is the worst place in the whole kingdom bills. Squadrons, at a very great expence, to protect our navigation, colonies, and o ther poffeffions. How far they have fucceeded, for the honour of the nation, is vifible to the whole world. Gibraltar and Portmahon are abfolutely fecured, for the prefent, by a numerous fleet in the Mediterranean; whilst another, stationed in the West-Indies, hath hitherto protected our colonies and plantations from any attempt. Even As to foreign affairs, the cafe feems to be as bad, if not worse; for the balance of power and the liberties of Europe are certainly more in danger, at prefent, than at any other period of time; B Georgia is fafe. But I must confefs it efpecially for about twenty years past. a little ftrange that the Spaniards fhould France and Spain have been extending dare to continue their depredations and their dominions, and have ftill fome o- infults, of which we have frequent adther views of the same kind. The for- vices, whilft the feas are guarded by fo mer plainly keeps its eye upon Flanders great a naval force. This cannot be and the Palatinate; whilft the latter is Cowing to their right of fovereignty over endeavouring to get another province or thofe feas, as the Gentlemen hirelings fugtwo in Italy. I am afraid the present geft; nor to our own paffive obedience treaty between the Emperor and France, and non-refiftance, as the malecontents which is now faid to be concluded, will feem to infinuate; but must be imputed not mend the matter; for a close con- folely to the audacious infolence of a junction between those two crowns will, D few pyratical villains, who fteal out in undoubtedly, be more formidable to the dark and fnap up our fhips, without Europe than the late unnatural alliance, any fecret commiffion from the King of as it was called, between the Emperor Spain, or his governors in America. and Spain: But, if they fhould all three It cannot therefore be doubted that his unite, and draw the King of Sardinia in- Catholick Majefty will readily give us to the alliance, they might canton out leave, in the new accommodation, to icour the beft part of Europe amongst themthe feas of these robbers, who commonfelves. I mention this only by way ly make use of his colours, and thereby of conjecture; but there feems to be at caft a reflection upon that nice punctilio prefent too good an understanding a- of honour, for which the Spanish court mongst them. The myfterious affair is fo famous, and hath always been fo of Corfica begins to explain itself; for, F jealous. if his Majesty King Theodore is really confined in the caftle of Gaeta, by an order from the court of Spain, there must be fome juggle between two crowns, whom I fhall not mention; and, per haps, the Genoefe may have reafon to repent of their late proceedings, as well as the poor Corficans. E G But thefe are not all the bad fymptoms abroad; for, as Mr. Freeport hath fully proved in my last paper, the French and Spaniards, to mention no other na-H tions, are continually improving their manufactures, extending their trade, and encouraging their colonies: whilft we have, indeeed, had the dexterity to avoid an actual war; though it was thought neceffary to fend two powerful However I could wish that fome HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN at home would be pleased, in the mean time, to look over Milton's letters, written by the direction of Oliver Cromwel, the parliament, and others, to most of the greatest Potentates and fovereign States of Europe. They will there fee what a glorious spirit even thofe unlawful governors exerted in defence of their countrymen. They were not only ready to receive the complaints of a large body of merchants, and reprefent them in the ftrongest manner to thofe, by whom they were aggrieved; but did the fame by -any fingle perfon; not only in points of trade, but even in cafes of private right and property. Whether all thefe repre Sentations Jentations and memorials fucceeded, I can- They were written in Latin, and I ne proper to befeech your Majefty, that "the whole affair may be referred to "your own council; and that the money may be no longer detained, under the " pretence of injuft a demand; for "if what was tranfacted and decided, before the peace, is to be called into question again, after the peace, we "cannot underftand of what use trea "ties are. Indeed, there will be no B" end of fuch difputes, if fome exem"plary punishment is not foon inflicted on thefe common violators of treaties, "which we hope will be one of your "Majefty's first cares. In the mean time, may God keep you under his Your Majefy's ver faw any verfion of them into En- C" most holy protection. To the moft Serene Prince LOUIS King D E F Meft ferene King, my dearest friend and ally, H -- Moft affured friend, From our palace at Protector of the Common-wealth of England, &c. The reader will perceive that this vigorous remonftrance, to one of the greateft powers in Europe, was only in behalf of a finge merchant, and about a fe hides. How would the old ufurpingProtector have thunder'd, if either the French or the Spaniards had, for a long courfe of years, not only plunder'd our hips, and treated our feumen with cruelty, but likewife infulted the honour of the English flag, and even fent de fiances to himself? Let the hiftory of his life and character, from all parties, determine this point. Our prefent, lawful, and excellent governors have prefented several memorials and remonftrances, of the fame spirited kind, to the court of Spain, against their long-continued depredations, ravages and inhumanities; which have been likewife back'd with a powerful armament, as I have already obferved: And if it fhould be afked, what notable exploits they have performed, my answer thall be, in the words of the minifterial writers, that PEACE is better than WAR, and that these armaments have brought the -- the Spaniards to terms, as that at Spit- 1. Sir, A GAZETTEER, Jan. 4. B hazards, what I found neceffary to advance; and my inclination to ferve you, enforced by the warm affiftance of fome Gentlemen who wished you as well as myself, have prompted me to fay in the face of the people, what would in any country have rifqued an ignominious exit. Has one opportunity offered to render the Gentlemen in the administration odious, that I have not improved to the utmost of my power, though perhaps not always to the extent of my wifhes? Inftances of this Fter reading the puff in Common kind are too recent on your memories Senfe of December 30. I endea to require my naming them, it being voured to perufe Mr. D'Anvers 3 but I unufual for grateful minds to forget infound him fo full of repetition and tri tended fervices, or to overlook the infling abfurdity, that before I could reach C conceivable difficulties I have lain unMr. Free-port's name, I was overcome der to preferve, what you have always by a powerful flurhber; during which, called, the spirit of my paper, and at Mr. Anvers remained both in my the fame time keep clear of a h-r: hand and my head; and when I awoke, for though it is an eafy matter to approve I wrote down what I could recollect of with fafety, like the mercenary hacks a fpeech which may be of fome ufe to D who oppose me; yet to blame, at all those who wish well to that deferted paevents, requires more than common talents: For when the prefent poffeffors triot. of power, have taken fuch measures as the voice of the nation has approved, it has been matter of no small difficul Mr. D'ANVERS, to his departing friends on the beginning of the new year. Brethren in defign and disappointment, WT Ety to fupply a fresh caufe of complaint, and to prevent our Generals from be Ith too much truth I may now ing totally deferted. And if with this affure you, that repeated in view I have fometimes involved myself ftances have convinced me, the race is in a few seeming incoherencies and connot to the swift, nor the battle to the tradictions, charge them not upon me ftrong; for you must own, one and any otherwife, than as the best means I all, that no man ever exercised fuch could contrive to fupport the clamour alacrity to gain a point,nor is any person we were once fo fortunate as to raise to living fo fit for the task I have underta- a height fufficient to give us a profpect ken as myself."Tis now feveral years of the golden days we have fo long lafince I first promifed you relief from the boured for: nor have thefe little flips hardships and difficulties, impofitions & been of any bad confequence, fince you G and oppreffions, I affured you lay on your must not forget, that whatever was faid fhoulders; and I appeal to yourselves, in order to detect me, must neceffarily if I have not fhewn the utmost vigilance come from the advocates of our enein bringing about that reformation in mies; and then Court Writer, and Tool the state, which I have all along declared of Power, fatisfied any man who was to be the only means by which I could H wife enough to fearch no farther.— work your redemption: nor can you ac- But, if my modefty would permit me, cufe my courage and refolution with any I could veil these foibles with a cloud fhadow of justice; for I have ventured of uncontested benefits I have brought to affert what none befide myself dared to the nation in general, and in a parto imagine, having always had fufficient ticular manner to you, Gentlemen: How prefence of mind to maintain, at all has the political knowledge of these realma Σ A realms increased under my lectures of haved with uncommon intrepidity, and liberty! How generally have my ac multiplied charge upon charge, and counts of foreign and domeftick inte- complaint on complaint, till I was fo rests, prevailed among the frongeft men fortunate as to have the proof of our of the nation! With what earnestness grievances attempted in the P have I feen my labours read, (fometimes itself, by fuch Gentlemen as were gene to the neglect of a fresh pipe) and with rally allowed moft capable of proving what vehemence afferted to be just in what I had afferted at their inftigation. the moft minute particular!—and when But, here we may date our overany friend of corruption has chanced to throw: no fooner were records infpected, offer an abfolute confutation of what I and accounts re-fearched and examined have afferted, with what tranfport have B with the impatient attention of our I feen my votary, with a moft becom- friends and well-wifhers, and indeed of ing contempt, call his antagonist a pen- the whole nation, but all we had affaner, and affirm, that he would fooner firmed was difproved beyond a colour believe the Craftfman than all the pa- of contradiction; the whole legiflature, pers in the kingdom!-Thefe, Gentle- and every body elfe, being convinced, men, were the natural effects of the ca- C that the most important of our many lumny and reproach with which I for accufations were groundlefs, and foundfome time furnished my readers; but ed in nothing more than our enmity what has been our undoing, is our ne- to the perfons principally concerned in gled of the difpofition which once fo the tranfactions we accufed of fraud and generally prevailed. Every human event embezzlement: And it was fcarce in the has a crifis, which, when carefully em- D power of man to prevent the current braced, will ever be propitious? The from turning upon us. Then it was [ contempt I had happily raifed for the moft needed affiftance; and then I met perfons we intended to fucceed, you with it: But however excellent the well know, was more owing to private remarks and differtations furnithed me defamation than publick mifconduct; and were in themfelves, the people were so the time when the belief of what was E generally, I know not how to lay unpublished by us, prevailed in half the justly, prejudiced against their author, ale-houses of the nation, was the moft that had they contained the Gospels only, promifing of fuccefs: for it is univer- it would have been hard to prevail with fally known, that the beat with which many to read them.-He wrote one a refentment is first conceived, will cool week, I praised him the next; again upon reflection; and what a man efteems F he wrote, and my praife fucceeded an enormous offence, while stunn'd with till growing impatient of infuccefs, he the confirmation of a few undifcerning left me to defpair, in order, fince he companions, he may, by fome mifchie has no profpect of acting any more as a vous means or other, happen to com- Politician, to retire, and turn Philofopare with accounts from the other fide, pher, or rather Hiftorian; fince we have and thereby become cool in a cause he Galready been promtifed the History of his was before ready to defend with his life. oven Times of which, fome have had Our misfortunes on this account have ill nature enough to fay, fhould he write been too many; and when, by our own with impartiality, his own crimes would delays, the private fcandal we had pu- make no inconfiderable part. blifh'd, began to appear the effect of private matice, and to have been offered to the world for private ends only, nothing but the detection of publick male adminiftration, feemed fufficient to fupport the alarming clamour we had raised of the neceffity the nation was in of having new governors. In this I be H Thus, Gentlemen, you fee me a bandoned by every aid that promised. affistance, and left alone to find fault with our governors, at a time when the want of fufficient caufe of complaint has been one great cause of my being deferted. The new year approaches, and with it an unpleafing profpet of B 2 Jabou A labour and fatigue to me, and of no an infance of the decay of trade, when great benefit to our friends. Never was you think they will not be able to fee there a time when I ftood in fuch want that, in fact, it proves only the defire of your fupport and recommendation: of thofe wanting to fell to have the My lectures go not now into hands e- more purchafers, and thereby to have nough to be of any fervice to the caufe the highest price that can be got. we have at heart; and all who with it, When the reduction of intereft is mentiwell, mut either exert their utmost oned, you must infiit, that it proves power to get me taken notice of, or,with nothing more than the fcarcity of maney, the utmoit concern I fpeak it, the once and the numerous inconveniences ariadmir'd Caleb D'Anvers must fleep with fing from landed Gentlemens marrying, his fathers. Start not at the thought; B and giving portims to their children!· for, without your chearful afliftance, One thing you muft affert, where-ever the completion of it must be endured. you come, which will require fome re-But, Gentlemen, however defperate folution to vindicate, and yet it muft the prefent state of our affairs may ap- be defended; I mean, the fall of the pear, our credit is not perhaps paft re- value of our land eftates: for though trieving: The accommodation with Cevery country parifh through the kingSpain will furnish matter of grumbling, dom abounds with inftances of eftates in whatever manner it is conducted; being increased within the last thirty peace and war cannot both be chofen ; years to near twice their former value, and which foever be preferred, there and of fome to treble the income they will be room enough left to commend at first produced to the prefent poffef the other as far the most adviseable. D fors, it bears fuch a face of prosperity Trade has lately employed pretty much as will never facilitate our wifhes, nor of the publick attention; and as few any way conduce to promote the uneaprivate companies are without perfons finefs among thofe who have no land, interested therein, you muft, at every which it will be impoffible to create opportunity, complain of the decay of among thofe who have.-And if all our traffick, and the ruin of our manu- E thefe fhould not prove fatisfactory, you factures: If the increase of our naviga. may fafely enough alledge, that the wil tion to more than double what it was in lingnefs with which people put their the reign of Queen Anne, be brought as money into the publick funds, is occa an argument of the increase of our comfioned by trade being now precarious; merce, you may reply, with as good an but if any fhould happen to reply, That air as I do, that you don't know they are F the publick funds fubfift by no other all employed in our own commerce, and in means than trade, you muit then ancarrying our own manufactures to foreign fwer-what appears most to the pur markets. If the mafter-cloathiers in pofe, for at prefent I have no reply to the Weft ufe any oppreffive means to that objection. diftrefs their artificers, be fure to attribute the blame to the An, as G fuffering the poor men to be impofed on.--If the abundance of buildings, furniture, plate, and jervels, be argued as an inftance of our national wealth, you may rejoin, that they are frequently fold for less than a third of their first purchase; and, poffibly, your antagonifts may be fools enough not to know, that their being fold for fo little at fecond-hand, is an argument of the general ability to purchate them new-advertifing thefe things for fale, you may tell them, is Thus, Gentlemen, I have laid be fore you, with my ufual perfpicuity, the state of our affairs at the entring of the year: The more our number is re duced, the greater occafion there is for a firm union among us. And be fure to remember, that no measures taken H by the An must be allowed to Atend to the publick good while we remain private men. I COMMON SENSE, Jan. 6. peated |