The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 09 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 428 pages of information about The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 09.

The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 09 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 428 pages of information about The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 09.

[Footnote 5:  Such a law was passed December 20th, 1711.  It was entitled “An Act for preserving the Protestant Religion” (10 Ann, c. 6), and required persons appointed to various offices to conform to the Church of England for one year and to receive the Sacrament three times. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 6:  Leave was given for a Bill for Ascertaining the Tithe of Hops, March 26th, 1711, and the Bill was presented May 10th.  It does not appear to have gone any further. [T.S.]]

NUMB. 38.[1]

FROM THURSDAY APRIL 12, TO THURSDAY APRIL 19, 1711.

  Semper causae eventorum magis movent quam ipsa eventa.[2]

I am glad to observe, that several among the Whigs have begun very much to change their language of late.  The style is now among the reasonable part of them, when they meet a man in business, or a Member of Parliament; “Well, gentlemen, if you go on as you have hitherto done, we shall no longer have any pretence to complain.”  They find, it seems, that there have been yet no overtures made to bring in the Pretender, nor any preparatory steps towards it.  They read no enslaving votes, nor bills brought in to endanger the subject.  The indulgence to scrupulous consciences,[3] is again confirmed from the throne, inviolably preserved, and not the least whisper offered that may affect it.  All care is taken to support the war; supplies cheerfully granted, and funds readily subscribed to, in spite of the little arts made use of to discredit them.  The just resentments of some, which are laudable in themselves, and which at another juncture it might be proper to give way to, have been softened or diverted by the calmness of others.  So that upon the article of present management, I do not see how any objection of weight can well be raised.

However, our adversaries still allege, that this great success was wholly unexpected, and out of all probable view.  That in public affairs, we ought least of all others, to judge by events; that the attempt of changing a ministry, during the difficulties of a long war, was rash and inconsiderate:  That if the Qu[een] were disposed by her inclinations, or from any personal dislike, for such a change, it might have been done with more safety, in a time of peace:  That if it had miscarried by any of those incidents, which in all appearance might have intervened, the consequences would perhaps have ruined the whole confederacy; and, therefore, however it hath now succeeded, the experiment was too dangerous to try.

But this is what we can by no means allow them.  We never will admit rashness or chance to have produced all this harmony and order.  It is visible to the world, that the several steps towards this change were slowly taken, and with the utmost caution.  The movers observed as they went on, how matters would bear, and advanced no farther at first, than so as they might be able to stop or go back, if circumstances

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The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 09 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.