ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE FOUGHT LAST FRIDAY, &c. HOEVER examines with due circumfpection into the † annual records of time, will find it remarked, that war is the child of pride, and pride the daughter of riches: the former of which affertions may be foon granted; but one cannot so easily subscribe to the latter for pride is nearly related to beggary and want either by father or mother, and fometimes by both; and, to speak naturally, it very feldom happens among men to fall out, when all have enough; invafions ufually travelling from north to fouth, that is to fay, from poverty to plenty. The most antient and natural grounds of quarrels are luft and avarice; which, though we may allow to be brethren or collateral branches of pride, are certainly the iffues of want, For, to fpeak in the phrafe of writers upon politicks, we may obferve in the republick of dogs, which in its original feems to be an inflitution of the many, that the whole ftate is ever in the profoundest peace after a full meal; and, that civil broils arise among them, when it happens for one great bone to be feized on by fome Riches produce pride; pride is war's ground, &c. Vid. Ephem. de Mary Clarke; opt. edit. now called Wing's fheet alma nack, and printed by J. Ro- Q4 1 leading leading dog, who either divides it among the few, and then it falls to an oligarchy, or keeps it to himfelf, and then it runs up to a tyranny, The fame reasoning alfo holds place among them in thofe diffenfions, we behold upon a turgefcency in any of their females. For, the right of poffeffion lying in common (it being impoffible to establish a property in fo delicate a cafe) jealoufies and fufpicions do fo abound, that the whole commonwealth of that street is reduced to a manifest stater of war, of every citizen against every citizen; till fome one of more courage, conduct, or fortune than the rest feizes and enjoys the prize: upon which naturally arifes plenty of heart buiting, and envy, and fnarling against the happy dog. Again, if we look upon any of thefe republicks engaged in a foreign war either of invafion or defence, we fhall find, the fame reafoning will ferve, as to the grounds and occafions of each; and that poverty, or want, in fome degree or other, (whether real, or in opinion, which makes no alteration in the cafe) has a great share, as well as pride, on the part of the aggreffor. Now, whoever will please to take this fcheme, and either reduce or adapt it to an intellectual ftate, or commonwealth of learning, will foon difcover the first ground of difagreement between the two great parties at this time in arms; and may form juft conclufions upon the merits of either caufe. But the iffue or events of this war are not fo eafy to conjecture at; for, the prefent quarrel is fo inflamed by the warm heads of either faction, and the pretenfions fomewhere or other fo exorbitant, as not to admit the least overtures of accommodation. The quarrel firft began, as I have heard it affirmed by an old dweller in the neighbourhood, about a small spot of ground, lying and being upon one of the two tops of the hill Parnaffus; the highest and largeft of which had, it feems, been time out of mind in quiet poffeffion of certain tenants called the antients; and the other was held by the moderns. But thefe, difliking their prefent ftation, fent certain ambaf |