mention nothing, which hath not been given in the face of the world. The lands of Woodstock may, I believe, be reckoned worth 40,000l. on the building of Blenheim caftle 200,000l. have been already expended, although it be not yet near finifhed; the grant of 5000l. per annum on the poft office is richly worth 100,000l. his principality in Germany may be computed at 30,000l. pictures, jewels, and other gifts from foreign princes, 60,000l. the grant at the Pall-mall, the rangership, etc. for want of more certain knowledge, may be called 10,000l. his own and his duchefs's employments at five years value, reckoning only the known and avowed falaries, are very low rated at 100,000 l. Here is a good deal above half a million of money; and, I dare fay, those who are loudeft with the clamour of ingratitude, will readily own, that all this is but a trifle, in comparison of what is untold. The reason of my ftating this account is only to convince the world, that we are not quite fo ungrateful either as the Greeks or the Romans; and in order to adjust this matter matter with all fairness, I fhall confine myself to the latter, who were much the more generous of the two. A victorious general of Rome, in the heighth of that empire, having entirely fubdued his enemies, was rewarded with the larger triumph, and perhaps a statue in the Forum, a bull for a facrifice, an embroidered garment to appear in, a crown of laurel, a monumental trophy with inscriptions, fometimes five hundred or a thousand copper coins were ftruck on occafion of the victory, which, doing honour to the general, we will place to his account; and laftly, fometimes, although not very frequently, a triumphal arch. These are all the rewards, that I can call to mind, which a victorious general received after his return from the moft glorious expedition; having conquered fome great kingdom, brought the king himself, his family, and nobles, to adorn the triumph in chains; and made the kingdom either a Roman province, or at best a poor depending ftate in humble alliance to that empire. Now, of all thefe rewards I find but two, which were of real profit to the general; the laurel crown, made made and fent him at the charge of the publick, and the embroidered garment; but I cannot find, whether this last was paid for by the fenate or the general: however we will take the more favourable opinion; and in all the reft admit the whole expence, as if it were ready money in the general's pocket. Now, according to these computations on both fides, we will draw up two fair accounts; the one of Roman gratitude, and the other of British ingratitude, and set them together in ballance. A bill This is an account of the vifible profits on both fides; and if the Roman general had any private perquifites, they may be eafily discounted, and by more probable computations; and differ yet more upon the balance, if we confider, that all the gold and filver for fafeguards and contributions, alfo all valuable prizes taken in the war, were openly expofed in the triumph, and then lodged in the capitol for the publick fervice. So that, upon the whole, we are not yet quite fo bad at worst, as the Romans were at beft. And I doubt thofe, who raise this hideous cry of ingratitude, may be mightily mistaken in the confequence they propofe from fuch complaints. I remember a faying of Seneca, Multos ingratos invenimus, plures facimus, we find many ungrateful persons in the world, but we make more, by setting too high a rate upon our pretenfions, and undervaluing the rewards we receive. When unreasonable bills are brought in, they ought to be taxed, or cut off in the middle. Where there have been long accounts between two perfons, I have known one of them perpetually |