Doctor King's Apology: or, vindication of himself from the Several Fatters Charged on hlin by the Society of In- formers • CO ^ ^ © o h3 .5 CO P %t"> -^^^^iJ^SP^^S^ ■r\ DOCTOR KING'S APOLOGY: O R, VINDICATION of HIMSELF FROM The Several Matters Charged on him By the SOCIETY of INFORMERS. Delatores, Hominum genus publico ExiTIO REPERTUM. TaCIT. The Third Edition. J^ F R D, Printed at the THEATRE for S.Parker, Bookfeller: and Sold by W. O w E N near Temple-Bar, London. MDCC L V, To prevent all mifapprehenlions : I mean by the So- ciety of Informers and their Associates, the Authors of thofe Libels, which have been publifhed in the Evening Advertiser, and likewife the Authors and Editors of a virulent Pamphlet, called, A De- fence of the Rector and Fellows of Exeter Col- lege. W. K. .Oxford, St. Mary-Hall, • ,?. ; >«. 25,1755. errata. Tor ptrfuejtz^purfue, pag. 5, 1. 1 r. For ferfue read pur/us, pa^. 2 1 . 1. 26. o CO M 3; 353"! ADVERTISEMENT. SINCE the Publication of the following Apology, the Informers have afferted, That the feveral matters, which I allege to have been charged on me in the four firft Articles, are not to be found in their Papers. I beg leave therefore to refer the Reader, that he may not have the >. difagreeable tafk of turning over a whole heap of rubbifh, to two numbers only of the Evening Advertiser, 10 i and 105, which will be fufficient to fatisfie his curiofity. In number 10 1 my Adversaries, after beftowing on me fome of their Latin elegancies, charge me, in wretched Englijh metre, with bei?ig born in Ireland, with having received^ twenty years ago^ fifteen hundred pou72ds^ as fub-- ::? fcriptions for Books ^ which I have not yet pub/ijjjed^ and with '- being one of the Writers (with which particular I am re- - preached in many other Papers) of the London Evening ^ Post. In number 105 I ftand charged with being the Au- thor of the Political Considerations. And this Accu- fation, altho' in the Apology I have touched on it very gently and fuperficially, is preffed on me with the utm.oft ipight and bitternefs, and the want of morals as well as learni?2g imputed to me. For, in the firft place, the In- Q FORMERS pretend, that there are confpicuous i?i this Work 1 1 the mofl immoral Politicks, that ever human nature feems 1 1 to have been guilty of. Secondly, Inftead of False Eng- lish (the foft terms, which I have ufed) they reproach me with the greatefl Ignorance in the tranflation of certain Latin Latin p^JfiJges ; which is in efFedl to tell the public, that / could 72either write Englifli, nor unde?^J}a?id Latin. And this whole Charge, which is falle in every circiimftance, is intro- duced, as my Adversaries acknowledge, in order to ap- ply to me a character in Fitz-Osborn's Letters; which with the fame tmth and propriety may be applied to any other man in E7?gla?id. As I have had fo many Ipecimens of the ufage, which I muft always exped: from these Men * and, as I am immediately threatened with a moft feve?'e Answer to my Apology, I therefore think it incumbent on me to require the Answerer to put his name to his Work. And for the reafonablenefs of this demand I appeal to the candor and judgment of all impartial Readers : Who, I hope, will be of opinion with me, If another anonymous Libel iliall be iflued out by our Informers, that they have refolved to take all advantages, and not only to attack me in numbers, but with a vizor on every face ; adling upon the fame principles with other mafked criminals, but of a lefs noxious kind, whom we have fometimes the misfor- tune to meet with in our travels. Since this Advej^tifemeitt ?ny Adversaries, without any regard to my dema?jd^ have put forth 2 or ^ bulky Ano- nymous pamphlets', in which they have b eft owed on me all the fcurrilous appellations, a?2d on them/elves the mojl ex- travagant praifes they could pojjibly heap together. The one and the other are equally jujl and true. There is in- deed one Piece, to which the Author hath fubfcribed his na^ne. But, as he fee7ns to have co?npofed it with ?J0 other deftgn, than to prove himfelf an Informer in the worji Jenje of the word, it needs 710 reply. ^€*€*^€*€*#^#<^#<§^€*^€>####^^€^# DOCTOR KINGS APOLOGY: O R VINDICATION of HIMSELF &c. WH E N I communicated to fome of my friends my defign of offering an Apology to the public, they endeavoured to diffuade me from it. They faid, I fliould defcend too low in attempting to vindicate myfelf from the calumnies of a Set of Infor- mers, who, when they fwear, are not believed, and there- fore it is not to be fuppofed, that by their Libels they can poffibly injure an eftablifhed reputation. I might perhaps have liftened to this advice, and laid afide all thoughts of writing my Vindication, if I had not been convinced, that my Adversaries do not adl entirely from the dic- tates of their own bad hearts, but are encouraged, and A fupported [2] fupported by perfons of rank and fortune, and even by fome, who are very deiirous of being efteemed more juft and righteous, than other men. By fuch a combination, the meanefl: people, who might otherwife be fafely delpi- fed, may become formidable. And who indeed can ra- tionally think himfelf fecure againft the moft worthlefs and contemptible of his enemies, when they are vefted with credit, and excited by rewards? When Oates made his firft appearance in London in the quality of an apof- tate Jefuit and Informer, he was contemned, and his pre- tended plot turned into ridicule. But, as foon as he had found proper patrons, and a certain method of faftening his dependences, his narrative was confidered as a matter of the greateft importance; and, notwithflanding the in- ^ray;.pf,hxs charader and the inconfiftency of his whole eyrj^ence,, he was able to deprive many innocent perfons of their lives and fortunes. Towards the clofe of the lafl: g^tury, two execrable Informers framed an accufation of high-^afon againft Dr Sprat, the bifhop of Rochester, and fpme Lords of the privy council, by flipping a treafon- able paper into a floWer-pot in the chimney of the bifhop's hall (and fyon\ this ftratagemdurRAOHP lot feems to have feeen copied) to which place the ftat^-itieflengers were di- reded to make the difcovery. AltlK)ugh this Confpiracy was foon deteded, and the innocence of the noble perfons, who had been accufed, fiifEeiently cleared; yet the bifliop [3] gave himfelf the trouble to enquire fo minutely concern- ing his accufers,: and procured fuch intelligence of all their former tranfecSions, 4iiat he was able to compile an exad hiftory of tJieir- lives/ In . this account, fuch a feries of cheats, villainies and impoftures is produced, as, I believe, will fcarce ever be equalled, unlefs by the Make-plots and Informers, who^nfeft this place, and feem ambitious of excelling all their predeceffors, in the arts of a refined malice, and in the various methods of applying it. The reader may be affured, that I am not a little mortified to find myfelf obliged to contend witli adverfaries of this caft and complexion. The match is very unequal. I can ref- cue my charader, but I can make no reprifals by gaining a vidory over thofe, who by a conftant habit and courfe of life are become, infenfible to iliame and difgrace, and have no honour or reputation to lofe. However, as our Infor- mers have objeded to me feveral fads, inferted in an E- VENiNG News Paper, (which only fubfifts by the fcandal which it fpreads) as likewife in a pamphlet called, A De- fence of the Rector andFELLOws of Exeter College, which hath been circulated with great induftry not only by their Agents, but alfo by their Patrons ; I think it incumbent on me to give an anfwer to thofe particular charges, left I feem to confirm them by my filence, and furnifli my Enemies with an opportunity of commenting triumphantly on their own ^r^^r/i^j. A 2 But [4] But there is another reafon for taking fome notice of our InforiMers at this jundlure, which, indeed, ought principally to weigh with me. They have involved the Un I V e r s I t y in my pretended guilt. The applaufes bellow- ed on me are imputed as high crimes ; and the Vice-Chan- CELLOR hath been reviled, becaufe he was pleafed to make me a compliment, when he entered upon the fecond year of his office. In truth, this excellent and learned Magis- trate hath been treated with fuch infolence and inhu- manity, as have juftly raifed the indignation of all thofe worthy men, who have a deference for our conftitution, and are fenfible, that the peace and difcipline of this place cannot be preferved, if we fuffer our Governour to be libelled with impunity. And yet if we were to punifh thefe Libellers accordmg to our ftatutes, they would im- mediately cry out, Persecution! And, as the times are, I am in fome doubt, whether the marks of infamy, fixed on them here, might not be confidered as marks of ho- nour in another place. I have faid before, that our In- formers have their auxiliaries, and know where to ad- drefs themfelves, when they want any countenance, or fup- port. We need not be told, that the ancient enemies of the University, Diffenters of all denominations, and both the ancient and modern enemies of Chriftianity are their fall and faithful friends. But their chief refuge at prefent. [5] prefent, and the Patrons, on whom they principally de- pend, are thofe 'worthies^ who are diftinguiflied by the appellation of Deserters : Who with regard to us ftrid- ly pradlife the Italian maxim^ and never forgive thofe per- fons, whom they have injured. We are therefore the con- ftant topics of their angry declamations : They preach vengeance againft us in all places : And they denounce us, as feditious and diffaffeded, becaufe we cannot fafhion, and accommodate our morals to every new iyftem of po- litics, which they think proper to take up. For, if their turn can be ferved, they are not afhamed to perfue the very fame meafures to day, which they condemned yefter- day, and groflly flatter thofe great perfonages, whom very lately they as groflly abufed. These are the Men, who, having been true to no party, are, notwithftanding any ac- ceflion of wealth, grandeur, or power, hated by all. And this public hatred, which they have thus drawn on them- felves, imbitters all their new acquifitions, and hano-s like the point of a fword jufl: over their heads, during all their entertainments. By this means their temper becomes four- ed againft every thing, that is good and laudable. Every man of probity and honour is their envy and averflon : And all communities, which are not to be influenced by their counfels, and are free from the general contagion, are the. objeds of their fury and revenge. These are the Men, from whom our Reverend Ineormers are eon- tent [6] tent to receive their principles ; whofe paffions they ftudy, tind adopt ; whofe commands they impHcitly obey ; and confequently are fo abandoned, as to diflionour, and dif- tnrb the University by every kind of outrage, which may ferve the little purpofes of their own ambition, or promote the caufe of corruptiDn. If T were to finifh the character of These Men, I {hould be obliged to inftance many other particulars. But this would draw me too far out of my way. Therefore I return to what immediately concerns myfelf The whole Charge brought againft me by the So- ciety of Informers, after I have been at the pains to ftrip off the fcurrilities, with which I found it very plen- tifully adorned, confifts of the following particulars : I. It is objeded to me, T/jai I am an Irishman. II. That twe?tty years ago I received fifteen hun- dred Pounds (?r Guineas, as fubfcriptions for a hook or books ^ which I have not yet puhlijhed : Aiid allowing 5 per Cent, for this fum^ it is now doubled^ and amou77ts i7i the whole to three thousand Guineas 5 of which I have defrauded my fubfcri- hers, III. That I write the London Evening Post. IV. That C 7 li IV. That I wrote a hook in Queen AnneV reign^ inti- tuled^ Political Co n s i d e r a t i o n s ^ pubUpjed about the .. year 1710, and dedicated to the Duke ^Beaufort; ' '. In which book there is v k'l^y. English. V. That I offered myfelf to fale both in England and Ireland; hut was not found worth the pur chafe. If: VI. That I am the author of a hook^ publifoed lafl winter j, called the Dreamer.. All thefe Articles are extracted from" the Society's Evening News Papers (of which their; dignified: Chief hath the diredion) and the two laft Articles are repeated in their pamphlet, called a Defence of the Rec- tor and Fellows of Exeter College^ and enforced with great vehemence, and in the ufual ftyle of their House. There is likewife contained in the fame pamphlet a general charge, That I have libelled all ranks and orders of men both in church and flat e^ even fro7n him^ that fitteth on the throne^ to the lowefi of his people. To thefe feveral Accusations I will now make a diftind, and, I hope^ a fatisfadory anfwer. The First Assertion of the Informers, That I am an Irishman, is a notorious Falsehood, I was born in MlDDLE-= [8] Middlesex of English parents, and of as good a fami- ly, as any in that county. And what I value myfelf up- on much more, than upon my family, I have hitherto preferved an invariable affedion for the place of my birth : I have never failed on all occafions, both in my converfa- tion and my writings, to approve myfelf a True English- man ; and have firmly and fteadily adhered to our excel- lent conftitution in church and ftate; notwithftanding all, that hath been affirmed, or infmuated to the contrary in the Society's libels. But now give me leave to suppose, I had been born, and educated in Ireland : Would any man of common humanity, or common fenfe impute this to me, as a crime ? Or by what logic (except, what may probably be taught within the walls of our Informers) could fuch a circum- ftance refled on me the leaft difgrace ? Perhaps, at this lundlure, 1 fhould efteem it an honour to owe my birth to a country, where the fpirit of liberty and the a77ior fa- tricB fo vifibly prevail againft the force and power of cor- ruption, and where patriotifm is not to be put out of coun- tenance by the farcaftical jefts of a court-fycophant, or to be fubdued by the iron-hand of a great minifter. Befides, I have lived long enough in the world to difcern the folly and injuftice of all national prejudices, and to be convin- ced, tliat virtues and vices are not the growth of any par- ticular [9] ticular foil or climate. I have the pleafure to be acquain- ed with many Irish Gentlemen (I beg the reader's pa- tience and his pardon, if he ftiould think this a digreffion) who are well bred and elegant fcholars ; and whofe good nature, wit and good fenfe render their converfation very- agreeable and inftrudlive. And, indeed, as to the liberal arts and fciences, the Irish nation is in no refped inferior to ours ; witnefs the immortal works of the late Dean of St. Patrick's, of whom Cardinal Polignac, who was himfelf one of the politeft fcholars in Europe, faid to me, II a l'esprit createur; an elogy, in my judgment, preferable to all the monumental infcriptions in. West- minster Abbey. Further: The Irish Gentlemen are as eminent for their military, as for their civil accompltfh- ments, and their courage hath never been dilputed. 'Tis well known, that the Duke of Marlborough placed his chief confidence in the fkill and intref.idity of his Irish officers: And the Irish Brigade, now in the fervice of France, is allowed by the French Generals to be the choiceft body of their troops : A diftindion, which they have well deferved on all public occafions. By the way, I find myfelf at this inftant fo charitably dilpofed, as to advife the chief Director of the Society to avoid for the future all national reflections. The Irish Gentlemen are very apt to refent injuries of this kind : And if any of them fhould happen to obferve his Canonical Reve- B rence RENCE, when he is in the height of his fury, and is throw- ing his fcurrihties round about, without refpedl of place or perfons, they may fhew as Uttle regard to the facred character, which he hath * ufurped, as he fhews to it him- jfelf, and take the Hberty of correcting him in the fame manner, as they would correal an impudent and abufive chairman or porter. I could fay much more to the ad- vantage of the Irish nation, if I were not unwilUng, for the honour of my own Country, to afford an occafion to foreigners of making odious comparifons. I confefs, there ^re many very bad men to be found among the common people of Ireland: And the fame thing may be objected io all the nations in Europe. The lower clafs of people in England is eminently wicked : And I am forry to fay, that we abound at prefent with a {pecies of criminals, un- krioWn to our anceftors, and the better ages of the world, pA'RRldlDES and li^TFORMERS. The second Fact charged upon me by the Infor- kiERs is, 77ja^ I recelv^ci^ fifteen hundred Guineas, as * .By what means did this man procure holy orders? He was re- Firfed (or would have been refufed, if he had applied for it) a Tefti- monial or Certificate of his good behaviour by the Governors of the College, where he bad been educated, and who were befl acquainted with his life and eonverfation. May we not therefore be allowed to fay, That he is one of thofe Shepherds, ^/jo entered not by the door into the Sbeepjoldy but climbed i^p fome other ivay ? fubfcrip- C " ] fubfcriptions for a work, which I have not yet publijhed: And to fhew themfelves powerful advocates againft me, and to ftrengthen their charge, they have made the fifteen hun- dred Guineas amount to three thousand, by alledg- ingy that I received the money twenty years ago. And of this fum, according to their calculation, and as I ftand accountable in the Society's books, I have wronged, or robbed my fubfcribers. But it happens to the confufion of my Enemies (if any thing can happen to their confu- fion) that this Accusation is, like the former, a moft bale and impudent Falsehood, and a {ingular proof both of their rancour and folly. The truth is this. Seven or eight years ago I advertifed rriy friends. That I intended to publifh my Latin works in two volumes in ^uarto^ ,and defired, that thofe Gentlemen, who were inclined to purchafe the books, would be pleafed to leave, or fend their names to the Coco Tree in Pall Mall. I fixed the price at two guineas, to be paid, when the Books WERE delivered. In a fhbrt time, with the names left at the Coco Tree, and others fenf to me, I had about 450 fubfcribers, when I clofed my fubfcription ; having determined from the beginning to print no more, than 500 books in that form. According to my propofals I neither required, nor received any part of the fubfcription money from any one of my fubfcribers, tho' many of them were fo kind, as to ofFer me the whole. Why I depart- B 2 ed, [ 12] ed, on this occafion, from the ufual method, and refufed to take any money, until the books fhould be pubUfhed, and delivered to the fubfcribers, the reafon is obvious. I would not oblige myfelf to fix a certain time for the pub- lication, but be left to my own liberty and leifure. I might perhaps be of opinion, that one time might be more feafonable, than another. I might likewife imagine, that in the interim fome new matter might be oifered to my confideration, and claim a place in one of my volumes. This hath juft now happened. For the Society of In- ■FORMERS lately ereded here, efpecially, as I intimated be- fore, if we confider their foreign connexions, their Pa- trons and Associates, is a very proper fubjed: for fa- tire ; and deferves the animadverfion of every man, who is able to retaliate on fuch licentious fcriblers, and retains a regard for the place of his education. But now supposing, I had received the fum, which the Informers have charged to my account, as fubfcrip- tion money, had I done any thing more, than what hath often been pradifed in this country ? And, if I were in- clined to recriminate on this occafion, I could name fome perfons, for whom the Society profefleth the greateft ef- teem, as guilty of the meafure (for I will not call it by a coarfer name) which is fo unjuftly imputed to me. In truth, as no body hath fuffered by the delay of publica- tion, [ 13 ] tion, except the author, who hath been for fome years out of pocket in a large fum for paper, print, copper plates &c, lb nobody hath any right, or reafon to com- plain. I have often conlidered with myfelf, what fhould induce my Adversaries to publifli this bold aflertion, which could immediately have been disproved by more than 400 witnefles. I cannot otherwife account for it, than by concluding, they have ftudied with application the art of political Pseudology, fince they leem to govern their judgment and conduct by the maxims laid down in that celebrated difcourfe : Wherein the author demonftrates, that a defamatory tale, if it be fo difcreetly invented, as to obtain a general belief only for one day, may be improved to a good ufe by a crafty Informer. But, how our Reverend Informers are able to recon- cile the profeffion of Pseudology with another profeflion, which they have been permitted to affume, and which plainly enjoins a very contrary pradlice, I muft own my- felf incapable of explaining. I come now to the third Article of my accufation, (that I write the London Evening Post) wherein my Adversaries, contrary to their intention, have afligned me a greater fhare of merit, than I can claim. For many effays, letters, and political paragraphs in that News Pa- per are the productions of an excellent wit, and full of good [ H ] good fenfe ; and prove the author to be well /killed in all the branches of our trade and commerce, and to have ac- quired a perfed: knowledge of the English conftitution. And fome of thofe papers are written with fo much force, and with fuch a power of perfuafion, that, notwithftand- ing the great want of public fpirit, the general indolence and corrupt ftate of the country, they have fuddenly rou- fed the people to a fenfe of their duty and their danger, and have defeated many pernicious and deftrudlive fchemes. At the fame time they have been of no fmall fervice to the minifters of ftate, who by this canal have frequently received a very feafonable intelligence, and, on many cri- tical occafions, have been made acquainted with the fenfe of the nation, which perhaps they could not fo imme- diately have difcovered. For my part, confidering the controverfy, in which I am at prefent engaged, I return my hearty thanks to that ingenious perfon, who detected the correfpondence between Oates and his Successor, and printed their letters in this Evening Paper. And I am fure, the Inhabitants of Windsor ought particularly to make their acknowledgments to him, fince he hath fully opened the wicked defigns of that evil Spirit, who hath been fuffered to come among them, and to put on the form and habit of a man of God. As I have not the va- nity to arrogate the labours of another man's pen, I there- fore think myfelf bound to declare, that I have no con- cern [ IS ] cern in the London Evening Post. And I do not re- member, that any thing written by me hath, for fome years paft, been printed in that paper, except the follow- ing fhort Epigram, of which a friend having prevailed on me to give him a copy, thought proper to fend it to the prefs. From felling bad ale, which he found a poor trade, Oates the second Inform d^ and a Canon was made : But to fhew his new art, his Reverence now brags. He will pick out Lawn-Sleeves from an heap of old Rags, This little piece of raillery, might furely be forgiven me even by the Informers themfelves, fince it is the only method I have hitherto taken to revenge myfelf on their Chief, after having been libelled by him 2 or 3 times a week for fix or feven months together, and loaded with all the fcurrilities, which his own genius could fuggeft, or with which the affiftance and converfation of the Reve- rend Editors of the Defence could fupply him. The fourth Crime, charged on me by the Society, feems rather defigned to provoke my laughter, than to raife my fpleen. And, indeed, I could make myfelf very merry with it, if I had not determined to be ferious, and to keep my countenance through this whole difcourfe. The [^6] The Reverend Informers, after various confultatlons, refolved to leflen the reputation, which I had acquired, as an author. They had inadvertently acknowledged, that I could write good Latin. This was an imprudent con- ceflion. And therefore it was judged neceflary to take off from it by a counterpoife, and by proving, that I could not write good Englifi, This was an undertaking worthy of the Grand Informer: Which, however, he accom- plifhed without much difficulty. He had found, it fecms, upon a ftall in London, a book, intituled, Political Considerations, publifhed in or about the year 1710, and dedicated to the Duke of Beaufort. The author of this book was one Doctor King : And in this book there is falfe Englijh: Therefore Doctor King the prefent Principal of *St. Mary Hall -wntts falfe Englijh, Is there not fome analogy between this argument and a * The Grand Informer generally diftinguiflies this place by the title of Aula Libertatis, or, Liberty Hall. Whether this be his own, or the invention of fome other Genius of the Society, he feems to be extreamly pleafed with it. And I frankly confefs, I am as much delighted with it, as his Reverence. I eileem it a moft glorious title, and I heartily wilh, it were confirmed to us by a proper autho- rity. If I might be allowed an option ( I hope my Roman Catholic friends will excufe the freedom of the expreffion) I fliould be very willing to change one Saint for the other. Under this title of Aul^ Libertatis Principalis the fame In- former hath befpattered me in fome doggrel verfes ; in which, ac- cording to his manner, there is not a line of truth, or fenfe. So that I can now honeftly boaft, that I have been libelled by the worji^ and celebrated by the beft poet in Etigland, See the Triumph of Is is. new [ 17 ] new manner of reafoning, which my Adversaries have lately introduced to prove themfelves good Chriftians ; That once upon a time a certain man, v^ho Hved in the houfe, where fome of our Informers are now fed, wrote a treatife in defence of Chriftianity ? I wonder, when the DIGNIFIED Chief went fo far back as 44 years to convid me of this tranfgreffion, that he did not add 10 or 12 years more to the account, and ftep out of Queen Anne^s reign into King William's, when he would have found me at fchool, and might have truly affirmed, without a voucher in his hand to prove the charge, that I frequent- ly wrote falfe Latin, This would be dealing more honeft- ly with me, than to make me the author of a book, which I have never feen, nor ever heard of, till this In- former accufed me of writing it. But falfe accufers are fometimes caught in their own traps, and an innocent man hath often been acquitted by the blunders of the evi- dence, which hath been produced to convid: him. Thus, to prove me the author of the Political Considera- tions, the Informer hath mentioned a circumftance, which demonftrates, that I was not the author. For this book was publifhed by a Doctor King in or about the year 1710 : But I was not a Doctor King till five years after that date, as appears by the University Regifter. I have dwelt the longer on this filly tale, becaufe it ferves to jQiew, as well as an heavier accufation, the ftretch of this C Infor- [i8i Informer's malice, who hath gone back near half a cen- tury in fearch of fome little incident in my life, which might furnifh him with a pretence to reproach me, as an ignorant writer : And, when he could not find any thing for his purpofe, he invented a very foolifh and ridiculous charge ; which, if it w^ere true, would, at this time, little affed my character ; and befides he would be the unfitteft man living to make it. For in fo many reams of flander, which he hath compiled during the laft feven or eight months, in defiance of truth, confcience and common fenfe, it would be difficult to pick out a fingle page, that is not very defective in ftyle and grammar : And the News -Pa PER, of which he hath the diredlion, is univer- fally allowed to be the moft wretched performance, that ever was printed in this country*. I w I L L here take an opportunity of acquainting my readers, that it hath been the cuftom of the Society to impute to me the works of other writers, fuch efpecially as might afford any plaufible reafon for a fcurrilous anfwer. Thus about two years fince, during the warm canvafs in Oxfordshire, a poem was publifhed, called Threnodia 6cc. of which I neither writ a line, nor have I any know- * What opinion muft we entertain of the Booksellers concerned in this Paper, who have niade choice of a public Informer for their Author, ^.vi^ perfonal Jlander for the fubjeft of their Paper ? ledge C ^9] ledge of the author ; for which, however, I was libelled in Jackson's Journal : And fome of the Society had the impudence publickly to affirm, that they knew me to be the author of this piece. I further declare, that, altho' in conformity to the principles, which I always profefled, I mod heartily wiflied fuccefs to the Old Interest, yet I never employed my pen in favour of that caule, untill I had been provoked by the moft opprobrious language and many infamous attempts of our Informers, to ani- madvert on their behaviour. So that I have this advan- tage over my Adversaries, that I can always plead in my juftification : They have made the firjl attack: Which, indeed, is generally the plea of virtue againft vice, and truth againft falfehood. The next pretended Fact, That I offered myfelf to f ale both in England and Ireland, hath been urged againft me with a particular malignity, and repeated fb often in the Society's Evening Paper, and now at laft inferred in the Defence, that I am in fome doubt, whe- ther my Accusers themfelves do not believe it to be true. They are fruitful geniuffes, and are often hurried fo far by the fire and force of their imagination, that their me- mory may not always ferve them to diftinguifh with that nicety, which is requifite, between the tales and calum- nies, they have invented, and thole, which they have C 2 heard [ 20] heard from others. But without enquiring, whether this part of the Charge againft me is to be alcjibed to an evil memory, or an evil confcience, It is as false and SCANDALOUS, as any of the former articles, of which my Adversaries have accufed me. By offering myfelf to fak both in England and Ireland, I fuppofe, is to be under- ftoodj an attempt, or endeavour to procure for myfelf a place, or penfion, or fome preferment either ecclefiaftical, or ci- vil. For by a new kind of logic, framed by the iniquity of the times, to fell ones f elf ^ or to be a place-man^ or pen- foner are become fynonimous terms. This, at leaft, is the notion and pradlice of my Adversaries ; and is cer- tainly well exemplified in their Chief, who hath entitled himfelf to the dignity, which he poffefles, by having ad- vanced fome paces beyond all the reft of the Band. For he hath fold himfelf body and foul : To whom, tho' his contrad, as it is a work of darknefs, may not eafily be proved, yet his adls, his libels, and above all his late cor- refpondence, which are vifible to all the world, fuffici6it- ly teftifie. But, more particularly to vindicate myfelf from this afperfion, I declare. That, at no time of my life, ei- ther in England, or Ireland, either from the prefent, or any former government, have I afked, or endeavoured by any means to obtain a place, penfion, or employment of any kind. In the four laft years of Queen Anne's reign, when I was a young man, and lived much in the world, and [ 21 ] and could not be wholly free from ambition; when like- wife my family and my friends had an intereft in the mi-^ niftry, and offered me all their affiftance, I abfolutely de- clined it. There hath fince happened another remarkable cera^ when fome perfons of diftindion, to whom I had the honour to be well known, went into place and power. In this number was a noble Lord, one of the brightefl or- naments of our country, who, by virtue of his high office,, had many beneficial employments at his own difpofal. As I had always been received by this excellent man with great marks of efteem, I have the vanity to believe, that,, if I had requefted any thing from him, which was proper for me and fuitable to my education, I fhould not have been refufed a fhare in his favours. However, I never made any application to him on this account : Tho' I would rather be obliged to his generofity, than to the bounty and patronage of any other minifier. For there is a peculiar politenefs and humanity, which accompany all liis adions ; and his gifts are doubled by his manner of bellowing them. It may here perhaps be enquired, why I would negle^L fuch fair opportunities, as feem to have been offered me, of rifing a degree higher in the world. I could affign many reafons for my conduct : But one anfwer I have always ready. I inherited a patrimony^ which I found fufficient to fupply all my wants, and to leave me at Uberty to perfue thofe liberal ftudies, which afforded [22] afforded me the moft folid pleafures in my youth, and are the delight and enjoyment of my old age. Befides I al- ways conceived a fecret horror of a ftate of fervility and dependence : And I never yet faw a place-man, or a cour- tier, v^hether in an higher, or a lower clafs, whether a prieft, or a lay-man, who was his own mafter. To this obfervation let me add, what I intimated above, that who- ever, and of what quality, or condition foever, whether a peer, or a commoner, a citizen, or a country gentleman, hath renounced his party and former connexions to obtain new honours, or a lucrative office, or employment, he hath ever afterwards, and in all places, been treated with dif- tinoruifliing marks of contempt. So that his preferment hath feemed to me, and I believe hath been frequently thought by himfelf, the fevereft ftroke, or misfortune of his Ufe. This is an undeniable truth, and this confideration, if there had been no other impediment, would have de- terred me from deferting my old principles, and my old friends. It is certain, if I ever propofed to be a candidate for court-preferment, I was ill inftrudled in my firft fet- ting out, and negleded a very neceffary preparative, Ab Jove principium : For, in the courfe of a long life, I ne- ver was once at court either in England, or Ireland : Altho' the road, which leads thither, is fo beaten and fo broad, that I could not miftake my way, or turn out of it, unlefs by defign. But [ 23] But supposing after all, that at fome time of my life, I had indulged myfelf in thefe ambitious views, which the Informers have imputed to me, as the higheft crime; or, to ufe their own terms, that I had offered myfelf to fale ; could not I juftifie my condud by the example of my fuperiors, and by fome among them, who are the pro- feffed Patrons of my Adversaries, and the Idols, which they worfhip? Suppose likewife I had been reject- ed for want of merit, as in the Defence is afferted (and 'tis moft certain, I muft have been rejeded, if my merit and qualifications were to have been meafured by the fame ftandard, which hath recommended the Society to grace and favour) in that cafe fhould not I deferve rather to be pitied, than reproached, as being a fufierer in common with many other wretched mortals, who were likewife found not worth the purchafe^ and therefore, after a long and clofe attendance and a thoufand promifes, have been Fatally difappointed ? For it muft be confefTed, that eveG in this corrupt age, there are few Seekers, however they may be urged by their ambition, or their poverty, who can prevail on themfelves to advance into the world, like common fharpers, with a refolution to play the whole game\ and, when all other ftratagems fail, to pradice the arts, and claim the merit and the pay, of Informers. I PRO- [ 24 ] I PROCEED now to confider the laft Article exhibited againft me by the Reverend Informers, And this part of their Charge hath Hkevvife been judged fo important^ that, altho' it hath frequently been mentioned in their News-Paper with all poffible aggravations, yet they have now thought proper to transfer it, as well as the preceding Article, into the Defence. The Accusation is this. I am feverely reproached with having written a book, pub- lifhed laft winter, intitled, the '' Dreamer ; altho' my Adversaries have no certain knowledge of the matter, nor have any right to aflign me, as the author of this work. But the reader is by this time perfe6tly well ac- quainted with their manner of treating me, and hath ob- served, how they caufe me to be horny and bred in any country they pleafe, and make me ad, or write whatfo- cver they pleafe, and whenfoever, laft week, or laft win- ter, or forty years ago ; provided they may be able to infer fomething, from their forgeries, which may lefien and dif- * The Grand Informer, in one of the Society's Evening Pa- pers, aflures the public, that this book is in very few hands, and that the Bookfeller to puff it off hath printed a new title page, calling it the Second Edition, Enquiring of the Bookfeller I find, that both thefe allegations zitfalfe. I mention them for no other reafon, than to iliew, that this man cannot perfuade himfelf to fpeak t7^uth in matters of no moment, and when the truth perhaps would better ferve his purpofe. parage C 25 ] parage my morals, or my learning. Now, as to an open acknowledgment, whether I am, or am not the author of tliis book, I do not conceive, it is of any concernment to the reader, or of any confequence to my own vindication ; nor do I believe the equity and candor of the public wilt exped: it from me. It will be fufficient, if I can free the Dreamer from all unjufl: and malicious imputations : And this, I think, may be efl\:6led in a imali compafs. For all the cenfures and farcafms (as far as I have been able to colledl them) which have hitherto been pailed on this work, are formed by tacking fome foul epithet, or appel- lation to the title j as, a filthy Dreamer, an obscene. Dreamer, an impudent Dreamer, a Dreamer of Dreams 8cc, and then, by glancing a few dark innuendoSy the whole is anathematifed by the Society, and the fen- tence (after their Scribe hath embellifhed it with a por- tion of thofe flowers, of which he is never deftitute) or- dered to be inferred among the Acta Delatorum, and to be publiflied in the Defence, and in all other notable productions of their House. I fhall not here examine, whether the Dreamer be a real fatire againft popery and the corruptions of the Court of Rome^ as the key and ex- planatory remarks, printed at the end of the book, fully declare, to the entire fatisfadion of many judicious readers, and good proteftants : (And by the way I am much fur- prifed, that our Informers, who are continually declaim- D ing [ 26 ] ing againft popery and papifts, fhoiild condemn a work of this nature, unlefs fome Members of the Society are popifli priefts in difgiiife, which is not improbable) Nei- ther will it be neceffary to enter on a particular difcuffion of the various matters contained in this difcourfe. All I fhall endeavour at prefent will be to give a general, but a very juft, character of the performance by affirming, tliat there are not maintained in it any principles, which have not always been profeffed and avowed, by all men of truth, honour, and integrity. The fecial virtues and the love of our country are every where inculcated, the ftudy and patronage of the liberal arts ftrongly recommended^ and the great advantages of temperance and fobriety de- monftrated, and impreffed on us. The abufes and quack- ery (for there are quacks in law and divinity, as well as in phylic) which deform the liberal profeffions, are raillied, and expofed. But the fatire afterwards becomes more ge- neral, and feems to be levelled againft the reigning vices and corruptions of the age, bribery and infidelity, pride a-hd cruelty, ambition and avarice. Let me add, that the whole work is written with decency and good manners ; and there is not one fentiment, or expreflion, which can poffibly give offence to any perfon, who is a friend to vir- tue, and his country. This is a fummary defcription of the Dreamer; and this, I am confident, will be affent- ed to, and allowed by all men of tafte and judgment, and by [ 27 ] by every impartid and intelligent reader. 'Tis no wonder therefore, that our Reverend Informers fhould revile fuch an author. For it could not but provoke their dull malice to obferve, how he hath diftinguifhed betwixt truth and falfehood ; how he hath condemned apoflacy and op- preffion; how warmly he hath efpoufed the caufe of li- berty, and recommended peace and concord, and in times of danger, courage and conftancy to every Houfe of found learning. Add to this the Dreamer's continued invedive againft perfidy and corruption^ the two great principles, by which the Society expeds to thrive. The perfecution of this author by the Band of Informers puts me in mind of a remarkable paflage in Ammianus Marcellinus ;' wherein he gives an account of a certain court-parafite, a Perjiany called Mercurius, who lived in the reign of the Emperor Constantius, and made it his whole bufinefi to inform againft thofe, who related their Dreams ; to which he gave fuch a turn and malignant interpretation, as to make every Dream he heard, a capital offence and a crime againft the ftate. My Adversaries, that they may not appear to be unacquainted with any branch of the Informer's trade, feem very well difpofed to imitate the Perfans example. But, as they dare not falfifie the Dreamer's text, and as it requires no ordinary fkill in Mythology and the ancient Claflics to explain the obfcure parts of his fable, they have difcreetly refblved to anfwer D 2 the [ 28 ] the book by abufing the author. There is one part, how- ever, which they fully comprehend, and are therefore bet- ter able to expound, than more learned clerks ; I mean the new fyftem, which the Dreamer hath advanced in his account of the Onocentaurs; That there are many hu- ?na7i figures^ which are animated by the fouls of brutes. For this fyftem cannot by any philofophical dedudlion be fo clearly evinced, and illuftrated, as by the belluine lan- guage, the manners and the adions, of Spies and Infor- mers : Nee Bellua tetrior ulla^ ^uam Delator IS rabies^ in magna fur entis Nofnina, Before I finifh my apology for this author, it will not be amifs to obferve, that the Editors of the Defence have thought fit, as a matter not unfiiitable to their prieft- ly office^ to defcribe the Dreamer in the language of the Holy Scriptures. \ will take the fame liberty in my turn, and recommend to their ferious confideration a Text^ wherein mention is made of a very foul and abominable Profitution^ which, if it were added to the other impuri- ties and natural malice of a modern Informer, would compleat a character ftill more infamous, than any, which hath yet been produced, or perpaps is extant in the En- giijh [29] gliflj Annals : My Houfe JJmll be called the Houfe of prajh- ery but ye have 7nade it a Den