upon the diffolution of the laft. It is acknowledged, that this excellent affembly hath entirely recovered the honour of parliaments, which had been unhappily prostituted for fome years past by the factious proceedings of an unnatural majority in concert with a most corrupt administration. It is plain by the prefent choice of members, that the electors of England, when left to themselves, do rightly underftand their true intereft. The moderate whigs begin to be convinced, that we have been all this while in wrong hands, and that things are now as they fhould be. And as the present house of commons is the best representative of the nation, that hath ever been fummoned in our memories, fo they have taken care in their first feffion by that noble bill of qualification*, that future parliaments fhould be compofed of landed men; and our properties lie no more at the mercy of those who have none themselves, or at least only what is tranfient or imaginary. If there be any gratitude in pofterity, the memory of this *The qualification requir- land, either in poffeffion or cered by this act is fome eftate in tain reverfion. See No xliv. affembly affembly will be always celebrated; if otherwife, at leaft we, who fhare in the bleffings they derive to us, ought with grateful hearts to acknowledge them. I defign in fome following papers to draw up a list (for I can do no more) of the great things this parliament hath already performed; the many abuses they have detected; their juftice in deciding elections without regard to party; their chearfulness and addrefs in raifing fupplies for the war, and at the fame time providing for the nation's debts; their duty to the QUEEN, and their kindness to the church. In the mean time I cannot forbear mentioning two particulars, which in my opinion do difcover in fome mcafure the temper of the prefent parliament, and bear analogy to thofe paffages related by Plutarch in the lives of certain great men; which as himself obferveth, although they be not of actions which make any great noife or figure in hiftory, yet give more light into the characters of perfons, than we could receive from an account of their most renowned atchievements. Some 1 Something like this may be observed from two late inftances of decency and good nature in that illuftrious affembly I am fpeaking of. The firft was, when after that inhuman attempt upon Mr. Harley they were pleased to vote an addrefs to the QUEEN, wherein they express their utmost deteftation of the fact, their high efteem and great concern for that able minifter, and juftly impute his misfortunes to that zeal for her majesty's service, which had drawn upon him the hatred of all the abettors of popery and faction. I dare affirm, that fo diftingufhing a mark of honour and good will from fuch a parliament was more acceptable to a perfon of Mr. Harley's generous nature, than the most bountiful grant that was ever yet made to a subject; as her majefty's anfwer, filled with gracious expreffions in his favour, adds more to his real glory, than any titles she could beftow. The prince and representatives of the whole kingdom join in their concern for fo important a life: these are the true rewards of virtue; and this is the commerce between noble fpirits in a coin which the giver knows where to bestow, and the receiver receiver how to value, although neither avarice nor ambition would be able to comprehend its worth. The other inftance I intend to produce of decency and good nature in the prefent house of commons, relates to their moft worthy fpeaker*; who having unfortunately loft his eldest fon, the affembly moved with a generous pity for fo fenfible an affliction adjourned themfelves for a week, that fo good a fervant of the publick might have fome interval to wipe away a father's tears. And indeed that gentleman hath too juft an occafion for his grief by the death of a fon, who had already acquired fo great a reputation for every amiable quality, and who might have lived to be fo great an honour and an ornament to his ancient family. Before I conclude, I muft defire one favour of the reader; that when he thinks it worth his while to perufe any paper written against the Examiner, he will not form his judgment by any mangled quotation out of it, which he finds in fuch papers, but be so just to read the paragraph referred *William Bromley, efq. to; pa to; which I am confident will be found a fufficient answer to all that ever those pers can object: at least I have seen above fifty of them, and never yet observed one fingle quotation transcribed with common candor. NUMBER XXXV. Thursday, April 5, 1711. Nullo fuo peccato impediantur, quo minus alterius peccata demonftrare poffint. Have been confidering the old conftitution of this kingdom; comparing it with the monarchies and republicks whereof we meet fo many accounts in ancient story, and with those at present in most parts of Europe. I have confidered our religion, established here by the legislature foon after the reformation. I have likewife examined the genius and difpofition of the people under that reasonable freedom they poffefs. Then I have turned my reflections upon those two great divifions of whig and tory (which fome way or other take in the whole kingdom) with the principles they |