quarter. I have by experience felt the want of such an instructor: For, intending to make my court to some people on the prevailing side, by advancing certain old whiggish principles, which it seems had been exploded about a month before, I have passed for a disaffected person. I am not ignorant how idle a thing it is, for a man in obscurity to attempt defending his reputation as a writer, while the spirit of faction has so universally possessed the minds of men, that they are not at leisure to attend any thing else. They will just give themselves time to libel and accuse me, but cannot spare a minute to hear my defence. So, in a plot-discovering age, I have often known an innocent man seized and imprisoned, and forced to lie several months in chains, while the ministers were not at leisure to hear his petition, until they had prosecuted and hanged the number they proposed.

All I can reasonably hope for by this letter, is to convince my friends, and others who are pleased to wish me well, that I have neither been so ill a subject, nor so stupid an author, as I have been represented by the virulence of libellers: whose malice has taken the same train in both, by fathering dangerous principles in government upon me, which I never maintained, and insipid productions which I am not capable of writing. For, however I may have been soured by personal ill-treatment, or by melancholy prospects for the public, I am too much a politician to expose my own safety by offensive words. * And if my genius and spirit be sunk

*Swift, in one sentence only of his admirable" Sentiments of a Church of England Man," demolished the slavish and absurd doctrine of passive obedience and non-resistance. "Many of

by increasing years, I have at least discretion enough left, not to mistake the measure of my own abilities, by attempting subjects where those talents are nenessary, which perhaps I may have lost with my youth..

FROM SIR CONSTANTINE PHIPPS.

SIR,

Ormond Street, Jan. 14, 1720-21.

HAVING been a little indisposed, I went at Christmas into the country, which prevented me from sooner acknowledging the favour of your letter. As to Waters's case, I was informed of it; and the last time I spoke to Mr Attorney-General † about

*

the clergy," says he, " and other learned men, mistook the object to which passive obedience was due. By the supreme magistrate is properly understood the legislative power, which in all governments must be absolute and unlimited. But the word ma

gistrate seeming to denote a single person, and to express the executive power, it came to pass, that the obedience due to the legislature was, for want of knowing or considering this easy distinction, misapplied to the administration.”—Dr WARTON. 66 А

* Dr Swift's printer; who was prosecuted for printing Proposal for the Universal use of Irish Manufactures," written in 1720. The Dean, in the preceding letter to Pope, pp. 145, 146, says, that "the jury which tried him, had been culled with the utmost industry; but that, notwithstanding, they brought him in not guilty: that Whitshed, the judge, sent them out nine times, and kept them eleven hours: till, being tired out, they were forced to leave the matter to the mercy of the judge by a special verdict. The Duke of Grafton, lord-lieutenant, soon after, upon mature advice, and permission from England, granted a noli prosequi."-H.

+ Sir Robert Raymond.-B.

VOL. XVI.

B b

it; but he told me, he could not grant a writ of error in a criminal case, without direction from the king; so that Waters is not likely to have much relief from hence, and therefore I am glad you have some hopes it will drop in Ireland. I think the chief-justice should have that regard to his own reputation, to let it go off so; for I believe the oldest man alive, or any law-book, cannot give any instance of such a proceeding. I was informed who was aimed at by the prosecution, which made me very zealous in it; which I shall be in every thing, wherein I can be serviceable to that gentleman, for whom nobody has a greater esteem, than

Your most faithful humble servant,

CON. PHIPPS.

DEAR SIR,

FROM MR PRIOR.

Westminster, Feb. 28, 1720-21.

IF I am to chide you for not writing to me, or beg your pardon that I have not writ to you, is a question, for our correspondence has been so long interrupted, that I swear I do not know which of us wrote last. In all cases, I assure you of my continual friendship, and kindest remembrance of you; and with great pleasure, expect the same from you. I have been ill this winter. Age, I find, comes on; and the cough does not diminish.

* Whitshed.-H.

Non sum qualis eram bonæ

Sub regno Cynara--Pass for that.

I am tired with politics, and lost in the South Sea. The roaring of the waves, and the madness of the people, were justly put together. I can send you no sort of news, that holds either connection or sense. It is all wilder than St Anthony's dream; and the bagatelle is more solid than any thing that has been endeavoured here this year. Our old friend, Oxford is not well, and continues in Herefordshire. John of Bucks* died last night, and Coningsby was sent last night to the Tower. I frequently drink your health with Lord Harley, who is always the same good man, and grows daily more beloved as more universally known. I do so too with our honest good-natured friend Ford, whom I love for many good reasons, and particularly for that he loves you.

As to the subscriptions, in which I have given you a great deal of trouble already, to make the rest of that trouble less, I desire you to send the enclosed letter to Mr Hyde, that he may raze out the names of those gentlemen who have taken out their books, and take what convenient care he can of the remaining books. And as to the pecuniary part, I find no better way than that you will remit it, as you did the former sum, by bill of exchange. Mr Ford likewise judges this the best and securest method.

How do you do as to your health? Are we to see

* John Sheffield, Duke of Buckinghamshire.-B.

Thomas, Earl of Coningsby, so created by King George I. in 1719.-B. He was the leader in the prosecution against 'Prior.

you this summer? Answer me these questions. Give my service to all friends, and believe me to be ever, with great truth and esteem, dear Sir,

Yours,

M. PRIOR.

DEAR SIR,

FROM THE SAME.

Westminster, April 25, 1721.

I KNOW very well, that you can write a good letter, if you have a mind to it; but that is not the question. A letter from you sometimes is what I desire. Reserve your tropes and periods for those you love less; and let me hear how you do, in whatever humour you are; whether lending your money to the butchers, protecting the weavers, treating the women, or construing propria quæ maribus to the country curate. You and I are so established authors, that we may write what we will, without fear of censure; and if we have not lived long enough to prefer the bagatelle to any thing else, we deserved to have had our brains knocked out ten years ago.

I have received the money punctually of Mr Dan. Hayes, have his receipt, and hereby return you all the thanks, that your friendship in that affair ought to claim, and your generosity does contemn. There is one turn for you: good.

The man you mentioned in your last has been in

* The Earl of Oxford, whose influence, it would seem, was still dreaded, though he had so long retired from public busi

ness.