mon murderer of them and their preachers, with many other false and improbable stories. * But the reader, I hope, from whom I have not concealed any one transaction or adventure that happened to me among those rebellious people, or misrepresented the least circumstance, as far as my memory could serve me, will judge whether he hath reason to believe me to have been such a person as they represented; and to hate me, as they do, upon that account. account. And And my comfort is, that I can appeal from their unjust tribunal, to the mercy of God; before whom, by the course of nature, I must soon appear; who knows the integrity of my heart, and that my actions (condemned by them) were, as far as my understanding could direct me, meant for the good of the church, and the service of my king and country.

And although such people hate me, because they give credit to the false reports raised concerning

* During the childhood of the present editor, many stories were current, about the persecution, which are probably now forgotten. One old man was often mentioned to him, who had survived these scenes more than half a century, and had himself been an active persecutor, a follower, it was believed, of Grierson of Lag. This man was spoken of with a strange mixture of abhorrence, terror, and something approaching to respect. The poor in his neighbourhood avoided him in social intercourse, but were ready to minister to his wants, for he was himself in poverty. As far as could be learned, he was, like Creichton, an enthusiast in the episcopal persuasion, and a firm believer in the justice of all that he had done. He was regular in his devotions from the Common Prayer, silent and grave in conversation, and lived, as it were, alone in the world, without meeting sympathy from a human being. No one ventured to ask him of the deeds he had done or witnessed, nor did he himself ever talk upon the subject. The generation then alive only knew his character and exploits from the report of their fathers, whose embittered hatred had, in the succeeding generation, sunk into a sort of superstitious dislike and dread. This person probably died about 1750 This cha acter is here noticed as an illustration of what Creichton mentions in the text.

me, another comfort left me in my old age is, that I have constantly preserved (and still do so) the love and esteem of all honest and good men, to whom I have had the happiness at any time to be known.

JOHN CREICHTON.

IN THE YEAR of our lord, 1730.

NOTES

ON

ADDISON's FREEHOLDER.

The Freeholder, it must be remembered, was a kind of political Spectator, published periodically, with the purpose of reconciling the people of England to the accession of the House of Hanover. These papers, while they exhibit the exquisite humour and solid sense peculiar to the author, shew also, even amid the strife of party, that philanthropy and gentleness of nature, which were equally his distinguishing attributes. None of these qualities would have conciliated his great opponent Swift, had the field of combat yet remained open to him. But as he withdrew from it in sullen indignation, he seems to have thrown out the following flashes of satire, as brief examples of what he would have done had the hour of answer been yet current.

The following MS. Notes were transcribed from the original, in Swift's own hand, in Addison's Freeholder, which belonged to Dr Bernard, late Bishop of Limerick.

FREEHOLDER, No. 2.-Character of George I.

"It was by this (this firmness of mind) that he surmounted those many difficulties which lay in

the way to his succession."-What difficulties were those, or what methods did he take to surmount them? Swift.

"It is observed by Sir William Temple, that the English are particularly fond of a king who is valiant upon which account his majesty has a title to all the esteem that can be paid to a most warlike prince; though, at the same time, for the good of his subjects, he studies to decline all occasions of military glory."-This seems to be a discovery. S.

"I might here take notice of his majesty's more private virtues, but have rather chosen to remind my countrymen of the public parts of his character."-This is prudent. S.

"But the most remarkable interpositions of Providence in favour of him, have appeared in removing those seemingly invincible obstacles to his succession; in taking away, at so critical a juncture, the person who might have proved a dangerous enemy, &c."-False, groundless, invidious, and ungrateful. Was that person the queen? S. No. 3. Ludicrous account of the principles of the Northumberland insurgents, and the causes of their taking arms.-Could this author, or his party, of fer as good reasons for their infamous treatment of our blessed queen's person, government, and majesty? S.

The same. "Having been joined by a considerable reinforcement of Roman Catholics, whom we could rely upon, as knowing them to be the best Tories in the nation, and avowed enemies to Presbyterianism."-By this irony, the best Whigs are professed friends to fanatics. S.

The same. "But before we could give the word, the train-bands, taking advantage of our delay, fled first."-An argument for a standing army. S.

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