[Footnote 6:  The Duchess of Marlborough. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 7:  “The bulk of the high-church, or Tory-party ... were both very industrious in procuring addresses, which, under the pretence of expressing their loyalty to the Queen, and affection to the Church established, were mainly levelled, like so many batteries, against the ministry and Parliament,” etc. (Boyer’s “Annals of Queen Anne,” ix. 158-9). [T.S.]]

[Footnote 8:  An Act for reviving ... certain Duties (9 Ann., c. 6), provided that L1,500,000 should be raised “by way of a lottery.”  It was introduced February 15th, and received the Royal Assent March 6th, 1710/1 [T.S.]]

[Footnote 9:  The Queen appointed a ministry with Lord Godolphin as lord treasurer in the first months of her reign, May-July, 1702. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 10:  The clipping of coin had become so widespread that it was absolutely imperative that steps should be taken to readjust matters.  It was resolved, therefore, in 1695, to call in all light money and recoin it.  The matter was placed in charge of the then chancellor of the exchequer, Charles Montague, afterwards Earl of Halifax, and he, with the assistance of Sir Isaac Newton, successfully accomplished the very arduous task.  It cost the nation about L2,200,000, and a considerable inconvenience owing to lack of coins. [T.S.]]

NUMB. 39.[1]

FROM THURSDAY APRIL 19, TO THURSDAY APRIL 26, 1711.

Indignum est in ed civitate, quae legibus continetur, discedi a legibus.[2]

I[3] have been often considering how it comes to pass, that the dexterity of mankind in evil, should always outgrow, not only the prudence and caution of private persons, but the continual expedients of the wisest laws contrived to prevent it.  I cannot imagine a knave to possess a greater share of natural wit or genius, than an honest man.  I have known very notable sharpers at play, who upon all other occasions, were as great dunces, as human shape can well allow; and I believe, the same might be observed among the other knots of thieves and pickpockets, about this town.  The proposition however is certainly true, and to be confirmed by an hundred instances.  A scrivener, an attorney, a stock-jobber, and many other retailers of fraud, shall not only be able to overreach others, much wiser than themselves, but find out new inventions, to elude the force of any law made against them.  I suppose, the reason of this may be, that as the aggressor is said to have generally the advantage of the defender; so the makers of the law, which is to defend our rights, have usually not so much industry or vigour, as those whose interest leads them to attack it.  Besides, it rarely happens that men are rewarded by the public for their justice and virtue; neither do those who act upon such principles, expect any recompense till the next world:  whereas fraud, where it succeeds, gives present pay; and this