art, that the very common people, now their passions are fallen, see their case in one sheet of paper, called, "A View of the Taxes, Funds, and public Revenues of England. Printed for Timothy Child, at the White Hart, at the West-end of St. Paul's *."

As for myself, what I have here suggested is from a very honest heart; and I have an armour in my integrity against all gainsayers. My comfort is, that the laws of England are 'still in force; and, though what I have said may be unacceptable, I

sure it is not illegal. While the laws are in being, I am safe; and no man can be safe who outlives them. May I, whenever they expire, die with them!

I wish you the long possession of the honour in which your generous behaviour has placed you in the minds of all true Englishmen; and am, with great respect,

Your most obedient servant,

FRANCIS HICKS †.

* In a paper called "The Protester," by Mr. Ralph, published in 1753, No 5, this piece is quoted as the production of Mr. Walpole.

+ This letter was acknowledged by Steele as his own in 1715.

214. TO

214. TO THE EARL OF WHARTON *.

MY LORD,

[1712-13.] THE author of the Spectator, having prefixed before each of his volumes the name of some great person to whom he has particular obligations, lays his claim to your Lordship's patronage upon the same account. I must confess, my Lord, had not I

*Thomas Wharton was appointed by King William Comptroller of the Household, Justice in Eyre South of Trent, and Lord-lieutenant of Oxfordshire; created Viscount Winchendon and Earl of Wharton, Dec. 23, 1706; appointed Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, Nov. 25, 1708 (when Mr. Addison became his Secretary); Lord Privy-seal, Sept. 24, 1714; and, Dec. 24, Marquis of Wharton and Malmesbury, in England; and Earl of Rathfarnham and Marquis of Catherlough, in Ireland. He died April 12, 1715, in the 76th year of his age. He was succeeded by his son Philip, whom King George I. in 1718, created Duke of Wharton, purely in consideration of the merits of his noble father, as appears from the patent of his creation, which mentions "King William's obligations to Lord Wharton, for his constant and vigorous defence of the public liberty, and the Protestant Religion;" and states, "how vigorously he supported the interest of King George, by the weight of his counsels, the force of his wit, and the firmness of his mind, when his said Majesty's title to the succession to this realm was in danger." An eminent Historian says, "he had as many friends as the constitution, and that only its enemies were his; that he made no merit of his zeal for his country; and that he expended above 80,000l. for its service in elections," &c. There is in the British Museum a transcript, by Dr. Birch, of a most curious letter of Lord Wharton to King William, copied, it is said, from an original, communicated to that indefatigable transcriber by Mr. Astle, which I do not recollect to have seen in print, though it well deserves publication. See MSS. Birch. 4107.

This was prefixed to the fifth volume of "The Spectator."

already

already received great instances of your favour, I should have been afraid of submitting a work of this nature to your perusal. You are so thoroughly acquainted with the characters of men, and all the parts of human life, that it is impossible for the least misrepresentation of them to escape your notice. It is your Lordship's particular distinction that you are master of the whole compass of buşiness, and have signalized yourself in all the different scenes of it. We admire some for the dignity, others for the popularity of their behaviour; some for their clearness of judgment, others for their happiness of expression; some for the laying of schemes, and others for the putting of them in execution.

་་

It is your Lordship only who enjoys these several talents united, and that too in as great perfection as others possess them singly. Your enemies acknowledge this great extent in your Lordship's character, at the same time that they use their utmost industry and invention to derogate from it. But it is for your honour, that those who are now your enemies were always so. You have acted in so much consistency with yourself, and promoted the interests of your country in so uniform a manner, that even ⚫ those who would misrepresent your generous designs for the public good, cannot but approve the steadiness and intrepidity with which you pursue them. It is a most sensible pleasure to me that I have this opportunity of professing myself one of your great admirers, and, in a very particular manner, my Lord, your Lordship's most obliged, and most obedient, humble servant,

THE SPECTATOR. 215. TO

215. TO THE EARL OF SUNDERLAND *,

MY LORD,

[1712-13.]

VERY many favours and civilities (received from

you in in a private capacity) which I have no other way to acknowledge, will, I hope, excuse this presumption; but the justice I, as a Spectator, owe your character, places me above the want of an excuse. Candour and openness of heart, which shine in all your words and actions, exact the highest esteem from all who have the honour to know you; and a winning condescension to all subordinate to you, made business a pleasure to those who executed it under you, at the same time that it heightened her Majesty's favour to all who had the happiness of having it conveyed through your hands. A Secretary of State in the interest of mankind joined with that of his fellow-subjects, accomplished with a great facility and elegance in all the modern as well as antient languages, was a happy and proper member of a Ministry, by whose services your

* Charles Spencer, Earl of Sunderland, who succeeded to that title, Sept. 21, 1702, on the death of his father Robert. He was made Secretary of State, Dec. 5, 1706; and dismissed, June 14, 1710. Sept. 1, 1715, he had a pension of 1200l. per annum settled on him. April 16, 1717, he was again appointed Secretary of State; March 16, 1717-18, Lord President of the Council; Feb. 6, 1718-19, Groom of the Stole; and died April 19, 1722. He married Lady Anne Churchill, second daughter of John Duke of Marlborough; to whose titles her eldest sur viving son, Charles, succeeded in 1733.

†This was prefixed to the sixth volume of "The Spectator." Sovereign

Sovereign is in so high and flourishing a condition, as makes all other Princes and Potentates powerful or inconsiderable in Europe, as they are friends or enemies to Great-Britain. The importance of those great events which happened during that administration, in which your Lordship bore so important a charge, will be acknowledged as long as time shall endure. I shall not, therefore, attempt to rehearse those illustrious passages; but give this application a more private and particular turn, in desiring your Lordship would continue your favour and patronage to me, as you are a gentleman of the most polite literature, and perfectly accomplished in the knowledge of books* and men, which makes it necessary to beseech your indulgence to the following leaves, and the Author of them: who is, with the greatest truth and respect, my Lord,

Your Lordship's obliged, obedient, and humble servant, THE SPECTATOR.

* His Lordship was the founder of a truly valuable library at Althorpe; since most magnificently and splendidly improved by the present Earl Spencer.

217. TO