o r >- * at = (tt u g > 1 8 s s ? -x. S 5 O Cc i i F; ^ fc. $ s g 8 I o i i ! \\IEUNIVER5XA l LIBRARY =5 * , 1 3 ^ = g i s i i S ^l-LIBRARY( "^i ^ I I .^OF CAIIFOf $ s I \ THOUGHTS, ESSAYS, AND MAXIMS, CHIEFLY RELIGIOUS and POLITICAL. By CHARLES HOWARD, Efq. Of GREYSTOCK in CUMBERLAND. L O N D O NJ Printed for T. LEWIS, in Ruflel-ftreet, Co vent- garden; and fold by S. BLADON, in Pater- nofter-row, MDCCLXVIH, PR ADVERTISEMENT. THE following MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS and ESSAYS, &c. c. were never intended for the prefs; but were only the amufe- ment of the author's leifure hours, during the time his bufincfs detained him at Paris. At the defire of fome of his friends, they are made pub- lic ; and if they prove of any fer- vice or inftru&ion to mankind, the author will be fatisfied, and think his time was well fpent. 8 MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS and ESSAYS MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS and ESSAYS. ON JUSTICE. O man fliould be, or pretend to 5 N x be generous, before he is juft. >i*"-#"WJ3r When this is the cafe, it is only vain oftentation and prodigality, not true and fincere generofity, and, in fa&, when rightly confidered, real injuftice; becaufe he vainly fports with, and attempts to ac- quire fame by, the property of others. The Creditor may, in fome fenfe, be faid to be B 2 the 4 ON JUSTICE- the debtor's king, until he is fatisfied. If the debtoris able to pay, whilft he lives in a ft.itc of non-payment, he may be faid to live in an actual ftate of robbery, and in the commiflion of a crime. This, however, docs not relate to a rcafonable time, according to the circutnllances of the cafe j for the writer means only thofe people who purchafe mer- chandize of any kind, at the very time they are confcious of their inability of paying for them ; and thus by their folly, knavery, or extravagance, run themfelves into dif- ficulties : or fuch as borrow money from well difpofed people under fictitious or falfe pretences, which may properly be fliled roguery ', accompanied by falfhood 2nd fraud. Juftice is one of the attributes of the Almighty, and required by our Creator from man ; the command of all laws divine and human ; and as the firft ought to be, and arc the foundation of the fecond, fo is jufticc the fecurity of fe- ciety, and the barrier of property. RESTITUTION ;O N JUSTICE. 5 RESTITUTION of ill-gotten money or effecls is a very effential part of juftice,, and a very necefTary prelude to repentance, \vhich is othervvife a mockery, and a word without meaning : [ eoob iiayswbrf <( >iT. ,.>*. >: i>V Ziocuirruno Fiat jitftitia et ruat calum*. lei'' "Juflum et tenacem propojiti If all, alas! were well at home.. 63 On- 6 ON THE CHARACTER On the CHARACTER of CHURCHILL : By a PERSON who only knew Him by his WRITINGS. Gainft fools be guarded, for 'tis a certain rule, Wits are fafe things there's danger in a fool. TN the writer's opinion, there are few -* afll-rtions more generally true than this. We fhould be upon our guard againft fools, as they are often paiTionate, wrong-headed, and mifappreheniive : from their {hallow and confined underftandings,. they mif- take and mifmterpret our meaning ; and having fixed their ideas to a few objects,. or adopted the falfe interpretation of a word which they do not underftand, they arc moft ready to quarrel, being incapa- ble any other way of fupporting their argument j vanity, ignorance, and imi- tation, bcin^r the foundation and corner- folly and nonfeafc. Of all fools the OF CHURCFTILL. 7 the fool of quality would be the moft in- fupportable, if his anceftors had not left him that which makes him bearable, and neceflary in fome meafure, to men of good heads and honeft hearts, who ftand in need of his afliftance. A lively fool may be pleafing for a very fhort time; but at length he grows tedious, irkfome, and tormenting. A dull, good-natured, feri- ous fool is a harmlcfs inoffenfive crea-f ture; which is, perhaps, the reafon why proud men of parts are fo often fond of their company, as it gives them an op- portunity of difplaying their underftand* ings ; as if the weaknefs and imbecility of others made their parts and talents fhine with fuperior luftre : juft as a great beauty, or a very handfome woman chufe a plain one by the way of foil to fet her off, Jl 10 VLVV ~IiJlx'fHfc sfi CHURCHILL'S vivacity of imagination, his quidcnefs of conception, his readinefs and aptnefs at writing in poetry, were be- B 4 yond 8 ON THE CHARACTER yond any poet's that ever cxifted ; and it is laid that his flow of thought and power of fancy came fo faft upon him, that writing was fo eafy to him, as to he an amufement to his mind in pouring itfelf out upon paper ; and when he began to write, he Icarce knew what would be the next line. This appears from the in- correctnefs of fome of his writings, though they abound with fucha redundancy of fan- cy as a man labours under, whofe quick- nefs of thought comes upon him fafter than his power of expreflion. Many of his writings are fatirical, farcaftic, and politi- cal ; though, in this writer's opinion, they were the rcfultof his own real fentiments, and might be true, and not immoral, if read with candour ; except his poem upon the Times, where, it is hoped, the fatire is not fo juft as he would make it appear. Warm and fmcere in his friendfhip, he was from the fame principle, when not properly guided, equally fatirical in hii refentment. Unhappy in his conduct in private OF CHURCHILL. 9 private life, of which he himfelf feems very eonfcious, he was hurried into fuch intemperance, as, it is faid, fhortened his days. This irregularity might, perhaps, in fome degree have arifen from the fupe- riority of his underftanding and the vivacity of his ideas; and he might addift himfelf to drinking, as it were, to fly from him- felf, and to level himfelf to the ftupidity of other people. .:.' *1s v/J to^taV 10 ] ON PERSECUTION*. ALL religions, when divefted of * * power, condemn perfecution ; and moft religions, when powerful, have per- fecuted. This proves not the rectitude of perfecution, but the tyrannic difpofition of man. In a Roman Catholic it muft be wrong, becaufe he averts that hij church is infallible ; therefore all force or perfecution to fupport it by undue influ- ence or intereft, is fuperfluous, and tends only to compel men to profefs what'they do not believe. Such men living in the profeflion of a lie become hypocrites ; and when in that ftate of mind, for worldly reafons and temporal motives, they are compelled to afiift at religious ceremonies and partake of myfteries, they are guilty of facrilege in approaching thofe ceremo- nies, of which they are unworthy > and the party that fo compels them is partl- 7 ce ? s ON PERSECUTION, i* ceps criminis. In a Proteftant it is wrong,, becaufe diredlly oppofite and contrary to what he has always profeffed, namely, liberty of conference, and no conftraint upon the mind of man with regard to re- ligion, wherein our happinefs here and hereafter is fo immediately concerned. It is moreover injurious to civil fociety,. trade, and commerce, of which he pro- fefles himfelf the greateft promoter, as it often occafions the emigration of great numbers of the moft ufeful and moft in- duftrious people out of his country. It Ls immoral and uncharitable, becaufe by making people deny what they do believe, or prcfefs what they do not, they are ren- dered uneafy and unhappy in their own minds. After their recantation, or what in Ireland, is called fwalhwing. tbeftor- pion t their minds are unhinged ; and their internal happinefs is fo affected by their future hopes being deftroyed, that by way of diSipadon, or, if I may be allowed the expreffion, by way of flying from them r felves a n ON PERSECUTION. felves, trrey are hurried on into every plea- furable vice. Hence the too frequent and too vicious habit of abamlonning for life all places of divine worfhip. In a word, we fhould never forget, that he is ftill of his own opinion, who is convinced againft his will. Such a fituation may, alas ! be juftly ftiled hell upon earth. To conclude: perfecution, in Roman Catholics, makes men hypocrites, by forcing them to profefs what they do not believe : in Proteftants, it makes men- libertines and unhappy, by compelling them to deny what they do believe; and, in both cafes, all real hopes of future blifs, k> fatisfadory to the mind, are deftroycd. ' t i3 J ON SANCTUARIES, PRI- VILEGED-PL ACES, AND PROTECTIONS. ^jodvf 1 c .iv Jljft T N many circumftances privileged places *- may be eligible to fcreen unhappy debt- ors, ruined, not by their own fault, but that of others, joined to unavoidable ac- cidents and misfortunes ; and even in cafe their ruin may have proceeded from their own want of conduit, care, and vir- tue, fuch an afylum may afford them time for reflection and repentance. When in- capable of paying their debts, it may en- able them to become in fome meafure ufeful, by exercifing their talents and profeffions, and empower them to fatisfy, at leaft, in part, their creditors demands. MEN in general who are forced into a jail, are at firft but little knaves, compared to thofe who have long inhabited thofe walls - 9 *4 O N S A N'C T U A R 1 E S, &c. \valls ; and thefe never fail to initiate tru-m into all the myfteries of villainy, .Tiui in time render them as complete, hard- ened, and abandoned rogues as theoifdvis. BUT fuch protections are often abufed, \vhen they become fancluaries for bad men and villains. The Jews, from the ha- tred they bore the Chriftians, and the in- terpretation they gave to the old law, as tne a jure for meafurc, eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, were, it is faid, advocates for the lex talionh.. But this, furely, muft be underftood of public punifhments and legal juftice, and not perfonal revenge inflicted by the hands of citizens. In thefe circurn- ftances, allowing churches to be fan<5tu- aries for criminals, in order to fecure them from private revenge, and bring them to public juftice, might be right, and wa* {hewing an awful refpecl: to religion and the place of divine worfhip. But v/hcii thefe reafons do not fubfift, it muft be a great perverfion of the original defign, and ON SANCTUARIES, &c. 15 *an abufe of juftice, to allow churches to become fanc~hiaries and receptacles for thieves and afTaffins, that they may efcape the due punifliment of their crimes : this, it fhotild feem, were turning the Houfe of God into a den of thieves, a crime with which our Saviour charged the Jews. THE fame may be faid of protections of men in power,, fuch as embafTadors, &c. as ' thefe protections fhould never be fold, or given without due attention, and -an examination of the circumftances of the cafe ; not through felfifh or perfonal motives, or, as it fometimes happens, at the requeft of a favourite, governing, raf-> caliy domeftic. This is fcreening knaves that are able but unwilling to pay their juft debts ; and he that protects villainy; may be confidered as an accomplice in it. [ i6 ON DUELLING. T T is difficult to trace in hiftory th **- origin of this prepofterous cuftom, which has, neverthelefs, long, too IOIHJ prevailed in Chriftcndom. It is doubtful whether it was adopted during the fway of' ancient Rome ; and modern hiftory makes. but little mention of its exiftence among the Turks, or the more uncivilized na- tions. IF we confider it religioufly, it is re- pugnant and diametrically oppofite to every principle of the gofpel and chrifti- anity, and confequently more particularly fo according to the doctrine and princi- ples of the Roman Catholics, though too often practifed by them ; as every perfon dying in a duel, is ipfofufto excommu- nicated ; and where is excommunica- tion held in higher terror, than a- 6 mong ON DUELLING. 17 mong the Proteftants, who, did they en- force the laws, fhould bury in the high- way any perfon whatfoever killed in a duel. The king of France at his coro- nation takes an exprefs oath never to par- don a duel ; in confequence of which, when the laws are executed, the perfon killed muft be dragged about the ftreets tied to a cart or a horfe's tail, and buried in the high-way. SOME are of opinion that this horrible cuftom took its rife from ancient Chivalry, and the romantic knight-errantry of the Spanifh nation. Be this as it may, it proves nothing, unlefs it proves the recli- tude of the cuftom ; but does it even prove that the perfon killed was the aggreflbr ? On the contrary, in all probability, the furvivor was in the fault ; becaufe, if ever he were before engaged in a duel, which frequently is the cafe, he is cooler than his antagonift, and thereby more capable of ufing his weapons, and confequently 1 8 ON DUELLING. more accuftomed and enured to murder. Men of weak underftandings, or pafllon- atc and hafty tempers, are the mod liable to be engaged in affairs of this kind, by the want of comprehenfion, and the mif- interpretation of the meaning of their company. High-gaming, frequently ac- companied by fharping-tricks on the one fide, and the lofs of large fums on the other, irritates the paflions, and irrationa- lizes the mind to the higheft degree of mad- nefs. The ladies are fometimes the oc- cafion of duels, by that great influence they have over men. So, if they receive a real or imaginary affront, they complain to their hufbands or friends as protectors of their honour, injured according to the falfe and abfurd notion they have of true honour : whereas, if they confi- dered the matter coolly and impartially, they would find it directly c ontrary even to the characleriftic of their own fex, and to that mildnefs and gentlenefs which they are defirous of pofleffing, and which men O N DUELLING. 19 men wifli they really did poflefs. If la- dies by accident meet with an inebriate or brutal man, who does or fays an impro- per thing, a fuitable behavior and a fteady look might bring that man to himfelf, Without their being accelTory to murder. But it is to be feared that the ladies, by their own conduit and convention, fre- quently bring themfelves into fuch ctif- agreeable fituations. THE only allegation or defence made life of to fupport this inhuman and Un- chriftian practice, is, that it preferves good manners and politenefs in private and pub- lic converfations, and keeps bad men out of company. But this does not appear to be the cafe j for, in the firft place, thofe who are not kept within due bounds by decency, good-nature, and politenefs, but for fear of giving offence, muft be very in- fignificant, tirefome, and fiddle-faddle companions. Secondly, fo far from ba- nifhing bad men from fociety, the cafe C 2 appears 20 ON DUELLING. appears to the writer dire&ly the reverfe, as all public places evince, and where quarrel fome, (harping, and troublefome men are the moft forward to introduce themfelves into company. Befides, cool, confiderate, and rational people care not to be Don Quixotes at the rifk of their lives and fortunes, and perhaps the ruin of their families. Hence it probably is, that in moft clubs or focieties, one or two black balls exclude a perfon, who, ne- verthelefs, may be a moft agreeable and fenfible man. [ 21 ] ON PASSION, PEEVISH- NESS, AND IMPATIENCE. T is often aflerted that paffionate peo- pie are very good-natured. It is very good-natured to allow them to be fo; becaufe they will often do more mif- chief in half an hour than their whole lives can make amends or atone for j and whether one receives the hurt from malice, revenge, or inadvertency, though the crime may not be fo great in the injurer, becaufe not done with forefight and premeditation, it is a very fmall alleviation, as the wrong is ftill the fame to the perfon who receives it. The fource of paffion, Cafuifts will fay, like that of all other vices, is the want of practical religion. Though this may be in part true, there are, in the wri- ter's opinion, more except ions to this afler- tion with refpect to paffion, than to any. C 3 other 22 ON PASSION, &c. other vice ; for we often fee very religious perfons in belief according to their pro- fdTion, and very moral in every other refpe&, very paflionatc. This irafcibility may, perhaps, in part, proceed from conftitution, and too great a fenfibility of temper, added to an erroneous confined education, particularly among men of for- tune and the great, who from their fitua- tion in life are often fo flattered by thofc people about them, to attain their private ends, in their early infancy, that when grown up to manhood, they cannot bear contradiction, or a difference of opinion, with temper. RELIGIOUS and moral people are often very pafiionate, from a convidtion of the truth of their principles, and a fpiritual pride that arifes from their being more in the right than others ; which may make them think they are fupporting juftice, morality, and religion, and have a fort of right of (hewing their anger and refent- mcnt ON PASSION, &c. 23 ment in a good caufe. Whereas, if they would confider coolly and with temper, they muft know, from obfervation, that people are won and brought over from wrong to right, more by mildnefs, meek- nefs, and difpaffionate reafoning, than by anger, fury, and choler. Weak minds, and little underftandings, particularly if blefled with great fortunes, are the moft fubje to paflion and anger; and in gene- ral, younger brothers are the moft pleaiing companions, and the moft inftruclive, be- caufe, from their fituation and dependency in life, they are in fome meafure obliged to qualify their minds, by laying in ufe- ful knowledge ; and to keep their temper and be on good terms with mankind, in order to obtain their ends and provide for themfelves. This conduct, like all vir- tues, when frequently pra&ifed, becomes eafy and habitual. In a word, the only thing that can be alledged in favour of very pafllonate people, is, that their choler may be called a kind of negative virtue^ as they C 4 cannot 24 ON PASSION, &c. cannot be very great rogues, becaufe, by being in a paftion, and lofing their tempers, they throw themfelves oft* their guard, and give thofc who are more cool and de- figning an opportunity of taking advan- tage of them. PEEVISHNESS often proceeds from ill health, and bodily infirmities ; and when this is the cafe, it is a very pardonable and cxcufable imperfection, and will be con- fidered in that light, and winked at, by all good-natured people. Old maids, barrru wives, and old batchelors, are generally thought to be moft addicted to this fault. This may proceed from difappointments in their wifhes, particularly in the two firft cafes, as it fours their tempers, and renders them fretful and pccvifh. An old maid is often much addicted to genealogy, and inclined to fupport the dignity of her family, and very defirous of having the reft of herhoufe foon and greatly fettled, that is, highly or richly. This is a good- natured ON PASSION, &c. 25 natured and eligible difpofition, though a fort of convi&ion and condemnation, when more defirous of it than others, that they are not happy in themfelves. Old batchelors are peevifh from a long indulgence of their humours, caring for nobody but thera- feJves j and if rich, having nothing to do, and nobody to pleafe, and of courfe no one to controul their unhewn and rugged temper, which neceflarily, when too much indulged, grows into morofenefs, and renders them fo capricious that they know not what they would have or be at. This is not the cafe of many a married man, who is often obliged for his own peace and quiet, and domeftic happinefs, to give up at times many points, otherwife there would be no peace in Ifrael. This probably may tend towards his welfare and felicity j for, perhaps, there can be no greater captivity, than to be a flave to pne's own pafTions and headftrong will. IMPATIENCE 26 ON PASSION, &c. IMPATIENCE feems to be a fault more peculiar to the ladies than the men j and this may in fome meafure arife from their erroneous education in their early youth, and partly from that extreme flattery and extravagant adulation that are paid them in their riper years by the male fcx, if they are either rich or handfome. Their minds are hereby warped, they cannot bear con- tradiction, and are generally much more impatient than men. If their paffions be ftronger, and their judgments weaker than ours, it is a happinefs for them, that they are under greater reftraints than the men. They are hereby more confined to decency, and appearances, which by habit and time may make many of them more peculiarly and really virtuous than the male fcx, and confequently contribute to their happi- nefs here and hereafter. Otf *7 ,7 :<4*it *!Hfi!ilT*petj-r -*- tion, confidering the depravity and felfiflinefs of man, may be accounted for j. but to envy where there is none, or when from the circumftances there can be none, if facts, which are (lubborn things, did not evince its exigence, one would not believe it poflible. Of all vices, it feems the moft hateful and repugnant to every benevolent principle, to repine at ano- ther's happinefs or fuccefs, when it takes nothing from onefelfj and in the long run, it generally, fcorpion-like, proves its own tormenter. Emulation is praife-wor-- th.y and laudable, becaufe it is an honeft defire to imitate and attain the good qua- lities we fee in others ; but this, though a virtue, and very different from envy, peo- ple addicted to the vice are dcfirous of being thought pra&ifers of the virtue j that 28 O N E N V Y, PRIDE, that is, emulous and not envious. Such is the perverfe blindnefs of man to him" felf, that in many, very many inftances he is the creator of his own unhappinefs and miferyj and nothing but a proper com- mand of his paflions, with the affiftance of religion, can help him. PRIDE is often, and generally its own humiliatorj becaufe, byreafonof the inor- dinate efteem and value the proud man fets upon himfelf, he frequently doth not meet with the refpec"l and attention he proudly thinks his due; and for which rea- fon, other people that are not expectants or dependents, will not give him. This ob- fervation, as far as the writer's judg- ment has extended, is more juft with re- gard to England than any other country. THOUGH a proper refpecr, rightly un- derftood, is due to merit, rank, and birth, and is conftantly paid him, when by his behaviour he does not forfeit his claim to AND VANITY. 29 it ; yet if this be the cafe, and by the extravagant value and efteem he fets upon himfelf, he is often deprived of what was really due to him ; this, the writer con- ceives to be a reciprocal kind of jufticeand punimment. The fame may be faid of riches. IT fhould alfobe remarked, that a vain man, though frequently ridiculous, may at times,' when his own importance is not in queftion, be an agreeable and enter- taining companion ; nay, his very vanity may be an amufement to you, as, by a proper attention to his vivacity and lively fallies, you will excite him to exert his abilities to their higheft pitch : and as he confiders himfelf obliged to you for the re- gard you pay him, fo he will not fail to pay you in the fame kind. This pro- duces good harmony, and is frequently the fource of pleafant converfation, in which coxcombs Hide from their own character, 3D ON ENVY, PRIDE, chara&er, and endeavour to be amufing companions. THIS is not the cafe with a proud man ; for pay him ever fo much attention and refpect, he does not think himlelf obliged to you, as he foolifhly confiders it as a tri- bute due to his merit and his own right ; nay, he ftill grafps at more, and thinks himfelf injured when more is not paid him, and like the dog in the fable lofes the fub- ftancc for the fhadow. If he be rich, or poilefled of the good things of this world, he is often reduced to aflbciate only with knaves, flatterers, expectants, and fyco- phants, who from their hopes and fituation in life are obliged to bear with him ; yet their expectations are often fruftrated by the capricioufnefs of his temper : and, perhaps, by his will he bequeaths his fortune, out of mere oftentation, to thofe who neither want nor dcferve it, or to fome charitable ufes; as, not having afriendfliip for any one on 8 AND VANITY. 31 en earth, he thinks to bribe the Almighty* and make atonement for never having done, through principle, a real benevolent, charitable aftion; or, perhaps, for the mere luft of fame, or fake of being talked of, he leaves his fortune to endow a college or a cat. An inftance of the latter kind was lately given in a will made in Eng- land which the writer, however, believes was fet afide. WHEN pride, obftinacy, and ignorance, are united in one perfon, as is often the cafe (ignorance being generally the parent of the other two) if he does a good and generous action, it is through oftentation, and muft come from himfelf, as he is too haughty and arrogant to be prompted or advifed by others. It is a miftaken notion to think that pride will keep a man or woman from doing low things, for fear of what the world fliould fay of them ; for when actuated by any ftrong ruling paffion, they turn it to their favour, by faying to themfelves^ 3 i ON ENVY, PRIDE, themfclves, " 'Tis great, and a mark of " a noble foul to be above the babbling * cenfure of the bufy world, and not to * be accountable to others for their ac- " tions." So that what is thought, and falfely aflferted by many, to be a preventive to mean a&ions, frequently prompts and hurries men to the commiflion of them. IN a word, pride is generally infolent in profperity, and abject in adverfity ; and we often fee united in the fame perfon the loweft abjectnefs and meannefs with the moft fuperlative haughtinefs, pride, and arrogance. I REMEMBER two vcrfes, upon a win- dow, on a particular perfon, which defcribe it well. his own merit fees--that gives him pride, foi K- fees more than all the world bcfide. PRIDE and ungoverned pafllons greatly contribute to fill Bedlam and all mad- houfes j A NO VANITY. $j houfes ; and it may be a very proper in- ftru&or and humiliator to perfons much affected with this vice, to carry them thi- ther, to fee the wretchednefs and mifery of human nature, and to what a ftate a rati- onal creature may be reduced by the ef- fefls of this paflion. If the angels fell by it, how can weak man expedt to. efcape ! D O> 34 ON THE CHARACTER ON THE CHARACTER OF THE FRENCH NATION. : go 16 .* TH E French feem, in their own opi- nion, to rank and efteem themfelves the firft and greateft people in Europe ; and this vanity is not deftitute of fome found- ation, which is not always the cafe when they difplay their national chara&eriftic. As all other nations allow them to be the fecond great people, they conclude, with fome apparent reafon, it is partiality in others not to allow them to be the rirfr. Their climate, fituation, and country, which are the beft in Europe, being between the great extremes of heat and cold, are pro- ductive of all the neceflaries and luxuries of life. Moft of their clergy and men of the law, fome gentlemen, and men of qua- lity are knowing, and Hot unlearned. In their religion, the writer thinks they keep the OF -THE FRENCH. 35 the beft medium, not carrying it to the bi- got ted lengths of many of their neigh- bours, at the fame time obferving the moft decent public worfhip in their churches : and the writer is of opinion, as far as he is capable of judging from knowing their character, even from his early infancy, added to fome reading, that though they have made alterations and changes in' their religious orders, it is not probable that theeftablifhed religion of that country will ever be altered; or, at leaft, it feems that France will be the laft nation that will ceafe to be Roman Catholic. THEIR government is in great part military, though not defpotic, as they are governed by known laws; and it feems the beft calculated of any, when well admi- niftered, for their happinefs j for nothing but a ftri<2 hand lodged with power, could keep fo very lively and pafiionate a people in. due- fubje&ion and order. They appear to be happy, and are feldom melancholy or E> 2 fplenetic; 36 ON THE CHARACTER fplenetic ; but often, very often the vi- vacity of their imaginations runs away with their undcrftandings, and leads them into inconveniences : and it has been ob- ferved, it feldom occurs that three French- men have been in company in a ftate of filence for five minutes ; which happens in many other countries. They talk much more of politics than other nations, par- ticularly the Englifh, think they do. FRANCE may be juftly filled the king- dom of woman-kind, who have much power and are great politicians, highly to the prejudice, as the fenfible part juftly think, of that kingdom. They have more resources to recover their lofles than any other people, from the fituation and cli- mate of their country. THEY live in fuch a perpetual round of pleafure and difljpation, that nothing feems to affc& them long ; and however jjuick and lively they may be in their firft conceptions f +v THE FRENCH. 3^ conceptions and imaginations, they foon pafs away. They talk much of love, and are very polite, externally, to the ladies ; but, perhaps, poflefs lefs of the real paffion than any nation whatever. Jealoufy, which is a tormenting mark of love, is fcarce known among them ; though their quick- nefs of conception and vivacity of imagi- nation are very great. Their volubility of tongue, exceeds that of all other nations, and frequently becomes tedious and irk- -fome to ftrangers, who defire, at times., to retire into their own thoughts, by the way of eafe and refreshment j for too much loquacity to .people who think, and are not perfectly matters of their lan- gaage, (but are therefore compelled to jpurfue the concatenation of ideas in one tongue, and translate them into another,) becomes at length fatiguing both to the .Blind and body. FROM their qtucknefs of conception, tlsey are ready at invention j but if they JD 3 d 38 ON THE CHARACTER do not difcover a thing in their firft ptir- fuit, they give it up as too troublefome, and not worth the pains and labour of ex- ploring. They are often bewildered in their own thoughts and imaginations, and feldom bring any purfuit to perfection ; hence probably arofe the old faying, of the French inventing the ruffle, and the Eng- lifh improving it by the addition of the fliirt. THEY are not, in general, a more immoral people than their neighbours ; but are more free from thofc unchrif- tian aftions and principles with which the Spaniards and Italians are charged, (viz.,) unforgivenefs of wrongs and re- venge. They arc not, particularly thehighcr fort, fo much addicted to drinking as their northern neighbours, the Germans, Swedes, and Engliftu This is a virtue, and more particularly neceflary for them, who, from their vaft flow of fpirits, do not require the afiiftance and aid of the grape, as more phlegmatic OF THE FRENCH. 39 phlegmatic people do, to chear and enliven them. On the contrary, in all probability, if they. did exceed the bounds of modera- tion, it would heat their imaginations ftill more, and render them troublefome companions : but it muft be allowed, as if the want of one vice were a kind of per- miffion for another, they are greater epi- cures in eating, and talk and think more on it, than any other people. THEY are faid to be much addicted and prone to go to law upon fmall matters. If they be more litigious than other nations, perhaps it may be attributed to their impatient and hafty tempers, which hurry them away from themfelves. It is to be wifhed, they were not fo flow and dilatory in their decifions and adjudica- tions ; for a delay in j uftice, in a great many cafes, is almoft as bad as a negation and refufal, by reafon of the trouble, ex- per*ce, and vexation, it gives the parties. This may proceed from that bad practice P 4 of 4 o ON THE CHARACTER, &c. of foliciting the judges, which occafions delays, and often may be the perverfion of iuftice; far a judge is more likely to ad- minifter jufticc impartial})', wh-'n he is acquainted with the caufe only in a judi- cial manner, than when he is acquainted with it before ; in this cafe he may in fome fcnfc be faid to have prejudged it j and if he be not a very upright and honell man, he will be under improper and undue in- fluence. -fcKH In a word, the French EEC criticifed and envied by their neighbours, and imitated by the Englifti ; and the word of it is, this imitation is extended to their follies and foibles ; for an Englifh frenchiRcd petit-maitre is much more ridiculous than a French one, tecaufe more unnatural. ON THE ENGLISH, SCOTCH, AND IRISH. TH E writer divides the three na tions, becaufe he thinks their cha- raSers very different, though under the fame government, and in a great meafure the fame laws, which will, generally, more or lefs affect the people's manners. The fame language is moft commonly fpoke among them, but they do not pro- fefs one religion, though called by the comprehenfive name of Proteftants j which, according to the general acceptation, in- cludes all denominations of Chriftians, ex- cept the Roman Catholics, the Greek church, and the Armenians, with all their diviflons and fubdivifions, that have fprung from the fubtility and vanity of man. Pride, .felf-intereft, a falfe defire. of fame and leaving a name behind, the love of 3 power 42 ON THE ENGLISH, power, and being at the head of a party, have created all the new divifions and fy- ftems fo highly prejudicial to real religion. IT is allowed by all the mod fenfiblc and candid writers among the Roman Catholics, that themany abufes which have crept into the practice and worfliip of the church, were, perhaps, occafioned in part, by the corruption of the churchmen, and their too great plenitude of power; but then, thofe who attempted to mend or correct them, either through ignorance, pride, or ambition, in eftablilhing their own opinions, were fo hurried away with their paflions and refentment, that they perpetrated murders, created civil wars and miferies among mankind for many years, and eftablifhed as many abufes,and al- lowed of as many evil practices in morals, as thofe they complained of, and pretended or attempted to reform. Witnefs Ger- many, where one of the Reformers, in order to obtain the prote&ion of a fove- ^ rtiga SCOTCH, AND IRISH. 43 reign prince, allowed him to have two wives at a time. Examples of equal immo- ral tendency, variegated and adapted ac- cording to the inclinations of the people they had to deal with, might be found in France, Holland, and England. 4^rf - .^nfcs'} THE eftablifhed religion of England was altered and modelled, under Edward VI.. arid queen Elizabeth. That of the Scots Prefbyterians, orCalvinifts, is taken from the adherents and followers of John Galvin, a Frenchman. The eftablifhed religion of Ireland is the fame as that of England ; though among the poor and mercantile people, there are four Roman Catholics to one Proteftant. The former are very zealous, though fome writers have characterized them in this refpecl:, Credutit multum et peccant foititer : there are, never- thelefs, many good and learned people among them'. '-. ;(-* ' -pjfl.' 44 ON THE ENGLISH, To fpeak of their good qualities. Firft, the Englifh, in general, arc fmccre, honeit, and induftrious. The Scots are polite and well behaved, tolerably learned and educated j they are brave, and make good foldiers; but the Englifh (whether through prejudice or not, the writer will not take upon him to determine) confider them as better fecond than firft-rate?, better fer- vants than matters. The Irifh are gene- rous, hofpitable, and grateful. LET us now confider their faults. The Englifh are often fulky,and too head-ft rong ; eafier to lead than drive. All the people arc, from their constitution, great politicians ; bur happily their women are not fo deep as thofe in France ; whereby they have more time and leifure to attend to domeftic and family affairs, which feem better de- figned and more adapted to the minds, education, and underftandings, of the fair fex, than politics, and the government of kingdoms, which arduous tafk ought to be SCOTCH, AND IRISH. 45 be left to the robuft constitution of man. They are fond of liberty ; and their minds are fo full of the idea of it, that many are greatly alarmed, and are much afraid that the nation fhould be deprived of it : this hurries them into a neglel of their bufmefs, and brings on the ruin of their affairs ; fo that they are hereby deprived of their liberty, for fear of the lofs of it. The Irifh are vain ; the Scotch are proud. AH the three nations are more addicted to- the vice of drinking, than the more fouthern nations : the Irifh the moft, the Englifh the next, and tfie Scotch theleafi-y but this vice feems to abate, and is much- fallen from what it was formerly j fo is- Jacobitifrn expiring, and the prevalence f fox-hunting much diminished. 46 ON COMPASSION ON COMPASSION AND OOD-N ATURE. /COMPASSION and good-nature ^^ are, in their confcquenccs and effedb, the moft pleafmg fenfations that the mind of a worthy perfon is fufceptible of ; and in fuch alone can they exift. To relieve and alleviate bodily diftrefs, or mental af- fliclion, is not only a noble impulfe, but the very doing of it affords cafe and gra- tification to onefelf, if under any diftrefs ; and the apparently moft happy perfon on earth, is not without fomething to give him uneafinefs, perfea content not being the portion of man on this fide of the grave. We often fee thofewho, in the eyes of the world, are in the highcft fitu- ation, poffefled of the moft power, inde- pendence, and riches, envied by others, ant! who, in fome degree, may be faid to be GOOD-NATURE. 47 fee placed out of the power of being hurt by any one, and, indeed, it mould feem to be for the intereft of all to pleafe them ; neverthelefs, we fee thefe very people, with all thefe advantages, create to them- felves uneafmefs, and are far from being happy* But however pleafing, noble, and good, the virtue of compaffion and beneficence, may be, yet if it is not di- rected by good fenfe, reafon, and juftice, it may be productive of much evil, and, like the reverfe of all other virtues, may become a vice, a crime, injuftice. I mean, when indifcriminately extended to the protection of crimes, thieves, mur- derers, cheats ; for punifhments, at times, are.aneceflary part of juftice; and with- out a proper execution of the laws, the lives, fafety, and property of mankind would be very precarious ; for there are too many, that nothing but fear and punifh- ment, even death itfelf, can keep within any bounds. When the {rate is too indo- lent, and the laws greatly relaxed, meyi.a^ fo 4 8 OH COMPASSION ib abandoned to their paffions, that the moft rigorous methods are neceflary ; and fuch as at another time would be thought cruelty, are indifpenfable to reftore right order and discipline. Witnefs SIXTUS, who by a due, impartial, and rigorous execution f juftice, with great feverity, re-efta- blifhed good order and regularity in Rome ; and in a great mcafure put an end to that vile and infernal practice of afTafli- nation, which prevailed and dishonoured the capital of Italy, once of the world, and now of the Catholic religion in a great thcafure. Men in power who have great- nefs of mind and force of refolution fuf- ficient to act with vigour upon thofe occafi- ons, are often by inconfiderate people called cruel; whereas, if rightly underftood, the reverfe behaviour would be cruelty to the public, as by not preventing, or properly punifhing criminals, one may be faid to permit and fuffer with impunity, what is, indeed, compaffion to a few, but cruelty to many. ON COMPANY AND VERSATION FATHER to a SON. E L L me the company, I will tell you the man," is an old trite proverb ; and like all general afTertions ha? many exceptions ; for the choice of company is not, from the nature of things, always in our power. Men of principle, good heads, knowledge of life, and chiefly of found hearts, are the beft and only companions I fhould recommend you. 'Gainft fools be guarded, for 'tis a certain rule^ Wits are fafe things there's danger in a fool. WHEN you happen to be among this lar. ter fort, behave with good manners and referve j 5 ON COMPANY rcfcrvc ; for moft plcafe who intend to do fo. Lower and adapt your convcrfation to their underftandings : if you find them obftinate and wrangling, enter not into much altercation with them; for folly and obftinacy are feldom to be convinced, particularly (as often it is) vj\en founded on pride and ignorance. Of all fools, a fool of quality is the moft infupportable, had not Providence and his anccftors fup- plied him with means to make his fociety fupportable to honcft men who want it. EVERY one has a right to- maintain his , own opinions, and may do it without giv- ing the leaft offence, provided it be in a gentleman-like manner, and with good manners. Difputation and reafoning, though often confounded together, are two diftindt things. The reafon, perhaps, why few people are feldom convinced by difpu- tation, may be, that few people difpuw for conviction but for victory, and to flieW their AND CONVERSATION. ^ their partSi They are fo taken up with their own fuperiority of underftanding, that they hardly take any notice of their adverfary's arguments ; therefore, a very wrangling and difputatious perfon, with whom we often get acquainted at fchools, i* a very tirefome and unpleafing compa- nion. The only rule I can give, is not to contradict for contradiction fake, nor to dwell too long upon a fubjecl:, which is often juftly called wire-drawing an argu- ment. ASKING of queftions by way of infor- mation, may be very proper for young pee- ple, as their parts, in general, are more quick and more apprehenfive than thofe of people advanced in years; though want f experience and knowledge in the for- mer may prove how far their judgments are lefs folid and true. ONE naturally falls into company of our own difpofition and way of thinking; 1 E 2 but 52 ON COMPANY but I conceive that perfons of different opinions, are, at different times, more agree- able companions. Variety of thoughts en- larges the mind, and opens the underftand- ingi for which reafon, mere country- fquires, who always ftayat home, and head their company, are often difagreeable com- panions, and mere bafliaws. A complete fox-hunter is a kind of centaur, half a beaft : for though hunting and rural diverfions may be very conducive to health, when made ufe of on proper occafions j yet when taken to excefs, they may be faid very juftly to uneducatg a man : nor can I ap- prove of that too falfe maxim, that fox- hunting is neceflary to make a gentleman fond of the country ; for the times which country gentlemen are moft weary of, are rainy days, long nights j and thofe furc may be much better employed to their im- provement. To be in the field before it is fcarce light, or afleep before one is in bed, does not appear to be a very rational life, or an agreeable one to the ladies. 8 IF AND CONVERSATION. 53 IF thefe thoughts, entirely meant for your welfare, prove of any utility to you, I fhall be fatisfied, and think my time well fpent in writing them.. E 3 OH [ 54 J ON RELIGION. From the Same to the Same. T HAVE given you my opinion upon * converfation and company; and, thank God ! I believe you are fo well principled, and instructed in religion, both as to faith and morals, having had the bcft education that I could give you in relation to thofc points, as to avoid all the pedantry of hu- manifing the myfteries of religion to the vulgar grofs fenfation of man ; fuch repre- fentations, whenever they are analyzed, doing more real hurt than good to reli- gion ; and at the fame time to avoid tho other rock which many, that would be wits, fplit upon. Thefe 4 becaufe they can- not account for everything, will believe in nothing j even the myfteries which, per- haps, and in all probability, are concealed 7 from ON RELIGION, 55 from us by our Omnipotent Creator, as inr comprehenfible, and above the underftand- ing of a weak creature. Without religion, it is very difficult, upon trial, to be truly honeft; though many of the heathens were very extraordinary men, and did very great jand mining actions j and by the light or law of nature, fome of them taught very good morality, and wrote well upon that fubjecl. In this they might be actuated by natural religion 3 and thofe who were fin- cere, and" afted to the beft of their know- ledge, muft have been acceptable to the God of the world j for it is not confiftent with the infinite attributes of the Almighty to punifli man for what he did not really know, or had not, from his fituation in life, the power to be informed of. BUT if we examine into moft of the actions of the ancient philofophers,it appears that the greater part of them proceeded from a vain love of fome fingularity, an ambitious defire of power or popularity, and 4 not i 56 O N R E L I G I O N. notintrinficgoodnefs founded uponrdigion. Mahometifm, which prevails over fo very great a part of the world, though it may teach many juft things, encourages fcn- fual pleafures, and may be faid to fenfu- alize mankind ; and from that fource mufl be productive of many crimes, and much mifchicf : and it is thought this was the motive and allure that made Mahomet adopt that principle in thofe hot countries, to render it more palatable and agreeable to the complexion of the Afiatics, among whom he lived. The fame may be faid of Paganifm in general, and fome religions that are founded upon, and permit revenge in the higheft degree. It is even credibly aflcrted in hiftory, that there was an Afiatic prince called The Man of the Moun- tain, who had fo far inftilled implicit obe- dience in his fubjcfts, that he could pro- cure any perfon to be afiaflmated, though very far diftant from his dominions ; nay they thought they did a meritorious action in obeying his commands : and it was with difficulty / ON RELIGION. 57 difficulty he was deftroyed. The Chrif- tian religion condemns all fenfuality, pafllon, revenge, murder, and every evil &c. but teaches and commands the prac- tice of all good. It not only forbids the real commiffion of the actions, but en- joins and commands the practice of the oppofite virtues, and that as far- as lies in the power of man, to correct and govern himfelf by not giving way to evil thoughts, which, When indulged, may be faid to be the commanders and executors of evil actions. This feems rightly to be taught, and enjoined only by the Chriftian reli- gion. In a word, it enlightens, civilizes, and makes mankind more happy, even in this world, than any other, It is not the intention of the writer, nor has he abili- ties to enter into all the divifions and fub- divifions that have done, and occasioned fo -much harm and mifchief to Chriften- dom ; he (hall only fay, that the belief of any fett of men, who by their doctrine teach the pureft. morality, charity, and univerfal I 5 8 ON R E L I G I a N, univerfal benevolence to their neighbour, feems the beft to live and die in. Thefe tenets are the moft forcibly inftiiled in the mind by inftructions from the Chriftian religion, whofe profeflbrs live in charity with all others, and leave them to the judg- ment of the omnifcicnt, merciful, and juft God. TRUE religion makes a perfon, meek, humble, and compaflionate, to others ivho are not thought to be guided by the fame light and truth. For this we ought to be thankful to Divine Providence, and not vain-glorious or proud that we are not fo bad as our neighbour ; we fliould otherwife imitate the Pharifaical pride con- demned in the Go/pel. I WILL referve it for another letter, to give my opinion upon politics; and finifh by this maxim, That a man makes more atonement for his fins in the fight of his God, who has been a public finner, and is ONRELIGiON. 59 is of more fervice and inftruction to man- kind, by becoming a public penitent, than by tetiring into the moft rigid religious order $bat ever exifled. C 60 ] ON POLI TICS. From the Same to the Same. A S to politics, from your fituation * * and connexions in life, you will never, in all probability, be in any pub- lic employ; and God be thanked, you are fo circumftanced, that with moderate care, and due attention, you will never ftand in need of any poft or place for your fupport ; for without fome caution of that kind, we daily fee men of the greateft and moft opulent fortunes, in the higheft ranks and ftations of life, become the moft depen- dent and time-ferving people. Indeed, without fome attention of this nature, and in fome meafure, a contraction of your defires and ambition, the greateft riches, the moft noble birth, the higheft power and dignity, are but exalted wretchednefs. I do not fpeak this to fup- port ON POLITICS. 61 port the other extreme, that a gentleman Should refufe any employment or office for which he is qualified, or has abilities to execute ; for to ferve one's country, do good to our fellow-creatures, make ufe pf our talents to fupport juftice, and pro- tect order and due fubordination, and the laws of our country, feem to be the duties of every honeft man ; and it is his intereit:, as far as it is in his power, fo to do, parti- cularly, in a gentleman : for that perfon who doth not fupport law and juftice, is, in fa from the higheft to the lowed, mutually de- pend upon one another ; fuch are the ex- tenfive links of human nature. Politics, as they concern all men, have been, are, and always will be, the general topic of convex fation. IT '6ii ON P O L I f I C 5. IT is the duty of every honefl man, and ought to be his defire, for his own fake^ to fee that the adminiftration of laws and government fhould be conducted by good heads, properly educated and qualified to execute their different employs, of found hearts and morals, and the more inde- pendent their fortunes the better, if en- dowed with proper abilities ; becaufe fuch men, from the ties of religion and n lity, will naturally have more rcflraints to prevent them from doing evil and wrong things ; and of courfe, from the fame mo- tive, have a greater defire of doing good and right things; for the greateft free thinker that ever exifted, or the man the moft governed 'by felfifh motives, or abandoned to his paf- fions, even an atheift, if fuch there be, is defirous to have dealings with people who have, and are tied up by, principles of be- Fief and religion. As a proof of thiv, have fcarce ver^ieard of one of thefc men who taught, or endeavoured to irritil his / ON P O LI T I C S. 63 own principles into his children, particu- larly if daughters : whereas, if they wer:i.'er^*L vr?\> u ad vsrn :i IT is an abfurdity, and incontinent with common fen fe, that the French come- dians mould ftaiid excommunicated more than others, when at the fame time there appears more decency and inftrudlion upon that ftage than any other. A well regulated theatre may be made a pleafing method of reforming and correcting the prejudices, manners, and follies; of mankind, which many people will attend to, who do not to a fermon. 3& 7&* . A GOOD preacher or orator, if he has good fenfe and judgment (and without thefe effential requifites it is almoft -im* poffible to be one, will adapt his fermon F 4 ' and 7 2 VULGAR ERRORS, &c and difcourfe to the underftandings and fituation of his audience ; otherwife he will do very little fervice, and convey little fatisfa&ion, but, on the contrary, only ex- pofe his own vanity. IT is better to read the good fenfe of a judicious author, than to preach one's own nonfenfe, though never fo well in- tended ; but there are men who do the latter, when vanity and ignorance arc united, which is often the cafe. A MAN by converfation will rarely convince another upon any point, of which he is not convinced himfelf : from the heart, not the tongue, proceeds convi&ion. MAXIMS. f -alifc 5*1* arf ailwisfbo 3-5.n.3--?K.-<. *:-! tr nohjsirtH s ,D->ib'J- -ni Us"W ol 13V9O i'-;<:! ,-' /; :- ; .r"T nv-:,> MAXIMS, . MAXIMS. I G H T, at times, may over- M conie right ; but right in the l n g run w ^^ prevail. A MAN ought not always to fpeak all he thinks, becaufe he is not certain he al- ways thinks right : befldcs, he fhould con- fider the company he fpeaks to. Some, of conceited heads or weak underftand- ings, he may fcandalize or offend ; parti- cularly if he has an ironical way of talk- ing* 76 MAXIMS. ing, which their ferious dull brains can^ not comprehend. THE tnyfteries of religion arc beyond the comprehenfion of a human Creature ; therefore, probably, not explained to man, in order to keep him in a proper ftate of humiliation and fubmiflion to the divine- will of the Almighty God. RELIGION, even the practical and moral part, is not fo difficult as the fcnfual and habitual finner is willing to perfuade him- felf ; and every man who has had the un- happinefs to be fuch, muft know from his own experience and knowledge, if he gives himfelf time for ool reflection, that the life of a fenfual, worldly libertine is more unpleafant and laborious than that of a fober, moral, good Chriftian, even in this world. HYPOCRISY MAXIMS. 77 HYPOCRISY and infidelity, though the very oppofltes in general, unite in the very fame vicious and pernicious confequences to the morals of man and the good of fociety : the firft, by difgracing religion, and often making it a cloak for villainy ; the latter, by endeavouring to take away from the mind of man the ftrongeft, and, perhaps, in many refpec~b, the only barrier and fe- curity from fecret villainy and difhonefty ; I mean, the pleafing hopes of a future re- ward, or the dreadful apprehenfions of future punifhment ; for, upon trial, with- out religion it is difficult, very difficult to le honeft. >.0/v .> w.v.y.-r^iilU! '. . ' ***>> T! " ral io8 CHARACTER OF, &c. ral of his time. He deferred, and indeed he was nobly and amply rewarded by his country. The duke of Argyle poflefled great public places and honourable em- ployments, which did not influence him in his way of adding, or voting in parlia- ment, as he fhewed upon fcveral occafiorts, by refigning them when he thought any thing was required of him to comply with that he did not think right. In this he is cenfured by fome, as too hafty j for why fhould a man punifli himfelf when he adts upon principle, and deprive his country of his fervice, becaufe he thinks another doth wrong? If he was miftakcn, it mufr, be as little as any man, bccaufc he had a good head and heart. In the houfe of Lords he fpoke well, with a firm, manly, and noble eloquence, and fecms to deferve the character given of him by Pope : Argyle the date's whole thunder born to wield, And fluke alike the fenate and the field. C H,AR AC- t 109 3 CHARACTER OF THE DUKE OF BERWICK. TH E duke of Berwick was natural fon of James II. by Mrs. Arabella Churchill, fifterto the great duke of Marl- borough. He followed the fate of his father, and came into France after the Revolution with James II. who retired thither, to put himfelf under the protection of his friend and ally Lewis XIV. His ally he was, becaufe he refufed to fign the treaty of Augftnirgh, in a general combi- nation to lower the ambition and great- nefs of the French monarch, agreed to by moft of the European powers, and, it is faid, even by the pope himfelf. This re- fufal, it is thought, haftened the Revolu- tion ; for at that time the prince of Orange's views to the crown of Great Britain, if he had any, muft have been very Uo C H AR A C T E R OF very diftant ; and it is thought that king William was better pleafed with his accefli- on to the crown of Great Britain, from the fituation and power it gave him to attack the overgrown power of France, than from any real fatisfaclion as being king of Great Britain : and this appears more probable, from the anfwer he gave to the conven- tions of the ftates, when they offered to make him king conjointly with his wife, but only for his life : " I refpedl the " princefs, but will not hold my crown " on her apron-ftrings." Such was the native love that the Naflau prince of Orange bore his country, perhaps founded upon a good deal of refentment, naturally caufed by the attack upon Holland by Lewis XIV. in Charles IPs reign, when that republic, by the rapid vi&ories of the French monarch, was very near deftruc- tion. He was not fuccefsful, in general, in his wars with France, but laid the foundation for the more fuccefsful one of his fucceflbr queen Anne. JAMES DUKE OF BERWICK. in JAMES II. was received in France, and fupported in a king-like manner during all his life at the caftle of St. Germain. Lewis XIV. {hewed upon all occafionsthe utmoft friendfliip for him. Indeed, the two monarchs were in fome meafure di- rected by the fame principles in religion, which ever unite friendfhip ; and both were too much, at that time, governed by the fame fettof priefts. Lewis XI Vs great, and otherwife moft noble character was much blcmifhed by being in fuch fubjeHon to them. James II. was dethroned by them, from his own weaknefs in too precipitately liftening and following their councils, in miftaking obflinacy and wrongheadednefs for firmnefs arid refolution; for zeal with- out knowledge ever counteracts itfelf. THE duke of Berwick was recom- mended to the court of France by his fu- perior merit; he attained all the military honours and dignities his moft Chriftian Majefty could confer on him ; he was marfhal ii2 CHARACTER OF THB marflial of France, knight of the Holy Ghoft, duke and peer of France, gran- dee of Spain, commander in chief of the French armies ; in all which ftatians his behaviour was fuch, that few equalled him, none furpaficd him. He lived in an age when the renowned prince of Orange, and many other of the greateft men, commanded againft him. His courage was of the cool, fteatly kind ; al- ways j3ofieffing himfclf, taking all ad- vantages, not foolifhly, rafhly, or want- only throwing away the lives of his fol- diers. He kept up on all occafions the moft flrict difcipline, and did not fpare punifhment among his foldiers for maraud- ing r.nd other crimes, when properly de- ferved ; for which fome rafh, filly, incon- fiderate people have found fault and blamed him. They were hard put to it to find a fault in this great man ; for furely an army without ftri& difcipline, good order, and due fubordi nation, will never do their du- ty, as all hiftories and times evince ; 8 and DUKE OF BERWICK. 113 and they would be little better (con- fidering the fort of men armies muft be compofed of) than a powerful fett of banditti and thieves. This, then, in the writer's opinion, is far from blameable, but amoft praife-worthy part of his charac- ter. If he were ftridl: and exadl in his com- mand, and the prevention of wrongs by others, he was moft juft in himfelf - 3 not railing unnecefTary contributions, and pro- moting pillage, in order to enrich him- felf, as many generals have formerly done before his time. He has been reflected upon by the very zealous and violent ad- herents of the Stuart family, for not being fufficiently attached to that party, which was his own family. But by a cool examination of his actions, which are ftubborn things, and the beft index of the mind of a fenfible man, it will appear, that his behaviour in this particular was, as in moft parts of his life, fenfible and jwft. When he accepted of employments, I received ii4 CHARACTER OF THE received honours, dignities, and became a naturalized Frenchman, he thought it his duty, as an honeft man, to become a Frenchman, and a real fubjecl to the monarch who gave him bread ; and to be, or not to be, in the interelt of the Stuart family, according to the will and com- mands of the fovereign whom he ferved, and the intercft of France according to, time and circumftances j for there is no ferving two matters well. But when or- dered by his king to be in that family's intereft, he ac~ted with the grcateft fin- cerity, and took the moft effectual and fenfible methods to ferve that unhappy houfe, as the following anecdote, if true, and it has great appearance and proba- bility on its fide, proves. THE duke of Marlborough, after the figning of the treaty of Utrecht, was cenfured by the Britifh parliament for fome of the army contracts in relation to 8 bread DUKE OF B E R W I K. 11-5 bread and forage ; upon which he retired into France : and it was then credibly aflerted, the duke of Marlborough was brought over to the intereft of the Stuart family; for it is now paft a doubt that queen Anne had a very ferious intention of having her brother upon the throne of England after her death : and feveral circumftances, as well as the time * of that duke's landing in England, make many people believe he was gained over to the Stuart party. If the duke of Berwick was, directly or indirectly, the means of gaining his uncle over to that intereft, he more effectually ferved it than that rafh, mock army of unhappy gentlemen who were taken prifoners at Prefton in 1715, had it in their power to do. IN a word, the duke of Berwick was, without being a bigot, a moral and reli- gious man, and fhewed by his life and * The very day or day after the death of queen Anne. I 2 actions, n6 CHARACTER OF THE actions, that morality and religion are very compatible and confiftent with the life of a ftatefman, and a great general ; and if they were .oftener united in thofe two pro- feifions, it would be 'much happier for the reft of mankind. HE was killed by a cannon-ball, in doing his duty at the fiege of Philipfburgh, in 1738. So died the marfhal of Berwick, ripe in years, full of dignities, honors, and glory. Sic tranjit gloria mundi. N. B. Lewis XIV. before his under- takings againft Holland, fent word, un- derhand, to the prince of Orange, offering to make him abfolute fovereign of the Ne- therlands, if he would be his ally j when he anfwered, *' he fhould be true to his " country." " But reflect, Sir, faid the " emiflary, how you will withftand a " prince who makes you fuch fair offers, if " he undertakes to invade Holland?" *' If that I DUKE OF BERWICK. 117 C^}:0^^ ADDITIONAL ESSAYS. ADDITIONAL ESSAYS ON GAMING. T is often aflerted, and generally may be true, that Avarice is the (X foundation, or the chief motive of high gaming ; though there are, and have been people known in high life, and of opulent fortunes, not reputed to be tinctured at all with that fordid vice,, very fond of high play. Thefe people are al- moft always the dupes ; and it often hap- K pens, 130 ON G A M I N G. pens, when they have finifhed their for- tunes, (as may be proved by many exam- ples) they turn (harpers to fupport a wretched exiftence for the remainder of their days ; or turn feditious, turbulent, politicians, in order to induce fome per- fons in power to buy them off, or to keep them quiet from difturbing the peace of mankind, with the pittance of fome mife- rable place, often quartered upon for half as much as it is worth. A third refource, if they happen to be men of parts, and of a tolerable figure, is a more wretched fitu- ation than the two firft j viz. to fink into the maufoleum of fome fuperannuatcd, wanton, doting widow, and to live a dog and cat life for the beft parts of their lives. In this the perfon hath not the fmall con- folation, fuch as it is, in other unhappy weddings; viz. the death of the party; becaufe by that they are deprived of their fubfiftenee, the jointure, and plunged again into the greateft of all human ca- lamities, guilt, want, and mifery. A per- fon ON G A M I N G. 131 fonoffortune by high play can fcarce proba- bly win, becaufe it is almoft impoilible that he (hotjJd not often meet with people who underftand play better than he doth : be- fides, fliarpers and gamblers, who make a trade ef it, always attend where high gam- ing is ftirring. In fa6t, he ftakes his eftate againft nothing ; for he often plays with men who are unable to pay if they k>fe ; and he muft, if a man of honour, pay them. In the purfuit of play he wears out his conftitution, by the late hours, and the torture of all his pafiions which it throws them in ; and it frequently ruins his fa- mily and peace of mind, and caufes his death, in a duel with fome fcoundrel (harper ; or, perhaps, he himfelf becomes by the fame means the murderer of his friend, with whom probably he never would have had a quarrel but on this ac- count. But if all this, or no one of thefe confequences fliould happen, and he were to prove fuccefsful, the winning from, and diftrefling, our friends, is but a poor K 2 confolation ij2 ON GAMING. confolation to a benevolent mind. Gam- ing among the ladies is attended with all the fame fatal confequences, except that of duelling; but thofe who are young and handfome, have often ftaked their re- putation and chaftity, which ought to be as dear to them as honour, in the moft de- licate fenfeof the word, to either a foldier or a gentleman. o [ 133 3 ON ENTAILS. - NT AILS, if rightly underftood, and not abufed and mifufed, are very proper and jufl things : for when a perfon marries and fettles, it is but reafonable a proper provision fhould be made for his wife, in cafe of widowhood; and a jufl: and honeft man will never defire, or even truft himfelf with, a power totally to ruin his family and pofterity : for no man can anfwer for himfelf, as daily experience proves, what unreafonable prejudices he may take againft a fon, or what unjuft con- ditions he may require of him, when to- tally in his power. As there are unnatural parents as well as difobedient children, and as Avarige is often the attendant of old age, parents frequently think of doing nothing for their % K 3 fons i 3 4 ON ENTAILS. fons but procuring them a certain fum of money, adequate to fome purpofes they want or have framed to themfelves, by marriage j without ever coniidering whe- ther the parties are proper or agreeable to one another,' though fo much of their childrens future happinefs, both here and hereafter, depends on it : but thefe, like all other good inftitutions, when carried to excefs, turn into the grcateft corruption, and are mod detrimental to a country and focicty. If there were always a reafonable eftate fettled on the peerage, it might not be improper, as a total indigent and de- pendent nobility makes a very bad part of the legiflature. FORMERLY, when the feudal law pre- vailed more in England than it doth at prefent, the ancient barons had their eftatcs and baronies under fuch ffrong entails, that they could not be forfeited by rebel- lions or treafon. Henry VII. a very wife and judicious prince, who law that this * was ON E N T A I L S. 135 was the frequent occafion of infurre&ions and rebellions, procured them power to cut off their entails j by which means he took from them the ability, if not the inclination, of disturbing the peace of their country fo often ; and gave a great blow to, and in fome meafure deftroyed, that ariftocratic power, the worft form of government that was ever calculated for the regulation of fociety and the happi- nefs of man. . IT ftill prevails too much in Scotland, as that people have been fo tenacious of their old laws and cuftoms, that there were eftates there which lay much unimproved, though very capable of it ; owing to the inability of the poffeflbrs to improve them, and their want of power to make out a title to thofe who were willing and able to purchafe and improve them. I I HAVE been informed by a very fenfible Scotchman, that by the law of that coun- ^ K 4 try 136 ON E N T A I L S. try a pcrfon is obliged to give feveral days notice before he can be arrefted for debt : this, in fa&, is giving a man whom honefty cannot bind (and many fuch there are) a power to run away with all his effects, or turn them into cafh, and cheat his cre- ditors. SURE this muft be a great hindrance to improvements, and very injurious to a trading and commercial kingdom. The inhabitants of the neighbouring counties, both Scotch and Englifh, are fo fcnfiblc of this, that they have very little dealings beyond the Tweed ; nor, indeed, can they with fafety in money-matters, which is highly inconvenient. It is therefore to be wifhcd, that the fenfible part of the law would contrive to make a greater union of laws, and not let, now, the fame united kingdom be an afylum for the thieves and rogues of each country. WHY ON E N T A I L S. 137 WHY it has prevailed fo much longer in that kingdom may, in part, be accounted for. At the acceffion of James I. the ma- jority adhered to their old prejudices, and were againft parting with their king, or having their country governed by a mo- narch reigning in England. THE Scotch were, at that time, much in the intereft of France, from their long and ancient alliances ; and it is very well known that France, as a neighbouring rival nation, ever thought it their intereft to keep up a party there upon the principle of divide et impera. THE unhappy civil war that broke out under Charles I. prevented that unfor- tunate monarch, if he had it in his difpo- fition, to think of any fuch thing. NOR could the two fucceeding princes (Charles and James) think of any fuch thing : they had other points in view : 138 ON ENTAILS. Charles with great difficulty kept the throne j James did not keep it. WILLIAM had a ftrong party both in Ireland and Scotland to ftrugglc with, and many enemies in England. ANNE, in whofe reign the Union was made *, thought it not prudent to attempt any thing farther. The Scotch Jacobite party continued to propagate fo ftrong an averfion to the Union, that it is more than probable, this fpirit was artfully kept up by defigning people to influence the more weak, well-meaning, but mifled part to fecond their views. THERE needs no other proof of this than the Chevalier's manifefto, the chief article of which was a " Difiblution of " the Union." Every one knows with what Difficulty it waj brought about, and how avcrfe the Scots, in general, were to it, particularly the Jacobite party, which was then fo very prevalent and ftrong. THEREFORE ON ENTAILS. i 39 THEREFORE it appears more than a probable conje&ure, that thefe almoft per- petual entails were kept up to prevent peo- ple from forfeiting their eftates by going into rebellions and treafon ; as they were always pretty ready for the one or the other. But as it is hoped, believed, nay known, that the reafon doth not fubfift, the caufe fhould be taken away; for laws muft, at leaft fhould, alter according to the nature and circumftances of times and things. SUPPLE- I 4 o ON A S Y^L U M S SUPPLEMENTAL REFLECT IONS on ASYLUMS and PROTECTIONS. Tj^VERY fubjocl who pays willing -"^ and due fubmiilion to the laws and government under which he was born and lives, may with great juftice claim the pro- tection of thofe laws : indeed, it is the duty and intercft of every man, particu- larly of property, as much as in him lies, to fupport laws, and keep up a due fubordi- nation and refpect to office ; for when once laws are laughed at and difrcgarded, and the people fpirited up to defpife all order and dignity, licentious riots, tumults, and mobs, are the confequence ; and neither our lives, property, or all that is the moft valuable to us, are fafc ; but protection from the laws, I mean a fcreen for difho- nefly and villainy, no perfon has a right to. I will explain myfclf. A protection to 8 prevent AND PROTECTIONS. 141 prevent a perfon from being arrefted for debt, a practice too much ufed by foreign minifters, lords, and members of parlia- ment ; this is, in fa&, giving a perfon a power to cheat all his friends who are good-natured enough to truft him; and he may be faid to live by the fweat of their brow,, and be the means of diftreffing many honeft and induftrious tradefmen and their families, and be the occafion of reducing them to poverty, want, and bankruptcy. This, in fomefenfe, is oppreffing the poor; a fin which, we are taught in our cate- chifm, calls down vengeance from hea- ven. Afylums, or privileged places, may, in fome cafes, be neceffary and proper, as it gives a poor unhappy debtor, or other- wife diftrefled man, whofe misfortunes may not have been brought upon him by his own fault, a power to recover himfelf by his induftry and endeavours ; and even if his misfortunes have happened to him through his mifcondu& and fault, if he can be reclaimed, he ought i 4 2 ON A S Y L U M S not to be driven to defpair. But thefe afylums and privileged places are moft fcandaloufly abufed, by affording protec- tion to thofe who fly to them to fcreen themielvcs from their creditors, and can, but will not pay their debts ; and they alfo often fcreen other villains from due punifh- roerrt for their crimes: whereas a public punifhment is the beft atonement they can make fociety for their viHanies, as it maybe an example to deter others ; for the beft repentance a public fmncr can make, is a public change of his life. This feems to have more fenfe and real merit in it, than ftealing or retiring into the moft fevere convent or order on earth. Church fanc- tuaries, in fcreening murderers or afiaffins from public juftice, or the civil magiftrate, prefent us with a moft lamentable abufe; it is making the houfe of God a den of thieves : and if what I have heard afierted betrue, that thefe privileges and fan&uaries were, on the firft eftablifhment of Chrifti- anity, meant to keep the delinquents till 8 r fuch AND PROTECTIONS. 143 fuch time as they could be delivered up to juftice, and to prevent hot, paffionate people from being their own avengers, which is contrary to all laws, both human and divine ; there might then be fomething faid for it ; but when it is made ufe of to guard, protect, and let villains and mur- derers efcape, it is fhamefully perverted, and ought to be taken away; which might be the means of preventing aflaffinations. IN a word, when the original caufe doth not fubfift, or when, from the circum- ftances of times, any privilege doth more hurt than good, it ought to be abolifhed. FINIS. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 51980 30wi-7,'70(N8475B8) C-120 > !: : ^ UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY A 000000776 5 ^ v^y MS ^ v_ i i ^ ^ f i ir ^ iiii ^, L1J V, "*s. CC j*.--- ^ ^ ^ =o S " R %