that precipitate addrefs, unless the world will be fo charitable to confider, that parliaments among us differ as much as princes; and that by the fatal conjunction of many unhappy circumftances it is very poffible for our island to be reprefented fometimes by thofe, who have the leaft pretenfions. So little truth or juftice there is in what fome pretend to advance, that the actions of former fenates ought always to be treated with refpect by the latter; that those affemblies are all equally venerable, and no one to be preferred before another: by which argument the parliament that began the rebellion against king Charles I, voted his trial, and appointed his murderers, ought to be remembered with refpect.

power

But to return from this digreffion; it is very plain, that confidering the defectivenefs of our laws, the variety of cafes, the weakness of the prerogative, the or the cunning of ill-defigning men, it is poffible that many great abufes may be vifibly committed, which cannot be legally punifhed; efpecially if we add to this, that fome enquiries might probably involve thofe,

U 4

those, whom upon other accounts it is not thought convenient to difturb. Therefore it is very false reasoning, especially in the management of publick affairs, to argue that men are innocent, because the law hath not pronounced them guilty.

I am apt to think it was to fupply fuch defects as these, that fatyr was first introduced into the world; whereby thofe, whom neither religion, nor natural virtue, nor fear of punishment were able to keep within the bounds of their duty, might be witheld by the shame of having their crimes exposed to open view in the ftrongest colours, and themselves rendered odious to mankind. Perhaps all this may be little regarded by fuch hardened and abandoned natures as I have to deal with; but next to taming or binding a favage animal, the best service you can do the neighbourhood is to give them warning either to arm themselves or not come in its way.

Could I have hoped for any figns of remorfe from the leaders of that faction, I should very gladly have changed my style, and forgot, or paffed by their million

lion of enormities. But they are every day more fond of discovering their impotent zeal and malice: witness their conduct in the city about a fortnight ago, which had no other end imaginable, befides that of perplexing our affairs, and endeavouring to make things defperate, that themselves may be thought neceffary. While they continue in this frantick mood I fhall not forbear to treat them as they deserve; that is to fay, as the inveterate, irreconcileable enemies to our country and its conftitution.

NUMBER XXXIX.

Thursday, May 3, 1711.

Quis tulerit Gracchos de feditione querentes?

T

HERE have been certain topics of reproach liberally bestowed for fome years paft, by the whigs and tories upon each other. We charge the former with a defign of destroying the established church, and introducing fanaticifm and free-thinking in its stead. We accuse them as enemies to monarchy; as endeavouring to

under

undermine the present form of government, and to build a commonwealth, or fome new scheme of their own, upon its ruins. On the other fide, their clamours against us may be fummed up in those three formidable words popery, arbitrary power, and the pretender. Our accufations against them we endeavour to make good by certain overt acts; fuch as their perpetually abufing the whole body of the clergy, their declared contempt for the very order of priesthood, their averfion against epifcopacy, the publick encouragement and patronage they gave to Tindal, Toland, and other atheistical writers; their appearing as profeffed advocates retained by the diffenters, excufing their separation, and laying the guilt of it to the obftinacy of the church; their frequent endeavours to repeal the test, and their setting up the indulgence to fcrupulous confciences as a point of greater importance than the esta¬ blished worship. The regard they bear to our monarchy hath appeared by their open ridiculing the martyrdom of king Charles I, in their calve's-head clubs, their common discourses, and their pamphlets; their de

nying

nying the unnatural war raised against that prince, to have been a rebellion; their juftifying his murder in the allowed papers of the week; their industry in publishing and fpreading feditious and republican tracts, fuch as Ludlow's Memoirs, Sidney of Government, and many others; their endlefs lopping of the prerogative and mincing into nothing her majefty's titles to the

crown.

What proofs they bring for our endeavouring to introduce popery, arbitrary power, and the pretender, I cannot readily tell, and would be glad to hear: however thofe important words having by dextrous management, been found of mighty fervice to the cause, although applied with little colour, either of reafon or juftice; I have been confidering, whether they may not be adapted to more proper objects.

As to popery, which is the firft of thefe; to deal plainly, I can hardly think there is any fett of men among us, except the profeffors of it, who have any direct intention to introduce it here; but the queftion is, whether the principles and practices of us, or the whigs, be most likely to make

way