attachment to any fett of minifters, further than as they are friends to the conftitution in all its parts; but will do their utmost to fave their prince and country, whoever be at the helm.

By these descriptions of whig and tory, I am fenfible thofe names are given to several perfons very undefervedly; and that many a man is called by one or the other, who has not the least title to the blame or praise I have bestowed on each of them throughout my papers.

NUMBER XLIV.

Thursday, June 7, 1711.

Magna vis eft, magnum nomen, unum et idem fentientis fenatus. WHOEVER C

WHOEVER calls to mind the clamour and the calumny, the artificial fears and jealoufies, the fhameful mifreprefentation of perfons and of things, that were raised and spread by the leaders and inftruments of a certain party, upon the change of the laft miniftry and diffolution of parliament; if he be a true

lover of his country, muft feel a mighty pleafure, although mixed with fome indignation, to fee the wifhes, the conjectures, the endeavours of an inveterate faction intirely disappointed; and this important period wholly spent in reftoring the prerogative of the prince, and liberty to, the fubject; in reforming paft abuses and preventing future, fupplying old deficiencies, providing for debts, reftoring the clergy to their rights, and taking care of the neceffities of the church; and all this unattended with any of those misfortunes which fome men hoped for, while they pretended to fear.

For my own part I muft confefs, the difficulties appeared fo great to me from fuch a noife and fhew of oppofition, that I thought nothing but the abfolute neceffity of affairs could ever juftify fo daring an attempt. But a wife and good prince, at the head of an able miniftry, and of a fenate freely chofen, all united to pursue the true intereft of their country, is a power, against which the little inferior politicks of any faction will be able to make no long refiftance. To this we may add one

additional strength, which in the opinion of our adverfaries is the greatest and justest of any; I mean the vox populi, so indifputably declarative on the fame fide. I am apt to believe, when these discarded politicians begin seriously to confider all this, they will think it proper to give out, and referve their wifdom for fome more convenient juncture.

It is pleafant enough to observe, that those who were the chief inftruments of raifing the noise, who ftarted fears, befpoke dangers, and formed ominous prognosticks, in order to fcare the allies, to fpirit the french, and fright ignorant people at home, made ufe of thofe very opinions themselves had broached, for arguments to prove, that the change of minifters was dangerous and unfeasonable. But if a house be swept, the more occafion there is for fuch a work, the more duft it will raife; if it be going to ruin, the repairs, however neceffary, will make a noise, and difturb the neighbourhood a while. And as to the rejoicings made in France, if it be true that they had any, upon the news of those alterations among us; their joy was grounded

grounded upon the fame hopes with that of the whigs, who comforted themselves, that the change of ministry and parliament would infallibly put us all into confufion, increase our divifions, and destroy our credit, wherein I fuppofe by this time they are equally undeceived.

But this long feffion being in a manner ended, which feveral circumstances and one accident altogether unforeseen, have drawn out beyond the ufual time; it may be fome fmall piece of juftice to fo excellent an affembly barely to mention a few of thofe great things they have done for the service of their QUEEN and country, which I shall take notice of just as they come to my memory.

The credit of the nation began mightily to fuffer by a discount upon Exchequer bills, which have been generally reckoned the fureft and most facred of all fecurities. The prefent lord treasurer, then a member of the house of commons, propofed a method, which was immediately complied with, of raising them to a par with specie; and so they have ever fince continued. A a

The

The british colonies of Nevis and St. Chriftopher's had been miferably plundered by the french, their houses burnt, their plantations destroyed, and many of the inhabitants carried away prifoners; they had often for fome years paft applied in vain for relief from hence; until the present parliament, confidering their condition as a cafe of juftice and mercy, voted them one hundred thoufand pounds by way of recompence in fome manner for their fufferings.

Some perfons, whom the voice of the nation authorizeth me to call her enemies, taking advantage of the general naturalization act, had invited over a great number of foreigners of all religions under the name of palatines, who understood no trade or handicraft, yet rather chose to beg than labour; who, befides infefting our streets, bred contagious diseases, by which we lost in natives thrice the number of what we gained in foreigners. The houfe of commons, as a remedy againft this evil, brought in a bill for repealing that act of general naturalization; which to the furprize of most people was rejected by the lords.

And