Rival, and get partridge and hares when I can, and my venifon where I can; and leave all great matters to those that like them better than myself. Commend me to your Ladie and all other Ladies that ever heard of me. Your books are safe, and I am in liking to get Erafmus for your entertainmente, From Kelton, JOHN HARINGTON. I coud not move in any fuit to ferve your neighbour B. fuch was the ftate of things, and fo diforderd is all order, that her Highness hathe worne but one change of raiment for many days, and fwears much at thofe that cause her griefs in fuch wife, to the no fmall difcomfiture of all about her, more especially our fweete Lady Arundel, that Venus plus quam venufta. When James Harington published his Oceana, the partizans of non-refiftance moved heaven and earth to bring the work, and its author, into contempt. The following letter addreffed to Harington, and written by a creature called Lefley, will fhew that rage of bigotry which prevailed amongst the court-flaves. The title of the letter is curious; "A Slap on the Snout of the Republican Swine that rooteth up Monarchy." It much griveth me to fee the wickedness of man, in overturning the works of God; albeit fuch iniquity doth not for ever profper. Shall the anointed of the Higheft, the Rulers of the land, the Powers ordained, find trouble and annoyance from the pens of fedition; or can the vile labours of duft confound the stately pillars of heaven? Muft Kings be depofed at every blaft of human fufficiency, and the gates of government be fhouldered by every Samson that boafteth in his mightiness? Verily this is to tempt the Lord, and, though Oceana be the offspring of much learning, long study, and abundant of ingenuity, yet muft it fall again on your own pate, for the wickedness it containeth, and the evil it imagineth. Good man; what movethe James Harington to provoke the wrath of Kings? His own lineage is derived from the blood of the Anointed, as will truely appear in the following account, which I have much laboured to obtain from Sir Andrew Markham, and be it now marked with the eye of fhame and forrow. The marriage of your ancestor with a defcendant from Matilda, neice to William the Conqueror, is the firft derivation of royalty; another was granted lardge rewards by state acts, for valiantly making prifoner Henry the Sixth, in obeyance to the Powers that where then ruleing: The great King Henry the VIIIth matched his darling daughter to John Harington, and, though a ballard, dowered her with the rich lands of Baths priory; and Queen Elizabeth affected these faithful fervants fo much, as to become godmother to their fon, and made him a knyght for his wit and his valour. Our bleffed King James did ennoble your great uncle the Lord Harington of Exton, and entrusted to his care and wifdom the renowned Princefs Elizabeth for tuition. Yourself was careffd by the blefied martyr Charles, and honourd with his wordes, and even his princelie favours from his own hands on the scaffold. And And fhall then any one branch of fuch noble ftock, endowed with fuch rare gifts and graces, as all have been for the most part, and fo many of you countenanced by Kings, fhall any efpoufe fuch evil principles as you have now fet forth in your book? If this be learning, give me to know only righteoufnefs, and feek the Lord by obeying those whom he hath appointed. Why do you thus flirr up the people to imagine a vain thing, and fet themselves against the Anointed, to whom you claim fuch glorious affinity, nay confanguinity? Had Prince Henry had prefage of your boldness, he would not have chofen young Lord Harington, your cofin, to tennis withal, and write Latin epiftles to in Germany. His virtue and godliness, his endowments and learning woud not have purchasd, fach favours, if your future doings had been foreseen. The whole is to disturb the peace again, and fill the people with notions of Kings doing wrong, which all earthly wifdom and divine information prove they cannot do; for whatever is of God is pure and fect. God anointed Solomon King, and Solomon judged wifely. Mr. Ferne is about to make nought your doctrines, and cover you with dishonour. You cannot be a good man, for, Fear God, and Honour the King, are both in one place, and fupport each other as the corner ftones of religion and royalty. But you have dishonoured both, and blasted a long line of ancestors renowned for both, and ftirred up the ill affections of all the noble families to whom you ftand in alliance. I coud not hold from fpeaking thus much, and, if I may say more, you cannot do a better deed than burn the work, which will continue to fin when you are no more able to fin, and for ever prevent the fhadow of mercy from approaching you; for to him that fighteth against Kings there can be no peace or quarter from the King of Kings. Whitehall, June 24. per I am Your Well-advifer, but in much wrath, as the cause requireth, J. LESLEY, Dep. C.' In this collection there are feveral curious pieces of ancient poetry. The following poems, in particular, are remarkable for a beautiful fimplicity: The HOSPITABLE CAKE. Erft in Arcadia's londe much prais'd was found Beneath whofe fhade did gladfome Thepherds hie, They pluck'd rich mifletoe of virtue rare; The The fearless bird fafe bofom'd here its nefte, For fober fwains fo thankless neer mought be; A SONNET made on ISABELIA MARKHAME, when I firfte thought her foyer as fhe food at the Princefs's Windore in goodlye Attyre, and talkede to dyvers in the Courte-Yard. From a MS. of JOHN HARINGTON, dated 1564. • Whence comes my love, O hearte, disclose, Syth noughte dothe faye the hearte of itone. Why thus, my love, fo kynde befpeake, Sweet lyppe, fweet eye, fweet blushynge cheeke, O Venus, take thy giftes again; Make not fo faire to caufe our moane, Or make a hearte that's lyke our owne.' The letters annexed, faid to be written by a Georgian, are very indifferent imitations of the productions of eastern genius, and make but an aukward figure in this collection. MONTHLY [59] MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For JANUARY, 1770. POLITICAL and COMMERCIAL. Art. 12. A few fcattered Thoughts on Political Moderation. 8vo. 6 d. Wilkie. HE thoughts that are scattered thro' this unimportant pamphlet, are chiefly culled out of Locke, Montefquieu, and Blackstone. What the fcatterer has added of his own, is fcarce worth mentioning. The general defign of the whole feems to be (but it is difficult to speak with precision of fuch an out-of the way-jumble) to explode that moderatien, with regard to public affairs, which, to ufe his own language, excludes vigilance and a due attention to the welfare of the community. In respect to our prefent political contests, he leans to the popular fide; but he is fuch an advocate as no party will be much the better for. Art. 13. A Defence of the Proceedings of the House of Commons in the Middlefex Election. In which are confidered Two late pamphlets, viz. the Sentiments of an English Freeholder,' and An Effay + on the Middlefex Election.' By the Author of the Anfwer to the Question stated. 4to. 2 s. 6 d. Wilkie. 1 he limits of our plan, and the multiplicity of new publications at this juncture, both concur to prevent our entering into a particular difcuffion of the content and merit of the capital piece now before us. We fhall, therefore, only remark, in general terms, that this ftrenuous defence of the proceedings of the lower house of parliament, in regard to the expulfion of Mr. Wilkes, and the reelection of that gentleman, by the Freeholders of Middlefex,' is well worthy the ferious attention of the public.-We do not fay that the Author's arguments have made us converts to his principles; but they have given us a very high opinion of his abilities; and glad we are to fee the great, leading queftions in our prefent political debates, fo deeply and thoroughly canvaffed, by men of fuch refpectable qualifications, on each fide of the controverfy. Art. 14. A Poffcript to an Effay on the Middlefex Election. [See our Review for November latt, p. 397.] 8vo. 6 d. White. The Author has here brought fome farther, and, we apprehend, very forcible arguments against the expulfive power; in order to fhew that fuch power as claimed and exercifed by the House of Commons, is unconftitutional in itfelf, as well as dangerous, in its confequences, to the legal rights and liberties of the people.-In a fupplement to this policript, he takes notice of what is advanced againit his effay, in the foregoing defence of the proceedings, &c. Art. 15. An Eighth Letter to the People of England; on the Power of Difqualification in the Commons. in which is fhewn. that the fubjett is not fufficiently under tood by thofe who have written on either fide of the Question. Svo. 2 S. Robinion and Co. This well known letter-writer, who appears to have beflowed great See Rey. Dec. 1769, p. 462. + Rev. Nov. P. 397. atten attention on his prefent fubject, undertakes to refute the principles and arguments laid down by the Author of the Fair-Trial*, and other advocates for the popular fide of the queftion; but he has paffed, without notice, the capital and fundamental point maintained by the ingenious Effayift just mentioned. Admitting the expulfive and difqualifying powers, he reafons very well on that foundation; but if that foundation be fapped, all the fuperftructure muft, of course, fall to the ground. Of the complexion, fpirit, and temper of this zealous champion for the miniftry (for the miniftry are certainly the principles, as they were unquestionably the Authors of all this political turmoil) a tolerable judgment may be formed from his concluding paragraphWhat,' he demands, is the cause of this atrocious clamour and riots in the streets, in fupport of fuch unconftitutional demands? It is that spirit of rebellion again broken loofe, which incited Cromwell and his fanatics to take arms against their king, and bring not only him, but the conftitution itself to the block. It now rages in hearts envenomed with the poifon of fimilar paffions. It maddens in the brain of those who by principle are equally malignant and destructive. But by a perfeverance of that vigorous fpirit with which it is now oppofed, it will be feen expiring by the hands of the public executioner. In the fame ftrain, did Strafford, and other hot-headed affertors of HIGH CLAIMS and ARBITRARY POWER, buoy up and mislead the unfortunate and infatuated Charles ! Art. 16. The Queflion (whether the Right of the Elector hath been violated by the Rejection of Mr. Wxes, and the admiffion of Mr. Lutterell, or not?) Examined. In a Letter to John Brown, Efq; and its negative proved, from the Nature of the Conftitution. 8vo. I S. Bladon. This lively fkirmisher, who figns his Letter Thomas Stephens, is one of the light-armed cavalry of the court-party;-a mere huffar, who attacks, and flies, and is in and out of fight in the fame moment : but, for a close engagement with the heavy-armed troops of the oppofition †, a stronger arm, and weightier weapons, would be required. Art. 17. A Letter to Dr. Blackflone. By the Author of the Queftion fiated. To which is prefixed Dr. Blackstone's Letter to Sir William Meredith. 8vo. I s. 6 d. Woodfall, &c. From the words of the foregoing title-page, Sir William Meredith feems now to be the acknowledged Author of the Question Stated That popular performance was commended to our Readers in the Review for July 1769, p. 77: of Dr. B's letter, here reprinted, we also gave fome account in the fame number. As we cannot now enter into the particulars of this controverfy, which is in fome degree perfonal to the two gentlemen here named; we fhall, therefore, only inform our Readers, in brief, that Sir William here returns to the attack on the learned commentator, with great fpirit and acuteness of argument, in order to fupport the charge of inconfiftency which hath been brought by our Author, (and by See our last month's Review, p. 460. + The Fair Trial, Sentiments of a Freeholder, Effay on the Middlefex Election, &c. others) |