the nation; and doubt not but you will, every year of your life, give new teftimonies of your being a true fon of the Church of England, and an exemplary patriot to your country.

The noble motive which first produced your natural eloquence was what should be the great purpose of that charming force in all who are bleffed with it, the protection of the oppreffed: and I doubt not but your future conduct will

*An allufion to a circumftance in the life of this nobleman, not commonly known, that well deferves to be recorded to his honour, and the relation of which is requifite to make what is here faid intelligible. In a paper of his in the Guardian STEELE published a fpirited defence of Lady Charlotte Finch, who had been treated with rudeness and ill manners by an anonymous writer in the Examiner, for alledged misbehaviour in church; and won by this the heart of her brother, probably pre-difpofed in favour of an amiable man, and, it may be, attached to him by an antecedent friendship. Be this as it may, when the question about Steele's expulfion was agitated in the House of Commons, Lord Finch stepped forward, and made attempts to speak in Steele's behalf; but, being embarrassed by an ingenuous modefty, and over-deference to an assembly in which he had not yet been accustomed to speak, he fat down in vifible confusion, saying, fo as to be over-heard, "It is ftrange how I can't speak for this man, though I could readily fight for him." His words being whispered from one to another, operated in an instant, like electrical fire, and a fudden burft, from all parts of the House, of "Hear him! Hear him!" with ineffable marks of encouragement, brought Lord Finch again on his legs, who, with astonishing recollection, and the utmost propriety, spoke a speech on the occafion, in which, as it was related to this writer, in the language of the theatre, “there was not a word which did not “tell.”—“Such was the noble motive which first produced this "nobleman's natural eloquence; the force of which was charm"ing, and irresistible when exerted in the protection of the

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* oppreffed."

be

be agreeable to the manner of your fetting out, to the nobility of your birth, the dignity of your own good fenfe, and the fervice of mankind in all their true interests, both religious and civil.

This addrefs is made to you in acknowledgment of late favours to me, and to defire the continuance of your good opinion and friendfhip. I am, my Lord, your Lordship's most obliged, moft obedient, and most humble fervant, RICHARD STEELE.

LETTER CCCCXXXIII.

To a MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.

SIR,

London, May 28, 1714.

HOUGH I have had the misfortune to

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appear an unworthy member of your House, and am expelled accordingly from my feat in Parliament; I am not by that vote (which was more important to the people of England than I fhall at this time explain) deprived of the common benefits of life, liberty, or any other enjoyment of a rational being. And I do not think, I can better beftow my time, or em,ploy these advantages, than in doing all in my power to preserve them to others as well as myself, and in afferting the right of my fellowfubjects against any thing which I apprehend to

be

be an incroachment upon what they ought to enjoy as men, and what they are legally poffeffed of as Englishmen, or, if you will, as Britons.

This, Sir, is all the apology I fhall make for addreffing to you, in this public manner, my thoughts concerning the bill *, now making its way, with all convenient expedition, through your House, and the whole legislature. I fhall examine this matter as well as hafte will allow me, and therefore must recite as diftinctly as I can what you gave me in difcourfe as the fubftance of this intended law †.

When these are the melancholy prospects before our eyes; when no one of the family of Hanover, though long expected, is yet arrived in this kingdom; and when many weak people are under strange apprehenfions, because the proclamation for bringing the Pretender to justice, in case he should land here, is put off; I fay, when many things pafs every day, on which Jacobites make reflections to their own advantage, and ordinary people, who cannot judge. of reafons of State, put all these things together; it creates in them a chagrin and uneafinefs, which will be mightily increased by the paffing of a bill that may be to the mortification of the meanest perfons in the Proteftant cause.

* "For preventing the Growth of Schifm."

+ For the political part of this Letter the reader is referred to Steele's "Political Writings."

It is therefore no time to do a thing, which will take off the hands and purses of half a million of people, as friends to the Houfe of Hanover; half a million of people, as enemies to the Pretender.

If this Bill paffes, and the Pretender should come upon our coaft; I would fain know what could move a Diffenter to lift an hand, or em ploy a fhilling against him? He has at present no hopes of preferment, and would by this bill be under daily apprehenfions of the loss of the toleration as to himself, as well as being wholly bereft of it as to his pofterity. He would have certainly promises from the Pretender of liberty of conscience; and he could but have those promises broken, as in this case he would have it to say they had been before, and must expect fome fweetneffes at a new change for standing neuter, or exerting himself for the invader. Thus he would rather, according to his own intereft, with an invader fuccefs than disappointment; add to this, fome pleasure in the revengeful hope of feeing us, who had perfecuted him, fall into the fame calamity.

This, dear Sir, is all I have to trouble you with on this occafion; and, though you accufed me of being cast down with my expulfion, you fee I have not dunned you to move, that the other pamphlets may be examined as well as the Crifis and the Englishman. Give my service to

poor Tom* and Ned. I must confess they were the last I forgave, but I have forgiven them too now. I am thoroughly convinced, fince this bill, that I was not worthy: for now you have taken upon you ecclefiaftical matters, and I should not have known how to behave myself among you, as a communion of Saints.

I doubt not, Sir, but your voice and excellent talents will be employed against this pernicious bill to oppose it strenuously, will be worthy that refolution and modesty for which you are so remarkably confpicuous; that modesty which cannot incline you to bear hard against perfons or things, when you happen to be with a majority; and that refolution which prompts you to affert what you think truth, though under the disadvantage of the most inconfiderable minority. I am, Sir, your most obedient, obliged, humble servant, RICHARD STEELE.

Thomas Harley, Efq. + Edward Foley, Efq.

LETTER