Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

It is true, I have been much concerned, for feveral years paft, upon account of the publick as well as for myfelf, to fee how ill a taste for wit and fenfe prevails in the world, which Politics, and South-fea, and Party, and Opera's, and Masquerades have introduced. For, befides many infipid papers which the malice of fome hath entitled me to, there are many perfons appearing to wish me well, and pretending to be judges of my ftyle and manner, who have yet afcribed fome writings to me, of which any man of common fense and literature would be heartily afhamed. I cannot forbear inftancing a Treatife called a Dedication upon Dedications, which many would have to be mine, although it be as empty, dry, and fervile a compofition, as I remember at any time to have read. But above all, there is one Circumftance which makes it impoffible for me to have been Author of a Treatife, wherein there are several pages containing a Panegyric on King George, of whofe character and perfon I am utterly ignorant, nor ever had once the curiofity to enquire into either, living at so great a distance as I do, and having long done with whatever can relate to public matters.

Indeed I have formerly delivered my thoughts very 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 fo far out-done by the Earl of Oxford in my own trade as a Scholar, and too good a courtier not to

concerning the law of the twelve tables, may be modeftly applied to ours. Fremant omnes licet, dicam quod "fentio bibliothecas mehercule omnium Philofopho66 rum unum mihi videtur Pandectarum volumen et au"thoritatis pondere et utilitatis ubertate fuperare." But the best proof of its moral efficacy is the manners of its profeffors: and thefe, in every age, have been fuch as were the first improved, or the last corrupted.

discover

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 Ministers ready enough to hear Opinions, yet I have hardly feen one that would ever defcend to take Advice; and this pedantry arifeth from a Maxim themselves do not believe at the fame time they practife by it, that there is fomething profound in Politics, which men of plain honest sense cannot arrive to.

I only wish 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 not have been the worse, nor the Proteftant Succeffion endangered.

But, whatever opportunities a conftant attendance of four years might have given me for endeavouring to do good offices to particular perfons,. I deferve at least to find tolerable quarter from those of the other Party; for many of which I was a conftant advocate with the Earl of Oxford, and for this I appeal to his Lordship: He knows how often I preffed him in favour of Mr. Addifon, Mr. Congreve, Mr. Row, and Mr. Steel; although I freely confefs that his Lordship's kindnefs 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 remembrancer. For I can never forget the answer he gave to the late Lord Hallifax, who upon the first change of the Miniftry interceded with him to fpare Mr. Congreve: It was by repeating these two lines of Virgil,

Non obtufa adeo geftamus pectora Pceni,
--Nec tam averfus equos Tyria Sol jungit ab urbe.

Pur

Pursuant to which, he always treated Mr. Congreve with the greateft perfonal civilities, affuring him of his conftant favour and protection, and adding that he would ftudy to do fomething better for him.

*

I remember it was in thofe times a ufual subject of raillery towards me among the Minifters, that I never came to them without a Whig in my sleeve; which I do not fay with any view towards making my Court: For, the new Principles fixed to those of that denomination, 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 Minifters of State of all parties than ufually happens 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 score of Vanity or Ambition. The first 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 neceffity of being a flave to men in power, but chofe my friends by their perfonal merit, without. examining how far their notions agreed with the politics then in vogue. I frequently conversed with Mr. Addison, and the others I named (except Mr. Steel) 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

He means particularly the principle at that time charged upon them, by their Enemies, of an intention to profcribe the Tories.

VOL. IX.

meet

meet at my Lord Sommers * or Hallifax, who were leaders of the oppofite Party.

I would infer from all this, that it is with great injuftice I have these many years been pelted by your Pamphleteers, merely upon account of fome regard which the Queen's laft Ministers were pleased to have for me: and yet in my confcience I think I am a partaker in every ill defign they had against the Proteftant Succeffion, or the Liberties and Religion of their Country; and can fay with Cicero, "that I fhould be proud to be included with them

in all their actions tanquam in equo Trojano." But if I have never difcovered by my words, writings, or actions, any Party virulence +, or dangerous defigns against the prefent powers; if my friendship and converfation were equally fhewn among those who liked or difapproved the proceedings then at Court, and that I was known to be a common Friend of all deferving persons of the latter fort, when they were in diftrefs; I cannot but think it hard, that I am not fuffered to run quietly among the common herd of people, whofe opinions unfortunately differ from thofe 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 Majefty. Whether thofe on your fide have changed or not, it hath not been my business to enquire. I remember my excellent friend Mr. Addison, when he first came over hither Secretary to the Earl of

* Lord Sommers had very warmly recommended Dr. Swift to the favour of Lord Wharton when he went the Queen's Lieutenant into Ireland, in the year 1709. + The Examiners, I fuppofe, were not then published amongst the Dean's works.

He lays before, that they had changed.

Wharton

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 seemed to think, that the principles of a Whig confifted in nothing elfe but damning the Church, reviling the Clergy, abetting the Diffenters, and speaking contemptibly of revealed Religion.

I was difcourfing fome years ago with a certain Minifter about that whiggifh or fanatical Genius, fo prevalent among the English of this kingdom! his Lordship accounted for it by that number of Cromwell's Soldiers, adventurers eftablished here, who were all of the foureft leven, and the meanest birth, and whose pofterity are now in poffeffion of their lands and their principles. However, it must be confeffed, that of late fome people in this country are grown weary of quarrelling, becaufe inte reft, the great motive of quarrelling, is at an end; for, it is hardly worth contending who fhall be an Excifeman, a Country-Vicar, a Cryer in the Courts, or an Under-Clerk.

You will perhaps be inclined to think, that a perfon fo ill treated as I have been, muft at some time or other have difcovered very dangerous opinions in government; in answer to which, I will tell you what my Political principles were in the time of her late glorious Majefty, which I never contradicted by any action, writing, or difcourse.

First, I always declared myself against a Popish Succeffor to the Crown, whatever Title he might have by the próximity of blood: Neither did I ever regard the right line, except upon two accounts: first, as it was established by law; and fecondly, as it hath much weight in the opinions of the people. For neceffity may abolish any Law, but cannot alter the fentiments of the vulgar; Right of inheritance being perhaps the inoft popular of.

C 2

all

« VorigeDoorgaan »