelity in my service must appear yet more +eminently by that horrid endeavour," etc.--"Journals of House of Lords," +xix.; "Journals of House of Commons," xvi. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: William Bromley (1664-1732) was Speaker from 1710 till +1713. See note on p. 334 of vol. v. of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: Clobery Bromley (1688-1711) was elected M.P. for Coventry, +December, 1710. Only a few days before his death he had been appointed +one of the commissioners to examine the public accounts. "The House being +informed [March 20th] that Clobery Bromley, Esq., son to the Speaker, +died that morning; out of respect to the father, and to give him time, +both to perform the funeral rites, and to indulge his just affliction, +they thought fit to adjourn to" the 26th.--"Hist. and Proc. of House of +Commons," iv. 199. + +Swift wrote to Stella on the matter under date March 20th, 1711: "The +Speaker's eldest son is just dead of the small pox, and the House is +adjourned a week, to give him time to wipe off his tears. I think it +very handsomely done; but I believe one reason is, that they want Mr. +Harley so much" (vol. ii., p. 141 of present edition). [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 36.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY MARCH 29, TO THURSDAY APRIL 5, 1711. + + +_Nullo suo peccato impediantur, quo minus alterius peccata demonstrare +possint._[2] + +I have been considering the old constitution of this kingdom, comparing +it with the monarchies and republics whereof we meet so many accounts in +ancient story, and with those at present in most parts of Europe: I have +considered our religion, established here by the legislature soon after +the Reformation: I have likewise examined the genius and disposition of +the people, under that reasonable freedom they possess: Then I have +turned my reflections upon those two great divisions of Whig and Tory, +(which, some way or other, take in the whole kingdom) with the principles +they both profess, as well as those wherewith they reproach one another. +From all this, I endeavour to determine, from which side her present +M[ajest]y may reasonably hope for most security to her person and +government, and to which she ought, in prudence, to trust the +administration of her affairs. If these two rivals were really no more +than _parties_, according to the common acceptation of the word, I should +agree with those politicians who think, a prince descends from his +dignity by putting himself at the head of either; and that his wisest +course is, to keep them in a balance; raising or depressing either as it +best suited with his designs. But when the visible interest of his crown +and kingdom lies on one side, and when the other is but a faction, raised +and strengthened by incidents and intrigues, and by deceiving the people +with false representations of things; he ought, in prudence, to take the +first opportunity of opening his subjects' eyes, and declaring himself in +favour of those, who are for preserving the civil and religious rights of +the nation, wherewith his own are so interwoven. + +This was certainly our case: for I do not take the heads, advocates, and +followers of the Whigs, to make up, strictly speaking, a national party; +being patched up of heterogeneous, inconsistent parts, whom nothing +served to unite but the common interest of sharing in the spoil and +plunder of the people; the present dread of their adversaries, by whom +they apprehended to be called to an account, and that general conspiracy, +of endeavouring to overturn the Church and State; which, however, if they +could have compassed, they would certainly have fallen out among +themselves, and broke in pieces, as _their predecessors_ did, after +they destroyed the monarchy and religion. For, how could a Whig, who is +against all discipline, agree with a Presbyterian, that carries it higher +than the Papists themselves? How could a Socinian adjust his models to +either? Or how could any of these cement with a Deist or Freethinker, +when they came to consult upon settling points of faith? Neither would +they have agreed better in their systems of government, where some would +have been for a king, under the limitations of a Duke of Venice; others +for a Dutch republic; a third party for an aristocracy, and most of them +all for some new fabric of their own contriving. + +But however, let us consider them as a party, and under those general +tenets wherein they agreed, and which they publicly owned, without +charging them with any that they pretend to deny. Then let us _Examine_ +those principles of the Tories, which their adversaries allow them to +profess, and do not pretend to tax them with any actions contrary to +those professions: after which, let the reader judge from which of these +two parties a prince hath most to fear; and whether her M[ajest]y did not +consider the ease, the safety and dignity of her person, the security of +her crown, and the transmission of monarchy to her Protestant successors, +when she put her affairs into the present hands. + +Suppose the matter were now entire; the Qu[een] to make her choice, and +for that end, should order the principles on both sides to be fairly laid +before her. First, I conceive the Whigs would grant, that they have +naturally no very great veneration for crowned heads; that they allow, +the person of the prince may, upon many occasions, be resisted by arms; +and that they do not condemn the war raised against King Charles the +First, or own it to be a rebellion, though they would be thought to blame +his murder. They do not think the prerogative to be yet sufficiently +limited, and have therefore taken care (as a particular mark of their +veneration for the illustrious house of Hanover) to clip it closer +against next reign; which, consequently, they would be glad to see done +in the present: not to mention, that the majority of them, if it were put +to the vote, would allow, that they prefer a commonwealth before a +monarchy. As to religion; their universal, undisputed maxim is, that it +ought to make no distinction at all among Protestants; and in the word +Protestant they include every body who is not a Papist, and who will, by +an oath, give security to the government. Union in discipline and +doctrine, the offensive sin of schism, the notion of a Church and a +hierarchy, they laugh at as foppery, cant and priestcraft. They see no +necessity at all that there should be a national faith; and what we +usually call by that name, they only style the "religion of the +magistrate."[3] Since the Dissenters and we agree in the main, why should +the difference of a few speculative points, or modes of dress, +incapacitate them from serving their prince and country, in a juncture +when we ought to have all hands up against the common enemy? And why +should they be forced to take the sacrament from our clergy's hands, and +in our posture, or indeed why compelled to receive it at all, when +they take an employment which has nothing to do with religion? + +These are the notions which most of that party avow, and which they do +not endeavour to disguise or set off with false colours, or complain of +being misrepresented about, I have here placed them on purpose, in the +same light which themselves do, in the very apologies they make for what +we accuse them of; and how inviting even these doctrines are, for such a +monarch to close with, as our law, both statute and common, understands a +King of England to be, let others decide. But then, if to these we should +add other opinions, which most of their own writers justify, and which +their universal practice has given a sanction to, they are no more than +what a prince might reasonably expect, as the natural consequence of +those avowed principles. For when such persons are at the head of +affairs, the low opinion they have of princes, will certainly tempt them +to violate that respect they ought to bear; and at the same time, their +own want of duty to their sovereign is largely made up, by exacting +greater submissions to themselves from their fellow-subjects: it being +indisputably true, that the same principle of pride and ambition makes a +man treat his equals with insolence, in the same proportion as he +affronts his superiors; as both Prince and people have sufficiently felt +from the late m[inist]ry. + +Then from their confessed notions of religion, as above related, I see no +reason to wonder, why they countenanced not only all sorts of Dissenters, +but the several gradations of freethinkers among us (all which were +openly enrolled in their party); nor why they were so very averse from +the present established form of worship, which by prescribing obedience +to princes from the topic of conscience, would be sure to thwart all +their schemes of innovation. + +One thing I might add, as another acknowledged maxim in that party, and +in my opinion, as dangerous to the constitution as any I have mentioned; +I mean, that of preferring, on all occasions, the moneyed interest before +the landed; which they were so far from denying, that they would gravely +debate the reasonableness and justice of it; and at the rate they went +on, might in a little time have found a majority of representatives, +fitly qualified to lay those heavy burthens on the rest of the nation, +which themselves would not touch with one of their fingers. + +However, to deal impartially, there are some motives which might compel a +prince, under the necessity of affairs, to deliver himself over to that +party. They were _said_ to possess the great bulk of cash, and +consequently of credit in the nation, and the heads of them had the +reputation of presiding over those societies who have the great direction +of both:[4] so that all applications for loans to the public service, +upon any emergency, must be made through them; and it might prove highly +dangerous to disoblige them, because in that case, it was not to be +doubted, that they would be obstinate and malicious, ready to obstruct +all affairs, not only by shutting their own purses, but by endeavouring +to sink credit, though with some present imaginary loss to themselves, +only to shew, it was a creature of their own. + +From this summary of Whig-principles and dispositions, we find what a +prince may reasonably fear and hope from that party. Let us now very +briefly consider, the doctrines of the Tories, which their adversaries +will not dispute. As they prefer a well-regulated monarchy before all +other forms of government; so they think it next to impossible to alter +that institution here, without involving our whole island in blood and +desolation. They believe, that the prerogative of a sovereign ought, at +least, to be held as sacred and inviolable as the rights of his people, +if only for this reason, because without a due share of power, he will +not be able to protect them. They think, that by many known laws of +this realm, both statute and common, neither the person, nor lawful +authority of the prince, ought, upon any pretence whatsoever, to be +resisted or disobeyed. Their sentiments, in relation to the Church, are +known enough, and will not be controverted, being just the reverse to +what I have delivered as the doctrine and practice of the Whigs upon that +article. + +But here I must likewise deal impartially too, and add one principle as a +characteristic of the Tories, which has much discouraged some princes +from making use of them in affairs. Give the Whigs but power enough to +insult their sovereign, engross his favours to themselves, and to oppress +and plunder their fellow-subjects; they presently grow into good humour +and good language towards the crown; profess they will stand by it with +their lives and fortunes; and whatever rudenesses they may be guilty of +in private, yet they assure the world, that there never was so gracious a +monarch. But to the shame of the Tories, it must be confessed, that +nothing of all this hath been ever observed in them; in or out of favour, +you see no alteration, further than a little cheerfulness or cloud in +their countenances; the highest employments can add nothing to their +loyalty, but their behaviour to their prince, as well as their +expressions of love and duty, are, in all conditions, exactly the same. + +Having thus impartially stated the avowed principles of Whig and Tory; +let the reader determine, as he pleases, to which of these two a wise +prince may, with most safety to himself and the public, trust his person +and his affairs; and whether it were rashness or prudence in her +M[ajest]y to make those changes in the ministry, which have been so +highly extolled by some, and condemned by others. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 35 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: "None are prevented by their own faults from pointing out +the faults of another."--H.T. RILEY. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: See Swift's "Letter Concerning the Sacramental Test" (vol. +iv., p. 11 of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The Bank and the East India Company. The former was so +decidedly in the Whig interest, that the great Doctor Sacheverell, on +appearing to give his vote for choosing governors and directors for the +Bank, was very rudely treated. Nor were the ministry successful in an +attempt made about that time to put these great companies under Tory +management. [S.] And see No. 25, _ante_, pp. 154-5. [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 37.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY APRIL 5, TO THURSDAY APRIL 12, 1711. + + + _Tres species tam dissimiles, tria talia texta + Una dies dedit exitio----_[2] + + +I write this paper for the sake of the Dissenters, whom I take to be the +most spreading branch of the Whig party, that professeth Christianity, +and the only one that seems to be zealous for any particular system of +it; the bulk of those we call the Low Church, being generally +indifferent, and undetermined in that point; and the other subdivisions +having not yet taken either the Old or New Testament into their scheme. +By the Dissenters therefore, it will easily be understood, that I mean +the Presbyterians, as they include the sects of Anabaptists, +Independents, and others, which have been melted down into them since the +Restoration. This sect, in order to make itself national, having gone so +far as to raise a Rebellion, murder their king, destroy monarchy and the +Church, was afterwards broken in pieces by its own divisions; which made +way for the king's return from his exile. However, the zealous among them +did still entertain hopes of recovering the "dominion of grace;" whereof +I have read a remarkable passage, in a book published about the year 1661 +and written by one of their own side. As one of the regicides was going +to his execution, a friend asked him, whether he thought the cause would +revive? He answered, "The cause is in the bosom of Christ, and as sure as +Christ rose from the dead, so sure will the cause revive also."[3] And +therefore the Nonconformists were strictly watched and restrained by +penal laws, during the reign of King Charles the Second; the court and +kingdom looking on them as a faction, ready to join in any design against +the government in Church or State: And surely this was reasonable enough, +while so many continued alive, who had voted, and fought, and preached +against both, and gave no proof that they had changed their principles. +The Nonconformists were then exactly upon the same foot with our +Nonjurors now, whom we double tax, forbid their conventicles, and keep +under hatches; without thinking ourselves possessed with a persecuting +spirit, because we know they want nothing but the power to ruin us. This, +in my opinion, should altogether silence the Dissenters' complaints of +persecution under King Charles the Second; or make them shew us wherein +they differed, at that time, from what our Jacobites are now. + +Their inclinations to the Church were soon discovered, when King James +the Second succeeded to the crown, with whom they unanimously joined in +its ruin, to revenge themselves for that restraint they had most justly +suffered in the foregoing reign; not from the persecuting temper of the +clergy, as their clamours would suggest, but the prudence and caution of +the legislature. The same indulgence against law, was made use of by them +and the Papists, and they amicably employed their power, as in defence of +one common interest. + +But the Revolution happening soon after, served to wash away the memory +of the rebellion; upon which, the run against Popery, was, no doubt, as +just and seasonable, as that of fanaticism, after the Restoration: and +the dread of Popery, being then our latest danger, and consequently the +most fresh upon our spirits, all mouths were open against that; the +Dissenters were rewarded with an indulgence by law; the rebellion and +king's murder were now no longer a reproach; the former was only a civil +war, and whoever durst call it a rebellion, was a Jacobite, and friend to +France. This was the more unexpected, because the Revolution being wholly +brought about by Church of England hands, they hoped one good consequence +of it, would be the relieving us from the encroachments of Dissenters, as +well as those of Papists, since both had equally confederated towards our +ruin; and therefore, when the crown was new settled, it was hoped at +least that the rest of the constitution would be restored. But this +affair took a very different turn; the Dissenters had just made a shift +to save a tide, and joined with the Prince of Orange, when they found all +was desperate with their protector King James. And observing a party, +then forming against the old principles in Church and State, under the +name of Whigs and Low-Churchmen, they listed themselves of it, where they +have ever since continued. + +It is therefore, upon the foot they now are, that I would apply myself to +them, and desire they would consider the different circumstances at +present, from what they were under, when they began their designs against +the Church and monarchy, about seventy years ago. At that juncture they +made up the body of the party, and whosoever joined with them from +principles of revenge, discontent, ambition, or love of change, were all +forced to shelter under their denomination; united heartily in the +pretences of a further and purer Reformation in religion, and of +advancing the "great work" (as the cant was then) "that God was about +to do in these nations," received the systems of doctrine and discipline +prescribed by the Scots, and readily took the Covenant;[4] so that there +appeared no division among them, till after the common enemy was subdued. + +But now their case is quite otherwise, and I can hardly think it worth +being of a party, upon the terms they have been received of late years; +for suppose the whole faction should at length succeed in their design of +destroying the Church; are they so weak to imagine, that the new +modelling of religion, would be put into their hands? Would their +brethren, the Low-Churchmen and Freethinkers, submit to their discipline, +their synods or their classes, and divide the lands of bishops, or deans +and chapters, among them? How can they help observing that their allies, +instead of pretending more sanctity than other men, are some of them for +levelling all religion, and the rest for abolishing it? Is it not +manifest, that they have been treated by their confederates, exactly +after the same manner, as they were by King James the Second, made +instruments to ruin the Church, not for their sakes, but under a +pretended project of universal freedom in opinion, to advance the dark +designs of those who employ them? For, excepting the anti-monarchical +principle, and a few false notions about liberty, I see but little +agreement betwixt them; and even in these, I believe, it would be +impossible to contrive a frame of government, that would please them all, +if they had it now in their power to try. But however, to be sure, the +Presbyterian institution would never obtain. For, suppose they should, in +imitation of their predecessors, propose to have no King but our Saviour +Christ, the whole clan of Freethinkers would immediately object, and +refuse His authority. Neither would their Low-Church brethren use them +better, as well knowing what enemies they are to that doctrine of +unlimited toleration, wherever they are suffered to preside. So that upon +the whole, I do not see, as their present circumstances stand, where the +Dissenters can find better quarter, than from the Church of England. + +Besides, I leave it to their consideration, whether, with all their zeal +against the Church, they ought not to shew a little decency, and how far +it consists with their reputation, to act in concert with such +confederates. It was reckoned a very infamous proceeding in the present +most Christian king, to assist the Turk against the Emperor: policy, and +reasons of state, were not allowed sufficient excuses, for taking part +with an infidel against a believer. It is one of the Dissenters' quarrels +against the Church, that she is not enough reformed from Popery; yet they +boldly entered into a league with Papists and a popish prince, to destroy +her. They profess much sanctity, and object against the wicked lives of +some of our members; yet they have been long, and still continue, in +strict combination with libertines and atheists, to contrive our ruin. +What if the Jews should multiply, and become a formidable party among us? +Would the Dissenters join in alliance with them likewise, because they +agree already in some general principles, and because the Jews are +allowed to be a "stiffnecked and rebellious people"? + +It is the part of wise men to conceal their passions, when they are not +in circumstances of exerting them to purpose: the arts of getting power, +and preserving indulgence, are very different. For the former, the +reasonable hopes of the Dissenters, seem to be at an end; their comrades, +the Whigs and Freethinkers, are just in a condition proper to be +forsaken; and the Parliament, as well as the body of the people, will be +deluded no longer. Besides, it sometimes happens for a cause to be +exhausted and worn out, as that of the Whigs in general, seems at present +to be: the nation has had enough of it. It is as vain to hope restoring +that decayed interest, as for a man of sixty to talk of entering on a new +scene of life, that is only proper for youth and vigour. New +circumstances and new men must arise, as well as new occasions, which are +not like to happen in our time. So that the Dissenters have no game left, +at present, but to secure their indulgence: in order to which, I will be +so bold to offer them some advice. + +First, That until some late proceedings are a little forgot, they would +take care not to provoke, by any violence of tongue or pen, so great a +majority, as there is now against them, nor keep up any longer that +combination with their broken allies, but disperse themselves, and lie +dormant against some better opportunity: I have shewn, they could have +got no advantage if the late party had prevailed; and they will certainly +lose none by its fall, unless through their own fault. They pretend a +mighty veneration for the Queen; let them give proof of it, by quitting +the ruined interest of those who have used her so ill; and by a due +respect to the persons she is pleased to trust at present with her +affairs: When they can no longer hope to govern, when struggling can do +them no good, and may possibly hurt them, what is left but to be silent +and passive? + +Secondly, Though there be no law (beside that of God Almighty) against +_occasional conformity_,[5] it would be prudence in the Dissenters to use +it as tenderly as they can: for, besides the infamous hypocrisy of the +thing itself, too frequent practice would perhaps make a remedy +necessary. And after all they have said to justify themselves in this +point, it still continues hard to conceive, how those consciences can +pretend to be scrupulous, upon which an employment has more power than +the love of unity. + +In the last place, I am humbly of opinion, That the Dissenters would do +well to drop that lesson they have learned from their directors, of +affecting to be under horrible apprehensions, that the Tories are in the +interests of the Pretender, and would be ready to embrace the first +opportunity of inviting him over. It is with the worst grace in the +world, that they offer to join in the cry upon this article: as if those, +who alone stood in the gap against all the encroachments of Popery and +arbitrary power, are not more likely to keep out both, than a set of +schismatics, who to gratify their ambition and revenge, did, by the +meanest compliances, encourage and spirit up that unfortunate prince, to +fell upon such measures, as must, at last, have ended in the ruin of our +liberty and religion. + +_I wish those who give themselves the trouble to write to the "Examiner" +would consider whether what they send be proper for such a paper to take +notice of: I had one letter last week, written, as I suppose, by a +divine, to desire I would offer some reasons against a Bill now before +the Parliament for Ascertaining the Tithe of Hops;[6] from which the +writer apprehends great damage to the clergy, especially the poorer +vicars: If it be, as he says, (and he seems to argue very reasonably upon +it) the convocation now sitting, will, no doubt, upon due application, +represent the matter to the House of Commons; and he may expect all +justice and favour from that great body, who have already appeared so +tender of their rights. + +A gentleman, likewise, who hath sent me several letters, relating to +personal hardships he received from some of the late ministry; is advised +to publish a narrative of them, they being too large, and not proper for +this paper._ + +[Footnote 1: No. 36 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: +"Three different forms, of threefold threads combined, +The selfsame day in common ruin joined." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: It is recorded in "The Speeches and Prayers of ... Mr. John +Carew," 1660, and in "Rebels no Saints," 1661, that at the execution of +John Carew, on October 15th, 1660: "One asked him if he thought there +would be a resurrection of the cause? He answered, he died in the faith +of that, as much as he did that his body should rise again." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The Scotch General Assembly approved the "Solemn League and +Covenant" on August 17th, 1643; it was publicly taken by the House of +Commons at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on September 25th. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Such a law was passed December 20th, 1711. It was entitled +"An Act for preserving the Protestant Religion" (10 Ann, c. 6), and +required persons appointed to various offices to conform to the Church of +England for one year and to receive the Sacrament three times. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: Leave was given for a Bill for Ascertaining the Tithe of +Hops, March 26th, 1711, and the Bill was presented May 10th. It does not +appear to have gone any further. [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 38.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY APRIL 12, TO THURSDAY APRIL 19, 1711. + + _Semper causae eventorum magis movent quam ipsa eventa.[2]_ + +I am glad to observe, that several among the Whigs have begun very much +to change their language of late. The style is now among the reasonable +part of them, when they meet a man in business, or a Member of +Parliament; "Well, gentlemen, if you go on as you have hitherto done, we +shall no longer have any pretence to complain." They find, it seems, that +there have been yet no overtures made to bring in the Pretender, nor any +preparatory steps towards it. They read no enslaving votes, nor bills +brought in to endanger the subject. The indulgence to scrupulous +consciences,[3] is again confirmed from the throne, inviolably preserved, +and not the least whisper offered that may affect it. All care is taken +to support the war; supplies cheerfully granted, and funds readily +subscribed to, in spite of the little arts made use of to discredit them. +The just resentments of some, which are laudable in themselves, and which +at another juncture it might be proper to give way to, have been softened +or diverted by the calmness of others. So that upon the article of +present management, I do not see how any objection of weight can well be +raised. + +However, our adversaries still allege, that this great success was wholly +unexpected, and out of all probable view. That in public affairs, we +ought least of all others, to judge by events; that the attempt of +changing a ministry, during the difficulties of a long war, was rash and +inconsiderate: That if the Qu[een] were disposed by her inclinations, or +from any personal dislike, for such a change, it might have been done +with more safety, in a time of peace: That if it had miscarried by any of +those incidents, which in all appearance might have intervened, the +consequences would perhaps have ruined the whole confederacy; and, +therefore, however it hath now succeeded, the experiment was too +dangerous to try. + +But this is what we can by no means allow them. We never will admit +rashness or chance to have produced all this harmony and order. It is +visible to the world, that the several steps towards this change were +slowly taken, and with the utmost caution. The movers observed as they +went on, how matters would bear, and advanced no farther at first, than +so as they might be able to stop or go back, if circumstances were not +mature. Things were grown to such a height, that it was no longer the +question, whether a person who aimed at an employment, were a Whig or a +Tory, much less, whether he had merit or proper abilities for what he +pretended to: he must owe his preferment only to the favourites; and the +crown was so far from nominating, that they would not allow it a +negative. This, the Qu[een] was resolved no longer to endure, and began +to break into their prescription, by bestowing one or two places of +consequence,[4] without consulting her ephori; after they had fixed them +for others, and concluded as usually, that all their business was to +signify their pleasure to her M[ajest]y. But though the persons the +Qu[een] had chosen, were such as no objection could well be raised +against upon the score of party; yet the oligarchy took the alarm;[5] +their sovereign authority was, it seems, called in question; they grew +into anger and discontent, as if their undoubted rights were violated. +All former obligations to their sovereign now became cancelled; and they +put themselves upon the foot of people, who were hardly used after the +most eminent services. + +I believe all men, who know any thing in politics, will agree, that a +prince thus treated, by those he has most confided in, and perpetually +loaded with his favours, ought to extricate himself as soon as possible; +and is then only blamable in his choice of time, when he defers one +minute after it is in his power; because, from the monstrous +encroachments of exorbitant avarice and ambition, he cannot tell how long +it may continue to be so. And it will be found, upon enquiring into +history, that most of those princes, who have been ruined by favourites, +have owed their misfortune to the neglect of early remedies; deferring to +struggle till they were quite sunk. + +The Whigs are every day cursing the ungovernable rage, the haughty pride, +and unsatiable covetousness of a certain person,[6] as the cause of their +fall; and are apt to tell their thoughts, that one single removal might +have set all things right. But the interests of that single person, were +found, upon experience, so complicated and woven with the rest, by love, +by awe, by marriage, by alliance, that they would rather confound heaven +and earth, than dissolve such an union. + +I have always heard and understood, that a king of England, possessed of +his people's hearts, at the head of a free Parliament, and in full +agreement with a great majority, made the true figure in the world that +such a monarch ought to do, and pursued the real interest of himself and +his kingdom. Will they allow her M[ajest]y to be in those circumstances +at present? And was it not plain by the addresses sent from all parts of +the island,[7] and by the visible disposition of the people, that such a +Parliament would undoubtedly be chosen? And so it proved, without the +court's using any arts to influence elections. + +What people then, are these in a corner, to whom the constitution must +truckle? If the whole nation's credit cannot supply funds for the war, +without humble application from the entire legislature to a few retailers +of money, it is high time we should sue for a peace. What new maxims +are these, which neither we nor our forefathers ever heard of before, and +which no wise institution would ever allow? Must our laws from +henceforward pass the Bank and East India Company, or have their royal +assent before they are in force? + +To hear some of those worthy reasoners talking of credit, that she is so +nice, so squeamish, so capricious; you would think they were describing a +lady troubled with vapours or the colick, to be only removed by a course +of steel, and swallowing a bullet. By the narrowness of their thoughts, +one would imagine they conceived the world to be no wider than Exchange +Alley. It is probable they may have such a sickly dame among them, and it +is well if she has no worse diseases, considering what hands she passes +through. But the national credit is of another complexion; of sound +health, and an even temper, her life and existence being a quintessence +drawn from the vitals of the whole kingdom. And we find these +money-politicians, after all their noise, to be of the same opinion, by +the court they paid her, when she lately appeared to them in the form of a +_lottery_.[8] + +As to that mighty error in politics, they charge upon the Qu[een], for +changing her ministry in the height of a war, I suppose, it is only +looked upon as an error under a Whiggish administration; otherwise, the +late King has much to answer for, who did it pretty frequently. And it +is well known, that the late ministry of famous memory, was brought in +during this present war,[9] only with this circumstance, that two or +three of the chief, did first change their own principles, and then took +in suitable companions. + +But however, I see no reason why the Tories should not value their wisdom +by events, as well as the Whigs. Nothing was ever thought a more +precipitate rash counsel, than that of altering the coin at the juncture +it was done;[10] yet the prudence of the undertaking was sufficiently +justified by the success. Perhaps it will be said, that the attempt was +necessary, because the whole species of money, was so grievously clipped +and counterfeit. And, is not her Majesty's authority as sacred as her +coin? And has not that been most scandalously clipped and mangled, and +often counterfeited too? + +It is another grievous complaint of the Whigs, that their late friends, +and the whole party, are treated with abundance of severity in print, and +in particular by the "Examiner." They think it hard, that when they are +wholly deprived of power, hated by the people, and out of all hope of +re-establishing themselves, their infirmities should be so often +displayed, in order to render them yet more odious to mankind. This is +what they employ their writers to set forth in their papers of the week; +and it is humoursome enough to observe one page taken up in railing at the +"Examiner" for his invectives against a discarded ministry; and the other +side filled with the falsest and vilest abuses, against those who are now +in the highest power and credit with their sovereign, and whose least +breath would scatter them into silence and obscurity. However, though I +have indeed often wondered to see so much licentiousness taken and +connived at, and am sure it would not be suffered in any other country of +Christendom; yet I never once invoked the assistance of the gaol or the +pillory, which upon the least provocation, was the usual style during +their tyranny. There hath not passed a week these twenty years without +some malicious paper, scattered in every coffee-house by the emissaries +of that party, whether it were down or up. I believe, they will not +pretend to object the same thing to us. Nor do I remember any constant +weekly paper, with reflections on the late ministry or j[u]nto. They have +many weak, defenceless parts, they have not been used to a regular +attack, and therefore it is that they are so ill able to endure one, when +it comes to be their turn. So that they complain more of a few months' +truths from us, than we did of all their scandal and malice, for twice as +many years. + +I cannot forbear observing upon this occasion, that those worthy authors +I am speaking of, seem to me, not fairly to represent the sentiments of +their party; who in disputing with us, do generally give up several of +the late m[inist]ry, and freely own many of their failings. They confess +the monstrous debt upon the navy, to have been caused by most scandalous +mismanagement; they allow the insolence of some, and the avarice of +others, to have been insupportable: but these gentlemen are most liberal +in their praises to those persons, and upon those very articles, where +their wisest friends give up the point. They gravely tell us, that such a +one was the most faithful servant that ever any prince had; another the +most dutiful, a third the most generous, and a fourth of the greatest +integrity. So that I look upon these champions, rather as retained by a +cabal than a party, which I desire the reasonable men among them would +please to consider. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 37 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Cicero, "Ep. ad Att.," ix. 5. "I am always more affected by +the causes of events than by the events themselves."--E.S. SHUCKBURGH. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "I am resolved ... to maintain the indulgence by law +allowed to scrupulous consciences" (Queen Anne's Speech, November 27th, +1710). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The Queen appointed Earl Rivers to the lieutenancy of the +Tower without the Duke of Marlborough's concurrence. See "Memoirs +Relating to that Change," etc. (vol. v., pp. 375-7 of present edition). +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: "Upon the fall of that great minister and favourite +[Godolphin], that whole party became dispirited, and seemed to expect the +worst that could follow". (Swift's "Memoirs Relating to that Change," +etc., vol v., p. 378 of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: The Duchess of Marlborough. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: "The bulk of the high-church, or Tory-party ... were both +very industrious in procuring addresses, which, under the pretence of +expressing their loyalty to the Queen, and affection to the Church +established, were mainly levelled, like so many batteries, against the +ministry and Parliament," etc. (Boyer's "Annals of Queen Anne," ix. +158-9). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: An Act for reviving ... certain Duties (9 Ann., c. 6), +provided that £1,500,000 should be raised "by way of a lottery." It was +introduced February 15th, and received the Royal Assent March 6th, 1710/1 +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: The Queen appointed a ministry with Lord Godolphin as +lord treasurer in the first months of her reign, May-July, 1702. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: The clipping of coin had become so widespread that it was +absolutely imperative that steps should be taken to readjust matters. It +was resolved, therefore, in 1695, to call in all light money and recoin +it. The matter was placed in charge of the then chancellor of the +exchequer, Charles Montague, afterwards Earl of Halifax, and he, +with the assistance of Sir Isaac Newton, successfully accomplished the +very arduous task. It cost the nation about £2,200,000, and a +considerable inconvenience owing to lack of coins. [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 39.[1] + + +FROM THURSDAY APRIL 19, TO THURSDAY APRIL 26, 1711. + +_Indignum est in ed civitate, quae legibus continetur, discedi a +legibus._[2] + +I[3] have been often considering how it comes to pass, that the dexterity +of mankind in evil, should always outgrow, not only the prudence and +caution of private persons, but the continual expedients of the wisest +laws contrived to prevent it. I cannot imagine a knave to possess a +greater share of natural wit or genius, than an honest man. I have known +very notable sharpers at play, who upon all other occasions, were as +great dunces, as human shape can well allow; and I believe, the same +might be observed among the other knots of thieves and pickpockets, about +this town. The proposition however is certainly true, and to be confirmed +by an hundred instances. A scrivener, an attorney, a stock-jobber, and +many other retailers of fraud, shall not only be able to overreach +others, much wiser than themselves, but find out new inventions, to elude +the force of any law made against them. I suppose, the reason of this +may be, that as the aggressor is said to have generally the advantage of +the defender; so the makers of the law, which is to defend our rights, +have usually not so much industry or vigour, as those whose interest +leads them to attack it. Besides, it rarely happens that men are rewarded +by the public for their justice and virtue; neither do those who act upon +such principles, expect any recompense till the next world: whereas +fraud, where it succeeds, gives present pay; and this is allowed the +greatest spur imaginable both to labour and invention. When a law is made +to stop some growing evil, the wits of those, whose interest it is to +break it with secrecy or impunity, are immediately at work; and even +among those who pretend to fairer characters, many would gladly find +means to avoid, what they would not be thought to violate. They desire to +reap the advantage, if possible, without the shame, or at least, without +the danger. This art is what I take that dexterous race of men, sprung +up soon after the Revolution, to have studied with great application ever +since, and to have arrived at great perfection in it. According to the +doctrine of some Romish casuists, they have found out _quam propè ad +peccatum sine peccato possint accedere_.[3] They can tell how to go +within an inch of an impeachment, and yet come back untouched. They know +what degree of corruption will just forfeit an employment, and whether +the bribe you receive be sufficient to set you right, and put something +in your pocket besides. How much to a penny, you may safely cheat the +Qu[ee]n, whether forty, fifty or sixty _per cent._ according to the +station you are in, and the dispositions of the persons in office, below +and above you. They have computed the price you may securely take or give +for a place, or what part of the salary you ought to reserve. They can +discreetly distribute five hundred pounds in a small borough, without +any danger from the statutes, against bribing elections. They can manage +a bargain for an office, by a third, fourth or fifth hand, so that you +shall not know whom to accuse; and win a thousand guineas at play, in +spite of the dice, and send away the loser satisfied: They can pass the +most exorbitant accounts, overpay the creditor with half his demands, and +sink the rest. + +It would be endless to relate, or rather indeed impossible to discover, +the several arts which curious men have found out to enrich themselves, +by defrauding the public, in defiance of the law. The military men, both +by sea and land, have equally cultivated this most useful science: +neither hath it been altogether neglected by the other sex; of which, on +the contrary, I could produce an instance, that would make ours blush to +be so far outdone. + +Besides, to confess the truth, our laws themselves are extremely +defective in many articles, which I take to be one ill effect of our best +possession, liberty. Some years ago, the ambassador of a great prince was +arrested,[4] and outrages committed on his person in our streets, without +any possibility of redress from Westminster-Hall, or the prerogative of +the sovereign; and the legislature was forced to provide a remedy against +the like evils in times to come. A commissioner of the stamped paper[5] +was lately discovered to have notoriously cheated the public of great +sums for many years, by counterfeiting the stamps, which the law had made +capital. But the aggravation of his crime, proved to be the cause that +saved his life; and that additional heightening circumstance of betraying +his trust, was found to be a legal defence. I am assured, that the +notorious cheat of the brewers at Portsmouth,[6] detected about two +months ago in Parliament, cannot by any law now in force, be punished in +any degree, equal to the guilt and infamy of it. Nay, what is almost +incredible, had Guiscard survived his detestable attempt upon Mr. +Harley's person, all the inflaming circumstances of the fact, would not +have sufficed, in the opinion of many lawyers, to have punished him with +death;[7] and the public must have lain under this dilemma, either to +condemn him by a law, _ex post facto_ (which would have been of dangerous +consequence, and form an ignominious precedent) or undergo the +mortification to see the greatest villain upon earth escape unpunished, +to the infinite triumph and delight of Popery and faction. But even this +is not to be wondered at, when we consider, that of all the insolences +offered to the Qu[een] since the Act of Indemnity, (at least, that ever +came to my ears) I can hardly instance above two or three, which, by the +letter of the law could amount to high treason. + +From these defects in our laws, and the want of some discretionary power +safely lodged, to exert upon emergencies; as well as from the great +acquirements of able men, to elude the penalties of those laws they +break, it is no wonder, the injuries done to the public, are so seldom +redressed. But besides, no individual suffers, by any wrong he does to +the commonwealth, in proportion to the advantage he gains by doing it. +There are seven or eight millions who contribute to the loss, while the +whole gain is sunk among a few. The damage suffered by the public, is not +so immediately or heavily felt by particular persons, and the zeal of +prosecution is apt to drop and be lost among numbers. + +But imagine a set of politicians for many years at the head of affairs, +the game visibly their own, and by consequence acting with great +security: may not these be sometimes tempted to forget their caution, by +length of time, by excess of avarice and ambition, by the insolence or +violence of their nature, or perhaps by a mere contempt for their +adversaries? May not such motives as these, put them often upon actions +directly against the law, such as no evasions can be found for, and which +will lay them fully open to the vengeance of a prevailing interest, +whenever they are out of power? It is answered in the affirmative. And +here we cannot refuse the late m[inistr]y their due praises, who +foreseeing a storm, provided for their own safety, by two admirable +expedients, by which, with great prudence, they have escaped the +punishments due to pernicious counsels and corrupt management. The first, +was to procure, under pretences hardly specious, a general Act of +Indemnity,[8] which cuts off all impeachments. The second, was yet more +refined: suppose, for instance, a counsel is to be pursued, which is +necessary to carry on the dangerous designs of a prevailing party, to +preserve them in power, to gratify the immeasurable appetites of a few +leaders, civil and military, though by hazarding the ruin of the whole +nation: this counsel, desperate in itself, unprecedented in the nature of +it, they procure a majority to form into an address,[9] which makes it +look like the sense of the nation. Under that shelter they carry on their +work, and lie secure against after-reckonings. + +I must be so free to tell my meaning in this, that among other things, I +understand it of the address made to the Qu[een] about three years ago, +to desire that her M[ajest]y would not consent to a peace, without the +entire restitution of Sp[ai]n.[10] A proceeding, which to people abroad, +must look like the highest strain of temerity, folly, and gasconade. But +we at home, who allow the promoters of that advice to be no fools, can +easily comprehend the depth and mystery of it. They were assured by this +means, to pin down the war upon us, consequently to increase their own +power and wealth, and multiply difficulties on the Qu[een] and kingdom, +till they had fixed their party too firmly to be shaken, whenever they +should find themselves disposed to reverse their address, and give us +leave to wish for a peace. + +If any man entertains a more favourable opinion of this monstrous step in +politics; I would ask him what we must do, in case we find it impossible +to recover Spain? Those among the Whigs who believe a God, will confess, +that the events of war lie in His hands; and the rest of them, who +acknowledge no such power, will allow, that Fortune hath too great a +share in the good or ill success of military actions, to let a wise man +reason upon them, as if they were entirely in his power. If Providence +shall think fit to refuse success to our arms, with how ill a grace, with +what shame and confusion, shall we be obliged to recant that precipitate +address, unless the world will be so charitable to consider, that +parliaments among us, differ as much as princes, and that by the fatal +conjunction of many unhappy circumstances, it is very possible for our +island to be represented sometimes by those who have the least +pretensions to it. So little truth or justice there is in what some +pretend to advance, that the actions of former senates, ought always to +be treated with respect by the latter; that those assemblies are all +equally venerable, and no one to be preferred before another: by which +argument, the Parliament that began the rebellion against King Charles +the First, voted his trial, and appointed his murderers, ought to be +remembered with respect. + +But to return from this digression; it is very plain, that considering +the defectiveness of our laws, the variety of cases, the weakness of the +prerogative, the power or the cunning of ill-designing men, it is +possible, that many great abuses may be visibly committed, which cannot +be legally punished: especially if we add to this, that some enquiries +might probably involve those, whom upon other accounts, it is not +thought convenient to disturb. Therefore, it is very false reasoning, +especially in the management of public affairs, to argue that men are +innocent, because the law hath not pronounced them guilty. + +I am apt to think, it was to supply such defects as these, that satire +was first introduced into the world; whereby those whom neither religion, +nor natural virtue, nor fear of punishment, were able to keep within the +bounds of their duty, might be withheld by the shame of having their +crimes exposed to open view in the strongest colours, and themselves +rendered odious to mankind. Perhaps all this may be little regarded by +such hardened and abandoned natures as I have to deal with; but, next to +taming or binding a savage animal, the best service you can do the +neighbourhood, is to give them warning, either to arm themselves, or not +come in its way. + +Could I have hoped for any signs of remorse from the leaders of that +faction, I should very gladly have changed my style, and forgot or passed +by their million of enormities. But they are every day more fond of +discovering their impotent zeal and malice: witness their conduct in the +city about a fortnight ago,[11] which had no other end imaginable, beside +that of perplexing our affairs, and endeavouring to make things +desperate, that themselves may be thought necessary. While they continue +in this frantic mood, I shall not forbear to treat them as they deserve; +that is to say, as the inveterate, irreconcilable enemies to our country +and its constitution. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 38 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: "It is a shameful thing in a state which is governed by +laws, that there should be any departure from them." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: This paper called forth a reply which was printed in two +forms, one with the title: "A Few Words upon the Examiner's Scandalous +Peace" (London, 1711), and the other, "Reflections upon the +Examiner's Scandalous Peace" (London: A. Baldwin, 1711). A careful +comparison of these pamphlets shows that the text corresponds +page for page. The author commences: "Though 'The Examiner' be certainly +the most trifling, scurrilous, and malicious writer that ever appeared, +yet, in spite of all his gross untruths and absurd notions, by assuming +to himself an air of authority, and speaking in the person of one +employed by the ministry, he sometimes gives a kind of weight to what he +says, so as to make impressions of terror upon honest minds." Then, after +quoting several of the Queen's Speeches to Parliament, and the Addresses +in reply, he observes: "The 'Examiner' is resolved to continue so +faithful to his principal quality of speaking untruths, that he has +industriously taken care not to recite truly the very Address he makes it +his business to rail at;" and he points out that it was not the +"restitution of Spain," but the restoration of the Spanish Monarchy to +the House of Austria that was desired. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "How near to sin they can go without actually sinning." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The Muscovite Ambassador (A.A. Matveof) was arrested and +taken out of his coach by violence. A Bill was brought into the House +of Commons "for preserving the Privileges of Ambassadors," February +7th, 1708/9, and obtained the Royal Assent, April 21st, 1709 (7 Ann. +c. 12). + +Matveof, it seemed, was arrested by his creditors, who feared that, +since he had taken leave at Court, they would never be paid. Peter +the Great was angry at the indignity thus offered his representative, +and was only unwillingly pacified by the above Act. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: Richard Dyet, J.P., "is discovered to have counterfeited +stamped paper, in which he was a commissioner; and, with his accomplices, +has cheated the Queen of £100,000" (Swift's "Journal to Stella," October +3rd, 1710, vol. ii., p. 20 of present edition). He was tried for felony +at the Old Bailey, January 13th, 1710/1, and was acquitted, because his +offence was only a breach of trust. He was, however, re-committed +for trial on the charge of misdemeanour. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: "Some very considerable abuses," the chancellor of the +exchequer informed the House of Commons on January 3rd, 1710/1, "have +been discovered in the victualling." It appears that the seamen in the +navy were allowed seven pints of beer per day, during the time they were +on board. In port, of course the sailors were permitted to go ashore, but +the allowance was still charged to the ship's account; and became a +perquisite of the purser. It often happened that the contractors did not +send in the full amount of beer paid for, but gave the purser money in +exchange for the difference. The scandal was brought to the attention +of the House as stated, and a committee was appointed to inquire into +the abuse. On February 15th the House considered the committee's report, +and it was found that Thomas Ridge, Member for Portsmouth, contracted to +supply 5,513 tons of beer, and had delivered only 3,213. Several other +brewers of Portsmouth had been guilty of the same fraud. Mr. Ridge was +expelled the House the same day. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: See Swift's "Journal," quoted in notes to No. 33, _ante_, p. +214. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: This Act was passed in 1708. See No. 18, _ante_, and note, +p. 105. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: The Address from both Houses, presented to the Queen, +February 18th, 1709/10, prayed that she "would be pleased to order the +Duke of Marlborough's immediate departure for Holland, where his presence +will be equally necessary, to assist at the negotiations of peace, and to +hasten the preparations for an early campaign," etc. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: The Address of both Houses to the Queen, presented on +December 23rd, 1707, urged: "That nothing could restore a just balance of +power in Europe, but the reducing the whole Spanish monarchy to the +obedience of the House of Austria; and ... That no peace can be +honourable or safe, for your Majesty or your allies, if Spain, the West +Indies, or any part of the Spanish Monarchy, be suffered to remain under +the power of the House of Bourbon." The resolutions as carried in the +House of Lords on December 19th did not include the words "or any part of +the Spanish Monarchy"; these words were introduced on a motion by Somers +who was in the chair when the Select Committee met on December 20th to +embody the resolutions in proper form. The altered resolution was quickly +hurried through the Lords and agreed to by the Commons, and the Address +as amended was presented to the Queen. By this bold move Somers prolonged +the war indefinitely. See also note at the commencement of this number. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: This refers to the election of the governor and directors +of the Bank of England on April 12th and 13th. All the Whig candidates +were returned, and Sir H. Furnese was on the same day chosen Alderman for +Bridge Within. See also No. 41, _post_, p. 267, [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 40.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY APRIL 26, TO THURSDAY MAY 3, 1711. + + _Quis tulerit Gracchos de seditione querentes?_[2] + +There have been certain topics of reproach, liberally bestowed for some +years past, by the Whigs and Tories, upon each other. We charge the +former with a design of destroying the established Church, and +introducing fanaticism and freethinking in its stead. We accuse them as +enemies to monarchy; as endeavouring to undermine the present form of +government, and to build a commonwealth, or some new scheme of their own, +upon its ruins. On the other side, their clamours against us, may be +summed up in those three formidable words, Popery, Arbitrary Power, and +the Pretender. Our accusations against them we endeavour to make good by +certain overt acts; such as their perpetually abusing the whole body of +the clergy; their declared contempt for the very order of priesthood; +their aversion for episcopacy; the public encouragement and patronage +they gave to Tindall, Toland, and other atheistical writers; their +appearing as professed advocates, retained by the Dissenters, excusing +their separation, and laying the guilt of it to the obstinacy of the +Church; their frequent endeavours to repeal the test, and their setting +up the indulgence to scrupulous consciences, as a point of greater +importance than the established worship. The regard they bear to our +monarchy, hath appeared by their open ridiculing the martyrdom of King +Charles the First, in their Calves-head Clubs,[3] their common discourses +and their pamphlets: their denying the unnatural war raised against that +prince, to have been a rebellion; their justifying his murder in the +allowed papers of the week; their industry in publishing and spreading +seditious and republican tracts; such as Ludlow's "Memoirs," Sidney "Of +Government,"[4] and many others; their endless lopping of the +prerogative, and mincing into nothing her M[ajest]y's titles to the +crown. + +What proofs they bring for our endeavouring to introduce Popery, +arbitrary power, and the Pretender, I cannot readily tell, and would be +glad to hear; however, those important words having by dexterous +management, been found of mighty service to their cause, though applied +with little colour, either of reason or justice; I have been considering +whether they may not be adapted to more proper objects. + +As to Popery, which is the first of these, to deal plainly, I can hardly +think there is any set of men among us, except the professors of it, who +have any direct intention to introduce it among us: but the question is, +whether the principles and practices of us, or the Whigs, be most likely +to make way for it? It is allowed, on all hands, that among the methods +concerted at Rome, for bringing over England into the bosom of the +Catholic Church; one of the chief was, to send Jesuits and other +emissaries, in lay habits, who personating tradesmen and mechanics, +should mix with the people, and under the pretence of a further and purer +reformation, endeavour to divide us into as many sects as possible, which +would either put us under the necessity of returning to our old errors, +to preserve peace at home; or by our divisions make way for some powerful +neighbour, with the assistance of the Pope's permission, and a +consecrated banner, to convert and enslave us at once. If this hath been +reckoned good politics (and it was the best the Jesuit schools could +invent) I appeal to any man, whether the Whigs, for many years past, have +not been employed in the very same work? They professed on all occasions, +that they knew no reason why any one system of speculative opinions (as +they termed the doctrines of the Church) should be established by law +more than another; or why employments should be confined to the religion +of the magistrate, and that called the Church established. The grand +maxim they laid down was, That no man, for the sake of a few notions and +ceremonies, under the names of doctrine and discipline, should be denied +the liberty of serving his country: as if places would go a begging, +unless Brownists, Familists, Sweet-singers, Quakers, Anabaptists and +Muggletonians, would take them off our hands. + +I have been sometimes imagining this scheme brought to perfection, and +how diverting it would look to see half a dozen Sweet-singers on the +bench in their ermines, and two or three Quakers with their white staves +at court. I can only say, this project is the very counterpart of the +late King James's design, which he took up as the best method for +introducing his own religion, under the pretext of an universal liberty +of conscience, and that no difference in religion, should make any in his +favour. Accordingly, to save appearances, he dealt some employments among +Dissenters of most denominations; and what he did was, no doubt, in +pursuance of the best advice he could get at home or abroad; and the +Church thought it the most dangerous step he could take for her +destruction. It is true, King James admitted Papists among the rest, +which the Whigs would not; but this is sufficiently made up by a material +circumstance, wherein they seem to have much outdone that prince, and to +have carried their liberty of conscience to a higher point, having +granted it to all the classes of Freethinkers, which the nice conscience +of a Popish prince would not give him leave to do; and was therein +mightily overseen; because it is agreed by the learned, that there is +but a very narrow step from atheism, to the other extreme, superstition. +So that upon the whole, whether the Whigs had any real design of bringing +in Popery or no, it is very plain, that they took the most effectual step +towards it; and if the Jesuits had been their immediate directors, they +could not have taught them better, nor have found apter scholars. + +Their second accusation is, That we encourage and maintain arbitrary +power in princes, and promote enslaving doctrines among the people. This +they go about to prove by instances, producing the particular opinions of +certain divines in King Charles the Second's reign; a decree of Oxford +University,[5] and some few writers since the Revolution. What they mean, +is the principle of passive obedience and non-resistance, which those who +affirm, did, I believe, never intend should include arbitrary power. +However, though I am sensible that it is not reckoned prudent in a +dispute, to make any concessions without the last necessity; yet I do +agree, that in my own private opinion, some writers did carry that tenet +of passive obedience to a height, which seemed hardly consistent with the +liberties of a country, whose laws can be neither enacted nor repealed, +without the consent of the whole people. I mean not those who affirm it +due in general, as it certainly is to the Legislature, but such as fix it +entirely in the prince's person. This last has, I believe, been done by a +very few; but when the Whigs quote authors to prove it upon us, they +bring in all who mention it as a duty in general, without applying it to +princes, abstracted from their senate. + +By thus freely declaring my own sentiments of passive obedience, it will +at least appear, that I do not write for a party: neither do I, upon any +occasion, pretend to speak their sentiments, but my own. The majority of +the two Houses, and the present ministry (if those be a party) seem to me +in all their proceedings, to pursue the real interest of Church and +State: and if I shall happen to differ from particular persons among +them, in a single notion about government, I suppose they will not, upon +that account, explode me and my paper. However, as an answer once for +all, to the tedious scurrilities of those idle people, who affirm, I am +hired and directed what to write;[6] I must here inform them, that their +censure is an effect of their principles: The present m[inistr]y are +under no necessity of employing prostitute pens; they have no dark +designs to promote, by advancing heterodox opinions. + +But (to return) suppose two or three private divines, under King Charles +the Second, did a little overstrain the doctrine of passive obedience to +princes; some allowance might be given to the memory of that unnatural +rebellion against his father, and the dismal consequences of resistance. +It is plain, by the proceedings of the Churchmen before and at the +Revolution, that this doctrine was never designed to introduce arbitrary +power.[7] + +I look upon the Whigs and Dissenters to be exactly of the same political +faith; let us, therefore, see what share each of them had in advancing +arbitrary power. It is manifest, that the fanatics made Cromwell the most +absolute tyrant in Christendom:[8] The Rump abolished the House of Lords; +the army abolished the Rump; and by this army of _saints_, he governed. +The Dissenters took liberty of conscience and employments from the late +King James, as an acknowledgment of his dispensing power; which makes a +King of England as absolute as the Turk. The Whigs, under the late king, +perpetually declared for keeping up a standing army, in times of peace; +which has in all ages been the first and great step to the ruin of +liberty. They were, besides, discovering every day their inclinations to +destroy the rights of the Church; and declared their opinion, in all +companies, against the bishops sitting in the House of Peers: which +was exactly copying after their predecessors of 'Forty-one. I need not +say their real intentions were to make the king absolute, but whatever be +the designs of innovating men, they usually end in a tyranny: as we may +see by an hundred examples in Greece, and in the later commonwealths of +Italy, mentioned by Machiavel. + +In the third place, the Whigs accuse us of a design to bring in the +Pretender; and to give it a greater air of probability, they suppose the +Qu[een] to be a party in this design; which however, is no very +extraordinary supposition in those who have advanced such singular +paradoxes concerning Gregg and Guiscard. Upon this article, their charge +is general, without ever offering to produce an instance. But I verily +think, and believe it will appear no paradox, that if ever he be brought +in, the Whigs are his men. For, first, it is an undoubted truth, that a +year or two after the Revolution, several leaders of that party had their +pardons sent them by the late King James,[9] and had entered upon +measures to restore him, on account of some disobligations they received +from King William. Besides, I would ask, whether those who are under the +greatest ties of gratitude to King James, are not at this day become the +most zealous Whigs? And of what party those are now, who kept a long +correspondence with St. Germains? + +It is likewise very observable of late, that the Whigs upon all +occasions, profess their belief of the Pretender's being no impostor, but +a real prince, born of the late Queen's body:[10] which whether it be +true or false, is very unseasonably advanced, considering the weight such +an opinion must have with the vulgar, if they once thoroughly believe it. +Neither is it at all improbable, that the Pretender himself puts his +chief hopes in the friendship he expects from the Dissenters and Whigs, +by his choice to invade the kingdom when the latter were most in credit: +and he had reason to count upon the former, from the gracious treatment +they received from his supposed father, and their joyful acceptance +of it. But further, what could be more consistent with the Whiggish +notion of a revolution-principle, than to bring in the Pretender? A +revolution-principle, as their writings and discourses have taught us to +define it, is a principle perpetually disposing men to revolutions: and +this is suitable to the famous saying of a great Whig, "That the more +revolutions the better"; which how odd a maxim soever in appearance, I +take to be the true characteristic of the party. + +A dog loves to turn round often; yet after certain revolutions, he lies +down to rest: but heads, under the dominion of the moon, are for +perpetual changes, and perpetual revolutions: besides, the Whigs owe all +their wealth to wars and revolutions; like the girl at Bartholomew-fair, +who gets a penny by turning round a hundred times, with swords in her +hands.[11] + +To conclude, the Whigs have a natural faculty of bringing in pretenders, +and will therefore probably endeavour to bring in the great one at last: +How many _pretenders_ to wit, honour, nobility, politics, have they +brought in these last twenty years? In short, they have been sometimes +able to procure a majority of pretenders in Parliament; and wanted +nothing to render the work complete, except a Pretender at their head. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 39 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Juvenal, "Satires," ii. 24. + + "Who his spleen could rein, + And hear the Gracchi of the mob complain?"--W. GIFFORD. + + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: The Calves-Head Club "was erected by an impudent set of +people, who have their feast of calves-heads in several parts of the +town, on the 30th of January; in derision of the day, and defiance of +monarchy" ("Secret History of the Calves-Head Club," 1703). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: These works can hardly be called "tracts." Algernon Sidney's +"Discourses concerning Government" (1698), is a portly folio of 467 +pages, and Ludlow's "Memoirs" (1698-9) occupy three stout octavo volumes. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: On July 21st, 1683, the University of Oxford passed a decree +condemning as "false, seditious, and impious," a series of twenty-seven +propositions, among which were the following: + +"All civil authority is derived originally from the people." + +"The King has but a co-ordinate power, and may be over-ruled by the Lords +and Commons." + +"Wicked kings and tyrants ought to be put to death." + +"King Charles the First was lawfully put to death." + +The decree was reprinted in 1709/10 with the title, "An Entire +Confutation of Mr. Hoadley's Book, of the Original of Government." It was +burnt by the order of the House of Lords, dated March 23rd, 1709/10. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: In a letter to Dr. Chenevix, Bishop of Waterford (dated May +23rd, 1758), Lord Chesterfield, speaking of Swift's "Last Four Years," +says that it "is a party pamphlet, founded on the lie of the day, +which, as Lord Bolingbroke who had read it often assured me, _was +coined and delivered out to him, to write 'Examiners' and other +political papers upon_" (Chesterfield's "Works," ii. 498, edit. 1777). +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: From this and many previous passages it is obvious, that, in +joining the Tories, Swift reserved to himself the right of putting his +own interpretation upon the speculative points of their political creed. +[S.]] + +[Footnote 8: See Swift's "Presbyterians' Plea of Merit," and note, vol. +iv., p. 36, of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: James II. sent a Declaration to England, dated April 20th, +1692, in which he promised to pardon all those who should return to their +duty. He made a few exceptions, and among these were Ormonde, Sunderland, +Nottingham, Churchill, etc. It is said that of Churchill James remarked +that he never could forgive him until he should efface the memory of his +ingratitude by some eminent service. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: "The Pretended Prince of Wales," as he is styled in several +Acts of Parliament, was first called "the Pretender" in Queen Anne's +speech to Parliament on March 11th, 1707/8. She then said: "The French +fleet sailed from Dunkirk, Tuesday, at three in the morning, northward, +with the Pretender on board." The same epithet is employed in the +Addresses by the two Houses in reply to this speech. + +It was currently reported that he was not a son of James II. and Queen +Mary. Several pamphlets were written by "W. Fuller," to prove that he was +the son of a gentlewoman named Grey, who was brought to England from +Ireland in 1688 by the Countess of Tyrconnel. See also note on p. 409 of +vol. v. of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: An exhibition described at length in Ward's "London Spy." +The wonder and dexterity of the feat consisted in the damsel sustaining a +number of drawn swords upright upon her hands, shoulders, and neck, and +turning round so nimbly as to make the spectators giddy. [S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 41.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY MAY 3, TO THURSDAY MAY 10, 1711.[2] + + + _Dos est magna parentium virtus._[3] + +I took up a paper[4] some days ago in a coffee-house; and if the +correctness of the style, and a superior spirit in it, had not +immediately undeceived me, I should have been apt to imagine, I had been +reading an "Examiner." In this paper, there were several important +propositions advanced. For instance, that "Providence raised up Mr. +H[arle]y to be an instrument of great good, in a very critical juncture, +when it was much wanted." That, "his very enemies acknowledge his eminent +abilities, and distinguishing merit, by their unwearied and restless +endeavours against his person and reputation": That "they have had +an inveterate malice against both": That he "has been wonderfully +preserved from _some_ unparalleled attempts"; with more to the same +purpose. I immediately computed by rules of arithmetic, that in the last +cited words there was something more intended than the attempt of +Guiscard, which I think can properly pass but for _one_ of the "some." +And, though I dare not pretend to guess the author's meaning; yet the +expression allows such a latitude, that I would venture to hold a wager, +most readers, both Whig and Tory, have agreed with me, that this plural +number must, in all probability, among other facts, take in the business +of Gregg.[5] + +See now the difference of styles. Had I been to have told my thoughts on +this occasion; instead of saying how Mr. H[arle]y was "treated by some +persons," and "preserved from some unparalleled attempts"; I should with +intolerable bluntness and ill manners, have told a formal story, of a +com[mitt]ee[6] sent to a condemned criminal in Newgate, to bribe him with +a pardon, on condition he would swear high treason against his master, +who discovered his correspondence, and secured his person, when a certain +grave politician had given him warning to make his escape: and by this +means I should have drawn a whole swarm of hedge-writers to exhaust their +catalogue of scurrilities against me as a liar, and a slanderer. But with +submission to the author of that forementioned paper, I think he has +carried that expression to the utmost it will bear: for after all this +noise, I know of but two "attempts" against Mr. H[arle]y, that can really +be called "unparalleled," which are those aforesaid of Gregg and +Guiscard; and as to the rest, I will engage to parallel them from the +story of Catiline, and others I could produce. + +However, I cannot but observe, with infinite pleasure, that a great part +of what I have charged upon the late prevailing faction, and for +affirming which, I have been adorned with so many decent epithets, hath +been sufficiently confirmed at several times, by the resolutions of one +or the other House of Parliament.[7] I may therefore now say, I hope, +with good authority, that there have been "some unparalleled attempts" +against Mr. Harley. That the late ministry were justly to blame in some +management, which occasioned the unfortunate battle of Almanza,[8] and +the disappointment at Toulon.[9] That the public has been grievously +wronged by most notorious frauds, during the Whig administration. That +those who advised the bringing in the Palatines,[10] were enemies to the +kingdom. That the late managers of the revenue have not duly passed their +accounts,[11] for a great part of thirty-five millions, and ought not to +be trusted in such employments any more. Perhaps in a little time, I may +venture to affirm some other paradoxes of this kind, and produce the same +vouchers. And perhaps also, if it had not been so busy a period, instead +of one "Examiner," the late ministry might have had above four hundred, +each of whose little fingers would be heavier than my loins. It makes me +think of Neptune's threat to the winds: + + _Quos ego--sed motos praestat componere fluctus._[12] + +Thus when these sons of Aeolus, had almost sunk the ship with the +tempests they raised, it was necessary to smooth the ocean, and secure +the vessel, instead of pursuing the offenders. + +But I observe the general expectation at present, instead of dwelling any +longer upon conjectures who is to be punished for past miscarriages, +seems bent upon the rewards intended to those, who have been so highly +instrumental in rescuing our constitution from its late dangers. It is +the observation of Tacitus, in the life of Agricola, that his eminent +services had raised a general opinion of his being designed, by the +emperor, for praetor of Britain. _Nullis in hoc suis sermonibus, sed quia +par videbatur:_ and then he adds, _Non semper errat fama, aliquando et +eligit._[13] The judgment of a wise prince, and the general disposition +of the people, do often point at the same person; and sometimes the +popular wishes, do even foretell the reward intended for some superior +merit. Thus among several deserving persons, there are two,[14] whom the +public vogue hath in a peculiar manner singled out, as designed very soon +to receive the choicest marks of the royal favour. One of them to be +placed in a very high station, and both to increase the number of our +nobility. This, I say, is the general conjecture; for I pretend to none, +nor will be chargeable if it be not fulfilled; since it is enough for +their honour, that the nation thinks them worthy of the greatest rewards. + +Upon this occasion I cannot but take notice, that of all the heresies in +politics, profusely scattered by the partisans of the late +administration, none ever displeased me more, or seemed to have more +dangerous consequences to monarchy, than that pernicious talent so much +affected, of discovering a contempt for birth, family, and ancient +nobility. All the threadbare topics of poets and orators were displayed +to discover to us, that merit and virtue were the only nobility; and that +the advantages of blood, could not make a knave or a fool either honest +or wise. Most popular commotions we read of in histories of Greece and +Rome, took their rise from unjust quarrels to the nobles; and in the +latter, the plebeians' encroachments on the patricians, were the first +cause of their ruin. + +Suppose there be nothing but opinion in the difference of blood; every +body knows, that authority is very much founded on opinion. But surely, +that difference is not wholly imaginary. The advantages of a liberal +education, of choosing the best companions to converse with; not being +under the necessity of practising little mean tricks by a scanty +allowance; the enlarging of thought, and acquiring the knowledge of men +and things by travel; the example of ancestors inciting to great and good +actions. These are usually some of the opportunities, that fall in the +way of those who are born, of what we call the better families; and +allowing genius to be equal in them and the vulgar, the odds are clearly +on their side. Nay, we may observe in some, who by the appearance of +merit, or favour of fortune, have risen to great stations, from an +obscure birth, that they have still retained some sordid vices of their +parentage or education, either insatiable avarice, or ignominious +falsehood and corruption. + +To say the truth, the great neglect of education, in several noble +families, whose sons are suffered to pass the most improvable seasons of +their youth, in vice and idleness, have too much lessened their +reputation; but even this misfortune we owe, among all the rest, to that +Whiggish practice of reviling the Universities, under the pretence of +their instilling pedantry, narrow principles, and high-church doctrines. + +I would not be thought to undervalue merit and virtue, wherever they are +to be found; but will allow them capable of the highest dignities in a +state, when they are in a very great degree of eminence. A pearl holds +its value though it be found in a dunghill; but however, that is not the +most probable place to search for it. Nay, I will go farther, and admit, +that a man of quality without merit, is just so much the worse for his +quality; which at once sets his vices in a more public view, and +reproaches him for them. But on the other side, I doubt, those who are +always undervaluing the advantages of birth, and celebrating personal +merit, have principally an eye to their own, which they are fully +satisfied with, and which nobody will dispute with them about; whereas +they cannot, without impudence and folly, pretend to be nobly born: +because this is a secret too easily discovered: for no men's parentage is +so nicely inquired into, as that of assuming upstarts; especially when +they affect to make it better than it is, as they often do, or behave +themselves with insolence. + +But whatever may be the opinion of others upon this subject, whose +philosophical scorn for blood and families, reaches even to those that +are royal, or perhaps took its rise from a Whiggish contempt of the +latter; I am pleased to find two such instances of extraordinary merit, +as I have mentioned, joined with ancient and honourable birth, which +whether it be of real or imaginary value, hath been held in veneration by +all wise, polite states, both ancient and modern. And, as much a foppery, +as men pretend to think it, nothing is more observable in those who rise +to great place or wealth, from mean originals, than their mighty +solicitude to convince the world that they are not so low as is commonly +believed. They are glad to find it made out by some strained genealogy, +that they have some remote alliance with better families. Cromwell +himself was pleased with the impudence of a flatterer, who undertook to +prove him descended from a branch of the royal stem. I know a +citizen,[15] who adds or alters a letter in his name with every plum he +acquires: he now wants but the change of a vowel, to be allied to a +sovereign prince in Italy; and that perhaps he may contrive to be done, +by a _mistake_ of the graver upon his tombstone. + +When I am upon this subject of nobility, I am sorry for the occasion +given me, to mention the loss of a person who was so great an ornament to +it, as the late lord president;[16] who began early to distinguish +himself in the public service, and passed through the highest employments +of state, in the most difficult times, with great abilities and untainted +honour. As he was of a good old age, his principles of religion and +loyalty had received no mixture from late infusions, but were instilled +into him by his illustrious father, and other noble spirits, who had +exposed their lives and fortunes for the royal martyr. + + ----_Pulcherrima proles, + Magnanimi heroes nati melioribus annis._[17] + +His first great action was, like Scipio, to defend his father,[18] when +oppressed by numbers; and his filial piety was not only rewarded with +long life, but with a son, who upon the like occasion, would have shewn +the same resolution. No man ever preserved his dignity better when he was +out of power, nor shewed more affability while he was in. To conclude: +his character (which I do not here pretend to draw) is such, as his +nearest friends may safely trust to the most impartial pen; nor wants the +least of that allowance which, they say, is required for those who are +dead. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 40 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Writing to Stella, May 14th, 1711, Swift informs her: "Dr. +Freind was with me, and pulled out a twopenny pamphlet just published +called 'The State of Wit,' giving a character of all the papers that have +come out of late. The author seems to be a Whig, yet he speaks very +highly of a paper called 'The Examiner,' and says the supposed author of +it is Dr. Swift" (vol. ii., p. 176, of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Horace, "Odes," III. xxiv. 21. + + "The lovers there for dowry claim + The father's virtue, and the mother's fame." + P. FRANCIS. + +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: "The Congratulatory Speech of William Bromley, Esq., ... +together with the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Answer."--See also No. +42, _post_, pp. 273-4. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: See No. 33, _ante_, pp. 207-14. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: The writer of "A Letter to the Seven Lords" says this means +"that there was a committee of seven lords, sent to a condemned criminal +in Newgate, to bribe him with a pardon, on condition he would swear high +treason, against his master." + +In Hoffman's "Secret Transactions" (pp. 14, 15) the matter is thus +referred to: "Who those persons were that offered Gregg his life, with +great preferments and advantages (if he would but accuse his master) may +not uneasily be guessed at, for most of the time he was locked up none +but people of note, were permitted to come near him, who made him strange +promises, and often repeated them." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: "He does, with his own impudence, and with the malice of a +devil, bring in both Houses of P---- to say and mean the same thing.... +It is matter of wonder ... to see the greatest ministers of state we ever +had (till now) treated by a poor paper-pedlar, every Thursday, like the +veriest rascals in the kingdom.... I could, if it were needful, bring a +great many instances, of this licentious way of the scum of mankind's +treating the greatest peers in the nation" ("A Letter to the Seven +Lords"). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The Earl of Galway was defeated by the Duke of Berwick at +this battle on April 25th, 1707. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: The Allies, under the Duke of Savoy, unsuccessfully laid +siege to Toulon from July 26th to August 21st, 1707. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: The Palatines, who were mostly Lutherans, came over to +England in great numbers in May and June of 1709. So large was the +immigration that the House of Commons, on April 14th, 1711, passed a +resolution declaring that the inviting and bringing over of the Palatines +"at the public expense, was an extravagant and unreasonable charge to the +kingdom, and a scandalous misapplication of the public money." Whoever +advised it, said the resolution, "was an enemy to the Queen and this +kingdom." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: A Committee, appointed January 13th, 1710/1, reported in +April, 1711, that accounts for _£_35,302,107 18_s._ 9-5/8_d._(_sic_) had +not been passed. On February 21st, 1711/2, the auditors presented a +statement which showed that of these accounts (which went back to 1681), +_£_6,133,571 had then been passed, and that a considerable portion of the +remainder was waiting for technicalities only. On June 11th, 1713, it was +reported that _£_24,624,436 had been either passed or "adjusted." See +"Journals of House of Commons," xvi., xvii. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: Virgil, "Aeneid," i. 135. +"Whom I--but first this uproar must be quelled."--R. KENNEDY. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: Tacitus, "Agricola," 9. (Tacitus wrote "Haud semper," etc.) +"An opinion not founded upon any suggestions of his own, but upon his +being thought equal to the station. Common fame does not always err, +sometimes it even directs a choice" ("Oxford Translation" revised). +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: Harley, who was created Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, +May 23rd, 1711, and Sir Simon Harcourt, made Baron Harcourt, September +3rd, 1711. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: Sir Henry Furnese (1658-1712), Bart. He obtained his +baronetcy June 18th, 1707, and was the first to receive that dignity +since the Union. He sat in the House as Member for Bramber and Sandwich, +and was twice expelled. He was, however, re-elected for Sandwich and +represented that constituency until his death on November 30th, 1712. + +The variety of ways in which his name has been spelt is quite remarkable. +In the "Calendar of State Papers" for 1691 and 1692, the name is given as +Furness, Furnese, and Furnes. The "Journals of the House of Commons," +recording his expulsion, speaks of him as Furnesse. When he was knighted +(October 11th, 1691), the "Gazette" of October 19th printed it Furnace, +and when he was made a baronet, the same journal had it Furnese. In the +official "Return of Names of Members," the name is given successively as, +Furnace, Furnac, Furnice, Furnise, Furness and Furnese. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 16: Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester, second son of the first +Earl of Clarendon (see No. 27, _ante_, p. 170). He undertook the defence +of his father when the latter was impeached by the House of Commons, +October 30th, 1667, on a charge of high treason. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 17: Virgil, "Aeneid," vi. 648-9. + + "Warriors, high souled, in better ages born, + Great Teucer's noble race, these plains adorn."--J.M. KING. + + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 18: "When the tumultuous perplexed charge of accumulated +treasons was preferred against him by the Commons; his son Laurence, then +a Member of that House, stept forth with this brave defiance to his +accusers, that, if they could make out any proof of any one single +article, he would, as he was authorized, join in the condemnation of his +father" (Burton's "Genuineness of Clarendon's History," p. 111). [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 42.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY MAY 10, TO THURSDAY MAY 17, 1711. + + + _------Quem cur distringere coner, + Tutus ab infestis latronibus?_[2] + + +I never let slip an opportunity of endeavouring to convince the world, +that I am not partial, and to confound the idle reproach of my being +hired or directed what to write in defence of the present ministry,[3] or +for detecting the practices of the former. When I first undertook this +paper, I firmly resolved, that if ever I observed any gross neglect, +abuse or corruption in the public management, which might give any just +offence to reasonable people, I would take notice of it with that +innocent boldness which becomes an honest man, and a true lover of his +country; at the same time preserving the respect due to persons so highly +entrusted by so wise and excellent a Queen. I know not how such a liberty +might have been resented; but I thank God there has been no occasion +given me to exercise it; for I can safely affirm, that I have with the +utmost rigour, examined all the actions of the present ministry, as far +as they fall under general cognizance, without being able to accuse them +of one ill or mistaken step. Observing indeed some time ago, that seeds +of dissension[4] had been plentifully scattered from a certain corner, +and fearing they began to rise and spread, I immediately writ a paper on +the subject; which I treated with that warmth I thought it required: but +the prudence of those at the helm soon prevented this growing evil; and +at present it seems likely to have no consequences. + +I have had indeed for some time a small occasion of quarrelling, which I +thought too inconsiderable for a formal subject of complaint, though I +have hinted at it more than once. But it is grown at present to as great +a height, as a matter of that nature can possibly bear; and therefore I +conceive it high time that an effectual stop should be put to it. I have +been amazed at the flaming licentiousness of several weekly papers, which +for some months past, have been chiefly employed in barefaced +scurrilities against those who are in the greatest trust and favour with +the Qu[een], with the first and last letters of their names frequently +printed; or some periphrasis describing their station, or other +innuendoes, contrived too plain to be mistaken. The consequence of which +is, (and it is natural it should be so) that their long impunity hath +rendered them still more audacious. + +At this time I particularly intend a paper called the "Medley"; whose +indefatigable, incessant railings against me, I never thought convenient +to take notice of, because it would have diverted my design, which I +thought was of public use.[5] Besides, I never yet observed that writer, +or those writers, (for it is every way a "Medley") to argue against any +one material point or fact that I had advanced, or make one fair +quotation. And after all, I knew very well how soon the world grow weary +of controversy. It is plain to me, that three or four hands at least have +been joined at times in that worthy composition; but the outlines as well +as the finishing, seem to have been always the work of the same pen, as +it is visible from half a score beauties of style inseparable from it. +But who these Meddlers are, or where the judicious leaders have picked +them up, I shall never go about to conjecture: factious rancour, false +wit, abandoned scurrility, impudent falsehood, and servile pedantry, +having so many fathers, and so few to own them, that curiosity herself +would not be at the pains to guess. It is the first time I ever did +myself the honour to mention that admirable paper: nor could I imagine +any occasion likely to happen, that would make it necessary for me to +engage with such an adversary. This paper is weekly published, and as +appears by the number, has been so for several months, and is next to the +"Observator,"[6] allowed to be the best production of the party. Last +week my printer brought me that of May 7, Numb. 32. where there are two +paragraphs[7] relating to the Speaker of the House of Commons, and to Mr. +Harley; which, as little as I am inclined to engage with such an +antagonist, I cannot let pass, without failing in my duty to the public: +and if those in power will suffer such infamous insinuations to pass with +impunity, they act without precedent from any age or country of the +world. + +I desire to open this matter, and leave the Whigs themselves to determine +upon it. The House of Commons resolved, _nemine contradicente_, that the +Speaker should congratulate Mr. Harley's escape and recovery[8] in the +name of the House, upon his first attendance on their service. This is +accordingly done; and the speech, together with the chancellor of the +exchequer's, are printed by order of the House.[9] The author of the +"Medley" takes this speech to task the very next week after it is +published, telling us, in the aforesaid paper, that the Speaker's +commending Mr. Harley, for being "an instrument of great good" to the +nation, was "ill-chosen flattery"; because Mr. Harley had brought the +"nation under great difficulties, to say no more:" He says, that when the +Speaker tells Mr. Harley, that Providence has "wonderfully preserved" him +"from some unparalleled attempts" (for that the "Medley" alludes to) he +only "revives a false and groundless calumny upon other men"; which is +"an instance of impotent, but inveterate malice,"[10] that makes him [the +Speaker] "still appear more vile and contemptible." This is an extract +from his first paragraph. In the next this writer says, that the +Speaker's "praying to God for the continuance of Mr. Harley's life, as an +invaluable blessing,[11] was a fulsome piece of insincerity, which +exposes him to shame and derision"; because he is "known to bear ill will +to Mr. Harley, to have an extreme bad opinion of him, and to think him an +obstructor of those fine measures he would bring about." + +I now appeal to the Whigs themselves, whether a great minister of state, +in high favour with the Qu[een], and a Speaker of the House of Commons, +were ever publicly treated after so extraordinary a manner, in the most +licentious times? For this is not a clandestine libel stolen into the +world, but openly printed and sold, with the bookseller's name and place +of abode at the bottom. And the juncture is admirable, when Mr. H[arle]y +is generally believed upon the very point to be made an earl, and +promoted to the most important station of the kingdom:[12] nay, the very +marks of esteem he hath so lately received from the whole representative +body of the people, are called "ill-chosen flattery," and "a fulsome +piece of insincerity," exposing the donors "to shame and derision." + +Does this intrepid writer think he has sufficiently disguised the matter, +by that stale artifice of altering the story, and putting it as a +supposed case? Did any man who ever saw the congratulatory speech, read +either of those paragraphs in the "Medley," without interpreting them +just as I have done? Will the author declare upon his great sincerity, +that he never had any such meaning? Is it enough, that a jury at +Westminster-Hall would, perhaps, not find him guilty of defaming the +Speaker and Mr. Harley in that paper? which however, I am much in doubt +of too; and must think the law very defective, if the reputation of such +persons must lie at the mercy of such pens. I do not remember to have +seen any libel, supposed to be writ with caution and double meaning, in +order to prevent prosecution, delivered under so thin a cover, or so +unartificially made up as this; whether it were from an apprehension of +his readers' dullness, or an effect of his own. He hath transcribed the +very phrases of the Speaker, and put them in a different character, for +fear they might pass unobserved, and to prevent all possibility of being +mistaken. I shall be pleased to see him have recourse to the old evasion, +and say, that I who make the application, am chargeable with the abuse: +let any reader of either party be judge. But I cannot forbear asserting, +as my opinion, that for a m[inist]ry to endure such open calumny, without +calling the author to account, is next to deserving it. And this is an +omission I venture to charge upon the present m[inist]ry, who are too apt +to despise little things, which however have not always little +consequences. + +When this paper was first undertaken, one design, among others, was, to +_Examine_ some of those writings so frequently published with an evil +tendency, either to religion or government; but I was long diverted by +other enquiries, which I thought more immediately necessary, to +animadvert upon men's actions, rather than their speculations: to shew +the necessity there was of changing the ministry, that our constitution +in Church and State might be preserved; to expose some dangerous +principles and practices under the former administration, and prove by +many instances, that those who are now at the helm, are entirely in the +true interest of prince and people. This I may modestly hope, hath in +some measure been already done, sufficient to answer the end proposed, +which was to inform the ignorant and those at distance, and to convince +such as are not engaged in a party, from other motives than that of +conscience. I know not whether I shall have any appetite to continue this +work much longer; if I do, perhaps some time may be spent in exposing and +overturning the false reasonings of those who engage their pens on the +other side, without losing time in vindicating myself against their +scurrilities, much less in retorting them. Of this sort there is a +certain humble companion, a French _maître de langues_,[13] who every +month publishes an extract from votes, newspapers, speeches and +proclamations, larded with some insipid remarks of his own; which he +calls "The Political State of Great Britain:"[14] This ingenious piece he +tells us himself, is constantly translated into French, and printed in +Holland, where the Dutch, no doubt, conceive most noble sentiments of us, +conveyed through such a vehicle. It is observable in his account for +April, that the vanity, so predominant in many of his nation, has made +him more concerned for the honour of Guiscard, than the safety of Mr. +H[arle]y: And for fear we should think the worse of his country upon that +assassin's account,[15] he tells us, there have been more murders, +parricides and villanies, committed in England, than any other part of +the world. I cannot imagine how an illiterate foreigner, who is neither +master of our language, or indeed of common sense, and who is devoted to +a faction, I suppose, for no other reason, but his having more Whig +customers than Tories, should take it into his head to write politic +tracts of our affairs. But I presume, he builds upon the foundation of +having being called to an account for his insolence in one of his former +monthly productions,[16] which is a method that seldom fails of giving +some vogue to the foolishest composition. If such a work must be done, I +wish some tolerable hand would undertake it; and that we would not suffer +a little whiffling Frenchman to neglect his trade of teaching his +language to our children, and presume to instruct foreigners in our +politics. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 41 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Horace, "Satires," II. i. 41-2. + "Safe it lies +Within the sheath, till villains round me rise."--P. FRANCIS. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: See No. 40, _ante_, and note, p. 259. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: In "A Discourse of the Contests and Dissensions ... Athens +and Rome," 1701 (vol. i., pp. 227-270, of present edition). See also +Swift's reference to this pamphlet in his "Memoirs Relating to that +Change," etc. (vol. v., p. 379). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: "The Medley," under Maynwaring, with occasional help from +Addison and Steele, seems to have been published for the sole purpose +of replying to the "Examiner." No. 40 (July 2nd, 1711) begins: "The +'Examiner' is grown so insipid and contemptible that my acquaintance +are offended at my troubling myself about him." No. 45 (the final number, +August 6th, 1711) expresses the writer's "deep concern" for the loss of +his "dear friend 'The Examiner,' who has at once left the world and me, +quite unprovided for so great a blow." When the "Examiner" was revived by +W. Oldisworth in December, 1711, it was soon followed by a reappearance +of "The Medley." It started afresh with Numb. I. on March 3rd, 1712 +(_i.e._ 1711/2), and continued until August 4th, 1712, the date of the +publication of Numb. XLV. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: See No. 16, _ante_, and note p. 85. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The two paragraphs appeared in No. 32 of "The Medley," and +the writer introduces them by a reference to "praise and censure, which I +choose out of all the rest, because it only concerns the 'Examiner' to be +well instructed in them, he having no other business but to flatter the +new m[inistry], and abuse the old." The first paragraph runs: + +"In the first place, whenever any body would praise another, all he can +say will have no weight or effect, if it be not true or probable. If +therefore, for example, my friend should take it into his head to commend +a man, _for having been an instrument of great good to a nation_, when in +truth that very person had brought that same nation under great +difficulties, to say no more; such ill-chosen flattery would be of no use +or moment, nor add the least credit to the person so commended. Or if he +should take that occasion to revive any false and groundless calumny upon +other men, or another party of men; such an instance of _impotent but +inveterate malice_, would make him still appear more vile and +contemptible. The reason of all which is, that what he said was neither +just, proper, nor real, and therefore must needs want the force of true +eloquence, which consists in nothing else but in well representing things +as they really are. I advise therefore my friend, before he praises any +more of his heroes, to learn the common rules of writing; and +particularly to read over and over a certain chapter in Aristotle's first +book of Rhetoric, where are given very proper and necessary directions, +_for praising a man who has done nothing that he ought to be praised +for_." + +There is no reference here to the Speaker. The reference is to the +"Examiner"; nor is there any mention of Providence having wonderfully +preserved him from some unparalleled attempts. + +The second paragraph runs: + +"But the ancients did not think it enough for men to speak what was true +or probable, they required further that their orators should be heartily +in earnest; and that they should have all those motions and affections in +their own minds which they endeavoured to raise in others. He that +thinks, says Cicero, to warm others with his eloquence, must first be +warm himself. And Quintilian says, We must first be affected ourselves, +before we can move others. This made Pliny's panegyric upon Trajan so +well received by his hearers, because every body knew the wonderful +esteem and affection which he had for the person he commended: and +therefore, when he concluded with a prayer to Jupiter, that he would take +care of the life and safety of that great and good man, which he said +contained in it all other blessings; though the expression was so high, +it passed very well with those that heard him, as being agreeable to the +known sentiments and affection of the speaker. Whereas, if my friend +should be known to bear ill-will to another person, or to have an extreme +bad opinion of him, or to think him an abstractor of those fine measures +he would bring about, and should yet in one of his panegyrics pray to God +for the continuance of that very person's life, as '_an invaluable +blessing_'; such a fulsome piece of insincerity would only expose him to +shame and derision." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The House of Commons resolved on April 11th, that the +Speaker should congratulate Mr. Harley when he was able to attend the +House. This was done on April 26th. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: The House of Commons, on April 27th, ordered, "That Mr. +Speaker be desired to print his congratulatory speech ... with the Answer +of Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer to the same." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: The Speaker thanks God that Harley's enemies had "not been +able to accomplish what their inveterate, but impotent, malice, had +designed." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: The Speaker prayed that Providence might "continue still to +preserve so invaluable a life." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: Harley was appointed lord treasurer, May 30th, 1711, and +created Earl of Oxford, May 23rd. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: Abel Boyer (1667-1729), author of a French dictionary, a +French grammar, "History of William III.," "History of Queen Anne," "The +Political State," "The Post Boy" (1705-9), and many other works. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: "The Political State of Great Britain" was started in +January, 1710/1, and continued monthly until 1740. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: See No. 33, _ante_, and note, p. 207. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 16: Boyer appeared before the House of Lords, March 6th, +1710/1, and owned that he was the compiler of "The Political State of +Great Britain." He was kept in custody till March 12th, when he was +reprimanded, and discharged after he had paid his fees. His offence was +that "an account is pretended to be given of the Debates and Proceedings +of this House" ("Journals of House of Lords," xix). The third number of +"The Political State," Boyer issued on March 17th, giving his reason for +the delay in its appearance: "An unavoidable and unvoluntary avocation, +of which I may give you an account hereafter, has obliged me to write to +you a fortnight later than usual." [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 43.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY MAY 17, TO THURSDAY MAY 24, 1711. + + _Delicta majorum immeritus lues, + Romane; donec templa refeceris, + Aedesque labentes deorum_----[2] + + + +Several letters have been lately sent me, desiring I would make +honourable mention of the pious design of building fifty churches, in +several parts of London and Westminster, where they are most wanted; +occasioned by an address of the convocation to the Queen,[3] and +recommended by her Majesty to the House of Commons; who immediately +promised, they would enable her "to accomplish so excellent a design," +and are now preparing a Bill accordingly. I thought to have deferred any +notice of this important affair till the end of this session; at which +time I proposed to deliver a particular account of the great and useful +things already performed by this present Parliament. But in compliance to +those who give themselves the trouble of advising me; and partly +convinced by the reasons they offer; I am content to bestow a paper upon +a subject, that indeed so well deserves it. + +The clergy, and whoever else have a true concern for the constitution of +the Church, cannot but be highly pleased with one prospect in this new +scene of public affairs. They may very well remember the time, when every +session of Parliament, was like a cloud hanging over their heads; and if +it happened to pass without bursting into some storm upon the Church, we +thanked God, and thought it an happy escape till the next meeting; upon +which we resumed our secret apprehensions, though we were not allowed to +believe any danger. Things are now altered; the Parliament takes the +necessities of the Church into consideration, receives the proposals of +the clergy met in convocation, and amidst all the exigencies of a long +expensive war, and under the pressure of heavy debts, finds a supply for +erecting fifty edifices for the service of God. And it appears by the +address of the Commons to her Majesty upon this occasion (wherein they +discovered a true spirit of religion) that the applying the money granted +"to accomplish so excellent a design,"[4] would, in their opinion, be the +most effectual way of carrying on the war; that it would (to use their +own words) "be a means of drawing down blessings on her Majesty's +undertakings, as it adds to the number of those places, where the prayers +of her devout and faithful subjects, will be daily offered up to God, for +the prosperity of her government at home, and the success of her arms +abroad." + +I am sometimes hoping, that we are not naturally so bad a people, as we +have appeared for some years past. Faction, in order to support itself, +is generally forced to make use of such abominable instruments, that as +long as it prevails, the genius of a nation is overpressed, and cannot +appear to exert itself: but when _that_ is broke and suppressed, when +things return to the old course, mankind will naturally fall to act from +principles of reason and religion. The Romans, upon a great victory, or +escape from public danger, frequently built a temple in honour of some +god, to whose peculiar favour they imputed their success or delivery: and +sometimes the general did the like, _at his own expense_, to acquit +himself of some pious vow he had made. How little of any thing resembling +this hath been done by us after all our victories! and perhaps for that +reason, among others, they have turned to so little account. But what +could we expect? We acted all along as if we believed nothing of a God or +His providence; and therefore it was consistent to offer up our edifices +only to those, whom we looked upon as givers of all victory, in His +stead. + +I have computed, that fifty churches may be built by a medium, at six +thousand pound for a church; which is somewhat _under_ the price of a +subject's palace: yet perhaps the care of above two hundred thousand +souls, with the benefit of their prayers for the prosperity of their +Queen and country, may be almost put in the balance with the domestic +convenience, or even magnificence of any subject whatsoever. + +Sir William Petty, who under the name of Captain Graunt, published some +observations upon bills of mortality about five years after the +Restoration;[5] tells us, the parishes in London, were even then so +unequally divided, that some were two hundred times larger than others. +Since that time, the increase of trade, the frequency of Parliaments, the +desire of living in the metropolis, together with that genius for +building, which began after the fire, and hath ever since continued, have +prodigiously enlarged this town on all sides, where it was capable of +increase; and those tracts of land built into streets, have generally +continued of the same parish they belonged to, while they lay in fields; +so that the care of above thirty thousand souls, hath been sometimes +committed to one minister, whose church would hardly contain the +twentieth part of his flock: neither, I think, was any family in those +parishes obliged to pay above a groat a year to their spiritual pastor. +Some few of those parishes have been since divided; in others were +erected chapels of ease, where a preacher is maintained by general +contribution. Such poor shifts and expedients, to the infinite shame +and scandal, of so vast and flourishing a city, have been thought +sufficient for the service of God and religion; as if they were +circumstances wholly indifferent. + +This defect, among other consequences of it, hath made schism a sort of +necessary evil, there being at least three hundred thousand inhabitants +in this town, whom the churches would not be able to contain, if the +people were ever so well disposed: and in a city not overstocked with +zeal, the only way to preserve any degree of religion, is to make all +attendance upon the duties of it, as easy and cheap as possible: whereas +on the contrary, in the larger parishes, the press is so great, and the +pew-keeper's tax so exorbitant, that those who love to save trouble and +money, either stay at home, or retire to the conventicles. I believe +there are few examples in any Christian country of so great a neglect +for religion; and the dissenting teachers have made their advantages +largely by it, "sowing tares among the wheat while men slept;" being much +more expert at procuring contributions, which is a trade they are bred up +in, than men of a liberal education. + +And to say truth, the way practised by several parishes in and about this +town, of maintaining their clergy by voluntary subscriptions, is not only +an indignity to the character, but hath many pernicious consequences +attending it; such a precarious dependence, subjecting a clergyman, who +hath not more than ordinary spirit and resolution, to many +inconveniences, which are obvious to imagine: but this defect will, no +doubt, be remedied by the wisdom and piety of the present Parliament; and +a tax laid upon every house in a parish, for the support of their pastor. +Neither indeed can it be conceived, why a house, whose purchase is not +reckoned above one-third less than land of the same yearly rent, should +not pay a twentieth part annually (which is half tithe) to the support of +the minister. One thing I could wish, that in fixing the maintenance to +the several ministers in these new intended parishes, no determinate sum +of money may be named, which in all perpetuities ought by any means to be +avoided; but rather a tax in proportion to the rent of each house, though +it be but a twentieth or even a thirtieth part. The contrary of this, I +am told, was done in several parishes of the city after the fire; where +the incumbent and his successors were to receive for ever a certain sum; +for example, one or two hundred pounds a year. But the lawgivers did not +consider, that what we call at present, one hundred pounds, will, in +process of time, have not the intrinsic value of twenty; as twenty pounds +now are hardly equal to forty shillings, three hundred years ago. There +are a thousand instances of this all over England, in reserved rents +applied to hospitals, in old chiefries, and even among the clergy +themselves, in those payments which, I think, they call a _modus_.[6] + +As no prince had ever better dispositions than her present Majesty, for +the advancement of true religion, so there was never any age that +produced greater occasions to employ them on. It is an unspeakable +misfortune, that any designs of so excellent a Queen, should be checked +by the necessities of a long and ruinous war, which the folly or +corruption of modern politicians have involved us in, against all the +maxims whereby our country flourished so many hundred years: else her +Majesty's care of religion would certainly have reached even to her +American plantations. Those noble countries, stocked by numbers from +hence, whereof too many are in no very great reputation for faith +or morals, will be a perpetual reproach to us, till some better care is +taken for cultivating Christianity among them. If the governors of those +several colonies were obliged, at certain times, to transmit an exact +representation of the state of religion, in their several districts; and +the legislature here would, in a time of leisure, take that affair under +their consideration, it might be perfected with little difficulty, and be +a great addition to the glories of her Majesty's reign. + +But to waive further speculations upon so remote a scene, while we have +subjects enough to employ them on at home; it is to be hoped, the clergy +will not let slip any proper opportunity of improving the pious +dispositions of the Queen and kingdom, for the advantage of the Church; +when by the example of times past, they consider how rarely such +conjunctures are like to happen. What if some method were thought on +towards repairing of churches? for which there is like to be too frequent +occasions, those ancient Gothic structures, throughout this kingdom, +going every year to decay. That expedient of repairing or rebuilding them +by charitable collections, seems in my opinion not very suitable, either +to the dignity and usefulness of the work, or to the honour of our +country; since it might be so easily done, with very little charge to the +public, in a much more decent and honourable manner, while Parliaments +are so frequently called. But these and other regulations must be left to +a time of peace, which I shall humbly presume to wish may soon be our +share, however offensive it may be to any, either abroad or at home, who +are gainers by the war. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 42 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Horace, "Odes," III. vi. 1-3. + + "Those ills your ancestors have done, + Romans, are now become your own; + And they will cost you dear, + Unless you soon repair + The falling temples which the gods provoke." + + EARL OF ROSCOMMON (1672). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: The minister and churchwardens of Greenwich applied to the +House of Commons on February 14th, 1710/1, for aid in the rebuilding of +their church. The House referred the application to a committee. On +February 28th the lower house of Convocation sent a deputation to the +Speaker expressing their satisfaction at what had been done. On his +reporting this to the House on the following day, they expressed their +readiness to receive information. The lower house of Convocation prepared +a scheme and presented it to the Speaker on March 9th; this was referred +to the committee on the 10th. Acting on a hint received from the court, +the bishops and clergy presented an Address to the Queen on March 26th, +and this was followed by a Message from Her Majesty, on the 29th, to the +House of Commons, recommending that Parliament should undertake "the +great and necessary work of building more churches." On April 9th the +House of Commons replied in an Address, promising to make provision, and +resolved, on May 1st, to grant a supply for building fifty new churches +in or about London and Westminster. On May 8th it fixed the amount at a +sum "not exceeding £350,000." In pursuance of this a Bill was introduced +on May 18th, which received the Royal Assent on June 12th (9 Ann. c. 17). +This Bill granted £350,000 (to be raised by a duty on coals) for building +fifty new churches in London and Westminster. + +In this connection it is interesting to remember that Swift, two years +before, had recommended the building of more churches as part of his +suggestions for "the advancement of religion." See his "Project for +the Advancement of Religion" (vol. iii., p. 45 of present edition). +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: In their Address, on April 9th, 1711, the House of Commons +said: "Neither the long expensive war, in which we are engaged, nor the +pressure of heavy debts, under which we labour, shall hinder us from +granting to your Majesty whatever is necessary, to accomplish so +excellent a design, which, we hope, may be a means of drawing down +blessings from Heaven on all your Majesty's other undertakings, as it +adds to the number of those places, where the prayers of your devout and +faithful subjects will be daily offered up to God, for the prosperity of +your Majesty's government at home, and the success of your arms abroad." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: "Natural and Political Observations ... upon the Bills of +Mortality." By John Graunt, 1662. The writer says in chap. x. that +Cripplegate parish was two hundred times as big as some of the parishes +in the city. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: An abbreviation of _modus decimandi_, a composition in lieu +of payment of tithes. [T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 44.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY MAY 24, TO THURSDAY MAY 31, 1711. + + + _Scilicet, ut possem curvo dignoscere rectum._[2] + +Having been forced in my papers to use the cant-words of Whig and Tory, +which have so often varied their significations, for twenty years past; I +think it necessary to say something of the several changes those two +terms have undergone since that period; and then to tell the reader what +I have always understood by each of them, since I undertook this work. I +reckon that these sorts of conceited appellations, are usually invented +by the vulgar; who not troubling themselves to examine through the merits +of a cause, are consequently the most violent partisans of what they +espouse; and in their quarrels, usually proceed to their beloved argument +of _calling names_, till at length they light upon one which is sure to +stick; and in time, each party grows proud of that appellation, which +their adversaries at first intended for a reproach. Of this kind were the +Prasini and Veneti,[3] the Guelfs and Ghibellines,[4] Huguenots and +Papists, Roundheads and Cavaliers,[5] with many others, of ancient and +modern date. Among us of late there seems to have been a barrenness of +invention in this point, the words Whig and Tory,[6] though they are not +much above thirty years old, having been pressed to the service of many +successions of parties, with very different ideas fastened to them. This +distinction, I think, began towards the latter part of King Charles the +Second's reign, was dropped during that of his successor, and then +revived at the Revolution, since which it has perpetually flourished, +though applied to very different kinds of principles and persons. In that +Convention of Lords and Commons,[7] some of both Houses were for a +regency to the Prince of Orange, with a reservation of style and title to +the absent king, which should be made use of in all public acts. Others, +when they were brought to allow the throne vacant, thought the succession +should immediately go to the next heir, according to the fundamental laws +of the kingdom, as if the last king were actually dead. And though the +dissenting lords (in whose House the chief opposition was) did at last +yield both those points, took the oaths to the new king, and many of them +employments, yet they were looked upon with an evil eye by the warm +zealots of the other side; neither did the court ever heartily favour any +of them, though some were of the most eminent for abilities and virtue, +and served that prince, both in his councils and his army, with untainted +faith. It was apprehended, at the same time, and perhaps it might have +been true, that many of the clergy would have been better pleased with +that scheme of a regency, or at least an uninterrupted lineal succession, +for the sake of those whose consciences were truly scrupulous; and they +thought there were some circumstances, in the case of the deprived +bishops,[8] that looked a little hard, or at least deserved +commiseration. + +These, and other the like reflections did, as I conceive, revive the +denominations of Whig and Tory. + +Some time after the Revolution the distinction of high and low-church +came in, which was raised by the Dissenters, in order to break the Church +party, by dividing the members into high and low; and the opinions +raised, that the high joined with the Papists, inclined the low to fall +in with the Dissenters. + +And here I shall take leave to produce some principles, which in the +several periods of the late reign, served to denote a man of one or the +other party. To be against a standing army in time of peace, was all +high-church, Tory and Tantivy.[9] To differ from a majority of b[isho]ps +was the same. To raise the prerogative above law for serving a turn, was +low-church and Whig. The opinion of the majority in the House of Commons, +especially of the country-party or landed interest, was high-flying[10] +and rank Tory. To exalt the king's supremacy beyond all precedent, was +low-church, Whiggish and moderate. To make the least doubt of the +pretended prince being supposititious, and a tiler's son, was, in their +phrase, "top and topgallant," and perfect Jacobitism. To resume the most +exorbitant grants, that were ever given to a set of profligate +favourites, and apply them to the public, was the very quintessence of +Toryism; notwithstanding those grants were known to be acquired, by +sacrificing the honour and the wealth of England. + +In most of these principles, the two parties seem to have shifted +opinions, since their institution under King Charles the Second, and +indeed to have gone very different from what was expected from each, even +at the time of the Revolution. But as to that concerning the Pretender, +the Whigs have so far renounced it, that they are grown the great +advocates for his legitimacy: which gives me the opportunity of +vindicating a noble d[uke] who was accused of a blunder in the House, +when upon a certain lord's mentioning the pretended Prince, his g[race] +told the lords, he "must be plain with them, and call that person, not +the pretended prince, but the pretended impostor:" which was so far from +a blunder in that polite l[or]d, as his ill-willers give out, that it was +only a refined way of delivering the avowed sentiments of his whole +party. + +But to return, this was the state of principles when the Qu[een] came to +the crown; some time after which, it pleased certain great persons, who +had been all their lives in the altitude of Tory-profession, to enter +into a treaty with the Whigs, from whom they could get better terms than +from their old friends, who began to be resty, and would not allow +monopolies of power and favour; nor consent to carry on the war entirely +at the expense of this nation, that they might have pensions from abroad; +while another people, more immediately concerned in the war, traded with +the enemy as in times of peace. Whereas, the other party, whose case +appeared then as desperate, was ready to yield to any conditions that +would bring them into play. And I cannot help affirming, that this nation +was made a sacrifice to the immeasurable appetite of power and wealth in +a very few, that shall be nameless, who in every step they made, acted +directly against what they had always professed. And if his Royal +Highness the Prince[11] had died some years sooner (who was a perpetual +check in their career) it is dreadful to think how far they might have +proceeded. + +Since that time, the bulk of the Whigs appears rather to be linked to a +certain set of persons, than any certain set of principles: so that if I +were to define a member of that party, I would say, he was one "who +believed in the late m[inist]ry." And therefore, whatever I have affirmed +of Whigs in any of these papers, or objected against them, ought to be +understood, either of those who were partisans of the late men in power, +and privy to their designs; or such who joined with them, from a hatred +to our monarchy and Church, as unbelievers and Dissenters of all sizes; +or men in office, who had been guilty of much corruption, and dreaded a +change; which would not only put a stop to further abuses for the future, +but might, perhaps, introduce examinations of what was past. Or those who +had been too highly obliged, to quit their supporters with any common +decency. Or lastly, the money-traders, who could never hope to make their +markets so well of _premiums_ and exorbitant interest, and high +remittances, under any other administration. + +Under these heads, may be reduced the whole body of those whom I have all +along understood for Whigs: for I do not include within this number, any +of those who have been misled by ignorance, or seduced by plausible +pretences, to think better of that sort of men than they deserve, and to +apprehend mighty danger from their disgrace: because, I believe, the +greatest part of such well-meaning people, are now thoroughly converted. + +And indeed, it must be allowed, that those two fantastic names of Whig +and Tory, have at present very little relation to those opinions, which +were at first thought to distinguish them. Whoever formerly professed +himself to approve the Revolution, to be against the Pretender, to +justify the succession in the house of Hanover, to think the British +monarchy not absolute, but limited by laws, which the executive power +could not dispense with, and to allow an indulgence to scrupulous +consciences; such a man was content to be called a Whig. On the other +side, whoever asserted the Queen's hereditary right; that the persons of +princes were sacred; their lawful authority not to be resisted on any +pretence; nor even their usurpations, without the most extreme necessity: +that breaches in the succession were highly dangerous; that schism was a +great evil, both in itself and its consequences; that the ruin of the +Church, would probably be attended with that of the State; that no power +should be trusted with those who are not of the established religion; +such a man was usually called a Tory. Now, though the opinions of both +these are very consistent, and I really think are maintained at present +by a great majority of the kingdom; yet, according as men apprehend the +danger greater, either from the Pretender and his party, or from the +violence and cunning of other enemies to the constitution; so their +common discourses and reasonings, turn either to the first or second set +of these opinions I have mentioned, and are consequently styled either +Whigs or Tories. Which is, as if two brothers apprehended their house +would be set upon, but disagreed about the place from whence they thought +the robbers would come, and therefore would go on different sides to +defend it. They must needs weaken and expose themselves by such a +separation; and so did we, only our case was worse: for in order to keep +off a weak, remote enemy, from whom we could not suddenly apprehend any +danger, we took a nearer and a stronger one into the house. I make no +comparison at all between the two enemies: Popery and slavery are without +doubt the greatest and most dreadful of any; but I may venture to affirm, +that the fear of these, have not, at least since the Revolution, been so +close and pressing upon us, as that from another faction; excepting only +one short period, when the leaders of that very faction, invited the +abdicating king to return; of which I have formerly taken notice. + +Having thus declared what sort of persons I have always meant, under the +denomination of Whigs, it will be easy to shew whom I understand by +Tories. Such whose principles in Church and State, are what I have above +related; whose actions are derived from thence, and who have no +attachment to any set of ministers, further than as these are friends +to the constitution in all its parts, but will do their utmost to save +their prince and country, whoever be at the helm. + +By these descriptions of Whig and Tory, I am sensible those names are +given to several persons very undeservedly; and that many a man is called +by one or the other, who has not the least title to the blame or praise I +have bestowed on each of them throughout my papers. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 43 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Horace, "Epistles," II. ii. 44. +"Fair truth from falsehood to discern."--P. FRANCIS. + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: There were four factions, or parties, distinguished by their +colours, which contended in the ancient circus at Constantinople. The +white and the red were the most ancient. In the sixth century the +dissension between the green (or Prasini) and the blue (or Veneti) was so +violent, that 40,000 men were killed, and the factions were abolished +from that time. See also Gibbon's "Rome," chap. xl. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: The Guelfs were the Papal and popular party in Italy, and +the Ghibellines were the imperial and aristocratic. It is said that these +names were first used as war cries at the battle of Weinsberg in 1140. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: These terms came into use about 1641. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: Writing under date, 1681, Burnet says "At this time the +distinguishing names of Whig and Tory came to be the denominations of the +parties" ("Hist. Own Times," i. 499) [T.S.] + +_Whig a more_ was a nick name given to the western peasantry of Scotland, +from then using the words frequently in driving strings of horses. Hence, +as connected with Calvinistical principles in religion, and republican +doctrines in policy, it was given as a term of reproach to the opposition +party in the latter years of Charles II. These retorted upon the +courtiers the word _Tory_, signifying an Irish free-booter, and +particularly applicable to the Roman Catholic followers of the Duke of +York. [S] + +Macaulay's explanation of the origin of these two terms is somewhat +different from that given by Scott. "In Scotland," he says, "some of the +persecuted Covenanters, driven mad by oppression, had lately murdered the +Primate, had taken aims against the government," etc. "These zealots were +most numerous among the rustics of the western lowlands, who were +vulgarly called Whigs. Thus the appellation of Whig was fastened on the +Presbyterian zealots of Scotland, and was transferred to those English +politicians who showed a disposition to oppose the court, and to treat +Protestant Nonconformists with indulgence. The bogs of Ireland, at the +same time, afforded a refuge to Popish outlaws, much resembling those who +were afterwards known as Whiteboys. These men were then called Tories. +The name of Tory was therefore given to Englishmen who refused to concur +in excluding a Roman Catholic prince from the throne." ("History of +England," vol. i, chap. ii) [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The Convention was summoned by the Prince of Orange in +December, 1688. After a lengthened debate they resolved, on February +12th, 1688/9, that the Prince and Princess of Orange should "be declared +King and Queen." The Sovereigns were proclaimed on February 13th, and on +the 20th the Convention was voted a Parliament. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The bishops who were deprived for refusing to take the oath +of allegiance to King William were: Sancroft, the Archbishop of +Canterbury; Ken, Bishop of Bath; White, Bishop of Peterborough; Turner, +Bishop of Ely; Frampton, Bishop of Gloucester; and Lloyd, Bishop of +Norwich. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: Writing to Stella, under date October 10th, 1711, Swift +complains that "The Protestant Post-Boy" says "that an ambitious tantivy, +missing of his towering hopes of preferment in Ireland, is come over to +vent his spleen on the late ministry," etc. (vol. ii., p. 258, of present +edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: "The most virtuous and pious enemy to their wicked +principles [_i.e._, to those of the Calves-Head Club] is always cried +down as a high-flyer, a Papist, and a traitor to his country" ("Secret +History of the Calves-Head Club," 7th edit., 1709). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: Prince George of Denmark died October 28th, 1708. [T.S.]] + + + +NUMB. 45.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY MAY 31, TO THURSDAY JUNE 7, 1711.[2] + + _Magna vis est, magnum nomen, unum et idem sentieritis Senatus._[3] + +Whoever calls to mind the clamour and the calumny, the artificial fears +and jealousies, the shameful misrepresentation of persons and of things, +that were raised and spread by the leaders and instruments of a certain +party, upon the change of the last ministry, and dissolution of +Parliament; if he be a true lover of his country, must feel a mighty +pleasure, though mixed with some indignation, to see the wishes, the +conjectures, the endeavours, of an inveterate faction entirely +disappointed; and this important period wholly spent, in restoring the +prerogative to the prince, liberty to the subject, in reforming past +abuses, preventing future, supplying old deficiencies, providing for +debts, restoring the clergy to their rights, and taking care of the +necessities of the Church: and all this unattended with any of those +misfortunes which some men hoped for, while they pretended to fear. + +For my own part, I must confess, the difficulties appeared so great to +me, from such a noise and shew of opposition, that I thought nothing but +the absolute necessity of affairs, could ever justify so daring an +attempt. But, a wise and good prince, at the head of an able ministry, +and of a senate freely chosen; all united to pursue the true interest of +their country, is a power, against which, the little inferior politics +of any faction, will be able to make no long resistance. To this we may +add one additional strength, which in the opinion of our adversaries, is +the greatest and justest of any; I mean the _vox populi_, so indisputably +declarative on the same side. I am apt to think, when these discarded +politicians begin seriously to consider all this, they will think it +proper to give out, and reserve their wisdom for some more convenient +juncture. + +It was pleasant enough to observe, that those who were the chief +instruments of raising the noise, who started fears, bespoke dangers, and +formed ominous prognostics, in order scare the allies, to spirit the +French, and fright ignorant people at home; made use of those very +opinions themselves had broached, for arguments to prove, that the change +of ministers was dangerous and unseasonable. But if a house be swept, the +more occasion there is for such a work, the more dust it will raise; if +it be going to ruin, the repairs, however necessary, will make a noise, +and disturb the neighbourhood a while. And as to the rejoicings made in +France,[4] if it be true, that they had any, upon the news of those +alterations among us; their joy was grounded upon the same hopes with +that of the Whigs, who comforted themselves, that a change of ministry +and Parliament, would infallibly put us all into confusion, increase our +divisions, and destroy our credit; wherein, I suppose, by this time they +are equally undeceived. + +But this long session, being in a manner ended,[5] which several +circumstances, and one accident, altogether unforeseen, have drawn out +beyond the usual time; it may be some small piece of justice to so +excellent an assembly, barely to mention a few of those great things they +have done for the service of their QUEEN and country; which I shall take +notice of, just as they come to my memory. + +The credit of the nation began mightily to suffer by a discount upon +exchequer bills, which have been generally reckoned the surest and most +sacred of all securities. The present lord treasurer, then a member of +the House of Commons, proposed a method, which was immediately complied +with, of raising them to a _par_ with _specie_;[6] and so they have ever +since continued. + +The British colonies of Nevis and St. Christopher's,[7] had been +miserably plundered by the French, their houses burnt, their plantations +destroyed, and many of the inhabitants carried away prisoners: they had +often, for some years past, applied in vain for relief from hence; till +the present Parliament, considering their condition as a case of justice +and mercy, voted them one hundred thousand pound by way of recompense, in +some manner, for their sufferings. + +Some persons, whom the voice of the nation authorizes me to call her +enemies, taking advantage of the general Naturalization Act, had invited +over a great number of foreigners of all religions, under the name of +Palatines;[8] who understood no trade or handicraft, yet rather chose to +beg than labour;[9] who besides infesting our streets, bred contagious +diseases, by which we lost in natives, thrice the number of what we +gained in foreigners. The House of Commons, as a remedy against this +evil, brought in a bill for repealing that Act of general Naturalization, +which, to the surprise of most people, was rejected by the L[or]ds.[10] +And upon this occasion, I must allow myself to have been justly rebuked +by one of my weekly monitors, for pretending in a former paper, to hope +that law would be repealed; wherein the Commons being disappointed, took +care however to send many of the Palatines away, and to represent their +being invited over, as a pernicious counsel.[11] + +The Qualification Bill,[12] incapacitating all men to serve in +Parliament, who have not some estate in land, either in possession or +certain reversion, is perhaps the greatest security that ever was +contrived for preserving the constitution, which otherwise might, in a +little time, lie wholly at the mercy of the moneyed interest: And since +much the greatest part of the taxes is paid, either immediately from +land, or from the productions of it, it is but common justice, that those +who are the proprietors, should appoint what portion of it ought to go to +the support of the public; otherwise, the engrossers of money, would be +apt to lay heavy loads on others, which themselves never touch with one +of their fingers. + +The public debts were so prodigiously increased, by the negligence and +corruption of those who had been managers of the revenue; that the late +m[iniste]rs, like careless men, who run out their fortunes, were so far +from any thoughts of payment, as they had not the courage to state or +compute them. The Parliament found that thirty-five millions had never +been accounted for; and that the debt on the navy, wholly unprovided for, +amounted to nine millions.[13] The late chancellor of the exchequer, +suitable to his transcendent genius for public affairs, proposed a fund +to be security for that immense debt, which is now confirmed by a law, +and is likely to prove the greatest restoration and establishment of +the kingdom's credit.[14] Nor content with this, the legislature +hath appointed commissioners of accompts, to inspect into past +mismanagements of the public money, and prevent them for the future.[15] + +I have, in a former paper, mentioned the Act for building fifty new +Churches in London and Westminster,[16] with a fund appropriated for that +pious and noble work. But while I am mentioning acts of piety, it would +be unjust to conceal my lord high treasurer's concern for religion, which +have extended even to another kingdom: his lordship having some months +ago, obtained of her Majesty a remission of the first-fruits and tenths +to the clergy of Ireland,[17] as he is known to have formerly done for +that reverend body in this kingdom. + +The Act for carrying on a Trade to the South-Sea,[18] proposed by the +same great person, whose thoughts are perpetually employed, and always +with success, on the good of his country, will, in all probability, if +duly executed, be of mighty advantage to the kingdom, and an everlasting +honour to the present Parliament.[19] + +I might go on further, and mention that seasonable law against excessive +gaming;[20] the putting a stop to that scandalous fraud of false musters +in the Guards;[21] the diligent and effectual enquiry made by the Commons +into several gross abuses.[22] I might produce many instances of their +impartial justice in deciding controverted election, against former +example, and great provocations to retaliate.[23] I might shew their +cheerful readiness in granting such vast supplies; their great unanimity, +not to be broken by all the arts of a malicious and cunning faction; +their unfeigned duty to the QUEEN; and lastly, that representation made +to her Majesty from the House of Commons, discovering such a spirit and +disposition in that noble assembly, to redress all those evils, which a +long mal-administration had brought upon us.[24] + +It is probable, that trusting only to my memory, I may have omitted many +things of great importance; neither do I pretend further in the compass +of this paper, than to give the world some general, however imperfect +idea, how worthily this great assembly hath discharged the trust of those +who so freely chose them; and what we may reasonably hope and expect from +the piety, courage, wisdom, and loyalty of such excellent patriots, in a +time so fruitful of occasions to exert the greatest abilities. + +And now I conceive the main design I had in writing these papers, is +fully executed. A great majority of the nation is at length thoroughly +convinced, that the Qu[een] proceeded with the highest wisdom, in +changing her ministry and Parliament. That under a former administration, +the greatest abuses of all kinds were committed, and the most dangerous +attempts against the constitution for some time intended. The whole +kingdom finds the present persons in power, directly and openly pursuing +the true service of their QUEEN and country; and to be such whom their +most bitter enemies cannot tax with bribery, covetousness, ambition, +pride, insolence, or any pernicious principles in religion or government. + +For my own particular, those little barking pens which have so constantly +pursued me, I take to be of no further consequence to what I have writ, +than the scoffing slaves of old, placed behind the chariot, to put the +general in mind of his mortality;[25] which was but a thing of form, and +made no stop or disturbance in the shew. However, if those perpetual +snarlers against me, had the same design, I must own they have +effectually compassed it; since nothing can well be more mortifying, than +to reflect that I am of the same species with creatures capable of +uttering so much scurrility, dullness, falsehood and impertinence, to the +scandal and disgrace of human nature. + + +[Footnote 1: No. 44 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: To Stella, about this time, Swift wrote giving a decided +hint of the end of his term on "The Examiner." Under date June 7th, 1711, +he says: "As for the 'Examiner,' I have heard a whisper, that after that +of this day, which tells what this Parliament has done, you will hardly +find them so good. I prophesy they will be trash for the future; and +methinks in this day's 'Examiner' the author talks doubtfully, as if he +would write no more" (vol. ii., pp. 192-3 of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "Great is the power, great the name, of a Senate which is +unanimous in its opinions."--H.T. RILEY, [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: See No. 24, _ante_, and note on p. 145. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: The session did not actually close till June 12th. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: The House of Commons had resolved on January 16th, 1710/1, +to provide for converting all non-specie exchequer bills into specie. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The Act for licensing and regulating hackney coaches, etc. +(9 Ann. c. 16) provided that a sum of £103,003 11_s._ 4_d._ should be +distributed among those proprietors and inhabitants of Nevis and St. +Christopher's who had suffered "very great losses by a late invasion of +the French." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: See note on p. 264. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: A petition was presented to the House of Commons on January +15th, 1710/1, against the Palatines as likely to spread disease and to +become chargeable to the parish. [T.S.] + +The exactions of the French armies in the Palatinate, in the year 1709, +drove from their habitations six or seven thousand persons of all +descriptions and professions, who came into Holland with a view of +emigrating to British America. It was never accurately ascertained, with +what view, or by whose persuasions, their course was changed, but, by +direction from the English ministers, they were furnished with shipping +to come to England. In the settlements, they would have been a valuable +colony; but in the vicinity of London, this huge accession to the poor of +the metropolis was a burthen and a nuisance. They were encamped on +Blackheath, near Greenwich, where, so soon as their countrymen heard that +they were supported by British charity, the number of the fugitives began +to increase by recruits from the Continent, till government prohibited +further importation. A general Naturalization Act, passed in favour of +the French Protestants, greatly encouraged this influx of strangers. This +matter was inquired into by the Tory Parliament, who voted, that the +bringing over the Palatines was an oppression on the nation, and a waste +of the public money, and that he who advised it was an enemy to his +country. The unfortunate fugitives had been already dispersed; some of +them to North America, some to Ireland, and some through Britain. The +pretence alleged for the vote against them, was the apprehension +expressed by the guardians of the poor in several parishes, that they +might introduce contagious diseases; but the real reason was a wish to +gratify the prejudice of the common people against foreigners, and to +dimmish the number of Dissenters. [S.]] + +[Footnote 10: See No. 26, _ante_, and note on p. 160. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: On the invitation of the lord lieutenant 3,000 Palatines +were sent into Ireland in August, 1709, and 800 in the following +February. Many of them subsequently returned to England in the hope that +they would be sent to Carolina. Large numbers had been brought to England +from Holland at the Queen's expense, after the passing of the +Naturalization Act. The government spent _£_22,275 in transporting +3,300 of them to New York and establishing them there, undertaking to +maintain them until they could provide for themselves. These sums were to +be repaid within four years. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: See No. 35, _ante_, and note on p. 225. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: See No. 41, _ante_, and note on p. 264. The debt on the +navy is a portion of the thirty-five millions referred to. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: Harley proposed a scheme, on May 2nd, 1711, by which all +public and national debts and deficiencies were to be satisfied. +Resolutions were passed on May 3rd, and a Bill brought in on the 17th, +which was the origin of the celebrated South Sea scheme referred to later +in the text. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: The Bill for examining the Public Accounts (9 Ann. c. 18) +became law on May 16th. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 16: See No. 43, _ante_, pp. 278 _et seq._ [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 17: On August 15th, 1711, Swift wrote to Archbishop King: "He +[the lord treasurer] told me, 'he had lately received a letter from the +bishops of Ireland, subscribed (as I remember) by seventeen, +acknowledging his favour about the first-fruits'" (Scott's edition, xv. +465). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 18: The South Sea Company was established in pursuance of the +Act 9 Ann. c. 15. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 19: The disastrous results of the South Sea scheme, when the +company failed in 1720-21, are matter of history. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 20: A Bill for the better preventing of Excessive and Deceitful +Gaming, was introduced January 25th, 1710/1, passed April 11th, and +obtained the Royal Assent, May 16th (9 Ann. c. 19). A similar bill, +which had passed the House of Commons in 1709/10, was dropped in the +House of Lords. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 21: A committee of the House of Commons was appointed, on +February 5th, 1710/1 to inquire into alleged false musters in the Guards. +A petition was presented to the House on February 13th, complaining that +tradesmen were listed in Her Majesty's Guards "to screen and protect them +from their creditors." A clause was inserted in the Recruiting Bill to +remedy this evil (10 Ann. c. 12; see sec. 39), and the House passed a +strong resolution against the practice, on May 26th, when considering the +report of the committee. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 22: The House of Commons, on June 4th, presented a +representation to the Queen on mismanagements and abuses. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 23: A large number of petitions to the House of Commons +concerning controverted elections had been considered in December, 1710. +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 24: Towards the close of the very long representation +addressed to the Queen on June 4th, the Commons said: "We ... beseech +your Majesty ... that you would employ in places of authority and trust +such only, as have given good testimonies of their duty to your Majesty, +and of their affection to the true interest of your kingdom." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 25: In a Roman triumph a slave accompanied the victorious +general to whisper in his ear: "Remember that thou art but a man." +[T.S.]] + + + + +NUMB. 46.[1] + +FROM THURSDAY JUNE 7, TO THURSDAY JUNE 14, 1711.[2] + + _Melius non tangere clamo_.[3] + +When a general has conquered an army, and reduced a country to obedience, +he often finds it necessary to send out small bodies, in order to take in +petty castles and forts, and beat little straggling parties, which are +otherwise, apt to make head and infest the neighbourhood: This case +exactly resembles mine; I count the main body of the Whigs entirely +subdued; at least, till they appear with new reinforcements, I shall +reckon them as such; and therefore do now find myself at leisure to +_Examine_ inferior abuses. The business I have left, is, to fall on those +wretches that will be still keeping the war on foot, when they have no +country to defend, no forces to bring into the field, nor any thing +remaining, but their bare good-will towards faction and mischief: I mean, +the present set of writers, whom I have suffered, without molestation, so +long to infest the town. Were there not a concurrence from prejudice, +party, weak understanding, and misrepresentation, I should think them too +inconsiderable in themselves to deserve correction: But as my endeavour +hath been to expose the gross impositions of the fallen party, I will +give a taste, in the following petition, of the sincerity of these their +factors, to shew how little those writers for the Whigs were guided by +conscience or honour, their business being only to gratify a prevailing +interest. + + +"_To the Right Honourable the present M[inist]ry, the humble Petition of +the Party Writers to the late M[inist]ry._ + +"HUMBLY SHEWETH, + +"_That your petitioners have served their time to the trade of writing +pamphlets and weekly papers, in defence of the Whigs, against the Church +of England, and the Christian religion, and her Majesty's prerogative, +and her title to the crown: That since the late change of ministry, and +meeting of this Parliament, the said trade is mightily fallen off, and +the call for the said pamphlets and papers, much less than formerly; and +it is feared, to our further prejudice, that the 'Examiner' may +discontinue writing, whereby some of your petitioners will be brought to +utter distress, forasmuch as through false quotations, noted absurdities, +and other legal abuses, many of your petitioners, to their great comfort +and support, were enabled to pick up a weekly subsistence out of the said +'Examiner.' + +"That your said poor petitioners, did humbly offer your Honours to write +in defence of the late change of ministry and Parliament, much cheaper +than they did for your predecessors, which your Honours were pleased to +refuse. + +"Notwithstanding which offer, your petitioners are under daily +apprehension, that your Honours will forbid them to follow the said trade +any longer; by which your petitioners, to the number of fourscore, with +their wives and families, will inevitably starve, having been bound to no +other calling._ + +"Your petitioners desire your Honours will tenderly consider the +premisses, and suffer your said petitioners to continue their trade +(those who set them at work, being still willing to employ them, though +at lower rates) and your said petitioners will give security to make use +of the same stuff, and dress it in the same manner, as they always did, +and no other. _And your petitioners" &c._ + + +[Footnote 1: No. 45 in the reprint. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: In his "Journal to Stella," under date June 22nd, 1711, +Swift writes: "Yesterday's was a sad 'Examiner,' and last week was very +indifferent, though, some little scraps of the old spirit, as if he had +given some hints; but yesterday's is all trash. It is plain the hand is +changed." (vol. ii., p, 195). + +On November 2nd he gives the following account: "I have sent to Leigh the +set of 'Examiners'; the first thirteen were written by several hands; +some good, some bad; the next three-and-thirty were all by one hand, that +makes forty-six: then that author, whoever he was, laid it down on +purpose to confound guessers; and the last six were written by a woman" +(vol. ii., p. 273). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Horace, "Satires," II. i. 45. +"'Better not touch me, friend,' I loud exclaim."--P. FRANCIS. [T.S.]] + + + + +CONTRIBUTION TO "THE SPECTATOR." + + +NOTE. + +"THE SPECTATOR," projected by Steele, assisted and made famous by +Addison, was first started on March 1st, 1710/1, and continued to be +issued daily until December 6th, 1712. An interval of eighteen months +then occurred, during six of which these two writers were busy with +"The Guardian." On June 18th, 1714, however, "The Spectator" was resumed, +and appeared daily until its final number on December 20th of that year. +As with "The Tatler," so with "The Spectator," its success proved too +great a temptation to be resisted; so that we find a spurious "Spectator" +also. This was begun on Monday, January 3rd, 1714/5, and concluded +August 3rd of the same year. Its sixty numbers (for it was issued twice a +week) were afterwards published as "The Spectator, volume ninth and +last." The principal writer to this spurious edition was said to be Dr. +George Sewell. + +Of the contributions to Steele's "Spectator," by far the greater +number were written by the projector and Addison. The other contributors +were Eustace Budgell, John Hughes, John Byrom, Henry Grove, Thomas +Parnell, "Orator" Henley, Dr. Zachary Pearce, Philip Yorke, and a few +others whose identity is doubtful. Swift's contribution consisted of one +paper only, and (probably) a single paragraph in another. [T.S.] + + + + +THE SPECTATOR, NUMB. L.[1] + + + _Nunquam aliud natura, aliud sapientia dicit._ + JUV.[2] + +FRIDAY, APRIL 27. 1711. + +When the four Indian kings[3] were in this country about a twelvemonth +ago, I often mixed with the rabble and followed them a whole day +together, being wonderfully struck with the sight of everything that is +new or uncommon. I have, since their departure, employed a friend to make +many enquiries of their landlord the upholsterer[4] relating to their +manners and conversation, as also concerning the remarks which they made +in this country: for next to the forming a right notion of such +strangers, I should be desirous of learning what ideas they have +conceived of us. + +The upholsterer finding my friend very inquisitive about these his +lodgers, brought him some time since a little bundle of papers, which he +assured him were written by King Sa Ga Yean Qua Rash Tow, and, as he +supposes, left behind by some mistake. These papers are now translated, +and contain abundance of very odd observations, which I find this little +fraternity of kings made during their stay in the isle of Great Britain. +I shall present my reader with a short specimen of them in this paper, +and may perhaps communicate more to him hereafter. In the article of +London are the following words, which without doubt are meant of the +church of St. Paul. + +"On the most rising part of the town there stands a huge house, big +enough to contain the whole nation of which I am king. Our good brother E +Tow O Koam king of the Rivers, is of opinion it was made by the hands of +that great God to whom it is consecrated. The kings of Granajah and of +the Six Nations believe that it was created with the earth, and produced +on the same day with the sun and moon. But for my own part, by the best +information that I could get of this matter, I am apt to think that this +prodigious pile was fashioned into the shape it now bears by several +tools and instruments; of which they have a wonderful variety in this +country. It was probably at first an huge mis-shapen rock that grew upon +the top of the hill, which the natives of the country (after having cut +it into a kind of regular figure) bored and hollowed with incredible +pains and industry, till they had wrought in it all those beautiful +vaults and caverns into which it is divided at this day. As soon as this +rock was thus curiously scooped to their liking, a prodigious number of +hands must have been employed in chipping the outside of it, which is now +as smooth as polished marble;[5] and is in several places hewn out into +pillars that stand like the trunks of so many trees bound about the top +with garlands of leaves. It is probable that when this great work was +begun, which must have been many hundred years ago, there was some +religion among this people; for they give it the name of a temple, and +have a tradition that it was designed for men to pay their devotions in. +And indeed, there are several reasons which make us think, that the +natives of this Country had formerly among them some sort of worship; for +they set apart every seventh day as sacred: but upon my going into one of +those holy houses on that day, I could not observe any circumstance of +devotion in their behaviour: There was indeed a man in black who was +mounted above the rest, and seemed to utter something with a great deal +of vehemence; but as for those underneath him, instead of paying their +worship to the Deity of the place, they were most of them bowing and +curtsying to one another, and a considerable number of them fast asleep. + +"The Queen of the country appointed two men to attend us, that had enough +of our language to make themselves understood in some few particulars. +But we soon perceived these two were great enemies to one another, and +did not always agree in the same story. We could make a shift to gather +out of one of them, that this island was very much infested with a +monstrous kind of animals, in the shape of men, called Whigs; and he +often told us, that he hoped we should meet with none of them in our way, +for that if we did, they would be apt to knock us down for being kings. + +"Our other interpreter used to talk very much of a kind of animal called +a Tory, that was as great a monster as the Whig, and would treat us as +ill for being foreigners.[6] These two creatures, it seems, are born with +a secret antipathy to one another, and engage when they meet as naturally +as the elephant and the rhinoceros. But as we saw none of either of these +species, we are apt to think that our guides deceived us with +misrepresentations and fictions, and amused us with an account of such +monsters as are not really in their country. + +"These particulars we made a shift to pick out from the discourse of our +interpreters; which we put together as well as we could, being able to +understand but here and there a word of what they said, and afterwards +making up the meaning of it among ourselves. The men of the country are +very cunning and ingenious in handicraft works; but withal so very idle, +that we often saw young lusty raw-boned fellows carried up and down the +streets in little covered rooms by a couple of porters who are hired for +that service. Their dress is likewise very barbarous, for they almost +strangle themselves about the neck, and bind their bodies with many +ligatures, that we are apt to think are the occasion of several +distempers among them which our country is entirely free from. Instead of +those beautiful feathers with which we adorn our heads, they often buy up +a monstrous bush of hair, which covers their heads, and falls down in a +large fleece below the middle of their backs; with which they walk up and +down the streets, and are as proud of it as if it was of their own +growth. + +"We were invited to one of their public diversions, where we hoped to +have seen the great men of their country running down a stag or pitching +a bar, that we might have discovered who were the men of the greatest +perfections in their country;[7] but instead of that, they conveyed us +into an huge room lighted up with abundance of candles, where this lazy +people sat still above three hours to see several feats of ingenuity +performed by others, who it seems were paid for it. + +"As for the women of the country, not being able to talk with them, we +could only make our remarks upon them at a distance. They let the hair of +their heads grow to a great length; but as the men make a great show with +heads of hair that are none of their own, the women, who they say have +very fine heads of hair, tie it up in a knot and cover it from being +seen. The women look like angels, and would be more beautiful than the +sun, were it not for little black spots[8] that are apt to break out in +their faces, and sometimes rise in very odd figures. I have observed that +those little blemishes wear off very soon; but when they disappear in one +part of the face, they are very apt to break out in another, insomuch +that I have seen a spot upon the forehead in the afternoon, which was +upon the chin in the morning." + +The author then proceeds to shew the absurdity of breeches and +petticoats, with many other curious observations, which I shall reserve +for another occasion. I cannot however conclude this paper without taking +notice, that amidst these wild remarks there now and then appears +something very reasonable. I cannot likewise forbear observing, that we +are all guilty in some measure of the same narrow way of thinking which +we meet with in this abstract of the Indian journal; when we fancy the +customs, dresses, and manners of other countries are ridiculous and +extravagant, if they do not resemble those of our own.[9] + + +[Footnote 1: On March 16th, 1711, Swift writes to Stella: "Have you seen +the 'Spectator' yet, a paper that comes out every day? 'Tis written by +Mr. Steele, who seems to have gathered new life, and have a new fund +of wit; it is in the same nature as his 'Tatlers,' and they have all of +them had something pretty. I believe Addison and he club." On April 28th +he writes again: "'The Spectator' is written by Steele with Addison's +help: 'tis often very pretty. Yesterday it was made of a noble hint I +gave him long ago for his 'Tatlers,' about an Indian supposed to write +his travels into England. I repent he ever had it. I intended to have +written a book on that subject. I believe he has spent it all in one +paper, and all the under hints there are mine too" (vol. ii., pp. 139 and +166 of present edition). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: Juvenal, "Satires," xiv. 321. + + "Nature and wisdom never are at strife."--W. GIFFORD. + + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Steele's paper on the four Indian kings appeared in "The +Tatler" for May 13th, 1710 (No. 171):--"Who can convince the world that +four kings shall come over here, and He at the Two Crowns and Cushion, +and one of them fall sick, and the place be called King Street, and all +this by mere accident?"--The so-called kings were four Iroquois chiefs +who came over to see Queen Anne. The Queen saw them on April 19th, 1710. +During their visit here Colonel Schuyler and Colonel Francis Nicholson +were appointed to attend them. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: They lodged over the shop of Mr. Arne--father of Dr. Arne +and Mrs. Cibber--in King Street, Covent Garden. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: The edition of 1712 has, "as the surface of a pebble." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: In "The Tatler" for February 4th, 1709/10 (No. 129), +Steele prints a letter from "Pasquin of Rome," in which he says: "It +would also be very acceptable here to receive an account of those two +religious orders which are lately sprung up amongst you, the Whigs and +the Tories, with the points of doctrine, severities in discipline, +penances, mortifications, and good works, by which they differ one from +another." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The edition of 1712 has: "the persons of the greatest +abilities among them." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: See "The Spectator," No. 81, and "The Examiner," No. 32. The +"black spots" are the patches ladies stuck on their faces. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: This paper is signed "C.", in the edition of 1712, which is +one of the signatures used by Addison. See, however, Swift's "Journal," +quoted above. [T.S.]] + + + * * * * * + + +[The following paragraph in "The Spectator," No. 575 +Monday, August 2. 1714. is believed to have been contributed +by Swift.] + +"The following question is started by one of the schoolmen. Supposing the +whole body of the earth were a great ball or mass of the finest sand, and +that a single grain or particle of this sand should be annihilated every +thousand years. Supposing then that you had it in your choice to be happy +all the while this prodigious mass of sand was consuming by this slow +method till there was not a grain of it left, on condition you were to be +miserable for ever after; or, supposing that you might be happy for ever +after, on condition you would be miserable till the whole mass of sand +were thus annihilated at the rate of one sand in a thousand years: Which +of these two cases would you make your choice?" + + + + +CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE INTELLIGENCER." + + +NOTE. + +"THE INTELLIGENCER" was published in Dublin, commencing May 11th, 1728, +and continued for nineteen numbers. On June 12th, 1731, Swift, writing to +Pope, gives some account of its inception, and the amount of writing he +did for it: "Two or three of us had a fancy, three years ago, to write a +weekly paper, and call it an 'Intelligencer.' But it continued not long; +for the whole volume (it was reprinted in London, and I find you have +seen it) was the work only of two, myself, and Dr. Sheridan. If we could +have got some ingenious young man to have been the manager, who should +have published all that might be sent him, it might have continued +longer, for there were hints enough. But the printer here could not +afford such a young man one farthing for his trouble, the sale being so +small, and the price one halfpenny; and so it dropped. In the volume you +saw, (to answer your questions,) the 1, 3, 5, 7, were mine. Of the 8th I +writ only the verses, (very uncorrect, but against a fellow we all hated +[Richard Tighe],) the 9th mine, the 10th only the verses, and of those +not the four last slovenly lines; the 15th is a pamphlet of mine printed +before, with Dr. Sheridan's preface, merely for laziness, not to +disappoint the town: and so was the 19th, which contains only a parcel of +facts relating purely to the miseries of Ireland, and wholly useless and +unentertaining" (Scott's edition, xvii. 375-6). + +Of the contributions thus acknowledged, Nos. 1, 3, and 19 are reprinted +here from the original edition; Nos. 5 and 7 were included by Pope in the +fourth volume of "Miscellanies," under the title "An Essay on the Fates +of Clergymen"; No. 9 he entitled "An Essay on Modern Education"; No. 15 +was a reprint of the pamphlet "A Short View of the State of Ireland"-- +these will be found in this edition under the above titles. The verses in +No. 8 ("Mad Mullinix and Timothy") and in No. 10 ("Tim and the Fables") +are in Swift's "Poems," Aldine edition, vol. iii., pp. 132-43. + +The nineteen numbers of "The Intelligencer" were collected and published +in one volume, which was reprinted in London in 1729, "and sold by A. +Moor in St. Paul's Church-yard." Monck Mason never saw a copy of the +London reprint referred to by Swift. He had in his possession the +original papers; "they are twenty in number," he says; "the last is +double." The second London edition, published in 12mo in 1730, as +"printed for Francis Cogan, at the Middle-Temple-Gate in Fleet-street," +includes No. 20, "Dean Smedley, gone to seek his Fortune," and also a +poem, "The Pheasant and the Lark. A Fable." In the poem, several writers +are compared to birds, Swift being the nightingale: + + "At length the nightingale was heard, + For voice and wisdom long revered, + Esteemed of all the wise and good, + The guardian genius of the wood;" etc. + +The poem was written by Swift's friend, Dr. Delany. The title-page of +this second edition ascribes the authorship, "By the Author of a Tale +of a Tub." + +"The Intelligencer," in the words of W. Monck Mason, "served as a vehicle +of satire against the Dean's political and literary enemies; of these the +chief were, Richard Tighe, Sir Thomas Prendergast, and Jonathan Smedley, +Dean of Clogher" ("Hist, and Antiq. of St. Patrick's," pp. 376-7). [T.S.] + + + +THE INTELLIGENCER, NUMB. 1.[1] + +SATURDAY, MAY 11, TO BE CONTINUED WEEKLY. + + +It may be said, without offence to other cities, of much greater +consequence in the world, that our town of Dublin doth not want its due +proportion of folly, and vice, both native and imported; and as to those +imported, we have the advantage to receive them last, and consequently +after our happy manner to improve, and refine upon them. + +But, because there are many effects of folly and vice among us, whereof +some are general, others confined to smaller numbers, and others again, +perhaps to a few individuals; there is a society lately established, who +at great expense, have erected an office of Intelligence, from which they +are to receive weekly information of all important events and +singularities, which this famous metropolis can furnish. Strict +injunctions are given to have the truest information: in order to which, +certain qualified persons are employed to attend upon duty in their +several posts; some at the play-house, others in churches, some at balls, +assemblies, coffee-houses, and meetings for quadrille,[2] some at the +several courts of justice, both spiritual and temporal, some at the +college, some upon my lord mayor, and aldermen in their public affairs; +lastly, some to converse with favourite chamber-maids, and to frequent +those ale-houses, and brandy-shops, where the footmen of great families +meet in a morning; only the barracks and Parliament-house are excepted; +because we have yet found no _enfans perdus_ bold enough to venture their +persons at either. Out of these and some other store-houses, we hope to +gather materials enough to inform, or divert, or correct, or vex the +town. + +But as facts, passages, and adventures of all kinds, are like to have the +greatest share in our paper, whereof we cannot always answer for the +truth; due care shall be taken to have them applied to feigned names, +whereby all just offence will be removed; for if none be guilty, none +will have cause to blush or be angry; if otherwise, then the guilty +person is safe for the future upon his present amendment, and safe for +the present, from all but his own conscience. + +There is another resolution taken among us, which I fear will give a +greater and more general discontent, and is of so singular a nature, that +I have hardly confidence enough to mention it, although it be absolutely +necessary by way of apology, for so bold and unpopular an attempt. But so +it is, that we have taken a desperate counsel to produce into the world +every distinguished action, either of justice, prudence, generosity, +charity, friendship, or public spirit, which comes well attested to us. +And although we shall neither here be so daring as to assign names, yet +we shall hardly forbear to give some hints, that perhaps to the great +displeasure of such deserving persons may endanger a discovery. For we +think that even virtue itself, should submit to such a mortification, as +by its visibility and example, will render it more useful to the world. +But however, the readers of these papers, need not be in pain of being +overcharged, with so dull and ungrateful a subject. And yet who knows, +but such an occasion may be offered to us, once in a year or two, after +we shall have settled a correspondence round the kingdom. + +But after all our boasts of materials, sent us by our several emissaries, +we may probably soon fall short, if the town will not be pleased to lend +us further assistance toward entertaining itself. The world best knows +its own faults and virtues, and whatever is sent shall be faithfully +returned back, only a little embellished according to the custom of +authors. We do therefore demand and expect continual advertisements in +great numbers, to be sent to the printer of this paper, who hath employed +a judicious secretary to collect such as may be most useful for the +public. + +And although we do not intend to expose our own persons by mentioning +names, yet we are so far from requiring the same caution in our +correspondents, that on the contrary, we expressly _charge_ and _command_ +them, in all the facts they send us, to set down the names, titles, and +places of abode at length; together with a very particular description +of the persons, dresses, and dispositions of the several lords, ladies, +squires, madams, lawyers, gamesters, toupees, sots, wits, rakes, and +informers, whom they shall have occasion to mention; otherwise it will +not be possible for us to adjust our style to the different qualities, +and capacities of the persons concerned, and treat them with the respect +or familiarity, that may be due to their stations and characters, which +we are determined to observe with the utmost strictness, that none may +have cause to complain. + + +[Footnote 1: In the "Contents" to both the editions of 1729 and 1730, +this is called "Introduction." Each of the numbers has a special title in +this table, as follows: + +No. I. Introduction. +II. The Inhospitable Temper of 'Squire Wether. +III. A Vindication of Mr. Gay, and the Beggar's Opera. +IV. The Folly of Gaming. +V. A Description of what the World calls Discretion. +VI. A Representation of the Present Condition of Ireland. +VII. The Character of Corusodes and Eugenio. +VIII. A Dialogue between Mullinix and Timothy. +IX. The foolish Methods of Education among the Nobility. +X. Tim and Gay's Fables. +XI. Proposals in Prose and Verse for, An Universal View of all the +eminent Writers on the Holy Scriptures, &c. +XII. Sir Ralph the Patriot turned Courtier. +XIII. The Art of Story-Telling. +XIV. Prometheus's Art of Man-making: And the Tale of the T--d. +XV. The Services the Drapier has done his Country, and the Steps taken to +ruin it. +XVI. The Adventures of the three Brothers, George, Patrick, and Andrew. +XVII. The Marks of Ireland's Poverty, shewn to be evident Proofs of its +Riches. +XVIII. St. Andrew's Day, and the Drapier's Birth-Day. +XIX. The Hardships of the Irish being deprived of their Silver, and +decoyed into America. +[XX. Dean Smedley, gone to seek his Fortune. +The Pheasant and the Lark. A Fable.]-[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: A fashionable card game of the time. See also Swift's poem, +"The Journal of a Modern Lady" (Aldine edition, vol. i., pp. 214-23), and +"A New Proposal for the better regulation ... of Quadrille," written by +Dr. Josiah Hort, Bp. of Kilmore, in 1735/6 (afterwards Abp. of Tuam), and +included by Scott in his edition of Swift (vii. 372-7). [T.S.]] + + + +THE INTELLIGENCER, NUMB. III.[1] + + --_Ipse per omnes + Ibit personas, et turbam reddet in unam._[2] + +The players having now almost done with the comedy, called the "Beggar's +Opera,"[3] for this season, it may be no unpleasant speculation, to +reflect a little upon this dramatic piece, so singular in the subject, +and the manner, so much an original, and which hath frequently given so +very agreeable an entertainment.[4] + +Although an evil taste be very apt to prevail, both here, and in London, +yet there is a point which whoever can rightly touch, will never fail of +pleasing a very great majority; so great, that the dislikers, out of +dullness or affectation will be silent, and forced to fall in with the +herd; the point I mean, is what we call humour, which in its perfection +is allowed to be much preferable to wit, if it be not rather the most +useful, and agreeable species of it. + +I agree with Sir William Temple, that the word is peculiar to our English +tongue, but I differ from him in the opinion, that the thing itself is +peculiar to the English nation,[5] because the contrary may be found in +many Spanish, Italian and French productions, and particularly, whoever +hath a taste for true humour, will find a hundred instances of it in +those volumes printed in France, under the name of _Le Théâtre +Italien_,[6] to say nothing of Rabelais, Cervantes, and many others. + +Now I take the comedy or farce, (or whatever name the critics will allow +it) called the "Beggar's Opera"; to excel in this article of humour; and, +upon that merit, to have met with such prodigious success both here, and +in England. + +As to poetry, eloquence and music, which are said to have most power over +the minds of men, it is certain that very few have a taste or judgment of +the excellencies of the two former, and if a man succeeds in either, it +is upon the authority of those few judges, that lend their taste to the +bulk of readers, who have none of their own. I am told there are as few +good judges in music, and that among those who crowd the operas, nine in +ten go thither merely out of curiosity, fashion, or affectation. + +But a taste for humour is in some manner fixed to the very nature of man, +and generally obvious to the vulgar, except upon subjects too refined, +and superior to their understanding. + +And as this taste of humour is purely natural, so is humour itself, +neither is it a talent confined to men of wit, or learning; for we +observe it sometimes among common servants, and the meanest of the +people, while the very owners are often ignorant of the gift they +possess. + +I know very well, that this happy talent is contemptibly treated by +critics, under the name of low humour, or low comedy; but I know +likewise, that the Spaniards and Italians, who are allowed to have the +most wit of any nation in Europe, do most excel in it, and do most esteem +it. + +By what disposition of the mind, what influence of the stars, or what +situation of the climate this endowment is bestowed upon mankind, may be +a question fit for philosophers to discuss. It is certainly the best +ingredient toward that kind of satire, which is most useful, and gives +the least offence; which instead of lashing, laughs men out of their +follies, and vices, and is the character which gives Horace the +preference to Juvenal. + +And although some things are too serious, solemn or sacred to be turned +into ridicule, yet the abuses of them are certainly not, since it is +allowed that corruption in religion, politics, and law, may be proper +topics for this kind of satire. + +There are two ends that men propose in writing satire, one of them less +noble than the other, as regarding nothing further than personal +satisfaction, and pleasure of the writer; but without any view towards +personal malice; the other is a public spirit, prompting men of genius +and virtue, to mend the world as far as they are able. And as both these +ends are innocent, so the latter is highly commendable. With regard to +the former, I demand whether I have not as good a title to laugh, as men +have to be ridiculous, and to expose vice, as another hath to be vicious. +If I ridicule the follies and corruptions of a court, a ministry, or a +senate; are they not amply paid by pensions, titles, and power, while I +expect and desire no other reward, than that of laughing with a few +friends in a corner. Yet, if those who take offence, think me in the +wrong, I am ready to change the scene with them, whenever they please. + +But if my design be to make mankind better, then I think it is my duty, +at least I am sure it is the interest of those very courts and ministers, +whose follies or vices I ridicule, to reward me for my good intentions; +for, if it be reckoned a high point of wisdom to get the laughers on +our side, it is much more easy, as well as wise to get those on our side, +who can make millions laugh when they please. + +My reason for mentioning courts, and ministers, (whom I never think on, +but with the most profound veneration) is because an opinion obtains that +in the "Beggar's Opera" there appears to be some reflection upon +courtiers and statesmen, whereof I am by no means a judge[7]. + +It is true indeed that Mr. Gay, the author of this piece, hath been +somewhat singular in the course of his fortunes, for it hath happened, +that after fourteen years attending the court, with a large stock of real +merit, a modest, and agreeable conversation, a hundred promises, and five +hundred friends [he] hath failed of preferment, and upon a very weighty +reason. He lay under the suspicion of having written a libel, or lampoon +against a great m[inister][8]. It is true that great m[inister] was +demonstratively convinced, and publicly owned his conviction, that Mr. +Gay was not the author; but having lain under the suspicion, it seemed +very just, that he should suffer the punishment; because in this most +reformed age, the virtues of a great m[inister] are no more to be +suspected, than the chastity of Caesar's wife. + +It must be allowed, that the "Beggar's Opera" is not the first of Mr. +Gay's works, wherein he hath been faulty, with regard to courtiers and +statesmen. For, to omit his other pieces even in his Fables, published +within two years past, and dedicated to the Duke of Cumberland, for which +he was promised a reward[9]; he hath been thought somewhat too bold upon +courtiers. And although it is highly probable, he meant only the +courtiers of former times, yet he acted unwarily, by not considering that +the malignity of some people might misinterpret what he said to the +disadvantage of present persons, and affairs. + +But I have now done with Mr. Gay as a politician, and shall consider him +henceforward only as author of the "Beggar's Opera," wherein he hath by a +turn of humour, entirely new, placed vices of all kinds in the strongest +and most odious light; and thereby done eminent service, both to religion +and morality. This appears from the unparalleled success he hath met +with. All ranks parties and denominations of men, either crowding to see +his opera, or reading it with delight in their closets, even ministers of +state, whom he is thought to have most offended (next to those whom the +actors more immediately represent) appearing frequently at the theatre, +from a consciousness of their own innocence, and to convince the world +how unjust a parallel, malice, envy, and disaffection to the government +have made. + +I am assured that several worthy clergymen in this city, went privately +to see the "Beggar's Opera" represented; and that the fleering coxcombs +in the pit, amused themselves with making discoveries, and spreading the +names of those gentlemen round the audience. + +I shall not pretend to vindicate a clergyman, who would appear openly in +his habit at a theatre, among such a vicious crew, as would probably +stand round him, and at such lewd comedies, and profane tragedies as are +often represented. Besides I know very well, that persons of their +function are bound to avoid the appearance of evil, or of giving cause of +offence. But when the lords chancellors, who are keepers of the king's +conscience, when the judges of the land, whose title is _reverend_, when +ladies, who are bound by the rules of their sex, to the strictest +decency, appear in the theatre without censure, I cannot understand, why +a young clergyman who goes concealed out of curiosity to see an innocent +and moral play, should be so highly condemned; nor do I much approve the +rigour of a great p[rela]te, who said, "he hoped none of his clergy were +there." I am glad to hear there are no weightier objections against that +reverend body, planted in this city, and I wish there never may. But I +should be very sorry that any of them should be so weak, as to imitate a +court chaplain in England, who preached against the "Beggar's Opera," +which will probably do more good than a thousand sermons of so stupid, so +injudicious, and so prostitute a divine[10]. + +In this happy performance of Mr. Gay, all the characters are just, and +none of them carried beyond nature, or hardly beyond practice. It +discovers the whole system of that commonwealth, or that _imperium in +imperio_ of iniquity, established among us, by which neither our lives, +nor our properties are secure, either in the highways, or in public +assemblies, or even in our own houses. It shews the miserable lives, and +the constant fate of those abandoned wretches; for how little they sell +their lives and souls; betrayed by their whores, their comrades, and the +receivers and purchasers of these thefts and robberies. This comedy +contains likewise a satire, which, although it doth by no means affect +the present age, yet might have been useful in the former, and may +possibly be so in ages to come. I mean where the author takes occasion of +comparing those common robbers to robbers of the public;[11] and their +several stratagems of betraying, undermining, and hanging each other,[12] +to the several arts of politicians in times of corruption. + +This comedy likewise exposeth with great justice, that unnatural taste +for Italian music among us,[13] which is wholly unsuitable to our +northern climate, and the genius of the people, whereby we are over-run +with Italian effeminacy, and Italian nonsense. An old gentleman said to +me, that many years ago, when the practice of an unnatural vice grew so +frequent in London, that many were prosecuted for it, he was sure it +would be a forerunner[14] of Italian operas, and singers; and then we +should want nothing but stabbing or poisoning, to make us perfect +Italians. + +Upon the whole, I deliver my judgment, that nothing but servile +attachment to a party, affectation of singularity, lamentable dullness, +mistaken zeal, or studied hypocrisy, can have the least reasonable +objection against this excellent moral performance of the celebrated Mr. +Gay. + + +[Footnote 1: See title in note above, p. 313. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: "He will go among the people, and will draw a crowd +together." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: Gay's "The Beggar's Opera" was produced by Rich at the +Theatre Royal in Lincoln's Inn Fields, January 29th, 1727/8, and +published in book form in 1728. It was shortly afterwards performed in +Dublin, Bath, and other places. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Writing to Pope, May 10th, 1728, Swift says: "Mr. Gay's +Opera has been acted here twenty times, and my lord lieutenant tells me +it is very well performed; he has seen it often, and approves it much.... +'The Beggar's Opera' has done its task, _discedat uti conviva satur_" +(Scott's edition, xvii. 188-9). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: In his essay "Of Poetry," Sir William Temple, writing of +dramatic poetry, says: "Yet I am deceived, if our English has not in some +kind excelled both the modern and the ancient, which has been by force of +a vein natural perhaps to our country, and which with us is called +humour, a word peculiar to our language too, and hard to be expressed +in any other;" etc.--"Works," vol. i., p. 247 (1720). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: "Le Théâtre Italian, ou le Recueil de toutes les Comédies et +Scènes Françoises, qui out été jouées sur le Théâtre Italian." The +collection was edited by Evariste Gherardi, and published in 1695. Two +further volumes were issued in 1698, the third containing complete +plays. The collection was afterwards extended to six volumes. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: A modern writer says of it: "It bristles with keen, +well-pointed satire on the corrupt and venal politicians and courtiers of +the day" (W.H. Husk in Grove's "Dict. of Music").[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: In the character of Robin of Bagshot Gay intended Sir Robert +Walpole.[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: Gay's "Fables" was first published in 1727, with a +dedication "To his Highness William Duke of Cumberland." The Fables are +said to have been "invented for his amusement." Cumberland was the second +son of George, Prince of Wales, and was afterwards known as "the +butcher."[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: Dr. Thomas Herring, preacher at Lincoln's Inn, and +afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, preached a sermon against "The +Beggar's Opera" in March, 1727-8. It is referred to in a letter to the +"Whitehall Evening Post," dated March 30th, 1728, reprinted in the +Appendix to "Letters from Dr. T. Herring to W. Duncombe," 1777. As +Archbishop of York, Herring interested himself greatly, during the +rebellion of 1745, in forming an association for the defence of the +liberties of the people and the constitution of the country. Writing to +Swift, under date May 16th, 1728, Gay remarks: "I suppose you must have +heard, that I had the honour to have had a sermon preached against my +works by a court-chaplain, which I look upon as no small addition to my +fame" (Scott, xvii. 194). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: The edition of 1729 has "those common robbers of the +public." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: Peachum says: "Can it be expected that we should hang our +acquaintance for nothing, when our betters will hardly save theirs +without being paid for it?"--Act II., sc. x. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: The rivalry between Handel and the Italian composers had +then been keen for nearly twenty years. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: The edition of 1729 has "the fore-runner." [T.S.]] + + + + +THE INTELLIGENCER, NUMB. XIX[1]. + +_Having on the 12th of October last, received a letter signed_ ANDREW +DEALER, _and_ PATRICK PENNYLESS; _I believe the following_ PAPER, _just +come to my hands, will be a sufficient answer to it[2]._ + + _Sic vos non vobis vellera fertis oves._ + VlRG.[3] + +SIR, + +I am a country gentleman, and a Member of Parliament, with an estate of +about 1400_l_. a year, which as a Northern landlord, I receive from above +two hundred tenants, and my lands having been let, near twenty years ago, +the rents, till very lately, were esteemed to be not above half value; +yet by the intolerable scarcity of silver[4], I lie under the greatest +difficulties in receiving them, as well as in paying my labourers, or +buying any thing necessary for my family from tradesmen, who are not able +to be long out of their money. But the sufferings of me, and those of my +rank, are trifles in comparison, of what the meaner sort undergo; such as +the buyers and sellers, at fairs, and markets; the shopkeepers in every +town, the farmers in general. All those who travel with fish, poultry, +pedlary-ware, and other conveniencies to sell: But more especially +handicrafts-men, who work for us by the day, and common labourers, whom I +have already mentioned. Both these kinds of people, I am forced to +employ, till their wages amount to a double pistole,[5] or a moidore, +(for we hardly have any gold of lower value left among us) to divide it +among themselves as they can; and this is generally done at an ale-house +or brandy shop; where, besides the cost of getting drunk, (which is +usually the case) they must pay tenpence or a shilling, for changing +their piece into silver, to some huckstering fellow, who follows that +trade. But what is infinitely worse, those poor men for want of due +payment, are forced to take up their oatmeal, and other necessaries of +life, at almost double value, and consequently are not able, to discharge +half their score, especially under the scarceness of corn, for two years +past, and the melancholy disappointment of the present crop. + +The causes of this, and a thousand other evils, are clear and manifest to +you and all other thinking men, though hidden from the vulgar: these +indeed complain of hard times, the dearth of corn, the want of money, the +badness of seasons; that their goods bear no price, and the poor cannot +find work; but their weak reasonings never carry them to the hatred, and +contempt, borne us by our neighbours, and brethren, without the least +grounds of provocation, who rejoice at our sufferings, although sometimes +to their own disadvantage; of the dead weight upon every beneficial +branch of our trade;[6] of half our revenues sent annually to England, +and many other grievances peculiar to this unhappy kingdom, excepted for +our sins, which keep us from enjoying the common benefits of mankind, as +you and some other lovers of their country, have so often observed, with +such good inclinations, and so little effect. + +It is true indeed, that under our circumstances in general, this +complaint for the want of silver, may appear as ridiculous, as for a man +to be impatient, about a cut finger, when he is struck with the plague; +and yet a poor fellow going to the gallows, may be allowed to feel the +smart of wasps, while he is upon Tyburn Road. This misfortune is too +urging,[7] and vexatious in every kind of small traffic, and so hourly +pressing upon all persons in the country whatsoever, that a hundred +inconveniences, of perhaps greater moment in themselves, have been +timely[8] submitted to, with far less disquietude and murmurs. And the +case seems yet the harder, if it be true, what many skilful men assert, +that nothing is more easy, than a remedy; and, that the want of silver, +in proportion to the little gold remaining among us, is altogether as +unnecessary, as it is inconvenient. A person of distinction assured me +very lately, that, in discoursing with the lord lieutenant,[9] before his +last return to England, his excellency said, "He had pressed the matter +often, in proper time and place, and to proper persons; and could not see +any difficulty of the least moment, that could prevent us from being easy +upon that article."[10] + +Whoever carries to England, twenty-seven English shillings, and brings +back one moidore, of full weight, is a gainer of ninepence Irish; in a +guinea, the advantage is threepence, and twopence in a pistole. The +BANKERS, who are generally masters of all our gold, and silver, with this +advantage, have sent over as much of the latter, as came into their +hands. The value of one thousand moidores in silver, would thus amount in +clear profit, to 37_l_. 10,_s_. The shopkeepers, and other traders, who +go to London to buy goods, followed the same practice, by which we have +been driven into this insupportable distress. + +To a common thinker, it should seem, that nothing would be more easy, +than for the government to redress this evil, at any time they shall +please. When the value of guineas was lowered in England, from 21_s_. +6_d_. to only 21_s_.[11] the consequences to this kingdom, were obvious, +and manifest to us all; and a sober man, may be allowed at least to +wonder, though he dare not complain, why a new regulation of coin among +us, was not then made; much more, why it hath never been since. It would +surely require no very profound skill in algebra, to reduce the +difference of ninepence in thirty shillings, or threepence in a guinea, +to less than a farthing; and so small a fraction could be no temptation, +either to bankers, to hazard their silver at sea, or tradesmen to load +themselves with it, in their journeys to England. In my humble opinion, +it would be no unseasonable condescension, if the government would +graciously please, to signify to the poor loyal Protestant subjects of +Ireland, either that this miserable want of silver, is not possible to be +remedied in any degree, by the nicest skill in arithmetic; or else, that +it doth not stand with the good pleasure of England, to suffer any silver +at all among us. In the former case, it would be madness, to expect +impossibilities: and in the other, we must submit: For, lives, and +fortunes are always at the mercy of the CONQUEROR. + +The question hath been often put in printed papers, by the DRAPIER,[12] +and others, or perhaps by the same WRITER, under different styles, why +this kingdom should not be permitted to have a mint of its own, for the +coinage of gold, silver, and copper, which is a power exercised by many +bishops, and every petty prince in Germany. But this question hath never +been answered, nor the least application that I have heard of, made to +the Crown from hence, for the grant of a public mint, although it stands +upon record, that several cities, and corporations here, had the liberty +of coining silver. I can see no reasons, why we alone of all nations, are +thus restrained, but such as I dare not mention; only thus far, I may +venture, that Ireland is the first imperial kingdom, since Nimrod, which +ever wanted power, to coin their own money. + +I know very well, that in England it is lawful for any subject, to +petition either the Prince, or the Parliament, provided it be done in a +dutiful, and regular manner; but what is lawful for a subject of Ireland, +I profess I cannot determine; nor will undertake, that your printer shall +not be prosecuted, in a court of justice, for publishing my wishes, that +a poor shopkeeper might be able to change a guinea, or a moidore, when a +customer comes for a crown's worth of goods. I have known less crimes +punished with the utmost severity, under the title of disaffection: And, +I cannot but approve the wisdom of the ancients, who, after Astraea had +fled from the earth,[13] at least took care to provide three upright +judges for Hell. Men's ears among us, are indeed grown so nice, that +whoever happens to think out of fashion, in what relates to the welfare +of this kingdom, dare not so much as complain of the toothache, lest our +weak and busy dabblers in politic should be ready to swear against him +for disaffection. + +There was a method practised by Sir Ambrose Crawley,[14] the great dealer +in iron-works, which I wonder the gentlemen o£ our country, under this +great exigence, have not thought fit to imitate. In the several towns, +and villages, where he dealt, and many miles round, he gave notes, +instead of money, from twopence, to twenty shillings, which passed +current in all shops, and markets, as well as in houses, where meat, or +drink was sold. I see no reason, why the like practice, may not be +introduced among us, with some degree of success, or at least may not +serve, as a poor expedient, in this our blessed age of paper, which, as +it dischargeth all our greatest payments, may be equally useful in the +smaller, and may just keep us alive, till an English Act of Parliament +shall forbid it. + +I have been told, that among some of our poorest American colonies, upon +the continent, the people enjoy the liberty of cutting the little money +among them into halves, and quarters, for the conveniences of small +traffic. How happy should we be in comparison of our present condition, +if the like privilege, were granted to us, of employing the shears, for +want of a mint, upon our foreign gold; by clipping it into half-crowns, +and shillings, and even lower denominations; for beggars must be content +to live upon scraps; and it would be our felicity, that these scraps +would never[15] be exported to other countries, while any thing better +was left. + +If neither of these projects will avail, I see nothing left us, but to +truck and barter our goods, like the wild Indians, with each other, or +with our too powerful neighbours; only with this disadvantage on our +side, that the Indians enjoy the product of their own land, whereas the +better half of ours is sent away without so much as a recompense in +bugles, or glass, in return. + +It must needs be a very comfortable circumstance, in the present +juncture, that some thousand families are gone, or going, or preparing to +go, from hence, and settle themselves in America. The poorer sort, for +want of work; the farmers whose beneficial bargains, are now become a +rack-rent, too hard to be borne. And those who have any ready money, +or can purchase any, by the sale of their goods, or leases; because they +find their fortunes hourly decaying; that their goods will bear no price, +and that few or none, have any money to buy the very necessaries of life, +are hastening to follow their departed neighbours. It is true, corn among +us, carries a very high price; but it is for the same reason, that rats, +and cats, and dead horses, have been often bought for gold, in a town +besieged. + +There is a person of quality in my neighbourhood, who twenty years ago, +when he was just come to age, being unexperienced, and of a generous +temper, let his lands, even as times went then, at a low rate, to able +tenants, and consequently by the rise of land, since that time, looked +upon his estate, to be set at half value. But numbers of these tenants, +or their descendants are now offering to sell their leases by cant, even +those which were for lives, some of them renewable for ever, and some +fee-farms, which the landlord himself hath bought in, at half the price +they would have yielded seven years ago. And some leases let at the same +time, for lives, have been given up to him, without any consideration at +all. + +This is the most favourable face of things at present among us, I say, +among us of the North, who are esteemed the only thriving people of the +kingdom: And how far, and how soon, this misery and desolation may +spread, is easy to foresee. + +The vast sums of money daily carried off, by our numerous adventurers to +America, have deprived us of our gold in these parts, almost as much as +of our silver. + +And the good wives who came[16] to our houses, offer us their pieces of +linen, upon which their whole dependence lies, for so little profit, that +it can neither half pay their rents, nor half support their families. + +It is remarkable, that this enthusiasm spread among our northern people, +of sheltering themselves in the continent of America, hath no other +foundation, than their present insupportable condition at home. I have +made all possible inquiries, to learn what encouragement our people have +met with, by any intelligence from those plantations, sufficient to make +them undertake so tedious, and hazardous a voyage in all seasons of the +year; and so ill accommodated in their ships, that many of them have died +miserably in their passage; but, could never get one satisfactory answer. +Somebody, they know not who, had written a letter to his friend, or +cousin, from thence, inviting him by all means, to come over; that it was +a fine fruitful country, and to be held for ever, at a penny an acre. But +the truth of the fact is this, The English established in those colonies, +are in great want of men to inhabit that tract of ground, which lies +between them, and the wild Indians, who are not reduced under their +dominion. We read of some barbarous people, whom the Romans placed in +their armies, for no other service, than to blunt their enemies' swords, +and afterwards to fill up trenches with their dead bodies. And thus our +people who transport themselves, are settled in those interjacent tracts, +as a screen against the insults of the savages, and many have as much +land, as they can clear from the woods, at a very reasonable rate, if +they can afford to pay about a hundred years' purchase by their labour. +Now beside the fox's reasons which inclines all those, who have already +ventured thither, to represent everything, in a false light, as well for +justifying their own conduct, as for getting companions, in their misery; +so, the governing people in those plantations, have wisely provided,[17] +that no letters shall be suffered to pass from thence hither, without +being first viewed by the council, by which our people here, are wholly +deceived in the opinions, they have of the happy condition of their +friends, gone before them. This was accidentally discovered some months +ago, by an honest man who having transported himself, and family thither, +and finding all things directly contrary to his hope, had the luck to +convey a private note, by a faithful hand, to his relation here, +entreating him, not to think of such a voyage, and to discourage all his +friends from attempting it. Yet this, although it be a truth well known, +hath produced very little effects; which is no manner of wonder, for as +it is natural to a man in a fever to turn often, although without any +hope of ease, or when he is pursued to leap down a precipice, to avoid an +enemy just at his back; so, men in the extremest degree of misery, and +want, will naturally fly to the first appearance of relief, let it be +ever so vain, or visionary. + +You may observe, that I have very superficially touched the subject I +began with, and with the utmost caution: for I know how criminal the +least complaint hath been thought, however seasonable or just, or +honestly intended, which hath forced me to offer up my daily prayers, +that it may never, at least in my time, be interpreted by innuendoes as a +false scandalous, seditious, and disaffected action, for a man to roar +under an acute fit of the gout, which beside the loss and the danger, +would be very inconvenient to one of my age, so severely afflicted with +that distemper. + +I wish you good success, but I can promise you little, in an ungrateful +office you have taken up, without the least view, either to reputation or +profit. Perhaps your comfort is, that none but villains, and betrayers of +their country, can be your enemies. Upon which, I have little to say, +having not the honour, to be acquainted with many of that sort, and +therefore, as you easily may believe, am compelled to lead a very retired +life. + +I am Sir, +Your most obedient, +Humble servant, + +A. NORTH. + +County of Down, +Dec. 2d. 1728. + + +[Footnote 1: See title for this in note above to No. 1, p. 313. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 2: No. 19 of "The Intelligencer" is a reprint of a tract which +I have not been able to find. It appeared again in 1736 under the title: +"A Letter from the Revd. J.S.D.S.P.D. to a Country Gentleman in the +North of Ireland."[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 3: "Apud Donati Vitam," 17: + + "Thus do ye sheep grow fleeces for others."--W.F.H. KING. + + [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 4: Writing to Dr. Sheridan, under date September 18th, 1728, +Swift says: "I think the sufferings of the country for want of silver +deserves a paper, since the remedy is so easy, and those in power so +negligent" (Scott, xvii. 204). [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 5: The price of the pistole in Ireland was fixed at 18_s_. +6_d_., the double pistole at _£_1 17_s_., and the moidore _£_1 10_s_. +These prices were fixed by order of the Lords Justices, July 30th, 1712. +In 1737 the moidore was reduced to _£_1 9_s_. 3_d_. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 6: "A Letter," etc., referred to in note on preceding page, +has: "They consider not the dead weight upon every beneficial branch of +our trade; that half our revenues are annually sent to England; with +many other grievances peculiar to this unhappy kingdom; which keep +us," etc. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 7: The 1736 edition of "A Letter," etc., has "is so urging." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 8: The 1736 edition of "A Letter," etc., has "tamely." +[T.S.]] + +[Footnote 9: John Carteret (1690-1763) succeeded his father as second +Baron Carteret in 1695, and his mother as Earl Granville in 1744. He was +Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1724 to 1730. See Swift's "Vindication +of ... Lord Carteret" in vol. vi. of present edition. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 10: "A Letter," etc. (1736 edition), has "being made easy upon +this article." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 11: On December 22nd, 1717, the price of the guinea was +reduced, by a proclamation, from 21_s_. 6_d_. to 21_s_. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 12: See vol. vii. of present edition of Swift's Works, dealing +with the Drapier Letters. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 13: Astraea withdrew from the earth at the close of the Golden +Age. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 14: Sir Ambrose Crowley (or Crawley), Liveryman of the +Drapers' Company and Alderman for Dowgate Ward, sat in Parliament for +Andover in 1713. He was satirized in "The Spectator" (No. 299, +February 12th, 1711/2) as Sir John Enville, and in "The Tatler" (No. +73, September 27th, 1709) as Sir Arthur de Bradley. [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 15: "A Letter," etc. (1736), has "could never." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 16: The reprint of 1730, and "A Letter," etc. (1736), have "who +come." [T.S.]] + +[Footnote 17: "A Letter," etc. (1736), has: "The governing people in +those plantations, have also wisely provided," etc. [T.S.]] + + + + + +INDEX. + +ALMANZA, battle of +Anne, Queen, her change of ministry in 1710; + and the Church; + establishment of Queen Anne's bounty; + letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury. +Aretino, Pietro. +Army, essays on the. +Asgill, John. +Astell, Mrs. Mary. +Atterbury, Bishop, his character in "The Tatler"; + contributes to "The Examiner"; + his influence in Convocation. +Avarice, essay on. + +Bank, the, in the Whig interest. +"Banks, Sir Jacob, Letter to". +Bickerstaff, Isaac, Steele's pseudonym. +Birth, value of. +Boyer, Abel. +Boyle, Henry. +Bromley, Clobery. +Bromley, William, speaker; + "Congratulatory Speech of". +Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of, assassination of. +Buckingham and Normanby, John, Duke of. +Burgess, Daniel. +Burnet, Bishop. + +Caesar, Julius. +Calves-Head Club, the. +Carew, John, speech at the execution of. +Carteret, Lord. +Chamber of Fame. +Charles V. and Aretino. +Church, the, resolution in Parliament as to the state of;; + essay on + answer to essay on; + the Whigs and. +Churches, scheme for building new. +Clément, Jacques. +Clendon, John. +Coffee-houses, signification of the. +Coin, clipping of. +Coligny, Admiral de, assassination of. +Collins, Anthony. +Coningsby, Mrs. +Court of Alienation. +Coward, William. +Cowper, Earl. +Crackanthorpe, Mrs. +Crassus, Marcus, the Duke of Marlborough attacked under the name of. +Crawley, Sir Ambrose. + +D'Ancre, Maréchal. +Daniel, Samuel. +Dartmouth, Lord. +Davila. +Defoe, Daniel, edited "The Review". +Devonshire, William, 2nd Duke of. +Dissenters, the, + under James II.; + essay on; + Whigs and. +Dodwell, Henry. +Dyet, Richard. + +Eloquence, essay on; + further references to, +Elstob, Mrs. Elizabeth. +English tongue, corruption of the. +Eumenes. +"Examiner, The," establishment of. +"Examiner, Letter to the." + +Faction, + fable of; + true characteristics of. +Felton, John. +"Female Tatler, The". +Ford, James. +Freind, Dr. +"French King's Thanks to the Tories of Great Britain, The". +Furnese, Sir Henry. + +Gay, John, + on "The Examiner"; + vindication of his "Beggar's Opera"; + his fables. +George, Prince, of Denmark. +Gertruydenberg, treaty of. +Godolphin, Lord, his change of politics; + dismissal of; + nicknamed "Volpone"; + his intrigues against Harley; + as "Gracchus"; + devoted to the turf; + ministry of. +Good manners, essay on. +Greenshields, Rev. James. +Gregg, William. +Guiscard, Marquis de; + account of. +Guise, Dukes of, assassination of,. + +Harcourt, Sir Simon. +Hare, Dr. Francis. +Harley, Robert, attempted assassination of; + made Earl of Oxford; + the Speaker's congratulation on his escape; + his scheme for securing debts; + his remission of first-fruits to the Irish Clergy. +Harley, Thomas, +Harrison, William, contributed to "The Tatler"; + new issue of "The Tatler" by. +Hastings, Lady Elizabeth. +Henry III, of France, assassination of. +Henry IV. of France, assassination of. +Herring, Dr. Thomas. +Hickes, George. +Honeywood, General, superseded. +Hooker, Richard. + +Indemnity, Act of (1708). +Indian Kings, the, in London. +"Intelligencer, The". +Ireland, scarcity of silver in. +Isaac, Mr., a dancing-master. +Italian music, the taste for. + +James II., King, and the Dissenters; + and the Whigs. + +Kent, Duke of. + +Learning, Bill for the Encouragement of. +Lechmere, Nicholas. +Leeds, Duke of. +Leslie, Rev. Charles. +"Lewis, Erasmus, The Vindication of". +Lions, dream of the. +Lorrain, Paul. +Louis XIV. + +Macartney, General, superseded. +Madonella. +"Management of the War, The," pamphlets by Dr. Hare. +Manley, Mrs., attacked as "Madonella"; + her "Memoirs of Europe". +Marlborough, Duke of + the Treaty of Gertruydenberg; + his change of politics; + rewards and grants to; + his intrigues against Harley; + his proposal to be made Commander-in-chief for life; + attacked by Swift under the name of "Crassus"; + charged with peculations with regard to bread contracts; + threatened resignation of in 1708. +Marlborough, Duchess of. +Masham, Mrs. +Matveof, Muscovite Ambassador, arrest of. +Medina, Sir Solomon de, and the Duke of Marlborough. +"Medley, The," attack by Swift on; + and see notes to "The Examiner," _passim_ +Ménage, Gilles. +Meredith, General, superseded. +Merit, genealogy and description of. +Milton, John. +Ministry, reasons for the change of; +"Mob," Swift's dislike of the word. +More, Henry. +Morphew, the publisher. + +Naturalization Act. +Naunton, Sir Robert. +Nevis. +Norris, John. +Nottingham, Earl of. + +"Observator, The". +Occasional Conformity Bill, the. +October Club, the. +Oldisworth, William; + revival of "The Examiner" by. +Osborne, Francis. +Oxford University, decree of. + +Palatines, the. +Parsons, Robert. +Partridge, John. +Passive obedience, doctrine of; + according to the Whigs; + according to the Tories; +Peace, Address to the Queen concerning (1707). +People, madness of the. +Peterborough, Earl of, letter from Swift to. +Petty, Sir William. +Platonic ladies. +Political Lying, the Art of. +"Political State of Great Britain, The" +Popery, the Tories and. +Pretender, the, party capital made out of; + and the Whigs. +Prior, Matthew, contributes to "The Examiner"; + stated to be the author of "The Examiner". + +Qualification Bill. + +Racan, Mons. +Radcliffe, Dr John. +"Rehearsal, The". +Repington, Mr. +"Review, The". +Ridge, Thomas. +Rivers, Earl, appointed Lieutenant of the Tower. +Rochester, Laurence Hyde, Earl of. +Roper, Abel, suspected as author of "The Examiner". + +Sacheverell, Dr. +St. Christopher's. +St John, Henry, and "The Examiner," + character of; + "A Letter to The Examiner" attributed to; + attempted assassination of; + his hatred of Harley. +Scythia, story of the king of. +Security, Bill of. +Sewell, Dr. George. +Shippen, William. +Shrewsbury, Charles, Duke of. +Silver, scarcity of, in Ireland. +Smalridge, Dr. +Somers, Lord. +South Sea Company, establishment of the. +"Spectator, The". +Stanhope, General. +Stanley, Dr William. +Steele, Richard, and "The Tatler"; + article on Marlborough in "The Taller" by; + and "The Spectator". +Suckling, Sir John. +Sunderland, Earl of. +Swift, Jonathan, his contributions to "The Tatler"; + supports Harrison with the new "Tatler"; + his contentions to "The Examiner"; + his memorial to Harley regarding the first-fruits in Ireland; + his contribution to "The Spectator"; + his contributions to "The Intelligencer". + +"Tatler, The," founding and success of; + authorship of papers in; + discontinued by Steele; + new issues of. +Taxes, increase of. +Temple, Sir William, on humour. +Temson, Archbp. +Test Act, the. +Tindal, Matthew. +Titus, Colonel Silas. +Toland, John. +Tones, principles of the, explained. +Tory, origin of the word. +Toulon, siege of. +Trapp, Dr. Joseph. +Tutchin, John, editor of "The Observator". +Twisden, Heneage. + +Verres (Lord Wharton). + +Walpole, Horatio. +War, many people interested in continuance of the; + pamphlets on the management of the. +Wenman, Viscount. +Wharton, Lord; + as "Clodius"; + attacked by Swift under the name of Verres; + desecration of a church by. +Whig and Tory, designation of the words. +"Whig Examiner, The". +Whigs, principles of the, explained; + and Dissenters; + and the Pretender. +Wotton, Sir Henry. +Wotton, W., his "Case of the Present Convocation considered". + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D. +D., Volume IX; Contributions to The Tatler, The Examiner, The Spectator, +and The Intelligencer, by Jonathan Swift + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SWIFT PROSE, VOL. 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