[Footnote 1:  No. 18 in the reprint. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 2:  Virgil, “Georgics,” i. 505-6: 

“For right and wrong we see perverted here: 
So many wars arise, such countless forms
Of crime and evil agitate the globe.”—­R.  KENNEDY.
[T.S.]]

[Footnote 3:  This remark seems to have tickled the writer of the twelfth number of “The Medley,” who professed to be transported at the idea of the “Examiner” being a bashful writer. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 4:  In her speech at the opening of Parliament on November 27th, 1710, the Queen said:  “I cannot without great concern mention to you, that the Navy and other offices are burthened with heavy debts, which so far affect the public service, that I most earnestly desire you to find some way to answer those demands, and to prevent the like for the time to come.” ("Journals of House of Lords,” vol. xix., p. 166.) [T.S.]]

[Footnote 5:  “The Medley” (No. 13, December 25th, 1710) remarks:  “When he ... promises to discover ’only about eight or nine thousand of their most scandalous abuses,’ without pretending to discover one; and when he audaciously reviles a general, whose services have been the wonder both of friends and enemies ... all this he calls ’defending the cause of the Q——­ and both Houses of Parliament, and nine parts in ten of the kingdom.’” [T.S.]]

[Footnote 6:  It was a general complaint, that the war in Spain had been neglected, in order to supply that army which was more immediately under the management of Marlborough. [S.]]

[Footnote 7:  The quotation is not given verbatim, but is substantially correct.  See “Journals of House of Lords,” vol. xix., p. 166. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 8:  The word is defined by Dr. Murray as “a movement in a contrary or reverse direction; a movement or step against something.” [T.S.]]

NUMB. 20.[1]

FROM THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, TO THURSDAY DECEMBER 14, 1710.

  Sunt quibus in Satira videor nimis acer, et ultra
  Legem tendere opus:  sine nervis altera, quicquid
  Composui, pars esse putat——­[2]

When the printer came last week for his copy, he brought along with him a bundle of those papers,[3] which in the phrase of Whig coffee-houses have “swinged off” the “Examiner,” most of which I had never seen nor heard of before.  I remember some time ago in one of the “Tatlers” to have read a letter,[4] wherein several reasons are assigned for the present corruption and degeneracy of our taste, but I think the writer has omitted the principal one, which I take to be the prejudice of parties.  Neither can I excuse either side of this infirmity; I have heard the arrantest drivellers pro and con commended for their smartness even by men of tolerable judgment; and the best performances exploded as nonsense and stupidity.  This indeed may partly be imputed to policy and prudence; but it is chiefly owing to that blindness, which prejudice and passion cast over the understanding:  I mention this because I think it properly within my province in quality of Examiner.  And having granted more than is usual for an enemy to do, I must now take leave to say, that so weak a cause, and so ruined a faction, were never provided with pens more resembling their condition, or less suited to their occasions.