THE PUBLICK SPIRIT OF THE WHIGS, &c.

I cannot without some Envy, and a just Resentment against the opposite Conduct of others, reflect upon that Generosity andTenderness, wherewith the Heads and Principal Members of a struggling Faction treat those who will undertake to hold a Pen in their Defence. And the Behaviour of these Patrons is yet the more laudable, because the Benefits they confer are almost gratis: If any of their Labourers can scratch out a Pamphlet, they desire no more; There is noQuestion offered about theWit, the Style, the Argument. Let a Pamphlet come out upon demand in a proper Juncture, you shall be well and certainly paid; you shall be paid before-hand, every one of the Party who is able to read and can spare a Shilling shall be a Subscriber: Several Thousands of each Production shall be sent among their Friends through the Kingdom: The Work shall be reported admirable, sublime, unanswerable, shall serve to raise the sinking Clamours, and confirm the Scandal of introducing Popery and the Pretender upon the QUEEN and Her Ministers.

Among the present Writers on that Side, I can recollect but Three of any great Distinction, which are the Flying-Post, Mr. Dunton, and the Author of the Crisis: The first of these seems to have been much sunk in Reputation since the sudden Retreat of the only true genuine Original Author Mr. Ridpath, who is celebrated by the Dutch Gazeteer, as One of the best Pens of England. Mr.Dunton hath been longer and more conversant in Books than any of the Three, as well as more voluminous in his Productions: However, having employ’d his Studies in so great aVariety of other Subjects, he hath I think but lately turned his Genius to Politicks. His famous Tract, Intituled, Neck or Nothing, must be allowed to be the shrewdest Piece, and written with the most Spirit of any which hath appeared from that Side since the Change of the Ministry: It is indeed a most cutting Satire upon the Lord Treasurer and Lord Bolingbroke, and I wonder none of our Friends ever undertook to Answer it. I confess I was at first of the same Opinion with several good Judges, who from the Style and Manner supposed it to have issued from the sharp Pen of the E. of N-t-ng--m; and I amstill apt to think it might receive his L--dsh-p's last Hand.