"who I am fure detefts it from his Heart, and there"fore I fhall think Myfelf as fafe, at leaft, in his "Hands, But though it is of the laft Importance to the People to give a finishing Blow to this Scheme, the Projector is certainly obliged by Intereft, Honour, Duty and Confcience to pursue it. I believe, his best Friends will not deny that it was the Sheet-Anchor of his future Power; and now, the Cable being cut, He finds himfelf at Sea in blowing Weather. In the next Place, I leave the World to judge how far Honour and Reputa tion (which are real Power to a Minifter) may engage Him to carry on the fame Project. Can there be a greater Subject of Triumph than to get a Scheme, which had been exploded with fo much Contempt, pafs'd by a large Majority in a new Parliament? Can a Man of Spirit have any Thing more at Heart than fuch a Victory in the very Field, where He before received fo fignal a Defeat? Suppofing Him unfway'd by any of these Motives, yet, if He is fincere in his Manifefto, nothing ought to divert Him from a Project, big with fo many Advantages to his Country, by put ting an End to (a) Frauds, and (b) preferving the Health of his Majefty's Subjects from the wicked Machinations of Coopers and Wine-Brewers; by improving the Revenue, and eafing the Land-bolder, without hurting the reft of the Nation; by curing (c) Jacobitifm amongst the Gentry, enriching the Clergy, and in Time relieving the (d) Poor from their most burthenfome Taxes; a Project, which exacteth nothing from the (e) Confumer, but what He pays already, and at once removes all the (f) Inconveniencies complain'd of in the prefent Excife-Laws; which tends to the Improvement of Truth and Morality, by preventing (g) Perjury; and would would raise up a Monument of * Popularity to Himfelf.-I fay, one muft fuppofe the Projector not only wretchedly timorous, but even profligate, fhould He be prevail'd upon by any Confiderations to abandon a Scheme, fraught with so many Advantages to his native Country. Why need I fay more? Hath it been once own'd, fince the Bill was dropt, that pushing it in a Manner fo difagreeable to the Nation was a wrong Measure ? Have not the Advantages of the Scheme been preferred even to the Affections of the People? Is it not fill recommended in every minifterial Pamphlet and Paper? Is not all the Machinery of the Projector play'd to procure Seats for Thofe, who gave Him their Affistance? Nay, are We not told in the News-Papers that the good People of Malmsbury, Calne, and fome other Boroughs, have been lately fpirited up to distinguish Themfelves, by drinking the Healths of thofe glorious Patriots, who voted for the Excife-Scheme ?-It is therefore incumbent on the Body of the People, who are of another Opinion, to oppofe this Defign; and if They fhould be feduced from their Duty on the next, and perhaps the laft important Occafion of fhewing it, I am confident it will not be from a Motive of Conviction, but fomething elfe, which is not very decent to name. It is abfurd for People to expect upright Proceedings from Members chofen upon fuch Motives. In political Bodies, what is fown in Corruption will not be raifed in Incorruption. There feems to be at prefent a Ceffation, at leaft, of Party Animofities, and an happy Confpiration of all Men in a general Defign to furport and preferve our Conftitution. This is the greatest Bleffing, which could poffibly happen to Great Britain, and I hope will be improved to the beft Advantage at the enfuing Election. Page zo. The The Confiderer having prefaced his Piece with a Paffage from the Tragedy of Cato, I fhall conclude mine with another from the fame Play; I mean Cato's Anfwer to Decius, when He defires to know upon what Terms Cæfar may purchase his Friendship. The Roman Patriot delivers Himself in thefe Words, which the Projector and his Advocate may apply as They please. Bid Him disband his Legions, Reffore the Commonwealth to Liberty, D. C. INDEX THE INDEX TO THE Eleventh Volume. A A. Bhorrers; who, 262. · At (Triennial) the Advantages of it, 145- Addifon (Mr.) how fome of his finest Lines have been' Admiralty; the Power of it over the Elections of Mem- Anne (Queen of England) fome Remarks upon her Army (Standing) the Danger of garbling and modelling Barber |