of inviting him over. It is with the worst grace in the world that they offer to join in the cry upon this article: as if those, who alone ftood in the gap against all the encroachments of popery and arbitrary power, are not more likely to keep out both than a fett of fchifmaticks, who to gratify their ambition and revenge did, by the meaneft compliances, encourage and fpirit up that unfortunate prince to fall upon fuch measures, as must at last have ended in the ruin of our liberty and religion. P. S. I wish those, who give themselves the trouble to write to the Examiner, would confider whether what they send be proper for fuch a paper to take notice of. I had one letter laft week, written as I fuppofe by a divine, to defire I would offer fome reasons against a bill now before the parliament for afcertaining the tythe of hops; from which the writer apprehends great damage to the clergy, especially the poorer vicars. If it be as he fays (and he seems to argue very reasonably upon it) the T 2 con convocation now fitting will no doubt upon due application represent the matter to the house of commons; and he may expect all juftice and favour from that great body, who have already appeared fo tender of their rights. A gentleman likewife, who hath fent me feveral letters relating to perfonal hardships he received from fome of the late ministry, is advised to publish a narrative of them, they being too large, and not proper for this paper. NUMBER XXXVII. Thursday, April 19, 1711. Semper caufae eventorum magis movent quam ipfa eventa. I A AM glad to obferve that several among the whigs have begun very much to change their language of late. The style is now among the reasonable part of them, when they meet a man in business, or a member of parliament; well gentlemen, if you go on as you have hitherto done, we shall no longer have any pretence to complain. They They find it seems, that there have been yet no overtures made to bring in the pretender, nor any preparatory fteps towards it. They read no enflaving votes, nor bills brought in to endanger the fubject. The indulgence to fcrupulous confciences is again confirmed from the throne, inviolably preserved, and not the leaft whisper offered that may affect it. All care is taken to fupport the war; fupplies cheerfully granted, and funds readily fubfcribed to, in fpight of the little arts made ufe of to difcredit them. The juft refentments of some, which are laudable in themselves, and which at another juncture it might be proper to give way to, have been foftened or diverted by the calmnefs of others. So that upon the article of present management I do not fee how any objection of weight can well be raised. However our adverfaries ftill alledge, that this great fuccefs was wholly unexpected, and out of all probable view: that in publick affairs we ought least of all others to judge by events: that the attempt of changing a miniftry during the difficulties of a long war was rafh and T 3 incon inconfiderate: that if the QUEEN were difpofed, by her inclinations or from any perfonal diflike, for fuch a change, it might have been done with more fafety in a time of peace; that if it had mifcarried by any of those incidents, which in all appearance might have intervened, the confequences would perhaps have ruined the whole confederacy: and therefore, however it hath now fucceeded, the experiment was too dangerous to try. But this is what we can by no means allow them. We never will admit rafhnefs or chance to have produced all this harmony and order. It is vifible to the world, that the several steps towards this change were flowly taken, and with the utmost caution. The movers observed as they went on, how matters would bear; and advanced no farther at firft, than fo as they might be able to stop or go back, if circumstances were not mature. Things were grown to such a heighth, that it was no longer the question, whether a perfon, who aimed at an employment, were a whig or tory; much less whether he had merit, or proper abilities, for what he pretended to: he They find it seems, that there have been yet no overtures made to bring in the pretender, nor any preparatory fteps towards it. They read no enflaving votes, nor bills brought in to endanger the fubject. The indulgence to fcrupulous confciences is again confirmed from the throne, inviolably preferved, and not the leaft whisper offered that may affect it. All care is taken to fupport the war; fupplics cheerfully granted, and funds readily fubfcribed to, in fpight of the little arts made ufe of to difcredit them. The juft refentments of fome, which are laudable in themselves, and which at another juncture it might be proper to give way to, have been foftened or diverted by the calmnefs of others. So that upon the article of prefent management I do not fee how any objection of weight can well be raised. However our adverfaries ftill alledge, that this great fuccefs was wholly unexpected, and out of all probable view: that in publick affairs we ought leaft of all others to judge by events: that the attempt of changing a miniftry during the difficulties of a long war was rafh and T3 incon |