"and polished fociety." Nothing is introduced which is not, directly or indirectly to that main purpose. It does not appear in the form of an Epittle, a mock epick, or a didactick poem; but as a converfation in which fubjects are difcuffed as they rife naturally and eafily: and the notes illuftrate and enforce the general and particular doctrines. There is as much method and connection, as is confiftent with what I ftate to be my plan, or defign, if you like that word better. There is unity in the defign. Converfation has it's laws, but they are pleasant, not fevere restraints. Confuls indeed do not now meet Confuls in Tufculum; and, if I am rightly informed, the fympofiacks at Wimbledon and Holwood have not too much feverity of method, or equality in the glasses. Perhaps " it would be a belying of the age, to put fo much good fenfe together in any one "converfation, as to make it hold out fteadily, and with "plain coherence, for an hour's time (i)." I never defired to exhaust any subject, but to leave matter for the reader's own fuggeftion. I may add that it would be difficult to analyse one of the moft finished Satires in our language, I mean Pope's Two Dialogues, or as they are ftrangely called, the Epilogue to the Satires.

66

I am reprefentéd as having threatened any perfon who makes enquiry after me c. my name. It was not my intention to do 10. I faid, "it will be more than foolish to be very inquifitive." I fay fo ftill; for when the avenue to any knowledge is ftrongly and effectually clofed, who would labour after it fruitlessly? To waste our time to

no

(i) Shaftesbury's Moralifts, Sect. I.

no manner of use, is not furely one of the difcriminating marks of wisdom. I maintain it boldly; no man has a right to demand either my name or my fituation. It has been obferved on fuch occafions, that "fome might fight, "but others would affaffinate." For I believe I have no real enemies, but the lovers of confufion and the troublers of ftates. I will acknowledge it, I come armed into their confines, and I come in the darkness of the night. But if I were required or called upon to choose my companion, you know, I am prepared with the answer of Diomede.

Ει μεν δη έταρον γε κελεύεις μ' αυτον ελέσθαι,

Πως αν επειτ' ΟΔΥΣΗΟΣ εγω ΘΕΙΟΙΟ λαθοιμην;

If I am forced indeed to descend into the lower regions of forrow and confufion, among the perturbed spirits of anarchy and democracy, I fhall hope for the fafe conduct of the Sibyl. She might produce the branch to the ferryman of France and Tartarus. I would with her to exhibit this Poem, as the "Donum fatalis virge, longo poft tempore "vifum."

My book is open to all the accumulated severity of publick criticism, and publick reprehenfion. I shrink from neither of them. When I am wrong (I have never been so intentionally) I will corre& myself, and I have done fo frequently. In a field fo extenfive, candour, I think, will allow, that my mistakes have not been very numerous.

As to my poetry or verfification, it was not written as a vehicle for the notes, but the notes were compofed to accompany

(k) Il. 10. v. 242.

company the text. I offer the poetry to thofe who are converfant with the ftrength, fimplicity, and dignity of Dryden and Pope, and them alone. I fubmit both my Poems, "The Purfuits of Literature, and The Imperial Epiftle," in this fpirit and with this confidence to the publick. There are men (and women too) who understand But as to the lovers of exotick poetry, I refer them to the Botanick Garden of Dr. Darwin. My plants and flowers are produced and cherished by the natural invigorating influence of the common fun; I have not raised them by artificial heat.

If the root of a tree is found and vigorous, you strengthen the fhoots by repreffing their luxuriance. I approve and would uphold our facred and civil eftablishment. I would therefore mark the aberrations and mifconduct even of men of talents and virtue, who compofe it. I would fhew, that I am ftri&tly impartial. I can cenfure, with discrimination, even where I generally approve, and confider nothing but the intereft of the ftate upon the whole. It is to misunderstand or to mifreprefent me, when it is afferted that I attack alike friends and foes. I attack no man in his individual capacity. I have nothing to do with the vanity or injudicious conduct of friends, but as they affect the community; and I can have no perfonal malignity against those of whom I am perfonally ignorant. But they shall neither disturb nor overthrow the ftate of England, civil or religious, if any obfervations of mine can avail. They may wish to know me; but they may depend upon it, I will never give a proof of my spirit at the expence of my understanding.

I would

X

I would not have you, or any man, think, that I enter into a defence of my work, as if I thought it required one. No. I have vindicated the authority of our national govern⚫ment and conftitution, in a day of turbulence and terror: I

have defended the purity and dignity of religion, and of our facred establishment; I have pleaded the caufe of found literature and true philofophy; I have recalled the public attention to poetry without conceit, and to criticift without affectation; I have endeavoured to fecure to women their honour, focial rank, and happiness, by an attempt to turn the thoughts and hearts of the inhabitants of this ifland from works of obscenity and indecency, from the morals and manners of atheists and democratick fpoilers, to the wisdom of the just; and have boldly invaded the strong holds of impiety and anarchy, plebeian or tribunitian. I have done all this; and I have offended many. I have brushed away the infects of literature, whether fluttering or creeping; I have shaken the little stems of many a plant, and the flowerets have fallen. I have almost degraded myself by an attention to minute objects in the fervice of the publick: and I am called upon to defend myself. No. My countenance is unaltered; my perfeverance is unbroken; the spirit and tenour of my fpeech is yet the fame. My words are firm. Semel caufam dixi, (vel iterum dicturus), quo femper agere omnia folitus fum, ACCUSATORIO SPIRITU. (/)

As to political matters we shall never want Obfervers. I hate deferters of their duty, (m) on any principle whatever. But I fuppofe fome Statesmen think, that there is a laudable obliquity, and a seasonable fear. For my own part I shall

(1) Liv. lib. 2. fect. 61.

(m) H. of C. Nov. 1797.

not

ἐπιστέψαι – απειθείς εν φρονήσει δικαίων.

Luc. 1.17.

not, on this occafion, invade the retreat of St. Ann's Hill, or violate the purity of Drury Lane. If fuch Statefmen are refolved to free at once both the Senate and the Throne, the "Sævi Spiracula Ditis" are open to them; they may descend in safety, and disburthen the land. I do not believe that the poffeffion of abfolute power is in the reach of Mr. Pitt, or of any man. But the continuance of fuch a minifter in office will be approved, as I think, while the fecurity, and independence, and dignity of the crown, of the parliament, and of the people of Great Britain, are maintained against the tyrannical pretenfions of pirates, buccaneers, and plunderers.

I would fay to Mr. Pitt, as Cicero did to Torquatus, "Tibi nullum periculum effe perfpicio, quod quidem

fejun&tum fit ab omnium interitu."(n) That minifter has not looked fubmiffively, at any period of his long adminiftration, for perfonal protection in any quarter. There is a hardihood about the man, which I love. On the broad general queftion of the time, the publick esteem `has been commenfurate with the royal approbation. In this, the policy of the clofet, of the fenate, and of the people, feems to have been one. I am fure, I hope, that wherever Mr. Pitt, or any minifter, proceeds, he will always find a board of control; nor would I by any means difapprove the advice of an honeft Mandarin. But the ftairs of the palace have now but one flight; the gate is in front, and the afcent direct. The noble Marquis, who is now no more in office, may brood fafely over beads and relicks. There is fome propriety in this amusement. It is pleafing to preferve the memorial of departed dignity.

B

(n) Cic. Ep. ad Fam. Lib. 6 Ep. 1.

In