The Gentleman's Magazine/Volume 1/Issue 3/A View of the Weekly Essays
THE
Gentleman's Magazine:
MARCH, 1731.
A View of the Weekly ESSAYS in this Month.
Extract of a Letter from a Correspondent to the Daily Courant.
The Jews Defended.
HE pleads the Cause of the Jews, in Answer to the Arguments advanced against them in the Post-boy, (see No. II. of the Gentleman's Magazine p. 76.) wherein they are represented as Creatures unworthy of our Community, and Banes and Pests to all the Race of Mankind.
Considers whether this People deserved that cruel Treatment which they met within past infatuated Ages.
That they ought not, he believes, none will deny, who reflect, that 'tis morally impossible we should be all of the same Opinion in Matters of Religion; that Education, and the Notions imbib'd in our Infancy, generally determine our future Conduct, and that few shake off the Prejudices of Education, the Religion of their Parents, or the Customs of their Country; that Reason commands us to judge favourably and charitably of all Men; and why not of the Jews, who are allied to us under a nearer Tye than Mahometans, or Heathens?
That to view them as Members of this Society, and Subjects to the King, they must be acknowledg'd as very useful Parts of the British Nation, who contribute to the Extension of its foreign and domestick Trade, who export our woollen Manufactures, which employs our Poor, keeps our Shipping in action, and brings a large Revenue to the Crown.
Says further, that they greatly support the Publick Credit, not only by their own Capitals, but by the vast Sums which their Jewish Correspondents constantly put into our publick Funds.
That 'tis notorious, that many of them having amass'd great Riches in foreign Parts, have retir'd hither to enjoy the Fruits of their Labour.
But observes, that were they the least apprehensive of a Persecution they would soon fly to a neighbouring Nation, who would gladly embrace them, and laugh at us for our profound Policy.
As to the Observation made in the Daily Post-boy, that the Hollanders keep them out of all publick Stocks at home, and hang them up, if they catch them in their Plantations abroad; this Writer says, 'tis absolutely false; and that the Stocks are there entail'd upon their Children as hereditary Estates, which they cannot dispofe of; and that they with impunity reside in several of their Plantations.
Concludes, that 'tis inconsistent with Christianity to hate the Jews, since they have no Antipathy to Christians, as appears by sending their Children to christian Schools, and encouraging them to converse with Christians.
Against Englishing Law Proceedings.
The Daily Courant, March 4.
COntains a Letter, the writer of which having read in the Votes Minutes of a Petition from a Grand-Jury in Yorkshire, concerning the altering the present Law-hand and that all Pleadings and Records should hereafter be in English, Asserts that it is not the Lawyers that have invented these Law-hands, to keep their Clients in ignorance, but the People themselves, who from time to time have varied their Hand-writing, by which they have gradually lost the knowledge of that Character and Form of Letters, which Deeds, Records, and all our ancient Manuscript-books were formerly wrote in.
That the Benefits of retaining this old Writing are many; for that by means thereof, Deeds of 5 or 700 Years standing are as legible as if now wrote, and the better they answer their primary intent, of being Vouchers for Rights and Titles.
That, to alter the Hand to that now used would be attended by these Inconveniencies, viz. It would become obsolete; and as the hands are continually varying. Writings of one Century would hardly be legible by another; and these Law-hands being disus'd, the knowledge of all Records and Deeds of Times past, would be lost, or known only among a few Antiquaries; as is the Case in Scotland.
Observes, that what has been said of Law-hands was applicable to the Language; that Certainty and Perspicuity are the things aimed at in all Records; therefore to continue them in an Orthography and Language invariable, is equally conducive to the same End; that the Roman Law was wrote in that Language, and that our original Writs were first framed in the Latin Tongue, as is done in most parts of Europe. See p. 106.
Remarks, that many technical Words, or Terms of Art. have been invented to legal Proceedings, which being settled, render certain the Intent of the Party that uses them; and as to Presentments, and Bills of Indictments, to vary from the establish'd Forms, would raise new Disputes, especially where Mens Lives are at stake.
Says, that in Oliver's Time an Attempt was made to render Law-Proceedings into English, but was attended with so many Inconveniencies, that at the Restauration the Latin Tongue was again restored.
Takes notice, that in Chancery, where the Proceedings are in English, they are arrived to an exceeding prolixity; whereas at Common-Law, an Ejectment for Trial of a Title, altho' the Estate be of 10,000 l. per Ann. shall scarce exceed 200 Words; a Rule in Court scarce four or five Lines; a Verdict and final Judgment, scarce an hundred Words. See p. 100, 120, 113.
Lastly observes, it mayn't be improper to prevent the Intricacy and Prolixity of some special Proceedings; but that to give a Defendant Liberty in all Cases to plead the General Issue, puts the Plaintiff to great Difficulties to prepare against such Defence as the Defendant may make.
Of Popularity.
The Free Briton, March 4, No. 66.
DEcribes the method of obtaining a laudable applause, which not to deserve, he says, is the characteristick of a bad man, and to desire it before earn'd, betrays a weak one.
A man whose intentions are honest and his heart good, will be the first to rejoyce in his own merit, tho' the last to publish it; will always endeavour to be fair in the publick opinion, but more solicitous to gain his own applause; to make popular applause the principle end of ambition, is unworthy of a good mind and proceeds from a bad judgment.
If men did but confider humane nature truly, they could not be fond of popular applause, which generally proceeds from the vilest herds of men; that the wise and worthy part of mankind are seldom heard in publick shouts, or seen in publick places; that they whose suffrages are most to be desir'd, are the least numerous, with whom no arts are requisite but open truth and plain good sense. Who would not be asham'd of popularity when a Turkish Sultan, a Grand Monarque, or a Spanish Inquisition, are adored by the people? when Cæser shall be more popular for enslaving his country, than Cato for defending it? when, even a King, such as William III, shall be hated and distress'd for having sav'd the British nation from slavery? when such a minister as Jobu de Wit shall be torn to pieces for adhering to popular liberties? and such a chancellor as the E. of Clarendon forced to fly his country?
Observes, that the majority of men cannot distinguish glittering tinsel from sterling worth, and are delighted with neither, but as it glares in their eyes; that such is the depravity of human nature, that men hate the best characters, meerly because they are so; and so surprizing is the itch of scandal, that the infirmities, slips, and errors of every man, whose merit or fortune hath raised him to notice, are narrowly watch'd.
Lastly, gives a caution that he would not be understood to inculcate such an indifference of popularity as to render popular affection of no value, to destroy all confidence in friends, or to place all enjoyment in a man's single life; but says, if the esteem of men may be honestly acquir'd it may be enjoy'd with honour; but if lost without just cause, sees no reason to regret it.
The Grubstreet Journal, March 4. No. 68.
MR. Bickerstaff continues his Dissertation upon Almanacks; explodes the absurdities of others, and justifies his own predictions, which have been exactly fulfill'd. Instances besides, that he had foretold the death of the late Laureate in the following lines to Mr. Duck printed in their 40th Journal.
¶ Mr. Bavius gives a Letter from Belinda, wherein he finds fault with their Hottentot Performance, and calls it such a nauseous Piece of Stupidity, that if they don't retrieve their Honour, she shall wish them the happy Bridegrooms at the Cape of Good Hope, and expresses her Indignation in the following Lines:
In answer to which Mr. B. alledges, that it was a faithful Quotation, and wonders it should give offence, not reflecting in the least on the fair Sex; and that it was so relish'd by the town, as to occasion an additional Number of the said Journals to be printed. See p. 62. No. 2.
¶ Among the rest of Mr. Quidnunc's witty Remarks, he observes upon an Article of two Women being burnt in the Hand, one for Manslaughter, and another for having two Husbands; that it is odd the same Punishment should be inflicted for killing one Man, as for kissing two.
London Journal, March 6. No. 605.
Expatiates upon the blessing of civil Liberty, which delivers us from the tyranny of other Men's passions, and makes us masters of our selves; that it consists in a security of property, and a right of examining into all subjects divine and human; that the least abridgment of this liberty is breaking in upon the laws of God and Nature, and setting up power against law; that such is our liberty, and our happiness, and to contend for it, is noble; but that to be eternally clamouring about liberty when we are in full possession, is romantick, base and unworthy, tends to make the people uneasie, and disposes them to desire a change.
As to the opinion of Timoleon, which the Craftsman had quoted from Mr. Bugdel, viz. That every man in a free state, ought to speak freely, and with impunity, whatever he thinks of another, Osborne will not allow, if inconsistent with the rights of others.
Says, 'tis not true, that there ought to be no punishment, but for blasphemy or treason; because there are many other cases both in private and publick life, wherein persons ought to be punish'd for writing, as in case of scandals against private persons, and libels against the Government.
Sums up all in saying, that there ought to be no restraint upon the press; that all men have a right to enquire into all opinions, and examine all subjects; to represent grievances; to shew what laws are pernicious or defective, or to lay before the publick all male-administration, agreeable to truth.
The Universal Spectator, Saturday March 6, No. 126.
OBserves, that a regulation of the LAW is a point of the greatest consequence to the publick, and has been long wish'd for. See p. 19. No. I.
That no law hath, or can have juster or better principles than the common law of England, [as it is dictated by reason, settled by wise men, aud confirm'd by custom; ] that the statute law is generally declarative of the common, when circumstances happen to render the latter disputable.
Of the common and statute is composed the law of the land, which might properly be call'd the Civil law of England; that the Romans understood no more by their jus civile, than that law by which every free people govern'd themselves; and that laws have their foundation in the law of nature.
Asserts, that the basis of our laws lay in the institutions of the native Britains, intermix'd from time to time with the customs of the Saxons, Danes, and Normans, as they became mingled with us, and the legal constitution always accommodated to the temper, manners, and situation of the people: That the customs then in vogue are but few and well known; but as this posture of things chang'd, new forms of practice were introduc'd, till at last precipitated into that miserable state of intricacy, expence and confusion, in which they are at present. See p. 98. 100, 213.
Enquires into the origin of the evils.
The first of these he reckons, is, the power of construction allow'd, or assum'd by the dispenfers of the laws.
Another cause which he assigns is the allowing so many deputies in juridical affairs.
A third, the modern practice of perquisite-taking, which he says, may be stiled a skreen from bribery.
Next to this he adds the confederacies enter'd into by the different degrees of under-officers for the mutual carrying on of these practices.
Then gives a detail of grievances arising from the present practice of the law, that pleadings are carried on in a tongue unknown to themselves, and unintelligible to the vulgar and the learned. See p. 106.
That a strange, uncouth character is used, having as little affinity to the Latin letters, as to Arabick.
Quotes a faying of an eminent Council, who declar'd he had read a story of a Man who was try'd for stealing a Cow, but was acquitted, it not being set forth in the Indictment, whether the field from whence he stole her, was an oblong or a square.
Concludes, that the extensive length of law Proceedings is another flagrant grievance, considering the many copies that must necessarily be made.
Fog's Journal, Saturday, March 6. No. 128.
THE first describes the Character of an inconstant Man, and asserts, that there always will be a set of different Principles, by which different Men will produce different Actions; the natural result of which is a spirit of Opposition. As, therefore, Men's actions be distinguish'd by the characters of good and bad, so are parties known by the Title of Tory and Whigg.
From these Maxims he proceeds to draw the ridiculous vice of Inconstancy.
Says, That whether with regard to religious Matters or Party, 'tis of all Failings the most contemptible, the most unpardonable.
Observes, 'Tis dangerous to trust those who take any Impression, and may be moulded into any Shape, and who, as occasion offers, are equally subservient to all Sides.
That Inconstancy, even in private Friendship, has been severely satyriz'd; much greater is his Guilt, who having insinuated himself into the Secrets of a whole Community, yet can for the sake of interest turn tail, and avow those Principles which are the Condition of his Reward.
Another inconvenience attending this Vice, he says, is the Loss of all credit with the World, which is the most miserable State a Man can be reduc'd to, who, metaphorically, may be said to be bury'd alive, a punishment which Tory-whigg treachery, he says, well deserves.
¶ The second letter is an Observation which the Author made from a French Astrologer, that the World was near at an End. Man, saith he, is a little World, and the World a great Man, and is subject to various Distempers, hath it's infancy, childhood, youth, middle-age, old-age and dotage; that from Adam to Noah was the World's infancy, from Noah to Abraham, his childhood, from Abraham to David his youth, from David to the captivity of Babylon, his middle-age, from thence unto Christ, his old age, from Christ to the Treaty of Seville, his dotage, and goes now, as it were, upon Crutches, and has an ugly hoskey Cough, and is Milt-grown.
¶ The third letter is from a female Correspondent, and recommends to his reading a pamphlet speedily to be publish'd, entitled, A particular account of the Proceedings, in relation to the arrest, examination, commitment, bail, and discharge, of Mr. Pless and his Wife, interspers'd with Observations, shewing, in the author's opinion, that some late Proceedings of Messengers and others, are unwarrantable by Law, and inconsistent with the liberty of the subject.
Concludes, with recommending Mr. Pless to the regard of the Publick, he being about to set up a Tavern or a Coffee-house in this City. See p. 103.
The Craftsman, Saturday March 6. No. 244.
REconsiders three Pamphlets lately publish'd. In the first, entitled, A Defence of the Measures of the present Administration, &c. he takes Notice of a Paragraph which he calls an Eulogium to the present Ministry, but declares himself at a Loss to comprehend the Meaning of all the Compliments which the Author bestows upon them; but says, the Meaning is explain'd in the two other Writers: The first of which is a Letter of Caleb D'anvers, Esq; upon his proper Reply, wherein the Writer asks, That supposing Mr. D'anvers had a Parliament to his wish, what glorious Counsels might we expect from an Assembly of Fox-hunters? This Reflection, he says, is neither seasonable nor judicious; cannot apprehend, but a Fox-hunting Parliament, and a Fox-hunting Administration would very well agree; and adds, That it is a plain Insinuation that country Gentlemen of landed Estates, ought not to sit in the House of Commons, which was originally constituted of such Persons.
Examines another Query in the same Author, viz. What could we expect less than to see our Courtiers and soldiers turn'd out of the Army, as well as out of Parliament?
From this Paragraph the Craftsman infers, that the Author would convince us of the Necessity of a Standing Army, which he supposes would not be continued by a Parliament of country Gentlemen; and that a Militia within Doors would produce a Militia without.
The last Pamphlet he takes Notice of, is that entitled, Some Observations on the present State of Affairs, &c. in which, speaking of the Hessian Troops, the Author remarks, That this foreign Army gives great uneasiness, as well as our standing Forces at home; that free Governments have degenerated into absolute Monarchy, the Cause of which has generally been an Army; that our Country is in a declining State, and must expect the Fate of other Governments; and that we cannot disperse the Storm, but may avert it for a Time by a standing Force.
The Craftsman in his Remarks upon this Paragraph observes, That the Author allows that Standing Armies are dangerous to a Constitution, and yet pleads for them: that the Administration of Affairs is grown impracticable without Corruption; and leaves it to the Consideration of Mr. Osborne himself, whether such infamous Doctrines as these do not make it necessary to plead the Cause of the British Constitution. (See Osborne's Answer p. 108.)
In this Paper is also a Letter from an old Officer in the Army, sign'd Tilbury, who expresses his Satisfaction to see in the Votes an Instruction to the Committee for the Mutiny Bill to receive a Clause for Limiting the Time Soldiers are to serve in the Army.
This, he says, is a very commendable Regard to poor Wretches, who have been deluded thro' Liquor, or forc'd by misfortunes into the Service. That such a Limitation on other Accounts is very Reasonable; 1. As it is the Practice of all other Countries, and was so in the late war. 2. Felons are only transported for a certain Time. 3. If an Army is ty'd to slavery during life, what concern can they have for the publick Liberty? 4. That it wou'd prevent deserting, and save Officers the Expence of recruiting, on that Account. 5. It would be more agreeable to the Soldiery, and beneficial to the Government, by procuring a willing instead of a forced Service. 6. Many would take a turn for a Time, who would not be chain'd down for life, and so all our able Men would be disciplined, against any Emergency; wherefore he hopes it will pass into a Law. See 114 & 208.
The Register, Sat. March 6. No. 47.
Contains a Piece translated from the Arabick, address'd to the the Santon Muley Abdallah, an Admirer of Wisdom, and Friend of Solitude, whose retreating from the Conversation of mortals our Author commends, then launches out in his Description of the Blessings of Retirement.
Congratulates him on his Retreat into the Desart, which his Vertue makes a Paradise: That none but Souls the most finish'd by the Almighty, are equal to such a Life.
Longs for the Conversation of Mussulmen, and is weary of the Society of Christians, who, he says, are full as uneasy as himself; that to kill Time is a common Phrase, and Murders of this kind are frequent among 'em.
The Daily Courant, March 8.
SEveral printed papers having been published and disperfed under the title of Novelles Ecclesiastiques; it takes notice that their arrets condemn every thing not printed by authority and all anonymous writings whatsoever.
Observes, that if regard be had to the first Principles of publick order, there is no policy, tho' ever so irregular, that can bear with a person unknown thus voluntarily to set himself up for a disperser of news, and an arbitrator of facts, without any other warrant than the obscurity, which shelters him; anticipating the opinion of the publick; and passing sentence and censures upon other Peoples conduct and reputation.
Shews the bad use is made of this liberty; which has been discover'd in facts, in those papers, taken upon trust, calumnious imputations, barbarous suspicions, which ought no where to be publish'd without proof, much less without a name; a freedom of style and strokes of satyr, often directly contrary to the respect due to the the secular and ecclesiastical powers.
That in despite of authority that Journal is carry'd on more boldly than ever, supported, say the authors, by the hand of God; thus vainly covering themselves under the pretence of religion, which never pointed to such methods.
That for these reasons 'twas thought but necessary to condemn, proscribe and suppress it by all the effectual means they could think of.
The Hyp Doctor, March 9. No. 13.
COnsiders the depredations made by the Spaniards on our shipping in the West Indies, which he says merrily, ought to be chalk'd up to the score of the present ministry for the following reasons, viz. 1. Some of those depredations were none at all. 2. Many of them are dated before the time of the present ministry, others while Spain was at variance with us. 3. Those made by Pyrates, as much as those suppos'd to be done by Guarda Costa's, are alike charg'd to the present ministry, and by the same reason all depredations by land might be charg'd on the administration. 4. Depredations by guttling and tippling, junketting, gossiping, gaming, &c. are to be all item'd to the government.
Goes on in a strain of banter and ridicule to charge all the petty, trifling losses, sustain'd in private Life, to the account of the present ministry.
Having finish'd his burlesque, he adds a chronicle of blunders in Fog and D'anvers on saturday last. 1. Fog begins with a Letter on the description of an inconstant Man, a Tory-Whig, a Weathercock; and yet has the inconstancy to end with another for Mr. Du Pless, who certainly was a Whig, when in the King's service, and did not Fog now think him a Tory for being out of it, he would hardly have recommended him in his Paper. (See extracts of three letters in Fog p. 101.) 2. Fog's condemning inconstancy to party is a libel on Mr. P-t-y and my L-B-ke, as well as on all Jacobites who have taken the oaths since the revolution: by which he makes his Tories Weathercocks. 3 The Craftsman hopes the publick will be a just indignation against those scandalous, venal writers, for the sake of a single man: by which he must mean himself and fellow-labourers, who write for Mr. P-y, to turn a penny, and over-turn all for two pence. 4. Caleb in these words, if meant of others, denies that liberty of the press to those writers, which himself asserts. 5. Caleb calls the publishers Peele and Roberts, midwives; by the same rule his publisher is one, and H- B- and W- P- are wet nurses.
(See more of this Writer, p. 66.)
The Grub street Journal, March 11.
No. 62.
A Letter from a correspondent treating of Impudence says, tho' it be always unaccompany'd with true desert, yet among the injudicious and unthinking, its taken for it; that it does a man's business, in the way of fortune and preferment, much better than all the virtues put together. Who then, says he, would be troubled with that pitiful, sneaking vice Modestly, and its foolish companion Merit, who has any thing to get or lose?
Observes, that Impudence is a main support to the Members of the Grubean Society, by virtue of which every whisler, as soon as he comes from school, sets out with Criticism; begins where he should end; and abuses the greatest men, not suspecting himself to be the least and most inconsiderable: that a certain air of pertness passes with these youngsters for wit; and a smattering in the dog-language of poetical controversies for arrant criticism; that by virtue of this quality their members quote authors they never saw: translate books they can't read; and write Grammars of languages they don't understand; then breaks out, O Henly! thou eldest son of Effrontery! renowned for thy Grammars, no less than for thy Oratory! how shall thy fame be transmitted to after-ages as it deserves? See p. 109.
Erect thyself, thou monumental Brass.
But notwithstanding our author is such an admirer of Impudence, yet says, it is carry'd a little too far in this our blessed age and nation; that our political writers, of either side, ought not to affirm, without a severe animadversion, what all the world knows to be false; because it is an insult upon common sense: among other things for instance, says it had been asserted that a certain Weekly Paper (it might be suppos'd he mean't the Grub-street) is universally condemned, does not sell, and is despis'd by every body; whereas the contrary is most true and undeniable; and the reporters of these falsehoods, who rail and tremble at it, are universally despis'd.
Lastly, that these exorbitances corrected, let Impudence and Worthlessness triumph as they ought to do, and the wretches of Modesty and Merit sneak and starve, according to the laudable modern custom.
Universal Spect. Mar. 13. No. 127.
Partiality in Parents to their Children.
DEclares his indignation at the partiality of those parents, who, without regard to merit or justice, prefer one of their children to be a favourite, to the prejudice and discouragement of all the rest. Says, every child has an equal right, unless forfeited by misbehaviour, to the care of it's parents; that altho' the law of most nations favours the eldest son, yet ought there to be no difference in point of paternal tenderness and affection; constantly to fondle and humour one, and unreasonably to browbeat or neglect the rest, is unjust and highly blameable.
He was led into these reflections by a visit to his friend Mr. Gentle, whose eldest daughter, Miss Kitty, now 17 Years of age, has govern'd his family nigh 15 years; that when she was two Years old, people saying it was a pretty child, she became her mother's darling, and continues so, while two fine boys and a lovely girl, scarce know they have a mother, but by her chidings. Describes Mr. Gentle to be a good-natur'd honest man, who for peace sake, acquiesces in this partiality, and submits to his daughter's government; that the first token of her mother's simple fondness was her general order that the child should not be suffer'd to cry for any thing: upon which Miss Kitty soon became the most peevish, passionate, humoursome, little vixen that ever was. Being thus indulg'd in all her humours, no wonder she is at present haughty, imperious and assuming; her temper fretful and impatient; and that good sense nature intended her, over-run with price and vanity; that she might be reckon'd handsome was it not for her insolence, and affectation, which makes her disliked; while her sister Lucy is sure to win the hearts of all that see her by the meekness, modesty, innocence, and pretty manner of her deportment.
Next, gives an account of what past at the tea-table, and of Kitty's rude behaviour to her sister and mother; and then relates particulars of a quarrel she had with one of her brothers, who hap-to tread on the tail of her lap-dog, which occasion'd a confusion in the whole family; that the mother and children retiring, Mr. Gentle begged pardon for what had happen'd, own'd his misfortune; that this headstrong girl was his continual torment; that her mother's fondness and his imprudent compliance, had made her temper insolent and intolerable, but thinks she is more the object of compassion than severe usage. Concludes with this saying, We have by fondness been the ruin of our child! For, with this disposition, what can I foresee but misery for her, and sorrow for ourselves?
Fog's Journal, March 13. No. 129.
Of Popular Discontents.
BEgins with a quotation from a certain political writer, to this effect, viz. that whenever the executive part of the government does not act for the publick good, the legislature and every member of the commonwealth thinks it lawful to intermeddle; because the ends of government being the ease, plenty and protection of the subject, if those purposes are not answered, he begins to think himself absolved from that contract, and that he is returned to the full liberty of his progenitors, and may act for himself; from whence it proceeds, that under a corrupt administration, all degrees of men, are Statesmen, are inquisitive, uneasy, censorious, and disaffected.
From hence Fog takes occasion to observe, that this doctrine is never relish'd under a bad administration, the instruments of which will say, That private men have no right to examine into the conduct of their superiors Truth they will call sedition, and bring examples to shew, that men have been put to death for telling disagreeable truth.
That 'tis our peculiar happiness, that things can never be brought to this extremity, unless the representatives bof the people shou'd be debauch'd into submissions or measures inconsistent with liberty.
Dissents from that common assertion, that nothing can go amiss so long as a good understanding continues betwixt the legislative and executive parts of the constitution; because when affairs are in bad hands such an agreement is dangerous; that this nation has often been saved by the opposition made to men in power; and the representatives of the people, by keeping the publick money in the people's pocket, have ty'd up the hands of the ministers from executing many mischievous projects.
Gives several instances to illustrate this argument; and that all good laws have been pass'd at such a Crisis; witness the Habeas Corpus act, and the bill for making parliaments triennial.
Says that this jealousy or distrust of men in power so long preserv'd the liberties of the Roman people; but when that was remov'd, and the senates could be influenced, their liberties were lost.
Lastly, that when all virtue and publick spirit was departed from the senate, and that great Empire was sinking into ruin, there was a good harmony and understanding betwixt the executive and legislative parts of the government.
The Craftsman, Saturday March 13. No. 245.
COntinuing his REMARKS on the reign of King James I. proceeds to show the advantageous situation Queen Elizabeth left him in, which had he made a proper use of, says, he might have reigned gloriously abroad, and happily at home; that his title was not contested, nor any opposition open or secret, given to his succession; and the people unanimous in their vote for him, as being the only prince in whom the protestant interest united; That he, coming to the crown, after all the difficulties and dangers of the Reformation and establishing a new church were over, had an opportunity of preventing any bad consequence from the division of his protestant subjects.
Says, the the Roman catholick party carried on their designs against the constitution in church and state, with as much rage as ever, tho' not so strongly, their great supporters being dead, the reformation establish'd, and the church of England, by the sobriety, wisdom, and sanctity of her institution, fixed on a rock; King James therefore had it in his power to keep down with ease a party which Q. Elizabeth had subdued with pain.
Proceeds to mention other advantages attending King James I. as that with respect to the navy, commerce and wealth of the nation, he was a rich and powerful King. Nethertheless his ministers took occasion to demand money of the commons, among others upon the following pretences: 1. To satisfy a Debt of Queen Elizabeth for 350,0000. And 2. To reimburse the King the charge of protecting his Wife and Children from being robb'd on the road to London.
That the advantages which this Prince had in the situation of foreign affairs, both at his accession to the throne, and during the greatest part of his reign, were remarkably great, proceeding from the weakness or minority of the Kingds of Spain, and other favourable circumstances with regard to other princes and states about him.
And lastly, That only one instance can be brought that might justly be reckon'd an exception to the advantage, and security which accompanied the reign of this prince; and that related to the part he took or might have taken in the troubles which happen'd in Germany from the designs of the House of Austria, by which Frederick Elector of Palatine, lost the crown of Bohemia, and his own patrimony; and the protestant interest and the liberty of Germany were well nigh sacrificed to the bigotry and ambition of the Emperor.
The Weekly Register, Sat. March 13. No. 48.
A Petition having been presented to the Parliament to English the LAWS, the Register gives his thoughts on that subject. [See p. 98, 100.
Observes that the laws ought to be clear and concise, so as to be readily comprehended; that the Sages of antiquity gave the people under their direction, the most plain and intelligible view of their duty imaginable.
That whereas 'tis objected, That custom has entail'd on us a quite contrary practice which is not in the power of reason to remedy; that every nation has its particular laws; and what regulated a little Greek commonwealth will not square with so great and populous a nation as ours.
To this is answers, That truth is always the same, and regularity no more foreign to a large community than a small; that the direction of affairs has falled into unskilfull hands, which have endeavour'd to hide what they could not rectify; and hence obscurity and Gothick barbarism took place of elegance and perspicuity.
Examines the language in which our Courts practise the Law. He allows that the Laws may contain the whole Duty of the subject, may be contriv'd in the most masterly way, and explain'd in the most regular method; but then, says he, how shall I understand them? If a Man has no learning, how shall he read them in a language he don't know, and in a character he is not acquainted with? Says, 'tis necessary that every Man engag'd in a Law suit, should himself have a view of the whole Proceedings, that he may judge of his Attorney's honesty and capacity; but that this is impossible, till he is previously acquainted with the statutes in his favour, and the practice of the court.
That the objection that the Latin is the only proper language, because its meanings are established, and its sounds unvariable, is of no weight, and would have held good against the Romans themselves, as well as us, because it was then as liable to alterations as ours is now, yet they had no recourse to the Greek to prevent that Mischief, or mistrufted the obscurity or corruption of their laws, from the revolution of their language.
Concludes, that the English Tongue is as capable of answering all the purposes of Expression as the Latin and in its present purity, will last as long; that it will express Truth and Justice, with abundance of spirit and sublimity; and when our Laws are wrote equal to the language, there will be no danger of mistaking their intention.
The London Journal, Sat. March 13. No. 606.
CORRUPTION, he says, has been complained of in all ages, but the greatest complainers have been the first and greatest corruptors, who having corrupted men to serve the ends of their tyrannies, have made that corruption a reason for continuing those tyrannies.
Denies that this age or this nation is more corrupt than other ages, or than this kingdom was heretofore.
Says, that the only probable way which has been thought of to prevent corruption is an Oath, by which men appeal to heaven for the truth of what they say, and the punishments of another world, and the penalties of this are laid before them, if they speak false: But this is not sufficient, for an Oath, where a man's interest is concern'd, and his passions strong, puts him upon distinctions to evade the force of truth; by which means the fear of a Deity and invisible punishments, is render'd less efficacious.
Thinks it would have been for the interest of mankind, if there never had been an Oath imposed, relating solely to man's self and his own interest; for that an honest man will not be corrupted, and such who will, find out ways to reconcile their wickedness and their consciences.
Says, the causes of corruption are false teaching and false philosophy, or wrong notions of life and pleasure; and that 'tis no wonder men act dishonestly, when they place their chief good in gratifying every passion just as it rises, without regard to consequences.
Advises an education in principles of wisdom and virtue, that religion is only an enforcement of morality, and that a man's present happiness consisted in the practice of it; and if to this were added the necessity of temperance, in order to preserve honesty, we should be more strongly guarded against corruption, than by all the Oaths which were ever invented; that the only way to preserve our integrity, and be just to the community, is to be just to ourselves, by living within the rules of reason.
Concludes with taking notice of an appeal made to him by Mr D'anvers concerning the Truth of his Remarks on a Passage in a Pamphlet called, Observations on the present State of Affairs, in which the Author had given a dismal description of the present declining, corrupted and depraved State of this nation, (see p. 102.) to which the Craftsman could not agree, neither does Mr. Osbourne, but says, that the People of England are sober and honest, wise and brave, jealous of incroachments on their liberties, which they have warmly at heart, and will gloriously contend for whenever invaded; and that the constitution was never in a more vigorous state of health, nor the laws more inviolably or sacredly observ'd.
Daily Courant, March 11.
THE REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES which the Craftsman has lately vented among us, and the actions as well as speech's of some men which have the same tendency, make it highly necessary to remind unwary people of the dangerous consequences which have formerly attended the same doctrines and practices. In the reign of Charles the first, the spirit of opposition to the exercise of any power in the crown, which favour'd in the least of arbitrary, was carried to such a pitch, that even the shadow of authority was taken away from it. And what ensued? Why the people found themselves inslaved in a much more oppressive and intolerable manner, by the very men who had set up that opposition, and whom they all along took to be their own instruments and agents for procuring them liberty. This was then, and always must be, the case in England. A monarchy, a limited monarchy, is our natural constitution; and we ought to preserve it. The royal prerogative has been pretty well curtail'd, and needs no more amputation; to be eternally nibbling at the power of the crown, what is it but to set a Prince of spirit upon contriving means to overturn all our liberties, in order to preserve his own? but if a Prince's hands are quite bound down for fear of such an accident, then it must happen as before, that we become the slaves of those who will impudently call themselves our Preservers; and who, to secure their ill-gotten power, will certainly be too wise to use the same methods by which the other lost it.
As a confirmation of these arguments introduces a speech printed in 1648. which shews us that those men who grudg'd their Prince a few necessary soldiers to support his dignity, soon found themselves under the tyranny of a numerous army of their own raising; that those men who grudg'd a few taxes, necessary for the support of the government, were soon saddled with seven times as much, and possessed of as little liberty either in their civil or religious concerns.
The Grub-street Journal, March 18. No. 63.
1. ENtertains his readers with a 4th letter from a poem called HUDIBRAS; shewing from the variety and justness of its characters, that it has all the essentials of a poem of the epic kind.
2. Contains some arguments advanced for and against the CHARITABLE CORPORATION, whose case is now before the Parliament. The opposers of the Corporation assert, that a borrower of 150 l. loses near 40 l. in 3 months. On the other side 'tis affirm'd that the borrower for his 150 l. pledg'd saves near 40 l. besides preserving his credit, tho' he pays the Company ten per Ct. for what he borrows. So the Lender is sure to gain; and the Borrower's Profit is a disputed Point.
3. Among the Occurrences Mr. Quidnunc quotes one from the Daily Post, viz. "We hear that the Oratory subject for to morrow evening, will be Henley's Apology for Wit, and will be advertised particularly to morrow morning; and that Mr. Henley expects there one Dr. M———, who called him impudent in print, to a dispute on that problem." On which he remarks, I wonder Mr. Henley should make an unnecessary apology; and that he should be offended at being called imprudent, since it was plainly shewed in our last, that impudence comprehends all qualifications. Who Dr. M——— is, whom he expects to a dispute, I can better imagine, than I can what is meant by that Problem; nothing preceding to which it can be referred. If the problem intended be either, whether Mr. Henly, has wit, or whether he has impudence, I deny, that either is a problem, and consequently any matter of dispute.
4. From their Pegasus in Grub-street, gives the following paragraphs. We have been assured from Sevenoaks in Kent, that Dr. Thomas Fuller, an eminent physician, (murdered by the L. Ev. of Feb. 11. an account of which murder was given in our 59th Journal) is since come to life again; and that the suit commenced by him, against the trustees of the charity left by Sir William Sennoke, was rather in order to obtain an annual election, than on the account of mismanagements: which affair was determined by the master of the Rolls, who decreed that the trustees should be chosen annually; and that the costs of both parties should be paid out of the charity itself.
The society was surprized at the advertisement in the Daily Post, March 14. from one who calls himself Hyp Doctor, assuring the world that we had recommended his Weekly Paper, in the epigram upon wit in our last Journal. Tho' he may bid very fair to be admitted one day into our society, yet at present his Paper is not eminent enough, even to be read before it, We know but one Hyp Doctor, the learned Orator, whom we acknowledge to be such in several senses of that appellation. His works are always read to us; and his advertisement of this day gave us extraordinary diversion, particularly his epigram on Dr. Scurvy-Grass,
Mr. Mevius objected, that the last line did not turn fully upon the first, that the word kill had no business there, since after Persons are killed, they can have no occasion for Paper: and proposed to change it for purge, which he said would make the epigram exact. This was approved.———But Dr. Mitchel, a rival of Mr. Henley's, and author of a learned dissertation against sooterkins, declared, that he liked neither the one, nor the other. That tho' he had never called the Orator impudent in print, yet since in the Daily Post of yesterday, and in an Advertisement in the Daily Post of this day, he was plainly challenged by the appellations of Dr. M——— and Dr. Scurvy-Grass, to a disputation on the point aforesaid, he was ready to answer the challenge, and to dispute on that problem, at the Pegasus, tho' not at the Oratory. In the mean time, in answer to the Orator's distich, he desired the following might be published:
The free Briton, March 11. No. 67.
COnsists of a letter from Timothy Scrub of Rag-fair, ironically applauding the talents and conduct of E— B—l, Esq; Author of a Letter to the King of Sparta, from which he infers that this Gentleman is inspir'd, he will not say, mad; that to prove this needs no other argument than his method of proving himself no Irishman, by giving his modesty in evidence; and his opinion that the late L— B—ke is the fittest man alive to serve the King and Kingdom; and that he is incapable of betraying either, after so many instances of treachery to both; and that it is a hardship upon him, still to continue under an attainder of high Treason, so deservedly incurred, by his flight from the justice of his injur'd country.
The Free Briton, March 18. No. 68.
Of Sedition.
SAys, 'tis the duty and Glory of a free spirit to vindicate the measures of just and faithful governours; that the errors, crimes and incapacity of any governor are never long secret; that vain-glorious men, who have the Spirit of Domination, are never satisfy'd without engrossing power, and rejoice in any misfortune that befalls the publick, and labour to make the multitude more easy under it; and that their vanity is often the strongest motive to all the uproars they raise; that they who have no injury to complain of, will, unprovok'd, do mischief only to be thought important; which he illustrates with an instance out of Tacitus, viz. "Sedition and discontent, having almost worked up the Roman legions to mutiny, a private centinel mounted on the shoulders of his fellow-soldiers resolved to try the power of his eloquence, and address'd himself to the army in all the Postures of an Orator. You have given Liberty to these miserable men, said he pointing to those criminals whom they had rescued; but which of you can restore life to my brother? he was murdered no longer ago than last night, by the Hands of those Ruffians who are entertain'd by the general, to butcher the poor soldiery. Tell me Blesus, (for that was the general's name who was then sitting on the tribunal) tell me where thou hast laid his dead body? An enemy does grudge the rites of burial; when I have tir'd myself with kissing his cold Corpse, and weeping over it, order me to be slain upon it. All I ask of my fellow soldiers, since we both die in their cause, is, that they would lay me in the same grave with my brother. The army blown up into rage by this Speech, resolv'd to do the speaker justice; but on enquiry they found, that he never had a brother in his life.———As groundless, adds he, are most of the complaints of these days.
Weekly Register, March 20. No. 49.
Of Coffee Grounds.
RElates some occurences he met with in a visit he lately paid a lady; says, he surpriz'd her and her company in close cabal over their coffee; the rest very intent upon one, who by her dress and intelligence, he guess'd was a tire-woman; to which she added the secret of divining by coffee grounds; that she was then in full inspiration, and with much solemnity observing the atoms round the cup; on one hand sat a widow, on the other a maiden lady, both attentive to the predictions to be given of their future fate; and that the lady (his acquaintance) tho' marry'd, was no less earnest in contemplating her cup than the other two. They assured him that every cast of the cup is a picture of all one's life to come; and every transaction and circumstance is delineated with the exactest certainty. If this be so (reply'd he) such an Art would be of service to a statesman; for instead of going to council he need only examine the coffee-grounds, and all the affairs of the whole nation would appear before Him at once, and he wou'd know all the plots, cabals and intriegues of his adversaries; but objected to the scheme, that in case he should see mischief and misfortune coming upon him, whether it would be in his power to prevent 'em; they reply'd, no. From which he takes occasion to dissuade them from such unwarrantable enquiries; to be content with what they enjoy; and be prepar'd to endure evil when it comes and to depend on providence for the rest.
The Register, in another part of his paper, represents the inconvenience that attend those who are oblig'd to make application to men in great offices; to whom there is no admittance without Feeing the servants.
Fog's Journal, Saturday, March 20. No. 133.
HAving extracted some Passages from the Tryal of the late E. of Oxford, in justification of that Nobleman from the Charge of several Crimes with which he was accused, and of which, our Journalist says, nothing could be prov'd against him, proceeds to give an Account of the Earl's Politicks in the Words of Mr. Budgel, in his Letter to Cleomenes King of Sparta, who says, it was not impossible for the Earl to make a better Peace than he did, yet that the Demolition of Dunkirk, and the Acquisition of Gibralter, must be allow'd to be of infinite Advantage to Great Britain.
Says, that upon the Treaty of Utrecht my Ld Oxford declar'd he did not rely upon K. Philip's Renunciation of the Crown of France, but rather on Accidents which might arise to disunite those two Powers, which accordingly happen'd; the Infanta of Spain, tho' formally contracted to the French King, and long entertain'd at Court, was sent back to her own Country to get a new Husband; which the Queen of Spain her Mother highly resented, and waited an Opportunity to revenge the Affront and would gladly have flung herself into our Arms, and offer'd us the Mediation betwixt her and France.
Mr. Bugdel proceeds to observe, that neither our Reputation, nor Affairs were left in a despicable Condition, after the Peace made by the said Earl, who form'd and establish'd the S. Sea Company, which in its Foundation, was a national Benefit, and might have serv'd noble Ends; that tho' the said Earl had past thro' so many great Offices, he at last died poor.
Concludes with another Quotation from the same Author, viz. that another Peer in the same Ministry, having invited Mr. Addison to Dinner, Mr. Addison said, He was heartily sorry his Principles forced him to oppose one of the greatest and most accomplish'd Men he had ever seen, and in whose Conversation he could have thought himself so truly happy.
The London Journal, Sat. March 20. No. 608.
MAkes an Observation, that scarce any of the Opinions which Men entertain, whether Religious, Political, or Personal, were ever examin'd; because they are generally the Effects of Education, or Inclination, rarely of Reason.
Says, the Mass of Mankind seems made for believing; whatever they like, they never enquire into; but if the Report happens to be levell'd against their Passions, or Inclinations, they enquire indeed, but Reason will convince them of what they are not willing to have true.
Remarks further, that Men not only easily believe, but are apt to believe ill of others, especially of those in Power, and as backward to believe good Reports.
Takes notice, that this is the case in common Life; but that 'tis much worse when the ill Report is against great Men; that Resentments, Disappointments, party Opinions, and Prejudices, induce 'em to say the worst Things of the best Men.
That the same humour has prevail'd in former Reigns; and that we find almost as many Complaints of Grievances in the Reigns of K. William, as in that of K. Ch. I. altho' 'tis acknowleg'd, we then felt but few. As a Proof, refers to a Paper publish'd 1693, call'd, A short State of our Condition.
Asks whether there were not as many Grievances talk'd of during the first ten glorious Years of Q. Anne, when a Treasurer was at the Head of Affairs, who, when he resign'd his Office, Went out with clean Hands, and empty too!
Queries, if the Ministry-haters of those Times did not represent our Victories as so many Steps to our Ruin; infamously charging the best General in the world with private views of his own Glory?
Bids us judge by what we know, not by what we read, and confider the characters and motives of the persons who complain; that when we are told our Constitution is in danger, our Liberties precarious, and our Properties insecure; we should take a view of our Happiness arising from our Liberty, which is secur'd by Guardian-Laws, and those Laws superior to the Will and Appetite of every Subject, and to which the Kings of England are themselves subject.
The Craftsman, Saturday March 20. No. 245.
COntinues Remarks on the Reign of K. James I. and says, this Prince, contrary to the measures and conduct of his Predecessor, endeavour'd, without Talents, to procure the People's Esteem, and so awaken'd their Jealoufy, instilling in their minds a good opinion of himself, and a mean one of them. Observes, that Q. Elizabeth had been jealous of her Prerogative, but moderate in the exercise of it; but that K. James imagin'd the higher he carried it, the more strongly he should be settled on the Throne.
That by the absurd notions principles of his government, opposition, prejudice, divisions and disputes were rais'd and fomented, and K. James, by using tricks of Government, conjur'd up a storm in which his successor perish'd; that his successor came a Party-man to the Throne, and his prejudices caused him to continue an invasion on the people's Rights, whilst he imagin'd himself only concern'd in the defence of his own.
Illustrates these assertions by facts. Says, that he was receiv'd with transports of joy, and that all ranks of men made their court to him; but that he, believing these transports of the people were due to his eminent merit, and an homage paid for the honour he did them in accepting their Crown, took state, and disperfed them with frowns, not to say with curses; yet that he sunk into low familiarity with his favorites; that he was profuse of his riches, and so lavish of his honour, that they ceas'd to be so; insomuch that an Advertisement was pasted at St. Paul's, of An Art to help weak Memories to a competent knowledge of the names of the Nobility.
Observes, that K. James's affectation of learning lessen'd him as a King; for that the merit of a chief Governor is wisely to superintend the whole, and not to shine in any inferior Class.
Remarks, that the state and pompous Titles he was fond of, serv'd to render his pusillanimity more conspicuous and his person more contemptible; as appear'd by his revoking, as soon as he came to the Throne, those letters of reprisal on the subjects of Spain, which Q. Elizabeth had granted her subjects, that they might do themselves justice.
The last instance he gives of King James's cowardly behaviour, is, his not resenting the affront offer'd to our Flag by a Dutch man of war.
The Daily Courant, March 18.
Of Soldiers.
GIves a burlesque on the letter inserted in the Craftsman, No. 224. signed Tilbury, addressed to the common soldiers; in which he promises to endeavour their freedom, and they shall be oblig'd to serve in the army for a short and limited time only; at the expiration of which he doubts not but they will all quit the service, of which he is persuaded they do not approve. See p. 102.
Tells them, it will save their officer the expence of recruiting, since, in this case, they may tell their officers at any time they will continue no longer in the service.
Says, 'twill be a great benefit to themselves, and save the lives of many British subjects, since few wou'd desert when they might publickly upon a march, throw down their arms and refuse any longer service.
That such a rotation in the army, would discipline our men, and turn the nation into a regular militia; which would give this great security to the present establishment; that an army, much more numerous, and as regular and well disciplin'd, might be the seduc'd and drawn together to subvert it, as that kept in pay to support and defend it.
Confesses that he had formerly treated them as a lazy, profligate indolent tribe, enemies of liberty, and the support of tyrants and usurpers; but having consider'd how they may be made useful, now commences patron for standing armies, that is, a free standing army, who can disband themselves whenever they please, without any bad consequences to themselves.
The Free Briton, Thursday, March 25. No. 69.
'TIS an act of generosity to rescue the virtues and the praises of such worthies who have surviv'd the services they have done the publick, from oblivion; few are now remaining who had any share in the publick transactions of the reigns of K. William and Qu. Anne; oppressors, betrayers, of the publick trust, and blundering servants, become gradually less and less obnoxious to the people.
Hence it happens, that many unjust proceedings, transmitted to posterity in the fair forms of publick justice unattended with their genuine marks of secret iniquity, have an ill-deserv'd reverence from those men who never examin'd their merit. Had such a venal magistrate as Chief Justice Saunders, or such an over-bearing tyrant as Scroggs who follow'd him, been living in the four last years of Queen Ann's reign, neither the city of London's charter, which the one seized on, nor the innocent blood which the other shed, wou'd have been thought objections of any great weight against such virtuous characters.
The persons who influenced the ill conduct of those times, would not have been caress'd and espoused, had the people been sensible of the former oppression and tyranny; therefore when such as acted extraordinary parts about 20 years ago, would again impose upon an abused people, it shou'd be our care that such proceedings are not forgot when they shou'd be most remember'd.
Here he animadverts on the methods and arts which were practised to remove, supplant, and displace the illustrious D. of Marlborough, and the upright E. of Godolphin; and reflects on the accomplishments, virtue and integrity of those patriots who succeeded them; and from thence infers what noodles the Whigs were in their impeachment against such a Patriot as the late Lord Vis. B———ke, and what Numsculls the Tories were, in their famous protest, against restoring his title to his patrimony.
Lastly, bids us learn to value health by the sight of sickness, and liberty by the sad appearance of civil and religious tyranny.
The Craftsman, Saturday March 27. No. 247.
The Gubstreet Journal, Thursday, March 25. No. 64.
AN abridgment of faithful Memoirs of the LIfe, Amours, &c. of Mrs. Ann Oldfield, by Wm. Egerton, Esq; done by Mr. Mævius, a member of the Grubean society, gives an account that she was born in Pall-mall, 1683. Her grandfather a vintner, her father rode in the guards, and had a Commission under K. James. She was put to a sempstress in King-street, Westminster. Her mother and she liv'd some time with her sister, Mrs. Voss, who kept the mitre tavern in St. Jame's Marker, In 1699, she was introduced to Mr. Rich by Sir J. Vanbrugh. That she expir'd Octob. 23, 1730, left her estate between her two Sons, Manwaring and Churchil; and was buried in Westminster Abby, in a Brussels lace head-dress, a Holland shift, with tucker and double ruffles of the same lace, and a pair of new kid gloves.
Among the several observations Mr. Mevius makes on this Book, of which he gives this character by way of moto from Harlequin Horace,
the following seem most remarkable, viz. The author quotes a passage in Mr. Pope's familier letters to Henry Cromwel. Esq; in which, he says, he would have put over Mr. Maynwaring this sentence of Tully for an Epitaph, Vitæ bene attæ jucundissima est Recordatio; of which the author gives this extrordinary translation. A life well acted is the best remembrance. These letters here referr'd to, Mr. Mævius says, were publish'd without the consent of those gentlemen, and the author was asham'd of them as trivial things, and only excusable from his youth and inexperience.
In the account which the author gives of Mrs Oldfield's sickness and death, he says, Mrs Saunders, who quitted the stage in 1720, attended her constantly, and did the office of priest to the last: Upon which Mr. Mævius remarks, that this one particular will incline this enlighten'd age to have the better opinion of Mrs. Oldfield's religion, because from thence it may be inferr'd, that neither in her health nor sickness, she was ever Priest-ridden.
Universal Spectator, Sat. March 6. No. 126.
COmmon beggers, the author tells us, are for the most part, idle counterfeits, rogues and profligates; who to avoid working, take up this lazy course of life, and by various disguifes and pretences, extort more money from tender-hearted people, that can be imagin'd, which they squander away in drunkenness and revelling; and doubts not but many of 'em who beg at our doors a-days, are ready to pick our pockets, break into our houses, or assult us in the streets by night.
These evils, he says, are owing to the weakness of some good people, who give money to be rid of the miserable appearances and dismal outcries of the vilest rogues and worst of imposters. As a confirmation of this, tells a story of a gentleman crossing Morefields, who was follow'd by a middle-ag'd shabby fellow importunately begging for six-pence. The gentleman wonder'd at his odd demand, and told him he had not for him: But the fellow walk'd along, repeating his intreaties, till finding no likelihood of success—Well, Sir, says he, with a melancholy air. I shall trouble you no more!—but that small matter wou'd have sav'd me from doing what I shall now be forc'd to do!—Then fetching a deep sigh, he shook his head, and slowly mov'd away.—The strangeess of his words and behaviour, struck the gentleman; this poor creature, thought he, by want is grown desperate, and shall my refusal of such a trifle drive him to extremities? With that, calling back the fellow, here, friend, is six-pence for thee; but 'pr'ythee tell me the meaning of what you said just now. The fellow thank'd him, and pocketting the money, Why truly, master, reply'd he, I've been begging here this whole day to little purpose, and unless your charity had sav'd me from it, must have been sorc'd to work, the thoughts of which gave me no small disquiet.
The other part of this discourse having a pretty near affinity with the arguments used in the London Journal No. 602, on the same subject, we refer our readers thereto, in p. 59, 60. No 2. Vol. I.
Read's Journal, Sat. March 27.
HIS Correspondent Cato gives him, in a letter, his notions of Pleasure, which, he says, some so fiercely declaim against, as if all were beasts who have the least appetite to it.
Next, he describes a more considerable party, which he divides into two classes; the first are those who immerse themselves into pleasures. without regard of consequences; the other consists of the more refined debauchees, who, not content with their own guilt, are assiduous to seduce others, by putting reason to the unnatural task of justifying by argument their apostacy from virtue.
Seneca describes the first class, where, he says, there are a sort of people who pass their lives as straws pass through the water, which do not swim but are carried: They borrow their dress from fashion, take their religion upon trust, and for morals never trouble their heads at all; are a sort of living Adjectives, with significations entirely passive.
This argument Crato illustrates by two examples. The first is Sulpitius, whom he pictures as a man of tolerable parts, but thro' the indulgence of his relations, was not suffer'd to submit to the slavery of a proper education; so that he is a downright straw, and owes his motion wholly to the current of the age, which having driven him by chance among the sticklers for liberty, he is a strenuous advocate for freedom, and takes his notions from the common-place topicks on that head. His private life is acted conformable to that of his companions, who are rakes, and passes thro the world like a horse in a carrier's team, never enquiring the road, but joggs on contentedly in the track of others that goes before him.
Clarissa, the other instance he brings, is one of these fluctuating animals, and now about 25. Having, till of late, resided in and about the court, she lives according to the mode, and has not a single folly but she takes from the fashion; her fortune originally 3000l. is now reduc'd to 1200, by balls, &c. and has consum'd 500l. in two years with the mercer and milliner. Her uncle Thrifty, has oblig'd her to retire to a small village in the neighbourhood of Cambridge, where she and her maid are just what they were, the scene is all that's chang'd, and the same airs which were plaid over in the park, the play-house, and the assembly, now entertain the scholastick beaux esprits at her tea-table, the college-walks, or the commencement.
Concludes with a remark on a notion which the author of the Fable of the Bees had broach'd, viz. That the drunkard, the fop, and other extravagants, are the most useful members of society; this is maintain'd by Carus, who in a public company asserted that young Lucilius was no more to blame in keeping a leash of misses, than a man is for eating veal, mutton, and pork, to assuage his hunger, since the appetite in nature is just alike: Your speech, reply'd old Nestor, seems to give the company uneasiness; revenge is a passion and natural, and therefore in justice we may break your neck down stairs.
Fog's Journal, Saturday March 27. No. 135.
A Correspondent informs him in a letter of a representation made to him by a wealthy farmer, that whereas the tythes of his land are very considerable, they are taken away by the lord of the manor, and the parish-church endow'd with but 8 l. per ann. for the maintenance of a minister, who supplies it but once a month. From hence the writer takes occasion to consider the state of vicarage churches, and is concern'd to find that several hundred thousand miserable souls have liv'd and dy'd (as many thousands now are) destitute of the means of instruction in the christian religion.
As an evidence of this sad truth, observes, that in a large, populous town, where a sufficient provision ought to be made for all the parts of divine service, the whole income remaining to the church, is but 15, 20, or 30 l. yearly: Which is a starving support for a gentleman who has spent 8 or 900 l. in his education. The bishop, in this case, must take some raw young man, perhaps a servitor in a college, who, on his being made Batchelor of Arts, petitions his Lordship in the Stile of Eli's posterity, Put me I pray thee, into one of the priest's offices, that I may eat a piece of bread: Whereby the parishioners, thus poorly supplied, the more loosely given fall into atheistical profaneness, and the more soberly inclin'd, are liable to be drawn into separate congregations.
Yet worse in the condition of many lesser vicarage churches, in villages, which are shut up two or three sundays in the month. Of such he reckon 2000 cures within this kingdom that exceed not 10 l. yearly. But allowing the church open'd every other sunday, yet as many of 'em are too meanly endow'd to support a resident Vicar, the miscarriage of many unhappy souls, may be justly charg'd on the alineation of tythes from their proper use.
The Guilt we are under on account of these alienations, and their consequences, he compares with Saul's slaying the Gibeonites, in violation of a national oath, which was punish'd by a three year's famine; and from thence infers, what a number of souls have dy'd in the state of spiritual Destitution, on account of this national act? Says, we are likewise charg'd with a contemptuous disregard to God's worship, by disabling our fellow christians from performing their publick duty, and shutting up and causing many churches to be deserted.
Adds, that the late Queen's bounty was a vast relief to the ministers of these small cures, but of little benefit to the people, because it will not help 'em to a better qualified, much less a resident ministry.
Expresses his concern, that at the reformation so little regard was shewn in this matter, when it was in the power of the then Vicar-general, under Henry VIII. and A. Bp. Cranmer, very easily to have adjusted this grand affair, and settled it upon another foot.
Is more sensibly affected, that another opportunity offer'd at the Revolution, when many favourable circumstances concurr'd, and the bishops had endear'd themselves to the nation by their steady, resolute, and zealous behaviour; our purses full, taxes small, and a free trade with all nations: But this important article was not thought of, and the consequence was, that providence has taken measures to draw above fifty times more out of our pockets, than would have effectually provided for it.
The London Journal, Sat, March 27. No. 609.
MR. Osborne pursues his discourse on the causes and remedies of Corruption (See p. 107 of this number) and lays it down, That wrong Education is the root and source of all corruption? that the education of our youth ought to be committed to the care of men of knowledge, wisdom, and virtue; men who will form 'em for action, and fill their souls with great and sublime idea's of publick spirit, love of country, and love of mankind.
All governments are oblig'd to take cognizance of their Universities, and publick Schools; and every family to be careful what principles they teach, and what examples they set before their off-spring.
Our All, he says, depends upon education, and nothing is more neglected or mismanag'd? the inculcating in our youth propositions in divinity, is to puzzle, nor to teach, and to confound, not inftruct 'em; instead of which they should be led gradully to see the Reason of Action, what they ought to do, as creatures of such a constitution, and so related in life; which is teaching them virtue, and giving them just notions of pleasure, good and happiness, which arises only from the practice of temperance, justice and benevolence; that when they are thoroughly convinc'd of the reason of action, that there is a beauty and order in things, they are then prepared to receive religion, and are led from the effects to the cause.
Says, politicks, or the art of governing men, can't be obtain'd without knowing what men are, and what actions naturally tend to make them happy; that the sole end of government is the happiness of men; and the laws of nature and society differ only in this, that the laws of society oblige men by temporal sanctions and terror to do and forbear what, if they were wise, they would do and forbear, were there no laws in being.
Concludes with this remark, That under a false notion of politeness, young persons are suffer'd to do what they please, whereas they should be taught self-denial in every thing that may hurt them, or injure others; so will they be led to see, that the very essence of right conduct consists in being able to refuse our selves present and momentary gratifications, for the sake of a more durable, a constant and never-failing good.
Weekly Register, March 27. No. 50.
AN essay upon happiness is inclosed in a letter to the Register, wherein the author recounts several opinions of others as well as his own on that subject. Some of the ancient philosophers endeavour'd to show, that happiness did not consist in riches: True, says he, but then it does not consist in poverty; others, that it did not consist in pleasure; not altogether, but surely it does not consist in pain. The Stoicks commendably plac'd it in virtue alone; but neither did they wholly come up to the thing proposed. Happiness is the butt or point, at which human wit has, thro' all ages, been levelling its arrows, but the marksman was never found.
Our author's opinion is, that human felicity doth not so much consist in superior learning, genius, wisdom, wealth, reputation, and the like, as in a pecular cast of a man's mind, in a certain luckiness of constitution. There is in some men an easy and contented spirit born with them; a joyousness or glee of soul, which shews them every thing in gay and good-humour'd lights; disposes them to be pleased with every thing, and accompanies them equally at all times, and under all circumstances. Sorrow scarce knows the way to their hearts, they are rarely much affected, unless by some great and uncommon stroke of adverfity. A man of this cast sits down free from every care, while the wealthy, the powerful, the wise and virtuous feel pangs from a thousand causes that never touch them. It is this genial temper of soul, he imagines, that seems to bid fairest for happines. To this he adds the happiness which noble minds enjoy, the power of communicating it to others, or the ability of doing stood.
Concludes, there is no such thing in nature as absolute happiness; and that 'tis impossible to conceive rightly about it, or to form a definition of it consistent with Humanity. Men, for the most part, are happy only comparatively, or in respect of the unhappiness of their fellow-creatures. The content or happiness which some have plac'd in a retirement from the cares and tumults of the world, he calls a life of insipidity and void of sensation, and is at best a meer freedom from pain. To be happy, therefore, is to possess as much of the benefits of life, as persons of our rank ordinarily do, and to be as free from the evils and torments of it: All beyond this is a picture of our own creation, and a gay illusive idea.
The Daily Post, Tuesday March 30.
A Letter in answer to one in the Daily Courant, (See p. 98. No. III.)
REmarks that the position advanced by the latter, namely, that the records of the present and past ages will become obsolete by the introduction of a new language and character into the proceedings of the law, is wrong, because practisers must for a long time have recourse thereto, and therefore will be obliged to acquaint themselves with the old language and character.
Another difficulty started by the writer of the Courant, is, the fluctuation of our language, whereby it may become unintelligible to posterity, as Chaucer and Gower are now. To this it's reply'd, That before the Reformation the statutes were in Latin and French, but ever since in English; and the most important acts, relating to our liberties and constitution, are all enacted in our own language; and surely we may commit the proceedings of our courts, and the decisions of private property to our own mother tongue. Neither is it just or compatible with the freedom of a polite and brave people, that their judicial process should be enter'd up in an unknown tongue, and influenced by chicanery and artifice,
What was advanced (p.98.) in the Courant in favour of special pleadings, our author makes an argument for their abolition, namely, that if special pleadings were removed, there would be more Trials, and the righteousness of every man's claim enquired into.
To the objection in regard to the number of Attornies; and that the publick was nor concern'd therein, our author says, that the publick has a right to enquire into every thing, when and as often as it judges necessary.
For these reasons he thinks, that reforming the Profession, and carrying on the proceedings of the law in our own language, is a useful and necessary work; and that whatever reign and administration shall com-compleat so noble a design, they will receive the unanimous thanks and applause of their own age, and be remembered with honour by their posterity. (See the Act for Englishing Law Proceedings, p. 213.)