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"have it in their Power to remove them. Hence a "right Behaviour of the Diffenters, upon this Occa"fion, is an extended Concern, and a common Cause. "And This brings me now to fay who They be, that are the real Friends of the Diffenters. Though They "be few in Number, yet are They not inconfiderable "in Weight; but are not found among Parties, "meerly as a Party, and very seldom among Mini"Aters of State; but are to be found among fuch Gen"tlemen, as have unto good Parts and Knowledge "join'd a Freedom of Thought, and a free Enquiry into "Matters of Religion. Thefe are Friends to the Dif "fenters, not from any Similitude of having the fame Scruples with Them; but from confidering Them as a Party engaged in Intereft to be for LIBERTY. Another Writer, on this Subject, expreffes the fame Sentiment, in the following Terms.

"It is demonstratively true in Fact, that Bigotry "every Day lofes Ground. Men's Understandings en"large, and the Principles of Liberty spread in every

Quarter of the Kingdom, both among the Clergy "and Laity. The greatest Part of the People have "learn'd to diftinguish between what is taught Them by their Clergy, with Regard to their fpiritual and

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temporal Welfare, and what is only fubfervient to "the Advancement of the priestly Intereft. The pre"vailing Opinion in England is Latitudinarian. Moft "Men in the Kingdom are fo far improved in their

Judgments, as to believe that Heaven is not fo en"tail'd upon any particular Opinions in Religion, as "to facrifice the Liberties of their Country in Defence "of them. The State of Things in the Nation is

greatly alter'd from what it was forty Years ago. "The Diffenters have neither that Rigidness among

*

Them

An Enquiry into the Propriety of applying to Parliament, &c. in a Letter to SAMUEL HOLDEN, Eq

"Them as formerly, nor the Low-Churchmen that ill"Will to Them, as Neighbours and Englishmen.

How fay you, Mrs. Osborne? Is This Reasoning, or not? I am fure it is founded on common Obfervation; and if That is of any Weight, it destroys the End of all your learned Arguments for three Weeks together; which are evidently calculated to frighten the Diffenters out of their Wits, with the Name of the Tories, because They are the fame Men They used to be; a Sort of Cannibals, as You reprefent Them, whowould certainly eat Them all up alive, if They fhould ever get Them in their Power again.

But pray, Madam, why all this Clutter about the Tories? Are They the only Perfons in Oppofition to your Patron? You know very well that the Body of the Country Whigs in general, with many of the greatest and richest Whigs in the Kingdom at the Head of Them, have fhook off his Supremacy, and lifted Themfelves in the Caufe of Liberty. Why therefore may not the Diffenters take the fame Side, if They pleafe, and join their old Allies the Church-Whigs, without any Impuration of leaguing with Jacobites, or any Danger of breaking the Whig-Intereft? No, fay You, the Church Whigs and Diffenters together, when the oft clofely and firmly united, are not equal in Number to the Jacobites and Tories; and have been always forced to Supply what They wanted in NATURAL STRENGTH with GREAT ART. I hope, Madam, have overfhot Yourself a little in this Place; for you if the Cafe really is, as You reprefent it, the prefent Government ftands upon a weaker and much worse Foundation than I apprehend it. By GREAT ART, You cannot poflibly mean any Thing but FORCE, or CORRUPTION, OF BOTH. Now, a Government fupported by fuch Methods, against the natural Strength of the Nation, cannot furely be denominated a free Govern. ment, which confifls in ruling the People by their own Confent. But This is fo ungrateful a Topick, that. I

chufe

chufe to quit it, without any farther Remarks, and impute fo monftrous an Affertion to the Effects of Dotage and political Enthufiafm.

D.

O.

N° 380. SATURDAY, 08. 13, 1733.

M

The Conclufion of our laft.

Rs Osborne farther endeavours to terrify the Diffenters, by telling Them, that They cannot lead the Tories, but must follow, ingloriously follow Them. Now, for my Part, I can fee no Occafion for either leading, or following, in this Cafe. Why may not Men of all Denominations act in Conjunction, when They fee their joint Intereft in Danger, as They did against the late Excife-Scheme, without any Dif putes about Superiority, or Dependence? It is ridiculous to fuppofe otherwife; and can be done only to create an unreasonable Jealousy amongst the Friends of Liberty. We are fo far from advifing the Diffenters to throw Themselves in a Body under the Direction of any Party, that We only defire Them to preferve their Indepen dency, and act in Concert with their Countrymen, as They fhall fee Occafion, at this great Crifis. How can This be call'd following the Tories? All the Electors of Great Britain mult, in this Senfe, follow fome Party or other, if They vote at all; and We only leave it to the Confideration of the Diffenters, whether it is more for the publick Interest, or even for their own particular Views, to join the Court Party, or the Country Party.

But thefe Gentlemen have been ask'd, what Advantage They can propofe to Themfelves, by voting for the COUNTRY

COUNTRY PARTY; fince even the anti-ministerial Writers have declared that They are refolved to prejerve a Neutrality between the CHURCH and the DISSEN. TERS. This is a little unfairly quoted; but I fhall not infift upon fuch Peccadilloes. What I faid, upon this Subject, may be seen at large in my general Preface to the Craftsman, when I firft collected it into Volumes. But Mrs. Osborne hath made fo extraordinary a Comment upon it, that I cannot pass it over in Silence. She addreffes the Diffenters in thefe Words. What Cowards and Slaves are thefe Men to the Tories! What blundering Reafoners to induce You to join Them against a GENTLEMAN, who hath not YET obliged You with the Repeal of the TEST, by declaring that They think IT OUGHT NEVER TO BE REPEAL'D! -O fye! Madam; This is quite deviating from that Character of Veracity, which you conftantly affect; and which I was willing to allow you at the Beginning of my former Paper. I always thought that a Declaration of Neutrality, especially towards the weaker Party, was a Mark of Friendship rather than Hoftility; and fo, I am fure, it is generally esteem'd, with Regard to States. But where did I ever declare that the Test A&t ought never to be repeal'd; or even drop one Expreffion tending that Way? Indeed, Mother, your fhould leave fuch dirty Work to your Brother Walfingham, who is retain'd on Purpose to affert FALSHOODS, and abuse PERSONS, when ARGUMENT is against Him.

You know me to be as warm a Friend to the Caufe of Liberty, both civil and ecclefiaftical, as yourfelf; and that I have given ample Proofs of it in the Course of these Papers, even with Regard to the Diffen ters themselves; whom I always mention'd in the most affectionate Terms, as Fellow-Proteftants and FellowSubjects, without any invidious Diftinctions between Churchmen and Them.

As to the Repeal of the TEST-ACTs, you know very well that it is a Point much disputed by the Church

Whigs, both of the Court and the Country Party, as well as the Tories; but I defy you to prove that I ever endeavour'd to obftruct it, either by my Writings, or Discourse. I did not, indeed, think proper, like yourself, to obtrude my own private Judgment on the Publick, in fo nice a Cafe; or give the Diffenters any Promifes of Affiftance, which it is not in my Power to make good; for though you are pleafed to call me the Mouth of the INDEPENDENT WHIGS (the greatest Honour I could poffibly defire, and much more than I deferve) I affure your Ladyship that I have not their Confciences under my Girdle, as your Patron may poffibly have Those of the DEPENDENT WHIGS. But thus far I will venture to give my Opinion, that if the Diffenters are defirous to conciliate the Minds of all Men towards Them, They cannot take a more effectual Method, than by proving Themselves hearty Friends to our civil Liberties, and acting independently upon this great Occafion, without any Regard to former Disputes and Animofities. It is likewise reasonable to fuppofe that every Country Gentleman, call Him Whig or Tory, will be as much obliged to the Diffenters for their Intereft, and, perhaps, retain as grateful a Senfe of it, as any Courtier whatsoever; tho' They do not reproach Them with their former Services, nor infolently demand their Votes in Return. Neither have They inftructed any of their Advocates to tell the Diffenters that They are their ONLY FRIENDS; and that if They don't act just as They bid Them, They are a Parcel of ungrateful Fellows, and ought to be perfecuted. Yet This is the Language towards Them from the other Side; even from Dame Osborne herself, as will appear from the following Paffage, which carries a plain Menace;

viz.

"Befides, can you be fure, my good Friends, what "Part a COURT may think fit to act towards you, "after you have acted fuch a Part towards Them? Whether They may not think it as reasonable to be

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Served