of party in the whole treatise, and although it was known that the most eminent of those who profelfed his own principles, publickly difallowed his proceedings. But the cause being fo very odious and inpopular, the trial of the verdict. was deferred from one terme to another, until upon the Duke of G-ft-n the Lord Lieutenant's arrival, his Grace, after mature advice and permiffion from England, was pleased to grant Noli profequi.

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This is the more remarkable, because it is faid that the man is no ill deciter in common cafes of property, where party is out of the, queftion; but when' that intervenes, with ambition at heels to push it forward, it must needs confound any man of little spirit, and low birth, who hath no other endowment than' that fort of knowledge, which, however poffeffed in the highest degree, can poffibly give no one good quality to the mind.

It is true, I have been much concerned, for feve-' ral years paft, upon account of the public as well as for myfelf, to fee how ill a tafte for wit and fenfe prevails in the world, which politics, and South - fea, and party, and opera's, and masquerades have introduced. For, besides many infipid papers which the malice of fome has entitled me to, there are many perfons appearing to wifh me well, and pretending to be judges of my style and manner, who have yet afcribed some writings to me, of which any man of common fenfe and literature would be heartily afhamed., I cannot forbear instancing a treatise called a Dedica tion upon dedications, which many would have to be mine, although it be as empty, dry, and servile a compofition, as I remember at any time to have read. But

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above all, there is one circumstance which makes it impoffible for me to have been author of a treatise, wherein there are feveral pages containing a panegyric on King George, of whofe character and perfon I am utterly ignorant, nor ever had once the curiofity to inquire into either, living at fo great a distance as I do, and having long done with whatever can relate to public matters.

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Indeed I have formerly delivered my thoughts yery freely, whether I were asked or no; but never affected to be a counsellor, to which I had no manner of call. I was humbled enough to see myself so far outdone by the Earl of Oxford in my own trade as a fcholar, and too good a courtier not to discover his contempt of those who would be men of importance out of their sphere. Befides, to fay the truth, although I have known many great minifters ready enough to hear opinions, yet I have hardly feen one, that would ever defcend to take advice; and this pedantry arifes from a maxim themselves do not believe at the fame time they practise by it, that there is fomething profound in politics, which men of plain honeft fenfe cannot arrive to.

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I only with my endeavours had fucceeded better in the great point I had at heart, which was that of reconciling the minifters to each other. This might have been done, if others, who had more concern and more influence, would have acted their parts; and, if this had fucceeded, the public intereft both of church and state would have not been the worse, nor the Proteftant fucceffion endangered.

But, whatever opportunities a constant attendance of four years might have given me for endeavouring

vouring to do good offices to particular perfons, I de ferve at least to find tolerable quarter from those of the other party, for many of which I was a constant advocate with the Earl of Oxford, and for this I appeal to his Lordfhip: he knows how often I preffed him in favour of Mr. Addifon, Mr. Congreve, Mr. Rowe, and Mr. Steele; although I freely confefs that his Lordfhip's kindness to them was altogether owing to his generous notions, and the esteem he had for their wit and parts, of which I could only pretend to be a remen. brancer. For I can never forget the answer he gave to the late Lord Halifax, who upon the firft change of the ministry interceded with him to spare Mr. Con greve: it was by repeating these two lines of Virgil,

Non obtufa adeo geftamus pectora Poeni,

Nec tam adverfus equos Tyria fol jungit ab urbe, Pursuant to which, he always treated Mr. Congreve with the greatest personal civilities, affuring him of his conftant favour and protection, and adding, that he would study to do something better for him.

I remember it was in those times a usual subject of raillery towards me among the ministers, that I ne ver came to them without a Whig in my fleeve: which I do not say with any view towards making my court: for the new principles fixed to those of that denomina: tion, I did then, and do now from my heart abhor, deteft, and abjure, as wholly degenerate from their predeceffors. I have converfed in fome freedom with more ministers of state of all parties than ufually hap pens to men of my level; and, I confefs, in their capacity as minifters, I look upon them as a race of people whofe acquaintance no man would court otherwife than upon the fcore of vanity or ambition. The firft Beisp.Samml. 8. Bd. 1.Ath. quickly

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quickly wears off, (and is the vice of low minds, for a man of spirit is too proud to be vain), and the other was not my cafe. Befides, having never received more than one small favour, I was under no necessity of being a flave to men in power, but chose my friends by their personal merit, without examining how far their notions agreed with the politics then in vogue. I frequently converfed with Mr. Addison, and the others I named, (except Mr. Steele), during all my Lord Oxford's ministry; and Mr. Addison's friendship to me continued inviolable, with as much kindness as when we used to meet at my Lord Sommers or Halifax, who were leaders of the oppofite party.

I would infer from all this, that it is with great injuftice I have thefe many years been pelted by your pamphleteers, merely upon account of fome regard which the Queen's last minifters were pleased to have for ne: and yet in my conscience I think I am a partaker in every ill defign they had against the Protestant fucceffion, or the liberties and religion of their country; and can say with Cicero,,, that I fhould be proud

to be included with them in all their actions, tam,, quam in equo Trojano." But if I have never discovered by my words, writings, or actions, any party - vi、 rulence, or dangerous defigns against the prefent powers; if my friendship and conversation were equally fhewn among those who liked or disapproved the proceedings then at court, and that I was known to be a common friend of all deserving persons of the latter fort, when they were in distress; I cannot but think it hard, that I am not suffered to run quietly among the common herd of people, whofe opinions, unfortunately differ from those which lead to favour and preferment.

I ought to let you know, that the thing we called a Whig in England, is a creature altogether different from those of the fame denomination here; at least it was fo during the reign of her late Majesty. Whether those on your fide have changed or no, it hath not been my business to inquire. I remember my excellent friend Mr. Addison, when he firft came over hither fecretary to the Earl of Wharton then Lord Lieutenant, was extremely offended at the conduct and discourse of the chief managers here: he told me they were a fort of people who feemed to think that the principles of a Whig consisted in nothing else but damning the church, reviling the clergy, abetting the dissenters, and speaking contemptibly of revealed religion.

I was discourfing some years ago with a certain minifter about that whiggifh or fanatical genius, fo prevalent among the English of this kingdoin: his Lordship accounted for it by that number of Cromwell's foldiers, adventurers established here, who were all of the fourest leaven, and the meanest birth, and whose posterity are now in poffeffion of their lands and their principles. However, it must be consessed, that of late fome people in this country are grown weary of quarrelling, because interest, the great motive of quarrelling, it at an end; for it is hardly worth contending who fhall be an exiseman, a country-vicar, a crier in the courts, or an under- clerk.

You will perhaps be inclined to think, that a person so ill treated as I have been, must at some time or other, have difcovered very dangerous opinions in gouvernement; in answer to which, I will tell you what my political principles were in the time of her late glorious Majesty, which I never contradicted by any action, writing, or discourse,

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