imagine, if this had fallen into the fancy of the ancient poets, they would have dreffed it up after their manner into an agreeable fiction; and given as a genealogy and description of merit, perhaps not very different from that which follows.

A poetical genealogy and defcription of

MERIT.

"THAT true Merit was the fon of "Virtue and Honour; but that there was "likewise a fpurious child, who ufurped "the name, and whofe parents were Va

nity and Impudence. That at a diftance "there was a great refemblance between "them, and they were often miftaken for "each other. That the baftard iffue had "a loud fhrill voice, which was perpetually

employed in cravings and complaints; "while the other never spoke louder than "a whisper, and was often fo bafhful, that "he could not speak at all. That in all great affemblies the falfe Merit would

step before the true, and stand just in "his way; was conftantly at court, or "great mens levees, or whispering in fome "minifter's ear. That the more you fed

« him,

"him, the more hungry and importunate "he grew. That he often paffed for the true fon of Virtue and Honour, and the

genuine for an impoftor. That he was "born distorted and a dwarf, but by force "of art appeared of a handfome fhape, "and taller than the ufual fize; and that

none but those, who were wife and good

as well as vigilant, could discover his "littleness or deformity. That the true "Merit had been often forced to the in"dignity of applying to the false for his "credit with thofe in power, and to keep "himself from ftarving. That falfe Merit "filled the anti-chambers with a crew of "his dependents and creatures, fuch as projectors, fchematifts, occafional converts

to a party, proftitute flatterers, ftarveling "writers, buffoons, fhallow politicians, empty orators, and the like; who all owned "him for their patron, and grew difcontented, if they were not immediately "fed."

This metaphorical defcription of falfe Merit is, I doubt, calculated for moft countries in chriftendom; as to our own,

I believe it may be faid with a fufficient reserve of charity, that we are fully able to reward every man among us according to his real defervings: and I think, I may add without fufpicion of flattery, that never any prince had a miniftry with a better judgment to diftinguish between falfe and real merit, than that which is now at the helm; or whose inclination, as well as interest, was greater to encourage the latter. And it ought to be obferved, that those great and excellent persons we see at the head of affairs, are of the queen's own, perfonal, voluntary choice; not forced upon her by any infolent, over-grown favourite, or by the pretended neceffity of complying with an unruly faction.

Yet these are the perfons, whom those fcandals to the press in their daily pamphlets and papers openly revile at fo ignominious a rate, as I believe was never tolerated before under any government. For furely no lawful power derived from a prince fhould be fo far affronted, as to leave those who are in authority exposed to every fcurrilous libeller: because in this point I make a mighty difference

between

between those who are in, and those who are out of power; not upon any regard to their perfons, but the stations they are placed in by the fovereign. And if my diftinction be right, I think I might appeal to any man, whether if a stranger were to read the invectives which are daily published against the present ministry, and the outrageous fury of the authors against me for cenfuring the laft; he would not conclude the whigs to be at this time in full poffeffion of power and favour, and the tories entirely at mercy. But all this now ceafes to be a wonder, fince the queen herself is no longer fpared; witness the libel published fome days ago under the title of A letter to fir Jacob Banks, where the reflections upon her facred majesty are much more plain and direct, than ever the Examiner thought fit to publifh against the most obnoxious perfons in a miniftry difcarded for endeavouring the ruin of their prince and country. Cæfar indeed threatened to hang the pirates for prefuming to disturb him, while he was their prifoner aboard their fhip. But it was Cæfar who did fo, and he did it to a crew

of

of publick robbers; and it became the greatnefs of his fpirit, for he lived to execute what he had threatened. Had they been in his power and fent fuch a meffage, it could be imputed to nothing but the extremes of impudence, folly, or madness.

I had a letter last week relating to Mr. Greenfields an epifcopal clergyman of Scotland, and the writer feems to be a gentleman of that part of Britain. I remember formerly to have read a printed account of Mr. Greenfields's cafe, who has been. profecuted and filenced for no other reafon befides reading divine fervice after the manner of the church of England to his own congregation, who defired it; though, as the gentleman who writes to me fays, there is no law in Scotland against those meetings; and he adds, that the fentence pronounced against Mr. Greenfields will foon be affirmed, if fome care be not taken to prevent it. I am altogether uninformed in the particulars of this cafe, and befides, to treat it justly would not come within the compass of my paper; therefore I could wifh the gentleman would undertake it in a difcourfe by itself; and I fhould be glad