presentation, I should think them too inconsiderable in themselves to deserve correction. But as

my endeavour has been to expose the gross impositions of the fallen party, I will give a taste, in the following petition, of the sincerity of these their factors, to show how little those writers for the whigs were guided by conscience or honour, their business being only to gratify a prevailing interest.

"To the right honourable the present ministry; the humble petition of the party writers to the late ministry,

HUMBLY SHEWETH,

"That your petitioners have served their time to the trade of writing pamphlets and weekly papers, in defence of the whigs, against the church of England, and the christian religion, and her majesty's prerogative, and her title to the crown: That, since the late change of ministry, and meeting of this parliament, the said trade is mightily fallen off, and the call for the said pamphlets and papers much less than formerly; and it is feared, to our farther prejudice, that the Examiner may discontinue writing, whereby some of your petitioners will be brought to utter distress, forasmuch as, through false quotations, noted absurdities, and other legal abuses, many of your petitioners, to their great comfort and support, were enabled to pick up a weekly subsistence out of the said Examiner.

"That your said poor petitioners did humbly offer your honours to write in defence of the late change

T 2

change of ministry and parliament, much cheaper than they did for your predecessors: which your honours were pleased to refuse.

"Notwithstanding which offer, your petitioners. are under daily apprehensions, that your honours will forbid them to follow the said trade any longer; by which your petitioners, to the number of fourscore, with their wives and families, will inevitably starve, having been bound to no other calling.

"Your petitioners desire your honours will tenderly consider the premises, and suffer your said petitioners to continue their trade (those who set them at work being still willing to employ them, though at lower rates), and your said petitioners will give security to make use of the same stuff, and dress in the same manner, as they always did, and no other. And your petitioners, &c."

1

SOME

SOME

ADVICE

HUMBLY OFFERED TO THE

MEMBERS

OF THE

OCTOBER CLUB.

In a Letter from a Person of Honour *.

Written in January, 1711-12.

Supposed at the time to have been lord Harcourt. N.

"I have made Ford copy a small pamphlet, and send to the press, that I might not be known for its author; 'tis A Letter to the October Club, if you ever heard of such a thing." Journal to Stella, Jan. 18, 1711-12.

"I dined in the city, where my printer showed me a pamphlet, called Advice to the October Club, which he said was sent him by an unknown hand. I commended it mightily; he never suspected me; 'tis a two-penny pamphlet." Ibid. Jan. 21.

"I was to-night at lord Masham's. Lord Dupplin took out my new little pamphlet; and the secretary read a great deal to lord treasurer. They all commended it to the skies, and so did I; and they began a health to the author. But I doubt lord treasurer suspected; for he said, This is Dr. Davenant's style; which is his cant, when he suspects me. But I carried the matter very well. Lord treasurer put the pamphlet in his pocket, to read at home.". Ibid. Jan. 23.

"The little two-penny Letter of Advice to the October Club does not sell. I know not the reason; for it is finely written, I assure you; and, like a true author, I grow fond of it, because it does not sell. You know that is usual to writers, to condemn the judgment of the world. If I had hinted it to be mine, every body would have bought it but it is a great secret." Ibid. Jan. 23.

"The pamphlet of Advice to the October Club begins now to sell; but I believe its fame will hardly reach Ireland; 'tis finely written, I assure you," Ibid. Feb. 1.

THE PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.

ABOUT the year when her late majesty, of blessed memory, thought proper to change her ministry, and brought in Mr. Harley, Mr. St. John, sir Simon Harcourt, and some others; the first of these being made an earl and lord treasurer, he was soon after blamed by the friends for not making a general sweep of all the whigs, as the latter did of their adversaries upon her majesty's death, when they came into power. At that time a great number of parliament men, amounting to above two hundred, grew so warm upon the slowness of the treasurer in this part, that they formed themselves into a body, under the name of the October Club*, and had many meetings, to consult upon

some

* "Some months ago, the leading members of the House of Commons of the high church, or tory party, set up a club, which met once or twice at the Bell Tavern in King-street, Westminster; and which, being mainly composed of country gentlemen, who, when at home, generally drank October beer, was therefore called, The October Club. This society, during the whole first session of this parliament, had gone blindfold into all the measures of the present ministers; but many of them, who had hitherto been amused and deluded with vain promises of preferment, suspecting the prime manager to be an ambidextrous trickster, and being like to fly off, a friend to the lord treasurer wrote

and