lic service, and passed through the highest employments of state, in the most difficult times, with great abilities and untainted honour. As he was of a good old age, his principles of religion and loyalty had received no mixture from late infusions, but were instilled into him by his illustrious father, and other noble spirits, who had exposed their lives and fortunes for the royal martyr : -Pulcherrima proles, Magnanimi heroes nati melioribus annis. His first great action was like Scipio, to defend his father when oppressed by numbers; and his filial piety was not only rewarded with long life, but with a son, who, upon the like occasion, would have shown the same resolution.* No man ever preserved his dignity better grace uses this odd expression: "When one considers that his relation to her was by such a sort of accident, 'tis an amazing thing that he should imagine that he was to domineer over the queen, and every body else, as he did over his own family." Now, the accident alluded to was that of the queen's father, when Duke of York, fulfilling the solemn contract under which he had been admitted to her mother's bed; without which accident, it seems pretty clear, that Queen Anne either would not have existed at all, or certainly would not have mounted the throne. The duchess makes the same confusion respecting the queen's identity, which embarrassed the poor Irishman who complained of being changed at nurse. * Dr Burton, speaking of Edward Earl of Clarendon, says, " I cannot omit this remarkable circumstance in favour of his innocency, that when the tumultuous perplexed charge of accumulated treasons was preferred against him by the Commons, his son, Lawrence, then a member of that House, stept forth with this brave defiance to his accusers, That if they could make out any proof of any one single article, he would, as he was authorized, join in the condemnation of his father.”—Genuineness of Clarendon's History, p. 111. when he was out of power, nor showed more affability while he was in. To conclude, his character (which I do not here pretend to draw) is such as his nearest friends may safely trust to the most impartial pen; nor wants the least of that allowance, which, they say, is required for those who are dead. No. XLI. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1711. -Quem cur distringere coner, Tutus ab infestis latronibus ? -Safe it lies Within the sheath, till thieves and villains rise. I NEVER let slip an opportunity of endeavouring to convince the world, that I am not partial; and to confound the idle reproach of my being hired or directed what to write in defence of the present ministry, or for detecting the practices of the former. When I first undertook this paper, I firmly resolved, that if ever I observed any gross neglect, abuse, or corruption in the public management, which might give any just offence to reasonable people; I would take notice of it with that innocent boldness which becomes an honest man, and a true lover of his country; at the same time preserving the respect due to persons so highly entrusted by so wise and excellent a queen. I know not how such a liberty might have been resented; but I thank God there has been no occasion given me to exercise it; for I can safely affirm, that I have with the utmost rigour examined all the actions of the present ministry, as far as they fall under general cognizance, without being able to accuse them of one ill or mistaken step. Observing, indeed, some time ago, that seeds of dissension had been plentifully scattered from a certain corner, and fearing they began to rise and spread, I immediately writ a paper on the subject, which I treated with that warmth I thought it required; but the prudence of those at the helm soon prevented this growing evil; and at present it seems likely to have no consequences. I have had indeed for some time a small occasion of quarrelling, which I thought too inconsiderable for a formal subject of complaint, although I have hinted at it more than once. But it is grown at present to as great a height, as a matter of that nature can possibly bear; and therefore I conceive it high time that an effectual stop should be put to it. I have been amazed at the flaming licentiousness of several weekly papers, which, for some months past, have been chiefly employed in barefaced scurrilities against those who are in the greatest trust and favour with the queen, with the first and last letters of their names frequently printed, or some periphrasis describing their station, or other innuendoes contrived too plain to be mistaken. The consequence of which is, (and it is natural it should be so,) that their long impunity has rendered them still more audacious. At this time I particularly intend a paper called the Medley; whose indefatigable incessant railings against * A paper which was published regularly in answer to the Examiner, and to which we have already often referred. Mainwar me I never thought convenient to take notice of, because it would have diverted my design, which I intended to be of public use. Besides, I never yet observed that writer, or those writers, (for it is every way a Medley,) to argue against any one material point or fact that I had advanced, or make one fair quotation. And after all, I knew very well how soon the world grow weary of controversy. It is plain to me, that three or four hands at least have been joined at times in that worthy composition; but the outlines, as well as the finishing, seem to have been always the work of the same pen, as it is visible from half a score beauties of style inseparable from it. But who these Medlers are, or where the judicious leaders have picked them up, I shall never go about to conjecture; factious rancour, false wit, abandoned' scurrility, impudent falsehood, and servile pedantry, having so many fathers, and so few to own them, that curiosity herself would not be at the pains to guess. It is the first time I ever did myself the honour to mention that admirable paper; nor could I imagine any occasion likely to happen that would make it necessary for me to engage with such an adversary. This paper is weekly published, and, as appears by the number, has been so for several months; and is, next to the Observator, allowed to be the best production of the party. Last week my printer brought me that of May 7, No. 32, where there are two paragraphs* relating to the speaker of the House of ing was the principal writer, but he seems to have had occasional hints from Addison and Steele. *The following are the two offensive paragraphs, as to which it is scarce necessary to observe, that the Examiner pretends to understand the abuse directed against his own paper, as applicable to the address of the House of Commons to Mr Harley : Commons, and to Mr Harley, which, as little as I am inclined to engage with such an antagonist, I cannot let "In the first place, whenever any body would praise another, all he can say will have no weight or effect, if it be not true or probable. If, therefore, for example, my friend should take it into his head to commend a man for having been an instrument of great good to a nation, when in truth that very person had brought that same nation under great difficulties, to say no more; such ill chosen flattery would be of no use or moment, nor add the least credit to the persons so commended. Or if he should take that occasion to revive ary false and groundless calumny upon other men, or another party of men; such an instance of impotent, but inveterate malice, would make him still appear more vile and contemptible. The reason of all which is, that what he said was neither just, proper, nor real, and, therefore, must needs want the force of true eloquence, which consists in nothing else but in well representing things as they really are. I, therefore, advise my friend, before he praises any more of his heroes, to learn the common rules of writing; and particularly to read over and over a certain chapter in Aristotle's first book of Rhetoric, where are given very proper and necessary directions for praising a man who has done nothing that he ought to be praised for." "But the ancients did not think it enough for men to speak what was true or probable, they required further, that their orators should be heartily in earnest; and that they should have all those motions and affections in their own minds which they endeavoured to raise in others. He that thinks, says Cicero, to warm others with his eloquence, must first be warm himself. And Quintilian We must first be affected ourselves before we can move others. says, This made Pliny's panegyric upon Trajan so well received by his hearers, because every body knew the wonderful esteem and affection which he had for the person he commended: and, therefore, when he concluded with a prayer to Jupiter, that he would take care of the life and safety of that great and good man, which he said contained in it all other blessings; though the expression was so high, it passed very well with those that heard him, as being agreeable to the known sentiments and affection of the speaker. Whereas, if my friend should be known to bear ill will to another |