induced to act in a manner contrary to his real fentiments, or to vote at the word of command; by contracting his defires, and regulating his appetites, he wants much less than other men, and every one verfed in the arts of government can tell, that men are more easily influenced in proportion as they are more neceffitous.

This is not the only reason why virtue fhould not receive too much countenance from a licensed stage; -her admirers and followers are not only naturally independent, but learn fuch an uniform and confiftent manner of speaking and acting, that they frequently by the mere force of artless honesty furmount all the obstacles which subtlety and politics can throw in their way, and obtain their ends in spite of the most profound and fagacious ministry.

Such then are the paffages to be expunged by the licenfers in many parts indeed the fpeeches will be imperfect, and the action appear not regularly conducted, but the Poet Laureat may easily supply these vacuities, by inferting fome of his own verses in praise of wealth, luxury, and venality.

But alas! all thofe pernicious fentiments which we fhall banish from the ftage, will be vented from the prefs, and more ftudiously read because they are prohibited?

I cannot but earnestly implore the friends of the government to leave no art untried by which we may hope to fucceed in our defign of extending the power of the licenfer to the prefs, and of making it criminal to publifh any thing without an imprimatur.

How much would this fingle law lighten the mighty burden of state affairs? With how much fecurity might our ministers enjoy their honours, their places, their reputations, and their admirers, could they once fupprefs those malicious invectives which are at present so induftriously propagated, and fo eagerly read, could they hinder any arguments but their own from coming to the ears of the people, and stop effectually the voice of cavil and enquiry.

I cannot but indulge myself a little while by dwelling on this pleasing scene, and imagining those balcyon-days, in which no politics fhall be read but thofe of the Gazetteer, nor any poetry but that of the Laureat; when we shall hear of nothing but the fuccefsful negociations of our ministers, and the great actions of

How much happier would this ftate be, than those perpetual jealoufies and contentions which are infeparable from knowledge and liberty, and which have for many years kept this nation in perpetual commotions.

But thefe are times rather to be wifhed for than expected, for fuch is the nature of our unquiet countrymen, that if they are not admitted to the knowledge of affairs, they are always fufpecting their governors of defigns prejudicial to their intereft; they have not the least notion of the pleafing tranquillity of ignorance, nor can be brought to imagine, that they are kept in the dark, left too much light fhould hurt their eyes. They have long claimed a right of directing their fuperiors, and are exasperated at the least mention of secrets of state.

This temper makes them very readily encourage any writer or printer, who, at the hazard of his life or for

tune,

ture, will give them any information; and while this humour prevails, there never will be wanting fome daring adventurer who will write in defence of liberty, and fome zealous or avaricious printer who will difperfe hiz papers.

It has never yet been found that any power, however vigilant or defpotic, has been able to prevent the publication of feditious journals, ballads, effays, and differtations; Confiderations on the prefent ftate of affairs, and Enquiries into the conduct of the administration *.

Yet I must confefs, that confidering the fuccefs with which the prefent miniftry has hitherto proceeded in their attempts to drive out of the world the old prejudices of patriotism and public fpirit, I cannot but entertain fome hopes, that what has been fo often attempted by their predeceffors, is reserved to be accomplished by their fuperior abilities.

If I might prefume to advise them upon this great affair, I should diffuade them from any direct attempt upon the liberty of the prefs, which is the darling of the common people, and therefore cannot be attacked without immediate danger. They may proceed by a more fure and filent way, and attain the defired end without noife, detraction, or oppreflion.

There are scattered over this kingdom feveral little feminaries, in which the lower ranks of people, and the younger fons of our nobility and gentry are taught, from their earliest infancy the pernicious arts of spelling and reading, which they afterwards continue to practife, very

Titles of pamphlets published at this juncture. The former by Lord Lyttleton. See his works, vol. I. E.

much

much to the disturbance of their own quiet, and the interruption of minifterial meafures.

These feminaries may, by an act of parliament, be at once suppressed, and that our posterity be deprived of all means of reviving this corrupt method of educa, tion, it may be made felony to teach to read without a licenfe from the Lord Chamberlain.

This expedient, which I hope will be carefully concealed from the vulgar, muft infallibly anfwer the great end proposed by it, and fet the power of the court not only above the infults of the poets, but in a fhort time above the neceffity of providing againft them. The licenfer having his authority thus extended, will in time enjoy the title and the falary without the trouble of exercising his power, and the nation will reft at length in ignorance and peace.

MIS

Proposals for a New Edition of SHAKSPEARE, with a Specimen.

Firft printed in the Year MDCCXLV.

"-As to all thofe things which have been published under the titles of Effays, Remarks, Obfervations, &c. on Shakspeare, (if you except fome critical notes on Macbeth, given as a specimen "of a projected edition, and written as appears by a man of parts " and genius) the reft are abfolutely below a ferious notice." Warburton's Preface to Shakspeare. E.