However, I must acknowledge myself indebted to them for one hint, which I shall now pursue, although in a different manner. Since the fall of the late ministry I have feen many papers filled with their encomiums; I conceive, in imitation of thofe, who write the lives of famous men, where after their deaths immediately follow their characters. When I faw the poor virtues thus dealt at random, I thought the difpofers had flung their names, like valentines, into a hat to be drawn, as fortune pleased, by the junto and their friends. There Craffus drew liberality and gratitude; Fulvia, humility and gentleness; Clodius, piety and juftice; Gracchus, loyalty to his prince; Cinna, love of his country and conftitution; and fo of the reft. Or, to quit this allegory, I have often feen of late the whole fett of discarded statesmen celebrated by their judicious hirelings for those very qualities, which their admirers owned they chiefly wanted. Did these heroes put off and lock up their virtues, when they came into employment; and have they now refumed them, fince their difmiffions? If they wore them, I am fure it was under their greatness, and without ever once convincing the world of their vifibility or influence. But, why should not the prefent miniftry find a pen to praise them, as well as the laft? This is what I fhall now undertake; and it may be more impartial in me, from whom they have deferved fo little. I have, without being called, ferved them half a year in quality of champion; and, by help of the QUEEN, and a majority of nine in ten of the kingdom, have been able to protect them against a routed cabal of hated politicians with a dozen of scriblers at their head: yet, fo far have they been from rewarding me fuitable to my deferts, that to this day they never fo much as fent to the printer to enquire, who I was; although I have known a time and ministry, where a perfon of half my merit and confideration would have had fifty promises; and in the mean time, a penfion fettled on him, whereof the first quarter fhould be honeftly paid. Therefore my refentments shall fo far prevail, that in praifing thofe, who are now at the head of affairs, I fhall at the fame time take notice of their defects. Was any man more eminent in his profeffion than the prefent lord keeper *, or more distinguished by his eloquence and great abilities in the houfe of commons? and will not his enemies allow him to be fully equal to the great ftation he now adorns? But then it must be granted, that he is wholly ignorant in the fpeculative, as well as practical part of polygamy; he knows not how to metamorphofe a fober man into a lunatick; he is no free-thinker in religion, nor hath courage to be patron of an atheistical book, while he is guardian of the QUEEN's confcience. Although after all, to speak my private opinion, I cannot think thefe fuch mighty objections to his character, as some would pretend. The perfon + who now prefides at the council, is defcended from a great and honourable father, not from the dregs of the people; he was at the head of the treafury for fome years, and rather chose to enrich his prince than himself. In the *Sir Simon Harcourt, afterwards lord Harcourt, was made lord keeper upon the refignation of lord chancellor Cowper. Laurence Hyde, late earl of Rochefter, in the room of lord Somers. heighth heighth of favour and credit, he facrificed the greatest employment in the kingdom to his confcience and honour; he hath been always firm in his loyalty and religion, zealous for fupporting the prerogative of the crown, and preferving the liberties of the people. But then his beft friends muft own, that he is neither deift nor focinian; he hath never converfed with Toland to open and enlarge his thoughts, and difpel the prejudices of education; nor was he ever able to arrive at that perfection of gallantry, to ruin and imprison the bufband, in order to keep the wife without disturbance.. The prefent lord fteward* hath been always diftinguished for his wit and knowledge; is of confummate wisdom and experience in affairs; hath continued constant to the true intereft of the nation, which he efpoufed from the beginning; and is every way qualified to fupport the dignity of his office: but in point of oratory, muft give place to his predeceffor. * The duke of Buckingham and Normanby, in the room of the duke of Devonshire. * The duke of Shrewsbury was highly instrumental in bringing about the revolution, in which service he freely exposed his life and fortune. He hath ever been the favourite of the nation, being poffeffed of all the amiable qualities that can accomplish a great man; but in the agreeableness and fragrancy of his perfon, and the profoundnefs of his politicks, must be allowed to fall very fhort of Mr. Harley had the honour of being chofen fpeaker fucceffively to three parliaments. He was the first of late years, who ventured to restore the forgotten custom of treating his PRINCE with duty and respect; eafy and difengaged in private conversation with fuch a weight of affairs upon his shoulders; of great learning, and as great a favourer and protector of it; intrepid by nature, as well as by the confcioufness of his own integrity; and a defpifer of money; pursuing the true interest of his PRINCE and country against all obstacles; fagacious to view into the remotest |