Arthur Collins, the historic compiler, who was often in pecuniary difficulties, still he persisted in sending the lie down to posterity, totidem verbis, without alteration in his second edition, observing to a friend of mine that ‘the story, while it told well, might serve as a striking instance of his great relative’s generosity; and that it should stand, because it could do no harm to any but to Anthony Collins, whom he considered little short of an Atheist.” This “should stand” as an illustration of the conception that duty is only due to those of the faith. Collins, like all pioneers of thought, has had to hold his own against Christian calumny no less than to be on his guard against Christian persecution.
In truth Bentley’s scholarship and brow-beating left Collins’ argument for Free Inquiry untouched. Swift, in the guise of a Whig, put forth a satire entitled Mr. Collins’ Discourse of Freethinking put into Plain English by Way of Abstract for the Use of the Poor, by a Friend of the Author. It was a masterly skit. But the irony of events is more powerful than that of the great Dean. The joke now is that much of Swift’s splendid satire can be retorted on orthodoxy in earnest. Swift’s satire evidently proceeded from his belief, let the reader call it misanthropical or simply just, according to his predilection, that “the bulk of mankind is as well qualified for flying as thinking.”
Yet another master mind joined in the attack on Collins. No. 3 of the Guardian contained a paper which, says Leslie Stephen, was “attributed either to the admirable Berkeley or the good-natured Steele,” but which was certainly by Berkeley, being ascribed to him by his son, Dr. George Berkeley, as well as the annotators, and included in Fraser’s edition of Berkeley’s Works, 1871. The writer says: “As for my part, I cannot see any possible interpretation to give this work but a design to subvert and ridicule the authority of Scripture. The peace and the tranquility of the nation, and regards even above these, are so much concerned in this matter that it is difficult to express sufficient sorrow for the offender, or indignation against him. But if ever man deserved to be denied the common benefit of air and water, it is the author of A Discourse of Freethinking.” Had the articles in the Guardian been signed, the excellent Berkeley might have been spared the
