"[for his republican notions] than that a * popular government was the most frugal; "for that the trappings of a monarchy "would fet up an ordinary Common" wealth *."

In the Είκων Βασιλικη King Charles fays, or is made to fay, "that Kings "are the greatest patrons of law, juftice, "order, and religion, on earth."

To this Milton replies, "What pa

trons they be God in fcripture oft "enough hath expreft; and the earth "itself hath too long groaned under the burden of their injuftice, diforder, and irreligion +."

A plain man would think this a better reafon, if true, for a republican govern

*Life, p.1436

Iconoclaftes, chap. xxviii.

I 2

ment,

ment, than merely the expence of monarchy. But let the Biographer have his

way.

It is furely a very narrow policy that "fuppofes money to be the chief good." But it is as furely afferted by us, that no modest man can find any fuch pofition in all Milton's works. The political maxim, that money is not the chiefeft good, would ftand with a much fairer face in

the tract intituled, "Taxation no Ty

.66

ranny," in order to prevail with the people to bleed freely, and fubmit chearfully to the pecuniary demands of the miniftry; for that the expence of a court is for the most part only a particular "kind of traffick, by which money is "circulated without any national impo"verifhment."

Tritical

Tritical aphorifms fhould be univerfally and unequivocally true, unlimited by fuch infertions, as, for the most part. The expence of a court is an expreffion relative to a thousand articles beyond what Milton called the trappings of monarchy. Admit that a traffic, not detrimental, to the nation, might be carried on with those who furnish the articles comprehended in what is called the civil lift, yet are thofe articles all the traffic which comes within the defcription of the 66. expence of a court ?? Have we not heard, fome centuries ago, of trafficking -with court-money and court-honey, for courtly votes, and courtly effays, to countenance and abet courtly encroachments; wherein a reciprocation of profit

is ftipulated upon the evangelical terms of Give, and it shall be given unto you?

In the common eftimation of the world individuals are impoverished by their debts; and it would be ftrange if national debt should have no tendency to national poverty; and it would be ftill ftranger, if, when the account of our own debts come to be audited, no part of them fhould appear to have been contracted by the expence of a court.

Dr. Johnfon is afraid that Milton's republicanifm was founded in an envious "hatred of greatness, and a fullen defire "of independence; in petulance, im

patient of controul; and pride, dif"dainful of fuperiority. He hated mo"narchs in the ftate, and prelates in the

"church;

church; for he hated all whom he was "required to obey. It is to be fufpected, "that his predominant defire was to de"ftroy, rather than to eftablish, and "that he felt not fo much the love of

liberty, as repugnance to authority."

Great is the witchcraft of words, and it prevaileth! How many readers will be impofed upon by this unmanly abuse of Milton, who will never confider that the following character is at least equally true of his calumniator!

«It is to be feared that's loyalty was founded on an idolatrous veneration of greatnefs, and an abject fondnefs for dependence; in fycophantfy, impatient of hunger and philofophy, and in a meannefs difdainful of no lu