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ufefully fatirical, and the duchefs fhall be your critic; and, betwixt you and me, I do not find fhe will grow weary of you till this time feven years. I had lately an offer to change for an English living, which is just too fhort by 300l. a year; and that must be made up out of the duchefs's pin-money before I can confent. I want to be minifter of Amefbury, Dawley, Twickenham, Rifkins, and prebendary of Westminster, elfe I will not ftir a step, but content myself with making the duchefs miferable three months next fummer. But I keep ill company; I mean the duchefs and you, who are both out of favour; and fo I find am I, by a few verses, wherein Pope and you have your parts. You hear Dr. Dy has got a wife with 1600l. a year; I, who am his governor, cannot take one under 2000; I wish you would enquire of fuch a one in your neighbourhood. See what it is to write godly books! I profefs I envy you above all men in England; you want nothing but 3000l. more, to keep you in plenty when your friends grow weary of you. To prevent which laft, while at Amef. bury, you must learn to domineer and be peevish, to find fault with their victuals and drink, to chide and direct the fervants, with fome other leffons which I fhall teach you, and always practifed myfelf with fuccefs. I believe I formerly defired to know whether the vicar of Amesbury can play at back-gammon? Pray ask him the question, and give him my service.

were all my poetical friends, and if you cannot cure him, I utterly defpair. As to yourself, I will fay to you (though comparifons be odious) what I faid to the

, that your quality fhould be never any motive of esteem to me: my compliment was then loft, but it will not be fo to you. For I know you more by any one of your letters, than I could by fix months converfing. Your pen is always more natural, and fincere, and unaffected, than your tongue; in writing, you are too lazy to give your felf the trouble of acting a part, and have indeed acted fo indifcreetly, that I have you at mercy: and although you fhould arrive to fuch a height of immorality as to deny your hand, yet, when. ever I produce it, the world will unite in fwearing this must come from you only. I will answer your queftion. Mr. Gay is not difcreet enough to live alone, but he is too difcreet to live alone: and yet (unless you mend him) he will live alone even in your grace's company. Your quarrelling with each other upon the fubject of bread and butter, is the moft ufual thing in the world: parlia ments, courts, cities, and kingdoms, quarrel for no other caufe: from hence, and from hence only, arife all the quarrels between whig and tory; between thofe who are in the miniftry, and those who are out; between all pretenders to employment in the church, the law, and the army: even the common proverb teaches you this, when we fay, "It is none of my bread and but"ter," meaning it is no bufinefs of

A Poftfcript to the Duchefs of QUEENS- mine. Therefore I defpair of any re

Madam,

BERRY.

I was the most unwary creature in the world, when, against my old maxims, I writ firft to you upon your return to Tunbridge. I beg that this condefcenfion of mine may go no farther, and that you will not pretend to make a precedent of it. I never knew any man cured of any inattention, although the pretended caufes were removed. When I was with Mr. Gay laft in London, talking with him on fome poetical fubjects, "Well, I am determined not to ac

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cept the employment of gentleman"afher;" and of the fame difpofition

concilement between you till the affair of bread and butter be adjusted, wherein I would gladly be a mediator. If Mahomet fhould come to the mountain, how happy would an excellent lady be, who lives a few miles from this town! As I was telling of Mr. Gay's way of living at Amesbury, fhe offered fifty guineas to have you both at her house for one hour over a bottle of Burgundy, which we were then drinking. To your question I anfwer, that your grace fhould pull me by the fleeve till you tore it off; and when you faid you were weary of me, I would pretend to be deaf, and think (according to another

8

proverb)

to

proverb) that you tore my cloaths keep me from going. I never will be lieve one word you fay of my lord duke, unless I see three or four lines in his own hand at the bottom of yours. I have a concern in the whole family, and Mr. Gay muft give me a particular account of every branch, for I am not afhamed of you, though you be duke and duchefs, though I have been of others who are, &c. and do not doubt but even your own fervants love you, even down to the poftilions; and when I come to Amesbury, before I fee your grace, I will have an hour's converfation with the vicar, who will tell me how familiarly you talk to goody Dob. fon and all the neighbours, as if you were their equal, and that you were godmother to her fon Jacky. I am, and fhall be ever, with the greatest refpe&t,

$143.

Your grace's moft obedient, &c.

To the Hon. Mr. BERNARD GRANVILLE. Mar, near Doncafter, Oct. 6, Sir, 1688. Your having no profpect of obtaining a commiffion for me, can no way alter or cool my defire, at this important juncture, to venture my life, in fome manner or other, for my king and country.

I cannot bear living under the reproach of lying obfcure and idle in a country retirement, when every man, who has the leaft fenfe of honour, fhould be preparing for the field.

You may remember, Sir, with what reluctance I fubmitted to your commands upon Monmouth's rebellion, when no importunity could prevail with you to permit me to leave the academy; I was too young to be hazarded: but give me leave to fay, it is glorious at any age to die for one's country, and the fooner, the nobler the facrifice.

I am now older by three years. My uncle Bathe was not fo old when he was left among the flain at the battle of Newbury: nor you yourself, Sir, when you made your escape from your tutors to join your brother at the defence of Scilly.

The fame cause is now come round again the king has been mifled; let

thofe who have mifled him be anfwerable for it: nobody can deny but he is facred in his own perfon, and it is every honeft man's duty to defend it,

You are pleafed to fay, it is yet doubt, ful if the Hollanders are rafh enough to make fuch an attempt; but be that as it will, I beg leave to infift upon it, that I may be prefented to his majefty as one whofe utmolt ambition is to devote his life to his fervice and my country's, after the example of all my ancestors,

The gentry affembled at York to agree upon the choice of reprefentatives for the county, have prepared an addrefs, to affure his majesty they are ready to facrifice their lives and fortunes for him upon this and all other occafions; but at the fame time they hum, bly befeech him to give them fuch magiftrates as may be agreeable to the laws of the land, for at prefent there is no authority to which they can legally fub

mit.

They have been beating for volun. teers at York, and the towns adjacent, to fupply the regiments at Hull, but nobody will lift.

By what I can hear, every body wishes well to the king, but they would be glad his minifters were hang'd,

The winds continue fo contrary, that no landing can be fo foon as was apprehended; therefore I may hope, with your leave and affiftance, to be in readinefs before any action can begin. I befeech you, Sir, moft humbly and most earnestly, to add this one act of indulgence more, to fo many other teftimonies which I have conftantly received of your goodness; and be pleafed to believe me always, with the utmoft duty and fubmiffion, Sir,

Your most dutiful fon, George Granville, $144. To WILLIAM HENRY, Earl of BATHE, &c. at the Camp in Flanders. Sept. 4, 1711.

My dear Lord, Whilft you are purfuing honour in the field, in the earliest time of your life, after the example of your ancestors, I am commanded by the queen to let you know, the has declared you her lord lieutenant of the county of Cornwall; Br

the

the earl of Rochester to act for you till you are of age.

You will do well to write your most humble thanks to her majefty, for fo graciously remembering you, unfolicit ed, in your abfence; you should likewise do the fame to my lord Rocheiter, for accepting the trouble.

This, my dear lord, is a preparative to bring you upon the ftage with fome luftre at your firft appearance in the world. You are placed at the head of a body of gentry, entirely difpofed in affection to you and your family: you are born poffeffed of all thofe amiable qualities which cannot fail of fixing their hearts: you have no other example to follow, but to tread in the fteps of your ancestors: it is all that is hoped or defired from you.

You are upon an uncommon foundation in that part of the world; your ancestors, for at least 500 years, never made any alliance, male or female, out of the western counties: thus there is hardly a gentleman, either in Cornwall or Devon, but has fome of your blood, or you fome of theirs. I remember the first time I accompanied your grandfather into the Weft, upon holding his parliament of tinners, as warden of the Stannaries, when there was the most numerous appearance of gentry of both counties that had ever been remembered together: I obferved there was hardly any one but whom he called coufin, and I could not but obferve at the fame time how well they were pleafed with it. Let this be a leffon for you

when it comes to your turn to appear amongst them. Nothing is more obliging than to feem to retain the memory of kindred and alliances, though never fo remote; and by confequence nothing more difobliging than a forgetfulness of them, which is always imputed to an affected, disdainful fuperiority and pride.

There is another particular, in my opinion of no small confequence to the fupport of your intereft, which I would recommend to your imitation; and that is, to make Stowe your principal refidence. I have heard your grandfather fay, if ever he lived to be poffeffed of New-hall, he would pull it down, that

your father might have no temptation to withdraw from the ancient feat of his family. From the conqueft to the reftoration your ancestors conftantly refided amongit their countrymen, except when the public fervice called upon them to facrifice their lives for it.

Stowe, in your grandfather's time, till the civil wars broke out, was a kind of academy for all young men of family in the country; he provided himfelf with the best masters, of all kinds, for education; and the children of his neighbours and friends fhared the advantage with his own. Thus he, in a manner, became the father of his country, and not only engaged the affection of the prefent generation, but laid a foundation of friendship for pofterity, which is not worn out at this day.

Upon this foundation, my lord, you inherit friends without the trouble of making them, and have only to preserve them: an eafy task for you, to whom nature has been fo liberal of every quality neceffary to attract affection and gain the heart.

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I must tell you, the generality of our countrymen have been always royalifts; you inherit too much loyal blood to like them the worfe; there is an old faying amongst them, "That a Godolphin was never known to want wit; a Trelawney courage; or a Granville "loyalty." Wit and courage are not to be mistaken; and to give thofe families their due, they ftill keep up their character; but it is the misfortune of loyalty not to be fo clearly understood, or defined, In a country subject to revolutions, what paffes for loyalty to-day, may be treafon to-morrow: but I make great difference between real and nominal treafon. In the quarrel of the houfes of York and Lancaster, both fides" were proclaimed traitors, as the other prevailed: even under Cromwell's ufurpation, all who adhered to the king were proclaimed traitors, and fuffered as fuch: but this makes no alteration in the thing itself: it may be enacted treason to call black, black; or, white, white; but black will be black, and white will be white, in fpite of all the legiflators in the world.

There can be no doubt about allegi

ance,

ance, unless princes become tyrants, and then they ceafe to be kings: they will no longer be refpected as God's vicegerents, who violate the laws they were fworn to protect. The preacher may tell us of paffive obedience; that tyrants are to be patiently fuffered as fcourges in the hands of a righteous God, to chaftife a finful nation; and to be submitted to, like plagues, famines, and fuch like judgments from above. Such doctrines, were it true, could only serve to mislead ill-judging princes into a falfe fecurity; men are not to be reafon'd out of their fenfes : human nature and felf-prefervation will eternally arm against flavery and oppreffion.

It is therefore not to be fuppofed, that even the weakeft prince would run that hazard, unless feduced by advice wickedly palliated by evil counsellors. Nero himfelf, under the influence of a good miniftry, was the mildeft, the most gracious, and best beloved of the emperors; the most fanguinary, the moft profligate, and the most abhorred, under a bad one. A prince may be deceived, or mistaken, in the choice of his favourites; but he has this advantage, he is fure to hear of it from the voice of the public: if then he is deaf, he seems to take upon himself the blame and odium of thofe actions, which were chargeable before but upon

his advisers.

Idle murmurs, groundlefs difcontents, and pretended jealousies and fears, the effect of private prejudice and refentments, have been, and will ever be, under the wifeft adminiftrations: we are pestered with them even now, when we have a queen who is known to have nothing fo much at heart as the contentment of her people: thefe are tranfitory vapours, which fcatter at the firft appearance of light; the infection fpreads no farther than a particular fet of four, fplenetic enthufiafts in politics, not worth minding or correcting. Universal dif. content can never happen, but from solid provocations.

Many well-meaning perfons, how ever, abounding in zeal, have been often unwarily caught by popular pretences, and not undeceived, till 'twas too late. Have a care, my dear coufin, of splitting upon that rock; there have

been falfe patriots, as well as falfe prephets.

"To fear God, and honour the King," were injunctions fo clofely tack'd together, that they seem to make but one and the fame command. A man may as well pretend to be a good chriftian without fearing God, as a good fubject without honouring the King.

"Deo, Patriæ, Amicis," was your great grandfather, Sir Bevil's, motto: in three words he has added to his example a rule which, in following, you can never err in any duty of life. The brightest courage, and the gentleft difpofition, is part of the Lord Clarendon's character of him: fo much of him you have begun to fhew us alrea dy: and the best wish I can make for you, is, to resemble him as much in all but his untimely fate.

I am, my lord, for ever, &c,

$145. Second Letter to the fame,

Sept. 22,

Every living creature, my dear lord, is entitled to offices of humanity. The diftrefs, even of an enemy, should reconcile us to him: if he thirsts, give him drink; if he hungers, give him food; overcome evil with good. It is with this difpofition I would have you enter into the exercife of that authority with which her majefty has honoured you over your countrymen. Let no, body infpire you with party prejudices and refentments. Let it be your bufinefs to reconcile differences and heal divifions; and to restore, if poffible, harmony and good neighbourhood a mongst them. If then there fhould be any left to wifh you ill, make them a fhamed and confounded with your goodnefs and moderation, Not that I would ever advise you to facrifice one hair of the head of an old friend to your family to gain fifty new ones; but if you can increase the number by courtesy and moderation, it may be worth the trial.

Believe me, my dear lord, humanity and generofity make the best foundation to build a character upon. A man may have birth, and riches, and power, wit, learning, courage; but without gene, Bra

rofity,

rofity, it is impoffible to be a great man. Whatever the rich and powerful may think of themselves; whatever value they may fet upon their abundance and grandeur; they will find themfelves but the more hated and despised for the ill use they make of it. You fhould look upon yourselves but as ftewards and trustees for the diftreffed: your overabundance is but a depofit for the ufe and relief of the unhappy: you are anfwerable for all fuperfluities mif-spent. It is not to be fuppofed, that Providence would have made fuch diftinctions among men, fuch unequal diftributions, but that they might endear themselves to one another by mutual helps and obligations. Gratitude is the fureft cement of love, friendship, and fociety.

There are, indeed, rules to be obferved, and measures to be kept, in the diftribution of favours: we know who have both the power and inclination to do good; but, for want of judgment in the direction, they pafs only for good. natured fools, inftead of generous benefactors.

My lord -will grudge a guinea to an honeft gentleman in diftrefs, but readily give twenty to a common ftrumpet. Another fhall refufe to lend fifty pounds to his best friend, without fufficient fecurity; and the next moment fet his whole fortune upon a card or a die; a chance for which he can have no fecurity. My lord is to be feen every day at a toy-fhop, fquandering away his money in trinkets and baubles; and, at the fame time, leaves his brothers and fifters without common neceffaries,

Generofity does not confift in a contempt of money, in throwing it away. at random, without judgment or dif tinction; (though that indeed is better than locking it up, for multitudes have the benefit of it) but in a right difpofition to proper objects, in proportion to the merit, the circumftances, the rank, and condition, of those who stand in need of our service,

Princes are more expofed than any others to the mifplacing their favours. Merit is ever modeft, and keeps its diftance: the forward and importunate

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ftand always nearest in fight, and are not to be put out of countenance, nor thruft out of the way. I remember to have heard a faying of the late King James, "That he never knew a modest man make his way in a court." David Floyd, whom you know, being then in waiting at his majefty's elbow, replied bluntly, Pray, Sir, whofe fault's that?" The king stood corrected, and was filent,

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If princes could fee with their own eyes, and hear with their own ears, what a happy fituation it would be, both for themfelves and their fubjects! To reward inerit, to redress the injured, to relieve the oppreffed, to raise the modeft, to humble the infolent; what a godlike prerogative, were a right use made of it!

How happy are you, my dear lord, who are born with fuch generous incli nations, with judgment to direct them, and the means to indulge them! Of all men, moft miferable is he who has the inclination without the means. To meet with a deferving object of compaffion, without having the power to give relief, of all the circumstances in life is the most disagreeable: to have the power is the greatest pleasure, Methinks I fee you ready to cry out"Good coufin, why this discourse to "me? What occafion have I for these "lectures ?" None at all, my dear lord; I am only making my court to you, by letting you fee I think as you do. But one word more, and I have done.In truft, intimacy, and confidence, be as particular as you please; in humanity, charity, and benevolence, univerfal.

I am for ever, &c.

§ 146. To Mr. BEVIL GRANVILLE, upon his entering into Holy Orders.

When I look upon the date of your laft letter, I must own myfelf blameable for not having fooner returned you my thanks for it.

I approve very well of your refolution of dedicating yourself to the fervice of God; you could not chufe a better mafter, provided you have fo fufficiently fearched your heart, as to be perfuaded

you

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