would be to go out of the way for occafion of quarrelling. But exceffive avarice in a general is, I think, the greatest defect he can be liable to, next to the want of courage and conduct, and may be attended with the most ruinous confequences, as it was in Craffus, who to that vice alone owed the deftruction of himself and his army. It is the fame thing in praising mens excellencies; which are more or lefs valuable, as the perfon you commend hath occafion to employ them. A man may perhaps mean honeftly; yet if he be not able to spell, he shall never have my vote to be a fecretary. Another may have wit and learning in a poft where honesty with plain common sense are of much more ufe. You may praise a foldier for his skill at chefs, because it is faid to be a military game, and the emblem of drawing up an army; but this to a treasurer would be no more a compliment, than if you called him a gamefter, or a jockey.

P. S. I have received a letter relating to Mr. Greenfields; the perfon that fent it may know, that I will fay fomething to it in the next paper.

NUM

NUMBER XXX.

Thursday, February 22, 1710.

Quae enim domus tam ftabilis, quae tam firma civitas eft, quae non odiis atque diffidiis funditus poffit everti?

I

F we examine what focieties of men are in closest union among themselves, we fhall find them either to be thofe, who are engaged in fome evil defign, or who labour under one common misfortune. Thus the troops of banditti in feveral countries abroad, the knots of highwaymen in our own nation, the several tribes of harpers, thieves, and pick-pockets, with many others, are fo firmly knit together, that nothing is more difficult than to break or diffolve their feveral gangs: fo likewise those, who are fellow-fufferers under any misfortune, whether it be in reality or opinion, are ufually contracted into a very strict union; as we may obferve in the papifts throughout this kingdom under thofe real difficulties, which are justly put on them; and in the feveral fchifms of prefbyterians, and

other

other fects, under that grievous perfecution of the modern kind, called want of power. And the reafon why fuch confederacies are kept fo facred and inviolable, is very plain; because in each of thofe cafes I have mentioned, the whole body is moved by one fpirit in pursuit of one general end, and the intereft of individuals is not croffed by each other, or by the whole.

Now both these motives are joined to unite the high-flying whigs at prefent: they have been always engaged in an evil defign, and of late they are faft, or rivetted by that terrible calamity, the lofs of power. So that whatever defign a mischievous crew of dark confederates may poffibly entertain, who will ftop at no means to compass them, may be juftly apprehended from these.

On the other fide, thofe who wish well to the publick, and would gladly contribute to its fervice, are apt to differ in their opinions about the methods of promoting it; and when their party flourishes, are fometimes envious at thofe in power; ready to over-value their own merit, and be impatient until it be rewarded by the mea

fure

fure they have prefcribed for themselves. There is a farther topick of contention, which a ruling party is apt to fall into in relation to retrospections, and enquiry into paft mifcarriages; wherein fome are thought too warm and zealous, others too cool and remifs; while in the mean time thefe divifions are induftriously fomented by the discarded faction; which, although it be an old practice, hath been much improved in the schools of the jefuits, who, when they defpaired of perverting this nation to popery by arguments or plots against the ftate, fent their emiffaries to fubdivide us into fchifms. And this expedient is now with great propriety taken up by our men of incenfed moderation; because they fuppose themselves able to attack the strongest of our fubdivifions, and to fubdue us one after another. Nothing better resembles this proceeding, than that famous combat between the Horatii and Curiatii; where two of the former being killed, the third, who remained entire and untouched, was able to kill his three wounded adverfaries, after he had divided them by a ftratagem. I well know with how tender a hand all

this fhould be touched; yet at the fame time I think it my duty to warn the friends, as well as expofe the enemies of the publick weal; and to begin preaching up union upon the firft fufpicion, that any steps are made to disturb it.

But the two chief fubjects of difcontent, which upon most great changes in the management of publick affairs are apt to breed differences among thofe who are in poffeffion, are what I have juft now mentioned; a defire of punishing the corruption of former managers; and the rewarding merit among thofe who have been any way inftrumental or confenting to the change. The firft of thefe is a point fo nice, that I shall purpofcly wave it: but the latter I take to fall properly within my diftrict. By merit I here understand that value, which every man puts upon his own defervings from the publick. And I believe, there could not be a more difficult employment found out, than that of paymafter-general to this fort of merit; or a more noify, crowded place, than a court of judicature erected to fettle and adjust every man's claim upon that article. I

imagine,