cured to the grand duke, her husband, a ed with becoming magnanimity, nor once partnership of her crown, under the name betrayed the weakness or the terrors of a of Co-Regent, without dimifhing her woman. She quitted Vienna, and threw own fovereignty, or violating the Pragma- herfelf into the arms of the Hungarians. tic Sanction. While the feveral powers Having affembled the four orders of the of Europe were uniting themfelves under ftate, on the 31st of August 1741, she apthe different banners of the four competi- peared among them, with her eldest fon, tors, and threatening to involve the conti- the prefent emperor, at her breast, and nent in one scene of blood, a form arofe addreffed them in Latin, a language which from a quarter the leaft expected.-The the perfectly underflood; telling them, king of Pruffia had come to the throne only that" abandoned by her friends, perfethree months before the fucceffion of the cuted by her enemies, attacked by her house of Austria and the Empire was open; nearest relations, she had no other resource but poffeffing all that alacrity which has left but to flay in that kingdom, and commarked his glorious progrefs through life, mit her perfon, her children, her fceptre, -he took advantage of the general confu- and her crown, to the care of her faithfion, and marched an army into Silefia, ful fubjects." The Palatines, at once fofone of the richest provinces the queen pof- tened and inflamed by this pathetic fpeech, feffed. He propofed to her to yield the drawing forth their fabres, exclaimed as Lower Silefia to him; and in that cafe he one man, "Moriamur pro rege noftro Maoffered her his affittance, his arms, five ria-Therefa."-We will die for our king millions of French livres, to guarantee the Maria Theresa.- -Supplied with money remainder of her dominions, and to fettle from England, Holland, and Venice, by the Imperial Crown upon her husband. But loans in Flanders, but principally fupportthe princess entertained too high a fenfe of ed by her own magnanimity, and the defher dignity to confent to dismember her pa perate ardour of her troops, the flood out trimony. She was weak, but intrepid, and made great havock on her foes.The king of Pruffia puthed his conquefts Charles Albert was, however, under the with great rapidity, and made his public influence of the French crown, elected entrance into Breflau.-The battle of Neifs emperor, by the majority of fuffrages in compleated his victories. The queen the Electoral College, on the 12th of Feftrongly folicited the affiftance of his Bri- bruary, 1742. Yet the campaign had tannic Majefly, and obtained his promife ended with an aufpicious profpect for the to that effect.-fhe alfo folicited the aid of queen of Hungary, the having recovered the States General; but this the king of Auftria, and gained winter quarters for. Pruffia defeated, by intimidating them her troops in Bavaria.-She compromifed from the purpose they entertained of ferv- her differences, with the king of Pruffi, ing her. France faw with an eye of plea- by yielding to him a greater part of Silefia fure, the favourable period for humbling than he had before claimed; and thus took the pride of the house of Auftria, and con- off that defperate confederate against her. cluded an immediate treaty with Charles In confequence of this treaty, the alfo Albert, elector of Bavaria.In confe- came to terms with the king of Poland, quence of this treaty, the French conclud- and fecured him in her intereft. Her afed another with the king of Pruffia and fairs began now rapidly to recover. She the king of Poland, and 40,000 French concluded a treaty with the king of Sar. were fent to join the army of the elector dinia-and in the beginning of 1743, his of Bavaria, and another body of 25,000 Britannic Majelly croffed over into his were fent to the borders of Hanover, to German dominions, and affembled an army frighten England into a neutrality-The on the Rhine. The Dutch joined him, king of England was then in his electorate; and the campaign concluded highly in the and, by the joint efforts of France and favour of the queen. Affairs, however, Pruffia, in the inftant when he meant to took another turn in the beginning of the ferve the queen of Hungary, was obliged next: a confederacy was brought about by to accede to neutral measures for Hanover. France, between the emperor, the king of The queen of Spain at the fame time was Pruffia, the elector Palatine, and the landalledging the pretenfions of that crown to grave of Heife, who all figned a declarathe Auftrian dominions. Thus the queen tion of war against iver. But the death of of Hungary, almost before the had been the emperor, which happened on the 9th invetted with the regal purple, found her- of January 1745, greatly changed the face felt furrounded by a troop of foes, rapaci- of affairs, and on the 22d of April, the us, and eager to devour the poffeffions differences here terminated between the bequeathed to her by her ancestors. In houfes of atria and Bavaria: and tho' this dishessful situation, however, she act- Franc, did all she could to oppofe it, on 12220R the $779. Obfervations on the national Debt and public Credit. the ad of September, the moft ferene prince Francis-Stephen, duke of Lorraine and Bar, grand duke of Tuscany, and co-regent of the dominions of her majeffy the queen of Hungary, was elected to the Imperial throne and in the following December, a peace was concluded with the king of Pruffia.-But it was of fhort duration; the war blazed out afresh, till it was at laft terminated by the definitive treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, on the 7th of Oober, 1748.-We have been thas particular in tracing the progrefs of the war that attended ber fucceffion to the dominions of her ancestors, because in it is contained the beft delineated character of the princess. Her magnanimity, that could not be deprefled by fear or misfortune;-her regard for the interest and the dignity of the Imperial crown, united to her affection for the fubjects of her own kingdom-her conjugal virtues her maternal care and tendernefs, and her univerfal benevolence, exalted her to the most distinguished line in the roll of Fame; and these feveral qualities are all happily pourtrayed in her conduct during this bloody and perilous conteft. To do justice to the character of this illuftrious perfon, and at the fame time to trace her conduct towards the king of Great Britain in the war of 1758, who had before taken fo active a part in her affairs, we find it neceffary to claim the indulgence of our readers, and conclude it in our next. Same Obfervations by the celebrated Mrs, Macaulay, on the national Debt, and pub. lic Credit. THE motives which prevailed on the Tpeople, at this time, to fall in with the project, (that of anticipating the public revenues by borrowing and funding them) were many and plausible; for, fuppofing, as the minifters industriously gave out, that the war could not laft above one or two campaigns, it might be carried on with very moderate taxes, and the debts occurred would, in process of time, be eafily cleared after a peace; then the bait of large intereft would draw in a great number of those whose money, by the dangers and difficulties of trade, lay dead upon their hands; and whoever were lenders to the government, would, by the faireft principle, be obliged to fupport it. Befides, the men of eftates could not be perfuaded, without time and difficulty, to have thofe taxes laid on their lands which custom had made fo familiar; and it was the business of fuch as were then in power, to cultivate a monied interest, because the gentry of the kingdom did not relish thofe notiobs in government to which the king, who 3 had imbibed his politics in his own country, was thought to give too much way. When this expedient (fays Mrs. Macaulay) of anticipations and mortgages was first put in practice, artful men in office and credit began to confider what uses it might be applied to, and foon found it was likely to prove a moft fruitful feminary, not only to establish a faction they intended to fet up for their own support, but likewife to raise vaft wealth for themfelves in particular, who were to be the managers and directors in it. It was manifeft that nothing could promote thefe two defigns fo much, as burthening the nation with debts, and giving encouragement to lenders; for as to the first, it was not to be doubted that monied men would be always firm to the party of thofe who advifed the borrowing upon fuch good fecurity, and with fuch exorbitant premiums and intereft; and every new fum lent took away as much power from the landed men, as it added to theirs; fo that the deeper the kingdom was engaged, it was fill the better for them. Thus a new eftate and property fprung up in the hands of mortgagees, to whom every house and foot of land in the kingdom paid a rent charge free of all taxes and defalcations, and purchased at lefs than half the value; fo that the gentlemen of eltates in effect were but tenants to thefe new landlords, many of whom were able in time to force the election of boroughs out of the hands of those who had been the old proprietors and inhabitants: this was arrived to fuch a height, that a very few years more of war and funds would have clearly call the ba lance on the moned fide. As to the fecond, this project of borrow ing on funds was of mighty advantage to thofe who were the managers of it, as well as to their friends and dependants; for funds proving often deficient, the government was obliged to frike tallies for making up the reft, which tallies were fometimes (to speak in the merchants phrafe) at about forty per cent. difcount; at this price thofe who were in the fecret bought them up, and then took care to have that fufficiently fupplied in the next feffion of parliament, by which they doubled their principal in a few months; and for the encouragement of lenders, every new proj & of lotteries or annuities propofed fome further advantage either as to intereft or premim. The pernicious practice of borrowing upon remote funds, my friend, neceffariiv produced a brood of ufurers, brokers, and flock-jobbers, who preyed upon the vitals of their country; and from this fruitful fource, venality overfpread the land; cor À 2 ruption. ruption, which under the government of bad princes had maintained a partial influence in the adminiftration of public affairs, from the period of the Revolution, was gradually formed into a fyftem, and inftead of being regarded with abhorrence, and feverely punished, as in former times, received the countenance of the whole legiflature; and every individual began openly to buy and fell his interett in his country, without either the fear of fhame or penalty. In addition to this national evil, all the fources of juftice were fo grófsly polfuted by the partiality of party, that every mifdemeanor of a public nature efcaped both cenfure and punishment; Whig and Tory reciprocally lending their affiftance to the caufe to protect the individuals of their party from the just resentment of their country, and the prosecution of the adverse faction. Retroff ection: : or, fele Paffages from the Orations of Demofthenes, applicable to the prefent Times. A ND now let us take one general view of the actions performed by our anceltors, and by ourselves, that by fuch comparifon we may learn to excel ourselves. Many and noble monuments did they erect of victories by land and fea, which are yet the objects of our applaufe; and be affured that they erected these not to be viewed in filent wonder, but that you might be excited to the virtues of thofe who raifed them. Such was their conduct; fay then can we, though feated thus fecurely above all oppofition, boast of any actions like thefe? Your decrees ferve but to difcover your hoftile difpofitions, your enemies never feel their effects. The refolutions of your affemblies fully exprefs the dignity of your country, but that force which should attend thofe refolutions you do not poffefs: it is, in my opinion, your only alternative, and Let it not raife your indignation, either to entertain fentiments lefs elevated, and to sonfine your attention to your own affairs, or to arm yourselves with greater force. If this affembly were compofed of the inhabitants of fome obfcure, and contemptible iflands, I fhould advise you to think lefs highly; but as you are Athenians, I muft urge you to increase your force; for it is fhameful, O my countrymen, it is fhameful to defeit that rank of magnanimity in which our ancestors have placed us. Could we defcend to fuch a thought, it would be impoffible to withdraw our attention from the affairs of Greece. We have ever acted greatly and nobly: thofe who are our friends, it would be fcandalous to defert; our enemies we cannot trust, nor muft we fuffer them to become powerful.-Your fpeakers never can make you either bad or good; you can make them whatever you pleafe. You are not directed by their opinions, but what your inclinations dictate. It is your part therefore, to be careful that your inclinations be good and honourable; then shall all be well. Your fpeakers must either never give pernicious counfels, or most give them to no purpose. If any new affair, O men of Athens, were appointed for your debates, reftraining my impatience, until the greateft part of those who are authorised by cuftom, had laid before you their opinions, I had continued filent, if the measures they propofed had pleafed me; if otherwife, I would then have endeavoured to speak my own fentiments. But fince the fame conjunctures, upon which they have often spoken, are still the subject of your deliberations, I think I may with reafon expect to be forgiven, though I rife before them in this debate; for if they had affairs required, there could be no necefeven given you that falutary advice your fity for your prefent councils-Let it be our first refolution, O men of Athens, not to defpair of our prefent fituation, however totally diftreffed, fince even the worst circumftance in your paft conduct, is now become the beft foundation of your future hopes. If we fit indolently at home, hearing our orators mutually reproaching and accuting each other, never can that fuccefs we greatly want attend us. If we are convinced that this man, Philip, is our enemy, that he hath long infulted us, that our laft remaining fource is in ourselves; and that if we will not refolve to carry the war into his country, we fhall, perhaps, be compelled to fupport it here in our own; if we are convinced that these reflections are juft, we fhail form our decrees with honour and advantage to the commonwealth, nor be longer influenced by frivolous and idle conjectures. It becomes the dignity of the res public to speak, and in every single inftance to act in fuch a manner, that this Macedonian shall be checked in the progrefs of his infolence, and fuffer the chaftifement he merits. Various caufes there are, perhaps, which have confpired to thefe diftreffes; for one or two were incapable of producing them. The principal, however, if you confider rightly, you will find arifes from thofe perfons, who rather chufe to flatter you, than offer you thofe falutary counfels your circumftances require. Some of them while in poffeffion of their prefent affluence and power, have not the leaft apprehenfion of futurity, and from thence conclude, that neither ought you to have any folicitude about it. Others there are, who accufing and calumniating whoever are engaged in the administration, yet produce no other ef fect, 1779 Swift's Thoughts on Matrimony. 5 fat, than that the republic fhould herself reign, unless you punish your domestic enemies. These are the rocks and quickfands upon which you unavoidably trike, and are undone. In truth, our prefent conduct is abfolutely ridiculous, and by the gods, I verily believe Philip himself forms no other with, than that the commonwealth fhould act for ever as the does at prefent. You are removed, O men of Athens, from that foundation upon which you were placed by your ancestors. Not from one caufe alone do these misfortunes arife, (for one would be easily corrected) but numerous and various, and of long continuance have been our errors. take vengeance of herself, and this her fole occupation, while Philip fhall be at liberty to speak, and to act according to his pleafure. Such politics, now grown habitual to us, are the causes of our diftreffes and our errors. However totally deplorable our prefent condition, however numerous the loffes we have fuftained by our indolence and inaction, if you will even act as your intereits demand, every thing may ftill be happily conducted. There was, O men of Athens, there affuredly was, a certain principle in the fpirits of our people, which no longer exifts. A principle that never, either in our engagements at fea, or our bat ties at land, fhewed any abatement of its vigour. What was this principle? A confant, univerfal deteftation of whoever received a bribe from those who aimed at arbitrary power, or the deftruction of our conftitution. Corruption was then efteemed a crime most enormous, and the feverelt juftice punished it. Thofe favourable conjunctures, which fortune in all affairs of importance, frequently offers to the indolent, against the moft vigilant, to the perverfely inactive, against those who vigorously exert their utmost efforts in performance of their duty, were not then fold by our orators and generals; neither our mutual domestic unaximity, nor our common diffidence of barbarians and tyrants, nor any other of this kind, the fupports of liberty-But now, as if in a public market, they are all openly expofed to fale, and other principles imported in their stead, by which the republic hath been irrecoverably ruined, and her conftitution broken by diftempers. What principles? Envy when any man receives a bribe, laughter if he confefs it, pardon if he is convicted, and deteftation, of his acsufers, with all other the usual attendants of corruption. For your naval strength, your land forces, your revenues, your military stores of every kind, with whatever elfe are fuppofed to conftitute the power of a republic, are greater far at prefent, and more numerous than formerly, yet they are rendered uselessly ineffectual, fruitless by thofe fellers of their country. You are perpetually too late in your operations, you lavifh away the public treasure, you are foli citous to whom you shall intruft the adminiftration, you grow angry, you mutually accufe each other. The feafon of entering upon action, and employing the forces you have raised, is that you now confume in bearing. From this unhappy difpofition it proceeds, that you act in perfect contradiction to the rest of human kind, for every other people are accustomed to confult before events, you alone when they are paft. It is indeed impoffible to conquer your fo "Thefe affertions are all indifputably true; they are pronounced with perfect freedom, fimplicity, and affection. This difcourfe is not filled with adulation, and mischief, and deceit, or calculated to bring gold to the speaker, and to deliver up the republic into the hands of its enemies. Either alter then your whole conduct, or when desolation and mifery lay waste your country, blame only and accufe your felves." A Letter from Dr. Swift to the Rev. Mr. Kendall, Vicar of Thornton, in Leicesterfhire. SIR, Feb. 11, 1691. F any thing made me wonder at your let¬ your ammoll inviting to fo in the beginning, which indeed grew lefs burst burnt, and writ again upon all manner of fubjects, more than perhaps any man in England. And this is it which a perfon of great honour in Ireland (who was pleafed to ftoop fo low as to look into my mind) ufed to tell me, that my mind was like a conjured fpirit, that would do mischief, if I would not give it employment. "Tis this humour that makes me fo bufy when I am in company, to turn all that way: and fince it commonly ends in talk, whether it be love or common converfation, it is all alike. This is fo common, that I could remember twenty women in my life, to whom I have behaved myfelf just the fame way, and I profefs, without any other defign, than of entertaining myself when I am very idle, or when fomething goes amifs in my affairs. This I always have done, as a man of the world, when I had no defign for any thing grave in it, and what I thought (at worft) a harmless impertinence. But whenever I began to take fober refolutions, or, (as now) to think of entering into the church, I never found it would be hard to put off this kind of folly at the porch. Befides, perhaps, in fo general a converfation among that fex, I might pretend a little to understand where I am, when I go to choose for a wife, and think, that though the cunningest sharper of the town may have a cheat put upon him, yet it must be cleanlier carried than this, which you ed to frolics, have married and ruined them- JONATHAN SWIFT. The following Reprefentation was delivered think I am going to top upon myfelf. And majefty's royal navy, having hitherE, the subscribing admirals of your W truly, if you know how metaphyfical I am that way, you would little fear I fhould venture on one who has given fo much occafion to tongues. For though the people are a lying fort of beafts, (and I think in Leicester, above all parts that I ever was in) yet they feldom talk without fome glimpse of a reafon; which I declare (fo unpardonably jealous am, I) to be a futhi cient caufe for me to hate any woman, farther than a bare acquaintance, except all things elfe were agreeable, and that I had mathematical demonftrations for the fall hood of the first, which, if it be not impoffible, I am fure is very like it. Among all the young gentlemen that I have known, who have ruined themselves by marrying, (which, I affure you, is a great number) I have made this general rule, that they are either young, raw, and ignorant scholars, who, for want of knowing company, believe every filk petticoat includes an angel, or elfe they have been a fort of honeft young men, who, perhaps, are too literal, in rather marrying than burning, and fo entail miferies on themselves and pofterity, by an over-acting modefty. I think I am very far excluded from lighting under either of these heads. I confess I have known one ⚫r two men of fenfe enough, who, inclin to, on all occafions, ferved your majefty `with zeal and fidelity, and being defirous of devoting every action of our lives, and our lives themfelves, to your majefty's fervice, and the defence of our country, think ourselves indispensably bound by our duty to that fervice, and that country, with all poffible humility to represent to your wisdom and juftice, That Sir Hugh Pallifer, vice Admira of the blue, lately ferving under the command of the honourable Augustus Keppel, did prefer certain articles of accufa tion, containing feveral matters of heinous offence against his faid commander in chief, to the lords commiffioners for executing the office of lord high admiral of Great Britain, he, the faid Sir Hugh Pallifer, being himself a commiffioner in the faid commiffion. This accufation he, the faid Sir Hugh Pallifer, withheld from the 27th of July laft, the time of the fuppofed offences committed, until the 9th day of this prefent December, and then brought forwards for the purpofe of recrimination against charges conjectured by him, the N Ο TE. *There feems to have been a word emitted here through halte. |