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ADAMS 


C   A    T   O's 

LETTER 


VOL     II. 


LONDON- 

Printed  for  W.  WILKINS,  T.  WOOD- 
WARD, J.WALTHOE,  and  J.PEELE. 

MDCG  XXIII. 


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C   A   T  O's 
L  E  T  T  E  R  S 


SIR, 

HILE  I  have  been  read- 
ing Hillory,  or  confider* 
ing  the  State  of  humane 
Affairs,  how  wofully  they 
are  negle&ed,  how  fjol- 
i{hly   managed,    or   how 
wickedly  difconcerted  and 
confounded,  in  the  molt 
and  beft  Countries :  When 
I  have  remembered  how 
large,  every  where,  is  the  Source  of  Mifchief, 
how  eafily  it  is  fet  a  running,  and  how  plenti- 
fully it  flows  j  how  it  is  daily  breaking  into 
new  Channels,  and  yet  none  of  the  old  om-s 
V  O  L,  II.  A  x  arc 


4        CATO's   LETTERS. 

are  ever  fuflfered  to  wax  dry  ;  I  have  been  apt 
to  wonder,  that  the  general  Condition  of  Man- 
kind, tho'  already  vaftly  unhappy,  is  not  ftill 
worfe. 

Pope  JEneas  Sylvius  muft  have  had  fuch  Re- 
fle&ions  as  thefe,  when  he  faid,  that  This  World 
did,  in  a.  great  Me  a  fur  e,  govern  It f elf.  He  had 
many  Examples  before  his  Eyes,  how  eafy  it 
Was  to  govern  wretchedly,  and  yet  continue  to 
govern.  The  Papacy  it  ifelf  might  particularly 
have  furnifhed  him  with  many  Examples  It 
is  a  Fairy  Dominion,  founded  upon  Non- Enti- 
ties, Inventions,  and  Abominations ;  fupported 
by  Lies  and  Terrors ;  exercifed  with  Cruelty, 
Craft,  and  Rapine  ;  and  producing  Meannefs, 
Delufion,  and  Poverty,  where-ever  it  prevails. 

What  could  appear  more  ftrange,  incredible,' 
and  (hameful,  than  to  fee  a  mean  Monk,  reading 
an  a  Corner  of  the  World,  and  ruling  and 
plundering  it  all  ;  living  in  Crimes,  Pride,  and 
Folly,  and  controlling  Cbriftendom  by  the 
Sounds  of ^  Humility,  Holinefs,  and  Infallibili- 
ty ^fubfifting  upon  the  Spoils  and  Induftry  of 
3Siations,  and  engaging  Nations  in  a  blind 
Confpiracy  againft  themfelves,  for  the  Defence 
of  tneir  Oppreflor  ;  pronouncing  the  Peace  of 
God^  to  Mankind,  and  animating  Mankind  to 
continual  Quarrels  and  Slaughters  ;  declaring 
himfelf  the  Vicar  of  Chrift,  and  making  un- 
relenting War  againil  the  Followers  of  Chrift  ; 
and,  finally,  the  Father  of  Chriftendom,  and 
the  Deftroyer  of  Chriftians. 

^  All  this  Villainy  and  Impudence  was  ob- 
vious to  common  Senfe,  and  felt  by  long  Ex* 
pcrience.  But  how  lictl^  do  Men  fee,  when 

the/ 


's  LETTERS. 

they  are  taught  to  be  afraid  of  their  Eye-fight ! 
Even  the  Reformation,  one  of  the  greateft 
Bleilings  that  ever  hefel  Europe,  has  but  par- 
tially removed  this  mighty  and  enormous  U- 
furpation,  The  Root  of  the  Evil  ftill  remains  ; 
and  Men  are  not  yet  weary  of  fighting  about 
Words,  Subtilties,  Chimeras,  and  about  the 
Shape  of  their  Thoughts  and  Imagination  ;  a 
Thing  as  much  out  of  their  own  Power,  as  the 
Shape  of  their  Limbs,  or  the  Motion  of  the 
Winds  :  The  IiTue  and  Defign  of  all  which  is, 
that  their  Leaders  in  Strife  reap  the  Fruits  of 
it,  and  gather  the  Spoils,  the  \\holeSpoils  of 
thole  Battles,  in  which  Craft  only  -blows  the 
Trumpet,  while  Ignorance  weilds  the  Sword, 
and  runs  all  the  Danger. 

If  in  this,  as  in  other  Wars,  none  would 
fight  but  thofe  that  are  paid,  or  find  their  Ac- 
count in  fighting,  the  Combatants  would  foon 
be  reduced  to  a  few  ;  and  they  too  would 
quickly  leave  a  Field  where  there  was  no 
Booty, 

Will  the  World  never  learn,  that  one  Man's 
Corn  grows  not  the  worfe,  becaufe  another 
Man  ules  different  Words  in  his  Devotion  ?  Thar 
Pride  and  Anger,  Wealth  and  Power,  are  of 
no  Religion  ?  And  that  Religion  is  inseparable 
from  Charity  and  Peace  ? 

Lam  told,  that  the  famous  Combuftion, 
raifed  fome  Years  ago  at  Hamburgh^  by  one 
Kjrumbult%,  a  Divine,  and  in  which  that  free 
City  had  like  to  have  perifhed,  was  occafion'd 
by  this  momentous  Queftion,  namely,  whether 
in  the  Lord's  Prayer  we  fhould  fay,  Our  Father y 
or,  Bather  our  *  A  hopeful  Point  of  De- 

A 


s  LETTERS. 

bate,  to  be  the  Caufc  of  Civil  Diffention,  and 
a  true  Specimen  of  the  Importance  and  Con- 
lequences  of  Ecclefiafrical  Difputes,  and  of  the 
Spirit  of  thofe  that  manage  them  ! 

^It  is  a  fharnefu]  Satire  upon  the  Wickednefs 
of  fbme,  and  the  Weaknefs  of  others,  thus  to 
endanger  the  Peace  of  Society  and  their  own, 
for^rhe  Sake  of  a  Sound  ;  to  be  thus  eager  for 
Trifles ;  and  thus  to  concern  Heaven  and  Earth 
•in  behalf  of  Conceits,  which  of  themfelves 
concern  neither  :  but,  as  they  are  generally 
managed,  do  both  provoke  God  and  hurt  Men. 
But  Ib  it  \vjil  ever  be,  as  long  as  Men,  in 
Pofleilion-pf  Reverence,  find  their  Ends  and 
Gratifications  in  fetching  knotty  Diftin6tions 
out  of  ^ihe  plain  Word  of  God,  and  making 
them  of  equal  Importance  with  it. 

Thus  unhappy  has  the  great  ell  Part  of  the 
World  been,  and  is  in  its  Ghoftly  Govern- 
ment ;  two  Words  which  are  a  Contradiction 
10  each  other  ;  lince  the  Mind  and  Under- 
ftanding,  in  which  alone  all  Religion  that  Is 
rational  doth  relide,  can  never  be  altered  or 
controuled  by  any  other  Means,  than  that  of 
Counfel,  Reafbning,  and  Exhortation  ;  which 
Method  is  utterly  inconfiftent  with  Force  and 
pofitive  Authority,  as  the  fame  are  implied  in 
the  Idea  of  Government. 

Nor  can  I  fay,  that  Mankind  have  been 
more  happy  in  their  Civil  Lot,  and  in  their 
Adminiftration  of  their  Temporal  Affairs, 
which  are  almoft  every  where  in  a  wretched 
Situation,  and  they  themfelves  under  the  Iron 
Hand  of  the  Oppreflbr.  The  whole  Terra- 
queous Globe  cannot  fhew  Five  free  Kingdoms; 

nor 


LETTERS.        7 

r.or  perhaps  half  fb  many  Kings,  who  make 
the  Eafe  and  Profperity  of  their  People  their 
Care. 

In  enflaved  Countries,  (that  is,  in  all  Coun- 
tries, except  our  own,  and  a  very  few  more) 
the  Good  of  the  Governed  is  fb  far  from  en- 
tring  into  the  Hearts  and  Counfels  of  the  Go- 
vernors ;  rhat  it  is  oppofite  to  the  Genius  of 
their  Politicks,  either  to  do  them  good,  or  to 
fufifer  them  to  acquire  it  for  themfelves.  Their 
Happinefs  and  Security,  which  are  the  very 
Ends  of  Magiftracy,  would  be  terrible  to  their 
Magitlrat.es ;  who,  being  the  publick  Enemies 
of  their  Country,  are  forced,  for  their  own 
Safety,  to  leave  their  People  none. 

How  vile  is  that  Government,  and  thofe 
Governors,  whofe  only  Strength  lies  in  Whips 
and  Chains ;  a  fort  of  Inftruments  of  Servi- 
tude, which  it  would  much  bet  er  become 
the  Bafenefs  of  thefe  Mcns  Natures  to  wear 
themfelves,  than  to  inflict  upon  others!  ^A 
Prince  of  Slaves  is  a  Slave  ;  he  is  only  the  big- 
geft  and  the  worft  ;  juft  as  the  Chief  of  the 
Banditti  is  one  of  them.  Such  a  Prince  is  but 
a  National  Executioner,  and  for  a  Scepter  he 
carries  a  bloody  Knife. 

Such,  for  the  moft  part,  by  far  the  moft: 
parr,  are  the  Governors  of  the  World  :  They 
derive  their  whole  Greatnefs,  Plenty,  Splen- 
dor, and  Security,  from  the  Mifery,  Poverty, 
Peril,  and  Deftruclion  of  the  Governed.  Who- 
ever makes  juft,  equal,  and  impartial  Laws, 
does,  by  doing  fb,  but  declare  to  the  People, 
Bf  Wicked  At  your  Peril :  But  he  who  rules  them 
by  Terrors  and  Standing  Armies,  does,  in  Ef- 

A  4 


8        C^rO's  LETTERS. 

fe<9",   tell  them  in  a  terrible  Tone,  be  Hafpy  if 
you  dare. 

Who  that  has  humane  Compaffion,  can  help 
feeling  the  Sorrows  of  his  wretched  Race,  and 
behold,  unconcerned,  the  forlorn  and  abject 
State  of  Mankind  ?  Monks  deceiving,  alarm- 
ing, and  fpunging  them  •,  their  Governors  tax- 
ing, mulcting,  and  fqueezing  them  ;  Soldiers 
haraliing,  opprelling,  and  butchering  them  ! 
And,  in  fhort,  all  the  bitter  Evils  and  crying 
Miferies  in  humane  Power  to  inflict,  delibe- 
rately and  daily  inflicted  upon  them  !  Ncr  do 
Things  mend  ;  on  the  contrary,  the  Mifchiefs 
and  Misfortunes  of  the  World  grow  hourly 
greater,  and  its  Inhabitants  thinner. 

All  thefe  black  Confiderations  would  lead  a 
Man,  who  had  no  other  Spirit  or  Guide  bur 
that  of  Nature,  to  think  that  Providence, 
tempted  by  the  Sins  of  Men,  had  long  ago  re- 
nounced them,  or  figned  a  Decree  of  Venge- 
ance againft  them,  which  has  ever  fince  been 
dreadfully  executed,  and  continues  to  be. 

If  one  was  to  confider  Mankind  in  Theory 
only,  his  own  Species  would  make  no  fmall 
Figure  in  his  Imagination ;  he  would  fee  them 
formed  by  a  divine  Hand,  and  according  to  a 
divine  Model;  poflefled  of  all  the  Advantages 
of  Strength  and  Contrivance,  guided  by  Rea- 
fbn,  made  wife  by  Obfervation,  and  cautious 
by  their  own  Forefight  and  the  Experience  of 
others  ;  directed  by  Laws  and  humane  Con- 
ftitutions  ;  rendered  difcerning  by  the  frequent 
Trials  of  Good  and  Evil,  and  many  of  them 
enlightened  by  divine  Revelation  :  He  would 
fee  them  Lords  of  the  Creation,  Arbiters  of 

their 


CATffs  LETTERS.       9 

their  own  Condition  and  Felicity,  inveded 
with  the  Property  and  life  of  Sea  and  Land,, 
and  with  Dominion  over  every  other  Creature. 

Thus  Mankind  appear  in  Speculation,  pow- 
erful, wife,  juft,  equal,  and  happy.  But  view'd 
in  another  Light,  they  make  another  Appear- 
ance. They  u(e  one  another  worfe  than  they 
do  the  Beads  of  the  Field  ;  and,  by  the 
wretched  and  monftrbus  Oeconomy  and  Go- 
vernment, almoft  every  where  found  amongft 
them,  they  would  feem  not  to  have  more  Un- 
derdanding,  as  they  have  certainly  lefs  Happi- 
nefs.  The  Beads  do  no  where  appoint  ^or  fuf- 
fer  one  of  their  own  Herd  to  monopolize  the 
whole  Soil,  to  engrofs  every  Advantage  to 
himfelf,  and  to  deprive  them  of  all;  and  to 
kill  and  dedroy,  to  difperfe  and  to  darve  them.; 
at  his  Pleafure.  Every  one  of  them  equally  en^ 
joys  the  Shelter  and  Padure,  the  Air  and^  the 
Water,  which  Nature  makes  common  to  them 
all- 

But  Men,  their  Mafters,  cannot  bo  a  ft  fudh 
Security  and  Juftice  ;  they  generally  live  at  the 
meer  Ndercy  of  One,  one  of  themfelves^  whofe- 
Views  fuffer  him  to  have  no  Mercy.  He  is 
often  a  Madman,  often  an  Idiot,  and  often  a 
Deftroyer ;  and  the  whole  Art  of  his  Govern- 
ment confiding  in  oppreffirrg  and  terrifying,, 
no  other  Talent  is  required,  but  a  raercilefs 
Spirit  and  brutal  Force. 

Such  is  an  Arbitrary  Prince,  and  the  Defceri- 
dents  of  Adam  know  few  others.  Sometimes 
a  Creature  is  feen  to  dart  into  Imperial  Power,, 
whom  the  World  never  knew  before,  or  knew 
ealy  for  his  Infamy  :  Taken  out  of  the  Stewi> 

A.  5;  oar 


io       Giro's  LETTERS. 

or  out- of  a  Dungeon,  into  a  Throne;  and 
without  knowing  how  to  rule  him felf,  he  rules 
an  Empire  ;  living  a  Reclufe,  and  feen  by  no 
Body,  he  governs  all  but  the  Women  or  Para- 
fites,  who  govern  him ;  Millions  of  Men,  and 
their  Properties,  are  at  the  fble  Difcretion  of 
one  who  has  none,  and  a  Creature  void  of  Hu- 
manity difpofes  wantonly  of  a  great  Part  of  hu- 
mane Kind. 

This  is  the  difmal  State  of  all  AfiA  and  of  all 
lAfr{cA)  excepc  a  few  free  Towns.  The  Spirit 
of  their  Monarchs,  which  is  generally  alike, 
may  be  (een  in  a  Story  (among  many  others) 
which  I\nox  tells  us  of  the  King  of  Ce/lon,  who, 
being  in  Danger  of  Drowning,  was  faved  by 
the  officious  AffecHon  or  Ambition  of  one  of 
his  Slaves,  who  leap'd  into  the  Water,  and 
ventured  his  own  Life  to  preferve  his  Matter's. 
This,  one  would  think,  was  the  greateft  and 
in  oft  heroick  Kindnefs  that  one  Man  could  do 
another.  But  mark  how  the  Monarch  requites 
it !  why,  the  firft  Thing  he  did  after  he  came 
to  himfelf,  was  to  order  the  Belly  of  his  Pre- 
lerver  to  be  rip'd  up,  for  daring  to  touch  the 
Perfbn  of  his  Gcrcd  Majefty. 

Nature  has  prepar'd  many  Advantages  and 
Pleafures  for  the  Ufe  of  Mankind,  and  given 
them  Tafte  to  enjoy  them,  and  Sagacity  to  im- 
prove them  :  But  their  Governors  do,  alrhojl 
universally,  fruftrate  the  kind  Ptirpofes  of  Na- 
ture, nnd  render  her  Beneficence  abortive,  and 
jnarr  all  human  Happinefs.  They  have  fuc- 
cc -fsfully  fhidfed  the  Arts  of  Miiery,  and  pro- 
pagarcd  the  Practice. 

It 


CATffs  LETTERS.       ri 

It  is  a  melancholiy  Reflexion,  that  when 
human  Affairs  are  put  into  a  bad  Way,  where 
they  do  not  fpeedily  recover,  they  never  re- 
cover, or  rarely  ever.  One  great  Reafon  is, 
that  Power  is  always  on  the  worft  Side,  and 
either  promoting  Mi  (chief,  or  preventing  its 
Removal ;  and  the  Champions  of  Difhonefty 
nnd  Oppreiiion  are  more  artful  and  better  paici, 
than  the  Patrons  of  Juftlce  and  Innocence. 

It  has  hitherto  been  the  good  Fortune  of 
England,  (and  I  hope  always  will  be)  when 
Attempts  have  been  made  upon  its  Liberty,  to 
recover  it  before  5t  was  quire  gone,  at  leaft  be- 
fore the  Senfe  of  it  was  gone.  And  therefore  it 
flill  fubfifis  in  fpight  of  all  the  powerful,  po- 
pular, and  ian6r.ified  Attacks  that  have  been 
made,  and  frequently  made,  upon  it.  Let  us 
make  much  of  it  ;  while  it  remains,  it  will 
make  us  amends  for  all  the  Loffes  and  Mif- 
carriages  which  we  have  fallen  under,  or  may 
fall  under,  and  will  enable  us  to  get  the  better 
of  them.  It  is  the  Root  of  our  Felicity,  and 
all  our  Civil  Advantages  grow  from  it.  By  it 
we  exceed  almofl  all  other  Nations  many  more 
Degrees,  than  fbme  of  them  exceed  us  in  Sun 
and  Soil :  We  are  Men,  and  they  are  Slaves, 
Only  Government  founded  upon  Liberty,  is  a 
publick  Bleffing ;  without  Liberty,  it  is  a  pub- 
lick  Curfe,  and  a  publick  Warrant  fo?  Depreda- 
tion and  Slaughter. 

Let  us  therefore  remember  the  mighty  Dif- 
ference between  our  felves  and  other  Nations, 
and  the  glorious  Caufe  of  it,  and  always  dear- 
ly cherifh  it,  We  are  not  the  Prey  of  Monks, 
or  Janizaries,  or  Dragoons,  nor  the  blind  Slaves 

of 


T^     C  A  T  O's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S. 

of  unaccountable  Will  and  Pleafure.  Our 
Lives  and  Properties  are  fecur'd  by  the  bed 
Bulwark  in  the  World,  that  of  Laws,  made 
by  our  felves,  and  executed  by  our  Magiftrates> 
who  are  likewife  made  by  us  ;  and  when  they 
are  difhonefty  executed,  or  wilfully  negle£led, 
our  Conftitution  affords  a  Remedy,  a  tried 
and  a  practicable  Remedy.  And  as  no  Nation 
ever  loft  its  Liberty  but  by  the  Force  of  foreign 
Invaders,  or  the  domeftick  Treachery  of  its  own 
Magistrates;  we  have  the  Sea  and  a  great  Navy 
for  our  Defenders  againft  the  former  ;  and  Ex- 
orbitances of  the  other  are  prevented  or  re- 
ftratn'd  by  an  excellent  Counterpoise,  in  the 
Frame  of  our  Legiflature. 

That  we  may  be  for  ever  able  to  boaft  of  alt 
thefe  BlelUngs,  thefe  glorious  and  uncommon 
Bleffings,  is  the  cordial  Wifli  and  pallionate 
Prayer  of 

Yours9 


I  Shall,  in  this  Paper,  eonfider  and  cifciiis  a 
great  Point,  namely,  Whether  the  Killing 
of  yuliut  Crtfar  was  a  Virtue,  or  a  Crime?  And 
becaufe  Dr.  Pridsaux^  who  condemns  it,  does 
not  only  fpeak  his  own  Senfe,  but  that  of  a 
great  Party,  1  (hall  here  tranfcribe  what  he  fays 
of  it. 

"  He  was  murder'd  in  the  Senate-Houfe,  by 
a  Conspiracy  of  Senators.    This  was  a  moft 

"'  bale 


3  LETTERS.      13 

*  bafe  and  villainous  Aft,  and  was  the  more  fb 
ft  in  that  the  prime  Authors  of  it,  Marcus 
*  Brutus,  Declmus  Brutus,  Caffnts,  and  Trebonius, 
^  and  fbme  others  of  them,  were  fuch  as  Ctfar 
"  had  in  the  higheft  Manner^  oblig'd  ;  yet  it 
"  was  executed  under  the  Notion  of  an  high 
"  heroick  Virtue,  in  thus  freeing  their  Country 
"  from  one  whom  they  calPd  a  Tyrant ;  and 
"  there  are  not  wanting  fuch  as  are  ready,  evert 
"  in  our  Days,  to  applaud  the  A£t..  But  di- 
ct  vine  Juil  ice  declared  it  (elf  otherwife  in  this 
"  Matter  :  For  it  purfued  every  one  of  them 
"  that  were  concerned  herein,  with  fuch  a  juft 
"  and  remarkable  Revenge,^  that  they  were 
"  every  Man  of  them  cut  off  in  a  fhort  Time 
"  after,  in  a  violent  Manner,  either  by  their 
"  own,  or  other  Mens  Hands. 

Thefe  are  the  Doctor's  Words,  and  this  his 
Judgment,  which  is  roundly  pafs'd  ;  bur  how 
juftly,  I  hope  to  make  appear  before  I  have 
ended  this  Letter.  He  has  not  told  us  what  it 
was,  that,  in  his  Opinion,  rendered  the  Perfbiv 
of  Ctfnr  fo  very  inviolable,  That  Cecfar  had 
for  his  Title,  only  Power  and  Succefs  gain'd  by- 
Violence,  and  all  wicked  Means,  is  moft  cer- 
tain. That  the  acquiring  and  exercifing  of 
Power  by  Force,  is  Tyranny,  is  as  certain  j. 
nor  did  ever  any  reafonable  Man  fay,  that  Suc- 
cefs  was  a  Proof  of  Right.  They  who  make- 
the  Perfon  of  Cafar  facred,  declare  the  Perfbn  of 
a  Tyrant,  and  an  Ufurper,  to  be  facred- ;  for 
no  Man  ever  lived,  to  whom  thofe  two  Cha- 
racters do  more  notorioufiy  belong.  And  if  all 
the  Privileges  and  Impunity  belonging  to  a  law- 
ful Magiftrate,  who  protects  his  People,  and 

rules 


14     CA  TO's  LETTERS. 

rules  himfelf  and  them  by  Law,  and  their  own 
Confenr,  do  alfo  appertain  to  a  lawlefs Intruder, 
who  is  ftronger  than  all,  by  being  worfe  than 
all ;  and  under  the  mock  Name  of  a  publick 
Magiftrate,  is  a  publick  Oppreffor,  Scourge, 
Ufurper,  Executioner,  and  Plunderer:  Then 
all  thefe  bleffed  Confequences  follow  :  That 
there  is  an  utter  End  of  all  publick  and  private 
Right  and  Wrong;  every  Magiftratemay  be  a 
Tyrant,  and  every  Tyrant  is  a  lawful  Magi-' 
ftrate  :  That  it  is  unlawful  to  refill  the  greateft 
humane  Evil;  that  the  neceflary  Means  of  Self- 
Prefervation  are  unlawful;  that  tho1  "tis  lawful 
and  expedient  to  deftroy  little  Robbers,  who 
have  as  much  Right,  and  more  Innocence,  than 
Great  Ones,  and  who  are  only  fo  for  Subiift- 
ence;  yet  it  is  impious  and  unlawful  to  oppofe 
great  Robbers,  who  out  of  Luft,  Avarice, 
Cruelty,  or  Wantonnefs,  take  away  Life  and 
Property,  and  deftroy  Nations  at  Pleafure  : 
That  real,  great,  and  general  Mifchief,  is  de- 
fended by  giving  it  a  good  Name,  by  which  he 
who  commits  it  Is  protected ;  and  that  Vio- 
lence, Fraud,  and  Oppreffion  may  be  com- 
mitted with  Security,  if  they  be  but  call'd 
Magiftracy  ;  and  the  execrable  Authors  of  them 
are  not  only  fafe,  but  facred,  if  they  be  but 
call'd  Magiftrates :  That  tho'ir  be  unlawful  to 
be  a  publick  Deftrpyer  and  Murderer,  yet  it  is 
unlawful  to  deiiroy  him  ;  that  is,  it  is  unlaw- 
ful to  prevent  or  punifh  that  which  is  mo  ft 
impious  and  unlawful :  And  finally,  that  any 
Man  who  can  opprefs  and  enflave  the  World, 
and  deftroy  Nations,  with  the  moft  and  bed 
Men  in  them,,  may  do  ail  this  with  Impunity. , 

If 


LETTERS.       15- 

If  Julius  Gtfar  was  a  lawful  Magistrate,  then 
every  Man  who  has  Force  and  Villainy  enough, 
may  make  himfelf  a  lawful  MagJftrate ;  and 
lawful  Magiftrates  are,  or  may  be  made  by 
Force  and  Villainy.  But  if  Magillracy  is  not 
acquired  by  over-turning  with  the  Sword  all 
Law  and  Magiftracy,  then  Julius  Cccfar  was  no 
Magiftrate;  and  if  he  was  not,  how  came  he 
by  the  Rights  and  Impunity  with  which  lawful 
Magiftrates  only  are  vetted  ? 

Againft  any  Man  ufmg  lawlefs  Fo^ce,  every 
Man  has  a  Right  to  ufe  Force.  What  Crime 
would  it  have  been  in  any  Reman,  or  Body  of 
Romans,  even  without  any  Commiillon  from 
j^jw/?,  to  have  (bin  Afaric^  or  Attila,  or  Bre n- 
nus,  when  they  invaded  the  Roman  Territories  ? 
And  what  more  Right  had  C<efnr  than  they  ? 
In  Truth,  his  Crime  was  infinitely  greater  than 
theirs,  as  he  added  the  Sins  of  Ingratitude, 
Treachery,  and  Parricide,  to  that  of  Ufurpa- 
tion.  The  Goths  and  Gauls  did  indeed  violate 
the  Laws  of  Nations,  in  molefting  and  invading 
a  Country,  that  owed  them  neither  Subjection 
nor  Homage  :  But  Ctfar  violated  the  Laws  of 
Nature,  and  of  his  Country,  by  enilaving 
thofe  whom  he  was  entrufted  and  bound  to 
defend, 

Every  Body,  I  believe,  will  own,  that  when 
he  firft  made  War  upon  his  Country,  his  Coun- 
try had  a  Right  to  make  War  upon  him  :  and 
to  deitroy  him,  who  fought  to  deftroy  them* 
And  how  caoie  that  Right  to  ceafe  after  he 
had,  by  his  Succels  in  Villainy  and  Usurpation, 
added  to  his  Crimes,  and  made  Death  ftill  more 
his  Due  r  Or  is  it  lawful  to  refill  and  kill  a 

Robber 


t6     Giro's  LETTERS. 

Robber  before  he  has  taken  away  your  Money, 
but  not  after  he  has  done  it  ?  And  does  a  Vil- 
lain grow  iacred  and  inviolable,  by  the  meer 
Merit  of  compleating  his  Villainy  ?  If  defar 
had  forfeited  his  Life,  as  he  certainly  had  by 
all  the  Laws  of  fyme  ;  why  was  it  not  as  law- 
ful to  take  it  away  by  the  Hands  of  Thirty 
Men,  as  by  the  Arms  of  Thirty  Thoufand, 
and  in  the  Senate  as  well  as  in  the  Field  ? 

The  Reafon  why  one  private  Man  mud  not 
kill  another  in  Society,  even  when  he  does  that 
which  deferves  Death,  is,  That  in  Society  no 
Man  mud  be  his  own  Judge,  or  take  his  own 
Revenge  ;  but  the  more  equitable  Law  mull 
give  it  him,  and  there  are  Judges  edablifhed  for 
that  Purpofe.  But  if  the  Offender  fets  himfelf 
above  the  Law  and  the  Judges,  he  leaves  a 
Right  to  the  Perfon  injured  to  feek  Redrefs  his 
own  Way,  and  as  he  can  get  it.  Whoever 
puts  himfelf  in  a  State  of  War  againft  me, 
gives  me  a  Right  of  War  againft  him  ;  and 
Violence  is  a  proper  Remedy  for  Violence, 
v/hen  no  other  is  lefr. 

That  Right  which,  in  the  State  of  Nature, 
every  Man  had,  of  repelling  and  revenging  In- 
juries, in  fuch  manner  as  every  Man  thought 
bed,  is  transferred  to  the  Magiftrate,  when 
Political  Societies  are  formed,  and  Magiftracy 
edabllfhed  ;  but  mud  return  to  private  Mem 
again,  when  the  Society  is  diffolved  :  Which 
Diffolution  may  happen  either  through  the  na- 
tural Demife  of  the  Perlbns  entruded  with  the 
publick  Authority,  where  there  is  no  Provifion 
made  in  the  Condirution  for  others  to  fucceed 
them  i  or  when  by  a  fuperior  unlawful  Force, 

they 


C  A  T  O's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S.     17 

they  are  reftrained  from  anfwering  the  great 
End  of  their  Truft,  in  prote&ing  the  Innocent; 
an  End  for  which  alone  Men  part  with  their 
natural  Rights,  and  become  the  Members  and 
Subjects  of  Society. 

It  is  a  moft  wicked  and  abfurd  Pofition,  to 
fay  that  a  whole  People  can  ever  be  in  fiich  a 
Situation,  as  not  to  have  a  Right  to  defend  and 
preferve  themfelves,  when  there  is  no  other 
Power  in  Being  to  protect  and  defend  them  ; 
and  much  more  fo,  that  they  muft  not  oppofe  a 
Tyrant,  a  Tray  tor,  an  universal  Robber,  who 
by  Violence,  Treachery,  Rapine,  infinite  Mur- 
ders and  Devaftations,  has  deprived  them  of 
their  legal  Protection. 

Now,  that  all  thefe  black  Characters  be- 
longed to  Cf/rf?-,  is  indifputable  Fact  \  nor  was 
there  ever  a  Traytor  and  a  Tyrant  in  the 
World,  if  he  was  not  one.  He  broke,  outra- 
geoufiy  broke,  every  Tye  that  can  bind  a  hu- 
mane Soul ;  Honour,  Virtue,  Religion,  Law, 
Truft,  Humanity,  and  every  Thing  that  is 
facred  and  valuable  amongft  Men.  He  was  a 
Subject  and  Servant  of  the  [(em tin  Common- 
wealth, greatly  honour'd  and  trufted  by  it ;  he 
was  a  Senator  and  High-Prieft^  he  had  been 
Conful :  he  was  General  of  one  of  its  greateft 
Armies,  and  Governor  of  one  of  its  greateft 
and  beft  Provinces.  All  this  Power  and  Credit, 
all  thefe  Offices  and  Forces,  he  turn'd  ungrate- 
fully, barbaroufly.,  and  traiteroufly  upon  his 
Mafters,  and  made  a  Prey  of  his  Country  with 
its  own  Money  and  Arms. 

The  Means  by  which  he  did  this  mighty  and 
confummate  Evil,  were  fuitable  to  the  End.  He 

ftuck 


i8       C^fO's  LETTERS. 

ftuck  at  nothing  ;  nor  was  any  Pitch  of  Bafe- 
nefs  too  high  or  too  low  for  him.  He  even 
fubmitted  his  Perfbn  to  infamous  and  unnatural 
Proftitution,  for  the  Ends  of  Ambition  ;  and 
from  a  Boy  was  in  every  Faction  for  embroil- 
ing and  overturning  the  State  ;  fir  ft  in  the 
bloody  Meafures  of  Mar  i  us  ;  and  afterwards  in 
the  more  terrible  Confpiracy  of  Catiline^  to 
murder  the  Confiils  and  the  Senate,  to  burn 
Rome,  and  to  enfluve  the  Commonwealth  : 
And  tho'  he  failed  in  that  C'jnfpiracy,  he  went 
on  confpiring  \  he  corrupted  the  People,  and 
headed  Parties  of  Defperadoes,  to  frighten  thofe 
whom  he  could  not  bribe  :  He  opprefs'd  the 
Provinces,  and  deflroy'd  their  Inhabitants  ;  he 
robb'd  the  Publick  Temples  ;  he  flaughter'd 
the  Armies  of  the  Republick  ;  he  feiz'd  the 
publick  Treafure  \  and  at  laft,  he  feiz'd  the 
World,  and  extinguifhed  its  Liberty.  Hear 
the  difmal  Dread  of  the  Roman  Senate  and 
People,  upon  that  dreadful  Occafion,  as  the 
fame  is  defcribed  by  Lucan. 


~  -  Fuit  }}^c  mcnfurn 
Velle  putstnt  qnocunque  j  pot  eft  •—  — 
Omnln  dcftir  erat  \  private  curia  vocis 
Tcflls  a,deft.      Sedere  pAtres,  cenfere 
Si  regnum,  fi  "Tempi  a  fibl^  jugu  I  unique 
Exiliumque  petat- 

Lucan,  Pharfal.  L.  3.  v.  99. 

Thus  Fell  I(ome,  the  Glory  and  Miftrefs  of 
the  Earth,  and  the  Eanh  with  it,  under  the 
Yoke  of  a  Tyrant,  wh'jfe  Parts  encreafed  his 
Guilt,  and  made  him  the  more  dreadful,  From 

the 


LETTERS.     19 

the  numberlefs  Mifchiefs  he  had  done  to  get 
Power,  the  higheft  were  apprehended  from  him 
now  he  was  poflefled  of  it ;  and  it  was  not 
doubted  but  he  would  have  proceeded  to  Mafc 
facre  and  Conflagration,  had  he  been  provoked 
by  Oppofition. 

V 

•— •  Namque  ignlbus  titris 

Creditur  ut  ctfta  returns  'Mania  Romt, 

Lucan.  ut  fupra,  v.  108, 

And  therefore  mofl  of  the  Senators  were  fled 
with  Pompej,  and  Rome  was  left  defencelefs  to 
the  Sword  of  the  Ufurper. 

What  now  had  the  Romans  to  do  in  this  ca- 
lamitous Cafe,  under  this  enormous  Oppreffor; 
owing  them  Duty  and  Allegiance  as  one  of  their 
own  Citizens,  but  like  a  barbarous  Conqueror 
and  an  Alien,  holding  them  in  Bonds  with  his 
Sword  at  their  Throats  ?  Law,  Liberty,  and 
Appeals  were  no  more !  A  Tyrant  was  their 
chief  Magiftrate,  and  his  Will  their  only  Law, 
Becaufe  he  had  murderd  one  half  of  the  Peo- 
ple, had  he  therefore  a  Right  to  govern  the 
reft?  And  becaufe  he  had  robbed  them  of  moft 
of  their  Property,  were  they  obliged  to  give 
him  the  Remainder?  Does  the  huccefs  of  a 
Criminal  fanclify  his  Crime,  or  are  Crimes 
fanCTiried  by  their  Greatnefs  ?  If  only  an  In- 
tention to  deftfoy  the  State,  was  High  Treafon 
and  Death  ;  how  did  the  executing  of  that 
execrable  Intention  become  lawful  Govern- 
ment:, and  acquire  a  Right  of  Allegiance? 

I  fay,  what  remain'd  now'tothe  Romans  to 
be  done  for  Relief  ?  As  to  legal  Procefs  sgairiil 


io     C  A  T  O's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S. 

there  could  be  none  ;  omnia  C^far  erat  !  Nor 
was  there  any  publick  Force  great  enough  to 
oppofe  him.  He  had  before  deftroyed  or  cor- 
rupted the  Armies  of  the  Commonwealth.  Or, 
if  a  new  Army  could  have  been  drawn  toge- 
ther, ought  an  Opportunity  to  have  been  given 
him  to  have  deftroyed  that  too?  Or,  was  it 
lawful  to  kill  him  and  Twenty  or  Thirty 
Thoufand  Men  with  him,  and  perhaps  with 
the  like  Slaughter  on  the  other  Side,  and  with 
the  Lofs  of  the  beft  and  braveft  Romans  whom 
his  Ambition  had  left  unmurthered  ;  and  yet 
was  it  unlawful  to  kill  him,  without  all  this 
Apparatus,  Expence,  and  Mifchief?  Strange  J 
that  the  killing  by  Surprize  a  (ingle  Traytor 
and  Parricide,  who  had  forfeited  his  Life  by 
all  the  Laws  of  God  and  Man,  fhould  be  e- 
fteemed  a  heinous  and  crying  Crime  ;  and  yet 
that  the  furprizing  and  cutting  to  Pieces  a 
whole  Armv  fhould  be  reckoned  heroick  Vir- 
tue ! 

Lt  was  a  known  Maxim  of  Liberty  amongll 
the  great,  the  wife,  the  free  Antients,  that  a 
Tyrant  was  a  Be-all:  of  Prey,  which  might  be 
killed  by  the  Spear  as  well  as  by  a  fair  Chace, 
in  his  Court  as  well  as  in  his  Camp ;  that  every 
Man  had  a  Right  to  deftroy  one  who  would 
deftroy  all  Men  ;  that  no  Law  ought  to  be 
given  him  who  took  away  all  Law  ;  and  that, 
like  Hercules's  Moniters,  it  was  glorious  to  rid 
the  World  of  him,  whenever,  and  by  what 
Means  fbever,  it  could  be  done. 

If  we  read  the  Stories  of  the  mod  celebrated 
Heroes  of  Antiquity,  (Men  of  whom  the  pre- 
fent  World  is  not  worthy)  and  confider  ^the 

Adlions 


's  LETTERS,     ^i 

A&ions  that  gain'd  them  their  higheft  Reve- 
rence and  Renown,  and  recommended  their 
Names  to  Pofterity  with  the  moft  Advantage ; 
we  (hall  find  thofe  in  the  firft  Rank  of  Glory, 
who  have  refitted,  deftroyed,  or  expelled  Ty- 
rants and  Ufurpers,  the  Pefts,  the  Burthens, 
and  the  Butchers  of  Mankind.  What  can  be 
more  meritorious,  what  more  beneficent  to  the 
World,  than  the  faving  of  Millions  of  Men  at 
the  Ex  pence  of  one  grand  Murderer,  one  mer- 
cilefs  and  univerfal  Plunderer  !  And  can  there 
be  any  better  or  other  Reafon  given  for  the 
killing  of  any  guilty  Man,  but  the  preferving 
of  the  Innocent  ?  Indeed,  an  A£Hon  fb  glori- 
ous to  thofe  that  did  it,  and  fb  benevolent  and 
advantageous  to  thofe  for  whom  it  was  done, 
could  never  have  been  cenfured  in  the  World, 
if  there  had  not  lived  in  all  Ages,  abjeS  Flat- 
terers, and  fervile  Creatures  of  Power,  always 
prepared  to  fan&ify  and  abet  any  the  moft 
enormous  Wickednefs,  if  it  was  gainful  :  And 
thefe  are  they  who  have  often  miffed  good  Men 
into  the  worft  Prejudices. 

Timoleon,  one  of  the  wifeft  and  moft  virtuous 
Men  that  ever  blefTed  this  Earth,  fpent  a  long 
and  glorious  Life  in  deftroying  Tyrants ;  he 
killed  or  caufed  to  be  killed  his  own  Brother, 
when  he  could  not  perfwade  him  to  lay  down 
an  ufurp'd  Power,  and  no  other  Means  were 
left  to  fave  his  Country.  And  if  this  Action 
coft  him  afterwards  much  Grief  and  Melan- 
cholly,  it  was  owing  to  his  own  tender  Heart, 
and  the  Curfes  snd  Reproaches  of  a  Mother 
otherwife  indulgent.  He  was  even  cenfured 
for  this  his  Sorrow,  as  if  it  got  the  better  of 

his 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

his  Love  to  Mankind  ;  and  when  he  at  laft 
overcame  it,  he  fhew'd  that  it  was  not  occa- 
fioned  for  having  flain  a  Tyrant,  but  his  Bro- 
ther ;  for  he  immortalized  the  reft  of  his  Life 
in  doing  nothing  elfe  but  deftroying  Tyrants, 
and  reftoring  Liberty. 

But  if  the  killing  Cxfitr  was  Co  great  a  Crime," 
how  conies  Catiline  to  be  ftill  fo  universally  de- 
tefted  for  only  intending  what  dtfar  accom- 
plifhed  ?  It  is  true,  C<efar  did  not  burn  Rome, 
nor  did  he  lave  it  out  of  any  Tendernefs  to  it, 
but  favcd  it  for  himfelf :  He  fpared  Fire  only, 
becaufe  the  Sword  was  fufficient.  I  would 

here  ask  another  Queftion  • If  Oliver  Crom- 

vpei  had  died  by  any  of  the  numerous  Confpi- 
racies  formed  to  take  away  his  Life ;  would 
Pofterity  have  condemned  the  A6lion  for  this 
Reafbn  alone,  that  it  was  done  the  only  Way 
it  could  be  done  ? 

But  there  is  an  Inftance  in  the  Roman  Hi- 
flory,  that  will  let  this  Matter  yet  in  a  fuller 
Light  — -  it  is  the  Story  of  Sfartacus^  a  Thrti- 
clan  Slave  and  Gladiator,  who  bid  fair  for  be- 
ing Lord  of  the  Roman  World,  He  feems  to 
me  to  have  had  perfbnal  Qualifications  and 
Abilities,  as  great  as  thofe  of  CVf/*r,  without 
Cafar's  Birth  and  Education,  and  without  the 
Meafure  of  Cf/*r's  Guilt.  For  I  hope  all 
Mankind  will  allow  it  a  lefs  Crime  in  any 
Man  to  attempt  to  recover  his  own  Liberty, 
than  wantonly  and  cruelly  to  deftroy  the  Li- 
berty of  his  Country. 

lr  is  aftonifhing  to  confider,   how  a  poor 
Slave  from  the  Whip  and  the  Chain,  and  fol- 
lowed only  by  about  Seventy  fugitive  Gladia- 
tors, 


's  LETTERS. 

tors,   {hould  begin  a   Revolt  from  the  moft 
powerful  State  that  ever  the  World  faw ;  fhould 
gather  and  form  by  his  Courage  and  Dexterity 
a  formidable  Army  ;  ihould  infpire  Refblution 
and  Fidelity  into  the  very  Dregs  of  Mankind  ; 
fhould  qualify  his  fudden  Soldiers,  compofed  of 
Thieves  and   Vagabonds,  to  face  and  defeat 
the  I(oman  Legions,  that  were  a  Terror  to  the 
World,  and  had  conquer'd  it ;  and  (hould  keep 
together,   without  Pay  or  Authority,  a  raw 
and  lawlefs    Rabble,   till  he  had  vanquifhed' 
Two  Roman  Armies,  and  one  of  them  a  Pr<e- 
forian  Army  :  And  even  when  Crixus,  his  Fel- 
low-Commander, envying  his  Glory  and  Suo 
cefs,  had  withdrawn  from  him,  and  carried 
with  him  a  great  Number  of  his  Forces,  and 
was  cut  to  Pieces  with  Twenty  Thousand  of 
of  his  Men,  by  ^  Arrius  the  Praetor,  yet  he 
ftill  continued  to  conquer.     He  beat  that  very 
Arrius  that  had  killed  Crixus ;  he  defeated  Len- 
tulus  the  Conful ;  and  he  overcame  L.  Gellius 
another  Conful ;  and  in  all  likelihood,  had  he 
not  been  weakened  by  the  above  Defe&ion  of 
Crixus^  he  had  beat  Qrtiffus  too,  and  feen  him- 
felf  Lord  of  fyme. 

Now  I  would  ask  the  Advocates  of  lawlefs 
Power,  the  Friends  to  the  Life  and  Name  of 
Ctfar,  whether  Spartacus,  if  he  had  fucceeded 
in  his  laft  Battle  againft  Crsiffus,  had  been  law- 
ful and  irrefiftible  King  of  Upme  ?  And  whether 
the  Senate  and  People  of  Rome,  with  the  great- 
eft  Part  of  the  known  World,  would  have 
owed  him  Duty  and  Allegiance  ?  Or  would 
he  not  have  continued  ftill  a  Thief  and  a 
Robber  ?  And  if  he  had  continued  fo,  then  by 

all 


14      C^ros  LETTERS. 

all  the  Laws  of  Nature  and  Self.PrefervationJ 
as  well  as  by  the  municipal  Laws  of  every 
Country  in  the  World,  every  Man  was  at  Li- 
berty^  to  feize  him  how  he  could,  and  to  kill 
him  if  he  refitted,  or  run  away. 

^Tell  me.  O  ye  unlimited  Slaves,  ye  Beads 
of  lawlefs  Power,  ye  loyal  Levellers  of  Right 
and  Wrong  !  how  came  Ccefar  by  a  better  Title 
to  Dominion  than  Spartacus  had,  whofe  Sword 
was  as  good,  tho*  not  quite  fb  profperous  and 
deftruflive,  as  Cf/ir's  ?  Tell  me  where  lay  the 
Difference  between  them,  unlefs  in  their  dif- 
ferent Succefs,  and  that  Spartacus  was  as  great 
a  Man,  but  C.-efar  a  greater  Traytor  and  Ty- 
rant? 

Indeed,  had  Sir  tylert  Filtner]  or  any  other  of 
the  honed  and  fage  Difcoverers  of  Adam* 
right  Heir,  lived  in  thofe  Days  (as  they  have 
done  fince,  and  plainly  pointed  him  out)  and 
complimented  Cafar9  as  doubtlefs  they  would, 
with  a  lineal  and  hereditary  Title  from  &ne- 
tiSt  wandering  Prince  of  Troy  ;  he  might  have 
been  called  the  Lord's  Anointed,  as  well  as 
others,  and  his  Aflailination  accounted  Rebel- 
lion,  and  worle  than  the  Sin  of  Witchcraft. 
But  as  I  do  not  find  that  C^zr,  tho'  he  valued 
himfelf  upon  his  Defcent  from  the  pious  Trojan 
Heroe,  did  yet  claim  any  dt&atorial  Right  by 
Virtue  of  his  illuftrious  Parentage  ;  I  have 
therefore  taken  Liberty  to  treat  him  as  a  meer 
Traytor,  an  Ufurper,  and  a  Tyrant. 

J  am,  6cc, 


LETTERS.      ^< 


HAving  proved  in  my  laft,  I  think  unan- 
fwerably,  that  C-efar  was  rightly  killed  ; 
I  will  here  inquire,  whether  Brutus  and  ^  the 
other  Tyrannicides  did  right  in  killing  him  ? 
And  methinks,  if  it  has  been  fhewn  that  he 
ought  to  have  been  (lain  as  an  Enemy  to  ever/ 
Horn  an  Citizen,  and  virtuous  Man  ;  every  /ty- 
man  Citizen,  and  every  virtuous  Man,  had  a 
Right  to  (lay  him. 

But  fince  there  are  in  our  World  (b  many 
little  and  cramped  Spirits,  who  dare  not  think 
out  of  the  vulgar  Path,  tho'  ever  fb  crooked  and 
dark,  and  perhaps  firft  ftruck  out  by  Ignorance 
or  Fraud  :  Narrow  Minds,  which  lock'd  up  in 
received  Syftems,  fee  ali  Things  through  falfe 
Mirrors,  and  as  they  are  reprefented  by  ftrong 
Prejudices,  prevailing  Cuftoms,  and  very  often 
by  Corruption  and  Party- Intereft  :  I  fliall,  as  I 
have  Occafion,  endeavour  to  diiperfe  the/e 
thick  and  deceitful  Mifts  from  before  weak 
Eyes,  and  (hall  confider  the  preterit  Queftion, 
as  well  as  all  others  that  come  before  me,  as 
they  appear  in  their  own  Nature,  independent 
on  the  Quirks  of  Pedants,  and  the  narrow  Ju- 
riiHi&ion  of  inferior  Tribunals :  I  fhall  bring 
them  before  the  great  Tribunal  of  Heaven  ; 
and  aflert  the  Caufe  of  Liberty  and  Truth,  by 
Arguments  deduced  from  common  Senfe,  and 
the  common  Good  of  Mankind. 

VOL,  II.  B  It 


Giro's  LETTERS. 

It  is  generally  alled^ed  againft  Brutus^  and 
feme  of  thofe  who  joined  with  him  in  this  great 
Action,  that  they  were  highly  obliged  by  C<e- 
fa>  ;  which  is  a  ftrange  Objection.  How  were 
they  obliged  ?  He  gave  Brutus  a  Life,  which 
he  could  not  take  from  him  without  Murther  j 
and  did  a  mighty  generous  Thing  in  not  mur- 
thering  Brutus  for  defending  his  Country,  ani- 
mated by  his  own  virtuous  Spirit,  and  the 
known  Laws  of  fy'me !  This  is  the  Obligation 
of  a  Highwayman,  who,  taking  away  your 
Money,  which  is  all  he  wants,  kindly  leaves 
you  your  Life.  Are  you  obliged  in  Honour, 
Conference,  or  common  Senfe,  to  fpare  the 
Robber,  becaufe  he  was  not  a  Murderer  ?  Or 
&re  you  obliged  not  to  purfue  and  take  htm.* 
and  to  kill  him,  if  he  refufes  to  fubmit  ?  In 
'Truth,  C<efar  was  one  of  the  greateft  Robbers 
and  Murderers  that  ever  lived  :  Every  Man 
fluin  in  that  un'jutr.,  bloody,  and  unnatural 
War,  which  he  wantonly  and  maliciouily  made 
upon  his  Country,  was  murdered  :  And  the 
World  was  the  mighty  Spoil  he  gained  by  uni- 
verfal  Murder  and  Rapine.  He  was,  in  (hort, 
a  Man  (b  confummately  wicked,  that  the 
ftrongeft  Words  you  can  ufe,  and  the  bittereft 
Inftances  you  can  bring,  to  paint  out  him  and 
his  AdYions,  will  be  but  faini  compared  to  him 
and  his  A6Hons. 

As  to  the  Places  and  Favours  conferred  up- 
on  Brutus,  by  C<efar,  they  were  not  C^r's,  but 
Rome's.  He  Was  only  ^nftl  Largitor.  Cafar  had 
no  Right  to  the  Publick,  nor  to  difpofe  of  it, 
or  its  Emoluments.  It  was  all  barefaced  Ufur- 
pation.  Be  fides,  when  Favours  of  this,  or 

any 


CATO's   LETTERS.      47 

any  kind,  withhold  a  Man  from  his  Duty,  they 
are  mifchievous  Baits  and  Corruptions  ;  and 
ought  to  bind  no  Man,  as  they  never  will  a 
virtuous  Man.  And  we  fee  how  Brunu,  who 
was  the  moft  virtuous  Man  upon  Earth,  un- 
derftood  and  difregarded  them. 

They  were  only  the  artful  Shackles  of  a 
Tyrant,^  intended  to  bind  the  bold  and  free 
Mind  of  Bmtus  to  his  Imereft  :  But  he,  who 
owed  no  Allegiance  but  to  the  Commonwealth, 
fcorn'd  the  deceitful  Smiles  and  Generofity  of 
its  Oppreflbr  ;  who  was  bribing  him  to  be 
his  Slave,  with  the  Gifts  and  Offices  of  his 
Country,  to  which  he  himfelf  had  no  Title, 
but  Brutus  had  every  Title.  This  therefore 
was  a  Piece  of  impudent  Civility,  which  Bru- 
tus could  not  but  deteft,  as  it  was  a  fhameful 
and  melancholly  Proof  of  Cc/uy's  Tyranny, 
and  of  his  own  and  Rome's  Vaflalage.  They 
were  hollow  and  deftru&ive  Favours ;  and  it 
was  High-Treafon  to  be  the  Author  of  them  : 
And  was  not  Death  Ggnally  due  to  fuch  High- 
Treafbn  ?  Brutus  therefore  made  the  propereft 
Return. 

Citfar  had  ufurped  the  Roman  World,  and 
was  cantoning  it  out  to  his  Creatures  as  be- 
came a  Tyrant,  and  paying  his  perfbnal  Crea- 
tures with  the  publick  Bounty.  As  the  worft 
Tyrants  muft  have  fome  Friend  ;  and  ss  the 
beft  Men  do  them  the  moft  Credit,  and  bring 
them  the  moft  Support,  if  fuch  can  be  get ; 
oy/ir  had  Senfe  enough  to  know,  that  he  could 
never  buy  Brutus  too  dear,  and  fb  paid  him 
great  Court.  But  Brutus  faw  the  Tyrant's  De- 
(ign,  and  his  own  Shame  ;  and  every  Civility 

B  z  was 


2.8      Giro's   LETTERS. 

was  ?-  frefh  Provocation.  It  was,  as  if  a  Thief 
breaking  into  a  Ht>ufe  to  rob  a  Lady  of  her 
Jewels,  fpoke  thus  to  her  Son  ;  SzV,  ^ay  permit 
?ne,  or  ajfift  me  to  cut  your  Mothers  Threat:  and 
Jei^e  her  Tre/ifure,  find  I  mil  genercujly  reward  you 
with  your  Life,  and  lend  you  one  or  two  of  her  Dia- 
monds to  fpaikje  in  as  long  as  I  thinly  fit-  Could 
flich  a  villainous  Civility  as  this  engage  the 
Son,  efpecially  a  virtuous  Son  to  any  thing 
but  Revenge  ?  And  would  not  the  only  Way 
he  could  take  it  be  the  beft  Way  ? 

Ctcfar  took  from  Brutus  his  Liberty,  and  his 
legal  Title  to  his  Life  and  Eftate,  and  gave 
him  in  Lieu  of  it  a  precarious  one  during  his 
own  arbitrary  Will  and  Pleafure  :  Upon  the 
•fame  Terms,  he  gave  him  fbme  mercenary 
Employments,  as  Hire  for  that  great  good 
IVIan's  AlTiftance  to  fupport  his  Tyranny. 
Could  the  great  and  free  Soul  of  Brutus  brook 
this  ?  Could  Brutus  be  the  Inftrument  or  Con- 
federate of  lawlefs  Luft  ?  Brutus  receive  Wa- 
ges from  an  Oppreflbr  !  That  great,  virtuous, 
and  popular  Brutus ;  who,  if  the  Common- 
wealth had  fubfifted,  might  from  his  Reputa- 
tion, Birth,  Abilities,  and  his  excellent  Worth, 
have  challenged  the  moil  honourable  and  ad- 
vantageous Offices  in  it,  without  owing  Thanks 

to  drfar. 

So  that  the  Injuries  done  by  dcf/ir  to  Brutus, 
were  great,  heinous,  and  many  ;  and  the  Fa- 
vours none.  All  the  Mercy  fhewn  by  dcfar 
was  Art  and  Affe&ation,  and  pure  Self- Love. 
He  had  found  in  the  f(cman  People  fo  univer- 
fal  a  Deteftation  of  the  bloody  Meafures  of 
Marias,  Cinna,  and  Sylla  :  He  law  the  whole 

Empira 


CATO's   LETTERS.       19 

Empire  fb  reduced  and  enervated  by  repeated 
Profcriptions  and  Maflacres,  that  he  thought 
it  his  Intereft  to  eftablifh  his  new  ere6ted  Do- 
minion by  different  Meafures;  and  to  recon- 
cile, by  a  falfe  and  hypocritical  Shew  of  Cle- 
mency, the  Minds  of  Men,  yet  bleeding  with 
their  late  and  former  Wounds,  to  his  Ufurpa- 
tion.  That  Cafyr,  the  ufurping  and  deftruc- 
tive  Cefar9  who  had  Slaughtered  Millions,  and 
wantonly  made  Havock  of  humane  Race,  had 
any  other  fort  of  iv/ercy,  than  the  Mercy  of 
Policy  and  Deceit,  will  not  be  pretended  by 
any  Man,  that  knows  his  and  the  Roman  Story. 
Brutus  therefore  being  the  moil  reverenced  ana* 
popular  Man  in  P^cme,  it  became  the  Craft  of 
the  Tyrant  to  make  Brunts  his  Friend  ;  it  was 
adding  a  fort  of  Sanclitv  to  a  wicked  Caufe  : 
Whereas  the  Death  of  Brutus  by  defer,  would 
have  made  C<cfar  odious  and  dreadful  even  a- 
mongft  his  own  Followers. 

But  it  is  faid,  that  Brutus  fubmitted  to  Cr/Vr, 
and  was  bound  by  his  own  Aft.  Here  rhe 
Allegation  is  true,  but  the  Confequence  falfe, 
Did  not  Brutus  fubmit  to  C.c//rr,  as  innocent: 
Men  are  often  forced  to  fubmit  to  the  Gallics, 
the  Wheel,  and  the  Gibbet  ?  He  fubmitted  as 
a  Man  robbed  and  bound  fubmits  to  a  Houfe- 
breaker,  who  with  a  Piftol  at  his  Heart,  forces 
from  him  a  Difcovery  of  his  Treafure,  and  a 
Promife  not  to  profecute  him.  Such  Engage- 
ments are  not  only  void  in  themfelves,  but  ag- 
gravate the  Injury,  and  become  themfelves  frefh 
Injuries.  By  the  Law  of  Nature  and  Reafon, 
as  well  as  by  the  pofitive  Inftitutions  of  every 
Country,  all  Promifes,  Bonds,  or  Oaths,  ex- 

B  toned 


30       CATO'a, LETTERS. 

torted  by  Durefs,  that  is,  by  unlawful  Imprl- 
fonrnents  or  Menaces,  are  not  obligatory  :  h 
is,  on  the  contrary,  a  Crime  to  fulfil  them  ; 
becaufe  an  Acquiekence  in  the  Impofitions  of 
lawlefs  Villains,  is  abetting  iawlefs  Villains. 

Befides,  k  was  not  in  the  Power  of  Brutus 
to  alter  his  Allegiance,  which  he  had  already 
rngaged  to  the  Commonwealth,  which  had 
done  nothing  to  forfeit  the  fame.  For  how 
lawful  fbever  it  is  for  Subjects  to  transfer  their 
Obedience  to  a  Conqueror,  in  a  Foreign  War, 
when  the  former  Civil  Power  can  no  longer 
protect  them- ;  or  to  a  new  Magiftrate  made 
by  Confent,  when  the  old  had  forfeited  or  re- 
ilgned  :  It  is  ridiculous  to  fuppofe  they  can 
transfer  it  to  a  domeftick  Tray  tor  and  Robber  ; 
\vho  is  under  the  lame  Ties  of  Allegiance  with 
themfclves,  and  by  all  A£b  of  Violence,  Trea- 
ion,  and  Ufurpation,  extorts  a  Submhlion  from 
his  opprefled  Mailers  and  Fellow-Subjedb  — 
At  lea  ft  fuch  Allegiance  can  never  be  re  en- 
gaged, whilft  any  Means  in  Nature  are  left 
to  rid  the  World  of  fuch  a  Monller. 

It  is  a  poor  Charge  againft  -Brutus,  that  Cttfor 
intended  him  for  his  Heir  and  Succeffcr.  Bru- 
tus (corned  to  fucceed  a  Tyrant  :  And  what 
more  glorious  for  Brutus,  than  thus  to  own 
that  the  dangerous  and  bewitching  Profpecl:  of 
the  greateft  Power  that  ever  mortal  Man  pof- 
leffed,  could  not  {hake  the  firm  and  virtuous 
Heart  of  Brutus,  nor  corrupt  his  Integrity  ? 
To  own  that  no  perfonal  Confiderations,  even 
the  higheft  upon  Earth,  could  reconcile  him  to 
a  Tyrant ;  and  that  he  preferred  the  Liberty  of 
the  World,  to  the  Empire  of  the  World  ! 

The 


LETTERS.       3* 


The  above  Charges  therefore  apainft 
can  hardly  come  from  any  bur  rrnfe.  who,  like 
the  profane  and  flavifh  £/*#,  would  fell  their 
Birthright  for  a  Mefs  of  Pottage  ;  would  h- 
cririce  their  Duty  to  their  Interefl:  ;  and,  un- 
concerned  what  becomes  of  the  reft  of  Man- 
kind, would  promote  Tyranny,  if  they  rnighc 
but  fhine  in  its  Trappings.  But  an  honeft 
Mind,  a  Mind  great  and  virtuous,  fc>rns  and 
hares  all  Ambition,  but  that  of  doing  Good  to 
Men,  and  to  all  Men  ;  it  defpifes  momentary 
Riches,  and  ill-gotten  Power  ;  it  enjoys  no  vi- 
cious and  hard-hearted  Pleafures,  ariling  from 
the  Miseries  of  others  :  But  it  wifhes  and  en- 
deavours to  procure  impartial,  difFufive,  and 
•uuiverfal  Happinefs  to  the  whole  Earth. 

This  is  the  Character  of  a  great  and  good 
Mind  ;  and  this  was  the  great  and  fublime  Soul 
of  the  immortal  E-  ntus. 

From  this  Mention  of  the  (lippery  and  dan- 
gerous Favours  of  Tyrants,  1  would  juit  ob- 
ferve  as  I  go  along,  that  to  any  Man  who  va- 
lues Virtue  or  Liberty,  Twenty  Pounds  a  Year 
in  a  free  Country,  is  preferable  to  the  being 
Firft  Minifter  to  the  Great  Tw>'t  ;  whofe  Mini-  . 
fters,  by  their  Station  and  Allegiance,  are  ob- 
liged to  be  Oppreflors,  and  are  often  rewarded 
with  the  Row-ftring  for  their  moil  faithful  Ser- 
vices to  their  Mailer,  and  for  Services  perhaps 
performed  by  his  Command. 

But  to  return  to  Brutus  :  He  had  on  his  Side,' 
the  Law  of  Self-Prcfervation,  and  the  Spirit  of 
the  t(omnn  Conflitutions,  and  of  thole  Laws  of 
Liberty,  which  had  fubfifted  near  Five  Hun- 
dred Years,  but  were  now  deftroyed  by  the 

B  4  Ufurper, 


3^       Core's   LETTERS. 

Ufurper.  And  during  all  thofe  long  and  re- 
nowned Ages  of  Liberty,  the  deftroying  of  Ty- 
rants was  ever  accounted  Glory  and  Heroifm. 
And,  as  every  Law  of  the  Commonwealth  was 
againft  Cafar,  who  was  an  open  Enemy  to  the 
Commonwealth  ;  the  Commonwealth,  and  all 
its  Laws,  were  for  Brutus,  its  greateft  and  beft 
Subject.  O/4r*s  Laws  were  none,  and  worie 
than  none ;  but  the  whole  Life  and  Actions  of 
Brutes  were  agreeable  to  the  Confutation  of  hi's 
Country. 

Suppofe  Brutus,  having  kill'd  O//JT-,  had 
fucceeded  him  :  He  could  not  have  been  a 
greater  Ufurper  than  C<efar  was.  And  yet 
would  he,  in  that  Cafe,  have  been  Jels  facred 
and  inviolable  than  dffar  ?  I  hope  the  oppre£> 
fing  of  Mankind,  is  not  a  lefs  Crime  than  the 
killing  of  their  Oppreffor. 

Our  Brutus  could  not  have  greater  Ties  of 
Affe6Uon  to  the  Tyrant  C.cfn^,  who  ufurp'd 
Itynie,  and  deilroy'd  its  Liberties  ;  than  the 
elder  Brutus  had  to  his  own  Sons,  whom  he  put 
to  Death,  for  a  Plot  to  reftore  the  Tyrant 
Tartjuin,  a  Thoufand  times  more  innocent  than 
C.tpir  :  And  as  to  the  fudden  manner  of  putting 
him  to  Death,  Murtus  Sc.tvo'a  is  immortalized 
for  a  bold  Attempt,  to  kill  by  Surpize  the 
Tufcan  King  Porfenna,  who  was  a  foreign  Ene- 
my, making  unjuft  War  upon  Rome,  to  reftore 
Tarquin:  And  the  like  Immortality  is  beftow'd 
upon  Judith,  for  killing  Holophernes  deceitfully, 
when  it  could  be  done  no  other  Way.  Now 
both  thele  Men  were  publick  Enemies  ;  but 
neither  of  them  a  publick  Traitor:  C^far  was 
both  i  and  dolus  an  virtus  quis  in  bofte  require  * 

Was 


LETTERS.      3; 

Was  ever  Aratus  mentioned  with  Reproach,  or 
does  Dr.  Prideaux  mention  him  with  Reproach, 
for  furprizing  and  expelling  Xicocles,  Tyrant  of 
Scicyon^  or  has  he  not  gain'd  deathlefs  Fame^by 
that  worthy  A6tion  ?  And  how  comes  the  little 
Tyrant  Nicocles  to  be  lefs  facred  than  the  great 
Tyrant  Ctfar,  who  did  Millions  of  Mifchiefs 
more  than  Nicocles  ? 

Let  us  now  fee  what  Dr.  Prideaux  fays  of 
Ctcfar.  After  having  told  us,  that  he  was  excited 
by  Ambition  and  Malice,  that  he  j-tiflly  bad  fir thr 
J(ewird  thereof  that  Deftru&ron  by  which  he 
fell ;  the  Do&or  adds  thefe  Words :  "  He  is 
"  faid  to  have  {lain  Eleven  Hundred  and  Nine- 
<c  ty  Two  Thoufand  Men  ;  which  proves  him: 
4W  Co  have  been  a  terrible  Scourge  in  the  Hanc! 
"  of  God,  for  the  Punifhment  of  the  Wicked- 

**  nefs  of  that  Age And  confequently,  he 

"  is  to  be  reputed  the  greateft  Pelt  and  Plague* 
<c  that  Mankind  had  therein  :  But  notwith- 
"  Handing  this,  his  Actions  have  with  many 
"  acquired  great  Glory  to  his  Name  :  Where- 
w  as  true  Glory  is  due  only  to  thofe  who  benefit^ 
*'  not  to  thofe  who  deftroy  Mankind." 

All  this  is  hontftly  and  j'uftly  faid  ;  but  I' 
cannot  reconcile  it  to  what  he  has  faid  beFore? 
about  the  Death  of  that  Deftpoyer.  Sure,  up- 
on his  own  Principles,  never  was  true  Glory 
more  due  to  any  mortal  Man,  than  to  Urutus !' 
Mis  Life  and  Studies  were  laid  out  in  doing: 
good  to  Mankind  •  whereas  C<efar  was  indeed 
the  greatcftPeft  and  Plague  that  Mankind  had. 
For,  befides  all  the  Wickednefe  he  did  with  his 
own  wicked  Hands  and  Counfels,  lie  frcftrarcct1 
all  the  Purpofes,  Virtue,  ar.d  Bravery  of  the 

B.  <  eld; 


34       Cafe's  LETTERS. 

eld  fymtns,  in  eftablifhing  Liberty,  and  in 
quering,  polifhing,  and  fetting  free  great  part 
of  the  barbarous  World.  All  the  Battles  they 
fought,  were  fought  for  him  i  all  the  Blood 
they  fpilt,  was  fpilt  for  him.  Cfjft*-  took  all,, 
and  over-turn'd  all.  Befides,  all  the  number- 
3e(s  and  heavy  Mifchiefs,  that  the  Roman  World 
fuffered  from  fucceeding  Tyrants,  were,  in  a 
great  Meafure,  owing  to  Cc/dr,  who  eftabliftied 
a  Government  by  Tyrants.  He  was  in  this 
Senfe  the  Author  of  all  the  Barbarity,  Rapine* 
and  Butcheries,  brought  upon  the  Empire,  by 
the  Goths,  Huns,  Vandals,  and  other  Barbarian?, 
who  eafily  mattered  an  Empire,  weakened,  and 
already  almoft  deftroyed,  by  the  Folly,  Mad- 
fiefs,  Cruelty,  and  Prodigality  of  the  Imperial 
Tyrants,  his  Succeffors. 

The  Doclor  takes  Notice,  that  Caffius  Par. 
menjis,  being  the  only  remaining  Tyrannicide, 
was  put  to  Death  by  the  Command  of  Auguflus* 
And  he  obferves  upon  it,  that  Murder  ieldom 
efcapes  the  vindictive  Hand  of  God,  and  efpe- 
cially  the  Murder  of  Princes.  All  this  may  be 
true  ;  and  yet,  What  is  all  this  to  Julius 
Ctffar  ?  If  Cacfnr  was  a  Prince,  any  Robber  or 
Murderer  that  has  Force  and  Villainy  enough, 
may  be  a  Prince;  and  Blood,  arid  Wounds* 
and  Treafon,  conftitute  a  Prince.  Every 
Soldier  in  dyer's  Army  had  as  good  a  Right  to 
the  Government  of  tywe,  as  Cjjar  had.  \\'as 
bfs  Stile  like  that  of  a  Prince,  or  the  Father  of 
his  Country,  when  he  told  his  Soldiers,  accord- 
ing to  Petronius,  and  agreeably  to  what  he  did 
afterwards 


CATO's  LETTERS. 


•Ite  furentes 


Ite  mei  comites,  &  cnufkm  dicite  ferro. 
Judice  fortunn  cndat  alea.  :  Sumite  bellum  ; 
Inter  tot  fortes  armatus  nefcio  vinci, 

Was  not  this  fetting  up  openly  Violence  and 
the  Sword  for  a  Title  ?  If  tyb  %y  had  con- 
quer'd  Scotland,  with  his  barbarous  Highland 
Hoft  ;  would  he  have  been  a  Prince,  Prince  of 
Scotland  ?  Was  Cromwell  a  Prince  ?  And  would 
'Mtijjianello  and  Jack  Straw,  had  they  fucceeded, 
have  been  Princes  ? 

As  to  Csfars  Parts,  they  added  vaftly  to  his 
Crimes,  and  were,  as  he  applied  them,  only  a 
great  Capacity  to  do  great  Mifchref?  Curfe  en. 
bis  Vinnes\  they  have  undone  bis  Country.  Be- 
fides,  there  were  doubtlefs  many  Men  m  %cme9 
who  had  equal  Parts,  and  infinitely  more  Merit. 
Brutus  particularly -had —The  Devil  has  much 
greater  Abilities  than  Captr  had,  and  is  alfb  a 
Prince,  and  a  very  great  Prince  •  and  the  Exe- 
cutioner of  God's  Vengeance  too,  and  the 
greateft  Executioner  :  And  yet  are  v/e  not  ex- 
prefly  commanded  to  refift  him  ?  The  Plague 
is  ofren  the  Inflrument  of  God's  Judgment,  are 
we  therefore  not  to  refill  the  Plague,  by  proper 
Diet  and  Antidotes  ?  The  Bite  of  an  Adder 
may  be  the  Judgment  of  God  ;  Is  it  therefore  a 
Sin  to  tread  upon  the  Adder's  Head  and  kill 
Jiim  ?  Or  are  Antidotes  again  ft  all  other  Plagues 
lawful ;  but  none  lawful  againft  the  wcrft,  the 
moft  lading  and  deftru&ive  of  all  Plagues,  the 
Plague  of  Tyranny  ?  Or  is  an  Adder  lefs  facred 
than  a  Tyrant  ?  And  why  ?  I  hope  God  made 
Adders  as  well  as  dtfart  A  Storm  may  be 


\6      CAT 'O's  LETTERS.  v 

A-^ 

Judgment  ;  muTFwesriot:  therefore  difcharge  a 
great  Gun  againft  it,  in  order  to  difperfe  it  ? 
Or  pray  how  comes  one  Sort  of  the  Inftruments 
oF  God's  Judgment  to  be  more  facred  thati 
another  ?  I  am  fure,  God  detefts  Tyrants;  and 
if  they  are  God's  Minifters,  fb  are  Plagues  and 
Serpents,  and  Ib  is  Satan  himfelf. 

Brutus  was  one  of  the  properefl  Perfons  to 
kill  Ccfar  ;  as  he  was  of  all  the  Men  in  Rome 
the   moft  reverenced  and  popular.     His  Will 
dom,  and   Virtue,  and   publick  Spirit,    were 
known  and  adored :   And   the  Confent  of  the 
Senate,   and  of   all  good  Men,  was  with  him; 
and  none  but  the  proflitute  Creatures  ofr  Power, 
and  thofe  that  ambitioufly  fought  it^  with  their 
deceived   and    hireling  Followers,    eondemn'd 
Shun  ;  nor  durft  even   they  at  firft.    But  Brutus 
out  of  his  too  great  Goodnefs  and  Generofity, 
ipared  Anthony,  who  ought  to  have  accompanied 
Ctffar.    But   while  the   wild  Anthony  remain'd, 
the  Root  of  the  Evil  was  not  quite  pluck'd  up, 
He  began  a  new  War  upon  his  Country.   The 
Senate  however  declar'd  for  the  Tyrannicides, 
and  declar'd  Mark  Anthony  a.  publick  Enemy 
for  making  War  upon  Decimiis  'Brutus^  who  was 
one  of  them  ;  and  fent  both  the  Confuls  with 
ari:  Army  againft   Anthony 9,  and  in  Defence  of 
Brutus :    And  had  it  not  been  for  the  treache- 
rous and  ungrateful  young-C,r//tr,  the  Common- 
wealth  would   have  been,    in    all  likelihood, 
thoroughly  edablirhed.   But  this- young  Traitor,, 
like  his  Uncle  Julius,   turn'd  the  Arms  of  the? 
Commonwealth  upon- the  Commonweakh,  and 
ipined  with  its  Enemy  Mark  Anthony ,  to  oppress 
k, 

The 


LETTERS.      57 

The  terrible  Proceedings  and   bloody  Pro- 
fcriptions  that  followed  this  Agreement  are  well 
known.     Nor  is  it  at  all  ftrange,  that  not  one 
of  the  Tyrannicides  furvived  the  Civil  War, 
or  died  a  natural  Death.    They  were  almofl:  all 
Soldiers  and   Commanders,    and  were   either 
moftly  (lain  in  Battle,  or  by  the  Command  of 
Conquerors :   Their  Enemies  got  the  better, 
and  they  had  no  where  to  fly  to.     The  World 
was  pofiefs'd  by  the  Ufarpers.     And  if  Brutus- 
and  Coffins  kiird  themselves,    rather  than  fall 
into  their  Enemies  Hands,  and  adorn  the  Tri- 
umphs of  fuccefsful  Traitors ;    feveral  of  the 
Chiefs  of  the  other  Party  did  alfb  kill  themfelves 
during  the  War  ;    particularly   Dolobella,  and 
many  of  the  Principals  of  his  Party  at  Antiocb^. 
when  Cajjlus  befreg'd   them  there.    Was  this 
alfb  a  Judgment  ? 

Brutus  and  CaJJius  kilPd  themfelves  !    And 
what  then  ?  Was  it  not  done  like  fym/Ms,  like 
virtuous   old  Romans,  thus  to  prefer  Death  to 
Slavery  ?  It  was  a  fyman  Spirit,  and  thofe  who 
poflefsYl  it,  did  as  much  difdain  to  be  Tyrants,, 
as  to  fubmit  to  Tyranny  ;  a  Spirit  that  fcom?d 
an  ignominious  Life,  held  only  at  the  Mercy  of 
an  Ufurper  ;  or  by  flattering  his  Villainy  and 
abetting  his  llfurpations  ;  and  a  Spirit,  which 
thofe  that  want  it  can  never  admire.     Great- 
Souls  are  not  comprehended  by  Small !  It  is; 
undoubtedly  true,    that    by    the   Precepts  of 
Chriftianity  we  n.re  not  at  Liberty  to  difpofe 
of  our  own  Lives;  but  are  to  wait  for  the  Call 
of  Heaven  to  alleviate  or  end  our  Calamities :: 
But  the  Hi-mans  had  no  other  Laws  to  aft  by,, 
but  the  natural  Dictates  of  uacorrjpted 


38     CATffs  LETTERS. 

fbn  ?  I  call  u£on  the  great  Pretenders  to  Philo- 
fophy  and  refined  Morals,  to  affign  one  fair 
Reafon,  why  a  Hpmany  why  Brutus  and  Ctijjius, 
fhould  prefer  a  miferable  Life  to  an  honourable 
Death  ;  (hould  bear  Vaflalage.;  Chains,  and 
Tortures  of  Body  or  Mind,  when  all  thofe 
Evils  were  to  be  avoided  by  doing  only  that, 
which  by  the  Courfe  of  Nature  every  Man 
mud  foon  do.  It  is  better  not  to  be,  than  to 
be  unhappy  ;  and  the  fevered:  Judgment  on  the 
Wicked  is,  that  they  [hall  live  for  ever,  and 
can  never  end  their  Miferies  :  Much  lefs  can  it 
be  any  Service  to  Society,  to  keep  alive  by  Art 
or  Force  a  melancholy,  miferable,  and  ufelefs 
Member,  grown  perhaps  burdenfbme  too  by 
Age  and  Infirmities. 

In  this  Light  we  mud  view  the  Actions  of 
the  old  fymans,  guided  only  by  Nature,  and 
unreftrain'd  from  Suicide  by  any  Principles  of 
their  Religion.  We  find,  on  the  contrary,  in 
Hiftorv,  many  Examples  of  the  great  and  mag- 
nanimous Heroes  of  Antiquity,  chunng  volun- 
tary Death,  often  in  themidft  of  Health,  with 
the  greateft  Calmnefs  of  Mind  \  fbmetimes 
from  Satiety  of  Life  and  Glory,  either  when 
they  could  gain  no  more  \  or  apprehending  that 
the  future  Caprices  of  unconftan:  Fortune  might 
fully  the  part  ;  and  oftner  ftill,  to  avoid  fub- 
mittingto  Difgraceand  Servitude. 

A  voluntary  Death  from  fuch  Motives  as 
thefe,  was,  among  the  Ancients,  one  of  the 
Paths  to  Immortality  ;  and,  under  certain  Gir- 
cumflances,  none  but  mean  and  abject  Minds 
declined  it.  Roman  Ladies  often  chofeit.  And 
Qiieen  c-f  &gy£t)  chofc  a  lon.c  [.-re- 

meditated 


's  LETTERS. 

fnedltated  Death,  rather  than  be  led  Captive  to 
Upme.  And  when  Per  fens  fent  to  P.  &miii&i 
befeeching  him  with  all  Earneftnefs,  That  fo 
great  a  Prince,  late  Lord  of  Macedon,  and  good 
part  of  Greece,  might  not  be  led,  like  a  SLve^ 
in  Chains  at  his  Chariot  Wheels,  to  grace  his 
Triumph  ;  he  received  this  fhort  Anfvver,  that 
It  was  in  bis  own  Power  to  prevent  it  :  Thus  fig. 
nifying  to  him,  that  he  deserved  the  Difgrace, 
if  he  would  live  to  bear  it 

Even  under  the  Difpenfations  of  a  new  Reli- 
gion, which  God  Almighty  condefcended  per- 
fbnally  to  teach  Mankind,  Humane  Nature 
has  prevailed  fo  far  over  revealed  Truths,  that 
in  Multitudes  of  Inftances  a  voluntary  Death  is 
approved,  at  leaft  not  condemned,  by  almoft 
the  greateft  part  of  the  World.  Men  in  ex- 
treme Pain  and  Agonies  do  often  refufe  Phy- 
fick,  and  the  Means  of  preserving  their  Lives, 
Days,  Weeks,  and  Months  longer.  Men  in 
lingring  and  defperate  Diftempers  go,  uncalPd, 
to  mount  a  Breach  in  a  Siege,  or  into  the  mid  ft 
of  the  Battle,  to  meet  certain  Death.  Great 
Commanders  have  done  the  fame,  when  the 
Day  went  againft  them,  rather  than  furvive 
being  beaten.  Commanders  of  Ships  have  blown 
up  themfelves  and  their  Ships,  rather  than  be 
the  Prey  of  the  Conqueror.  Towns  beiieged, 
when  they  could  defend  themfelves  no  longer, 
have  fir il  burnt  theirTown, and  then  precipitated 
themfelves  defperately  amongft  their  Enemies, 
to  procure  an  honourable  Death  and  Revenge. 
Even  .common  Malefactors  often  chufe  to  dye, 
rather  than  difcover  their  Accomplices :,  and  al- 
ways get  Credit  by  doing  To.  And  the  Stories 

of 


40       CATO's.  LETTERS, 

of  the  Dec//,  of  Catanus,  of  the  great  Cato,  and 
even  of  Otho,  and  many  other  of  the  greac 
Examples  of  Antiquity,  made  immortal  by  this 
A&  of  ancient  Heroifrn,  are  ftill  read  with 
Admiration. 

^  I  fhall,  for  a  Conclusion  of  this  long  Paper, 
give  my  Readers  the  Sentiments  of  the  excellent 
Mr.  Cow  ley,  concerning  Brutus  and  C^rr,  in  his 
Ode,  intitled  B  I(VTU  5. 

Can  we  [land  by  and  fee 
Our  Mother  roWd,  nnd  bound,  and  ravffid  be^. 

Yet  not  to  her  Ajfiftance  flir, 

Pleased  with  the  Strength  and  Beauty  cfthe  fyvijker  * 
Qr  fliall  we  fear  to  kill  him^  If  before 

The  cnncelTd  Name  of  Friend  he  bore  ? 
Ingrateful  Brutus  do  they  call  ? 
Ingrttteful  Caefar,  who  could  Rome  inthrall 
An  Aft.  more  barbarous  and  unnatural 
(In  tb'  exaft  Batlance  of  true  Virtue  tried) 
Than  his  Succeffor  Nero'/  Parricide  I 


t  Mercy  could  the  Tyrant's  Life  deferve 

From  him  who  killed  himfelf  rather  than  ferve  ? 

***^:*#^^* 

What  Joy  can  humane  Things  to  us  afford^ 
tftfjen  we  fee  ferifo  thus  by  odd  Events, 
By  ill  Men  and  wretched  Accidents, 
The  bcft  Caufe,  andbeft  Man  that  ever  drew  a  Sword  ft 

When  we  fee 

The  falfe  O6i:aviu5  and  wild  Anthony, 
God-fify  Brur.us,  conquer  Thee  ? 

I  am,  &c, 
S  I 


's  LETTERS.      41 


SIR, 

I  Intend  to  entertain  my  Readers  with  Dif- 
fertatlons  upon  Liberty  in  fome  of  my  liic- 
ceeding  Letters  ;  and  (hall,  as  a  Preface  to  that 
Defign,  endeavour  to  prove  in  this,  that  Li- 
berty is  the  unalienable  Right  of  all  Man- 
kind, 

All  Governments,  under  whatfbever  Form 
they  are  adminiftred,  ought  to  be  adminiftred 
for  the  Good  of  the  Society  ;  and  when  they 
are  otherwife  adminiftered,  they  ceafe  to  be 
Government,  and  become  Usurpation.  This 
being  the  End  of  all  Government,  even  the 
mod  Defpotick  have  this  Limiration  to  their 
Authority :  And,  in  this  Refpe6t,  the  only 
Difference  between  the  moft  abfblute  Princes 
and  limited  Magiftrates  is,  that  in  free  Go- 
vernments there  are  Checks  and  Reftraints  ap- 
pointed and  cxprefled  in  the  ConfHtution  it 
felf  ;  and  in  defpotick  Governments,  the  Peo- 
ple fubmit  themfelves  to  the  Prudence  and  Dif- 
cretion  of  the  Prince  alone :  But  there  is  ftill 
this  tacit  Condition  annex'd  to  his  Power,  that 
he  muft  acl  by  the  unwritten  Laws  of  Dif- 
cretion  and  Prudence,  and  employ  it  for  the 
fole  Intereft  of  the  People,  who  give  it  to  him, 
or  Tufter  him  to  enjoy  it,  which  they  ever  do 
for  their  own  Sakes. 

Even  in  the  moft  free  Governments,  fingle 
Men  are  often  trufted  with  difcretionary  Power: 

But 


4^       C,4fO's  LETTERS. 

But  they  mud  anfwer  for  that  Difcretion  to 
thofe  that  truft  them.  Generals  of  Armies, 
and  Admirals  of  Fleets  have  often  unlimited 
Commiilions,  and  yet  are  they  not  anfwerable 
for  the  prudent  Execution  of  thofe  CommiiTions? 
The  Council  of  Ten,  in  Vwce,  have  abfolute 
Power  over  the  Liberty  and  Life  of  every  Man 
in  the  State :  But  if  they  fhould  make  ufe  of  that 
Power  to  flaughter,  abolifh,  or  enflave  the  Se- 
nate •  and,  like  the  Decsmviri  of  fyme,  to  fet 
up  tbemfelves  ;  would  it  not  be  lawful  for 
thofe,  who  gave  them  that  Authority  for  other 
Ends,  to  put  thofe  Ten  unlimited  Traitors  to 
Death,  any  Way  they  could  ?  The  Crown  of 
England  has  been  for  the  moft  part  enrrufled 
with  the  fble  Difpofal  of  rhe  Money  given  for 
the  Civil  Lift,  and  often  with  the  Application 
of  great  Sums  raifed  for  other  publick  Ufes; 
and  yet,  if  the  Lord-Treafurer  had  applied  this 
Money  to  the  Dishonour  of  the  King,  and 
Ruin  of  the  People,  (rho'  by  the  private  Di- 
rection of  the  Crown  it  feif)  will  any  Man  fay 
that  he  ought  not  to  have  compenfated  for  his 
Crime,  by  the  Lois  of  his  Head  and  his 
Eflate  ? 

I  have  Aid  thus  much,  to  fhew  that  no  Go- 
vernment can  be  abfolute  in  the  Senfe,  or  ra- 
ther Nonfenfe,  of  our  modern  Dogmati?,ers, 
and  indeed  in  the  Senfe  too  commonly  pradtifed. 
No  barbarous  Conqueft  :  no  extorted  Content 
of  miierable  People,  fubmitting  to  the  Chain 
to  efcape  the  Sword  \  no  repeated  and  heredita- 
ry A6h  of  Cruelty,  tho'  called  Succeilion  ;  no 
Continuation  of  Violence,  tho'  named  Pre- 
fcription  j  can  alter,  much  lefs  abrogate  thefe 

fund  a- 


CA  ro's  LETTERS. 

fundamental  Principles  of  Government  it  ft  If, 
or  make  the  Means  of  Prefervation  the  Means 
of  Deftru6Hon,  and  render  the  Condition  of 
Mankind  infinitely  more  miierablc  than  that  of 
the  Beafts  of  the  Field,  by  the  fole  Privilege  of 
that  Reafbn  which  diftinguifhes  them  from  the 
Brute  Creation. 

Force  can  give  no  Title  but  to  Revenge,  and 
to  the  life  of  Force  again  :  Nor  could  it  ever  en- 
ter into  the  Heart  of  any  Man,  to  give  to  another 
power  over  him,  for  any  other  End  but  to  be 
cxercifed  for  his  own  Advantage  :  And  it  there 
are  any  Men  mad  or  foolifh  enough  to  pretend 
to  do  otherw'ife,  they  ought  to  be  treated  as 
Idiots  and  Lunaticks ;  and  the  Reafbn  of  their 
Condu6i  muft  be  derived  from  their  Folly  and 
Phrenzy. 

All  Men  are  born  free  :  Liberty  is  a  Gift: 
which  they  receive  from  God  h'mfelf ;  nor  can 
they  alienate  the  fame  by  Content,  tho'  poilibly 
they  may  forfeit  it  by  Crimes.  No  Man  has 
Power  over  his  own  Life,  or  to  difpofe  of  his 
own  Religion,  and  cannot  ccnfcquently  transfer 
the  Power  of  either  to  any  body  eife  :  Much 
lefs  can  he  give  away  the  Lives  and  Liberties, 
Religion  or  acquired  Property  of  his  Pofterity, 
who  will  be  born  as  free  as  he  himfelf  was  born, 
and  can  never  be  bound  by  his  wicked  and  ridi- 
culous Bargain. 

The  Right  of  the  Magiftrate  arifes  only  from 
the  Right  of  private  Men  to  defend  therofelves, 
to  repel  Injuries,  and  to  punifh  thole  who  com- 
mit them  :  That  Right  being  conveyed  by  the 
Society  to  their  publick  Reprefentarive,  he  can 
execute  the  fame  no  further  than  theBenefitand 

Security 


44      Giro's   LETTERS. 

Security  of  that  Society  requires  he  fliould. 
When  he  exceeds  his  Commiilion,  his  Acls  are 
as  extrajudicial  as  are  thofe  of  any  private 
Officer  ufurping  an  unlawful  Authority,  that  is, 
they  are  void  ;  and  every  Man  is  anfwerable 
for  the  Wront*  he  does,  A  Power  to  da 
Good,  can  never  become  a  Warrant  for  doing 
Evil. 

But  here  arifes  a  grand  Queftion,  which  has 
perplexed  and  puzzled  the  greateft  part  of 
Mankind  :  And  yet,  I  think,  the  Anfwer  to  it 
is  eafy  and  obvious.  The  Queftion  is,  Who 
(hall  be  Judge  whether  the  MagHfrate  a6h  juft- 
ly,  and  purfues  his  Truft  ?  To  this  it  is  juftly 
faid,  that  if  thofe  who  complain  of  him  are  to 
judge  him,  then  there  is  a  fettled  Authority 
above  the  chief  Magiftrate,  which  Authority 
mud  be  itfelf  the  chief  Magiftrate ;  which  is 
contrary  to  the  Supposition  ;  and  the  fame 
QuefHon  and  Difficulty  will  recur  again  upon 
thi?  new  Magiftr'acy'.  All  this  I  own  to  be 
abfurd  ,  and  I  aver  it  to  be  at  lead  as  ab- 
furd  ro  affirm,  that  the  Perfbn  accufed  is  to 
be  the  decifive  Judge  of  his  own  Actions,  when 
it  is  certain  he  will  always  judge  and  determine 
in  his  own  Favour  ;  and  thus  the  whole  Race 
of  Mankind  will  be  left  helplefs  under  the 
heavieft  Injuftice,  Oppreilion  and  Mifery  that 
can  afflict  humane  Nature. 

But  if  neither  Magiftrates,  nor  they  who 
complain  of  Magiftrates,  and  are  aggriev'd  by 
them,  have  a  Right  to  determine  decifively, 
the  one  for  the  other ;  and  if  there  is  no 
common  eftablifh'd  Power,  to  which  both  are 
fubjedl :  Then  every  Man  interefted  in  the 

Succeis. 


LETTERS.      4? 

Succefs  of  the  Conteft,  mud  a&  according  to 
the  Light  and  Dictates  of  his  own  Conference, 
and  inform  it  as  well  as  he  can.  Where  no 
Judge  is  or  can  be  appointed,  every  Man  muft 
be  his  own  ;  that  is,  -when  there  is  no  dated 
Judge  upon  Earth,  we  muft  have  Recourfe  to 
Heaven,  and  obey  the  Will  of  Heaven,  by 
declaring  our  felves  on  that  which  we  think  the 
jufter  Side. 

If  the  Senate  and  People  of  Pome  had  dif- 
fered irreconcileably,  there  could  have  been  no 
common  Judge  in  the  World  between  them  ; 
and  confequently  no  Remedy  but  the  lad  :  for 
that  Government  confifting  in  the  Union  of 
the  Nobles  and  the  People,  when  they  differed, 
no  Man  could  determine  betv/een  them  :  and 
therefore  every  Man  muft  have  been  at  Liber- 
ty to  provide  for  his  own  Security,  and  the 
general  Good,  in  the  beft  Manner  he  was  able. 
In  that  Cafe  the  common  Judge  ceafing,  every 
one  was  his  own  :  The  Government  becoming 
incapable  of  acYing,  differed  a  political  Demife  : 
The  Conftitution  was  diflblved,  and  there  be- 
ing  no  Government  in  Being,  the  People  were 
in  the  State  of  Nature  again. 

The  fame  muft  be  true,  where  two  Abfblute 
Princes,  governing  a  Country,  come  to  quar- 
rel, as  fometimes  two  C^cfms  in  Partnerfhip  did, 
efpecially  towards  the  latter  End  of  the  Rgman 
Empire  ;  or  where  a  Sovereign  Council  govern 
a  Country,  and  their  Votes  come  equally  to 
be  divided.  In  fucb  a  Circumftance,  every 
Man  muft  take  that  Side  which  he  thinks  molt 
for  the  Publick  Good,  or  chufe  any  proper 
Meafures  for  his  own  Security.  For,  if  I  owe 

my 


46     CATO's  LETTERS. 

my  Allegiance  to  two  Princes  agreeing,  or  to 
the  Major'ty  of  a  Council ;  when  between 
thefe  Pr4nces  there  is  no  longer  any  Union,  nor 
in  that  Council  anv  Majority,  no  Submiilion 
can  be  due  to  that  which  is  not  ;  and  the  Laws 
of  Nature  and  Self  prefervation  muft  take  place, 
where  thrre  are  no  other. 

The  Cafe  is  ftill  the  frr-e,  when  there  is 
any,  D.ifpute  about  rhe  Titles  of  Abfblute 
Princes,  who  govern  u;dept ndently  on  the 
States  of  a  Country,  and  call  none.  Here  too 
every  Man  mull  judge  for  himfelf  what  Party 
he  will  take,  and  to  which  of  the  Titles  he 
will  adhere;  and  the  like  private  Judgment 
muft  guide  him,  whenever  a  Queftion  arifes 
whether  the  faid  Prince  is  an  Idiot  or  Luna- 
tick,  and  confequently  whether  he  is  capable 
or  incapable  of  Government.  Where  there 
are  no  States,  there  can  be  no  othei  Way  of 
judging  ;  but  by  the  Judgment  of  private  Men, 
the  Capacity  of  the  Prince  muft  be  judged, 
and  his  Fate  determined.  Lunacy*  and  Id iot- 
ifm  are,  I  think,  allowed  by  all  to  be  certain 
DifquaHrications  for  Government  j  and  indeed 
they  are  as  much  To,  as  if  he  were  deaf,  blindj 
and  dumb,  or  even  dead.  He  who  can  neither 
execute  an  Office,  nor  appoint  a  Deputy,  is 
not  lit  for  one. 

Now  I  would  fain  know,  why  private  Men 
may  not  as  well  ufe  their  Judgment  in  an  In-" 
ftance  that  concerns  them  more;  I  mean  that 
of  a  Tyrannical  Government,  of  which  they 
hourly  feel  the  fad  Effects,  and  forrowful  Proofs ; 
whereas  they  have  not  by  far  the  equal  Means 
of  coming  to  a  Certainty  about  the  natural 

Inca- 


LETTERS.      47 

* 

Incapacity  of  their  Governor.  The  Perfonsof 
great  Princes  are  known  but  to  few  of  their 
Subjects,  and  their  Parts  to  much  fewer  •  and 
feveral  Princes  have,  by  the  Management  of 
their  Wives,  or  Minifters,  or  Murderers,  reign'd 
a  good  while  after  they  were  dead.  In  Truth, 
I  think  'tis  as  much  the  Bufmefs  and  Right  of 
the  People  to  judge  whether  their  Prince  'be 
good  or  bad,  whether  a  Father  or  an  Enemy, 
as  to  judge  whether  he  be  dead  or  alive ;  un- 
lefs  it  be  (aid  (as  many  fuch  wife  Things  have 
been  faid)  that  they  may  judge  whether  he 
can  govern  them,  but  not  whether  he  does ; 
and  jhat  it  behoves  them  to  put  the  Admini- 
ftration  in  wifer  Hands,  if  he  is  a  harmlefs 
Fool,  but  it  is  impious  to  do  it,  if  he  is  only 
a  deftruclive  Tyrant ;  that  Want  of  Speech  is 
a  Difqualification,  but  Want  of  Humanity 
none. 

That  Subjects  were  not  to  judge  of  their 
Governors,  or  rather  for  themfelves  in  ihe  Bu- 
finefs  of  Government,  which  of  all  humane 
Things  concerns  them  moft,  was  an  Abfurdity 
that  never  entered  into  the  Imagination  of  the. 
wile  and  honeft  Ancients  :  Who,  following  for 
their  Guide  that  everlafting  Reafon,  which  isr 
the  bed  and  only  Guide  in  humane  Affairs, 
earned  Liberty  and  humane  Happinefs,  the  le- 
gitimate Offspring  and  Work  of  Liberty,  to 
the  higheft  Pitch  that  they  were  capable  of  ar- 
riving at.  But  the  above  Abfurdity,  with  ma- 
ny others  as  monftrous  and  mifchievous,  were 
rcferved  for  the  Difcovery  of  a  few  wretched 
and  dreaming  Mahometan  and  Chriftian  Monks, 

who, 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

who,  ignorant  of  all  Things,  were  made,  or 
made  themfelves,  the  Dire&ors  of  all  Things  ; 
and  bewitching  the  World  with  holy  Lies,  and 
unaccountable  Ravings,  drefTed  up  in  barba- 
rous Words  and  uncouth  Phrafes,  bent  all  their 
Fairy-Force  agatnft  common  Senfr  and  com- 
mon Liberty  and  Truth,  and  founded  a  perni- 
cious, abfurd,  and  vifionary  E^mpire  upon  their 
Ruins.  Syftems  without  Senfe,  Prcoofitions 
without  Truth,  Religion  without  Reafon,  a 
rampant  Church  without  Charity,  Severity 
without  Juftice,  and  Government  without  Li- 
berty or  Mercy,  were  all  the  blefTed  Handy- 
Works  of  thefe  religious  Madmen,  and  godly 
Pedants  ;  who,  by  pretending  to  know  the 
other  World,  cheated  and  confounded  this. 
Their  Enmity  to  common  Senfe,  and  W7ant  of 
it*  were  their  Warrants  for  governing  rhe  Senfe 
of  all  Mankind  :  By  Lying,  they  were  thought 
the  Champions  of  the  Truth  ;  and  by  their 
Fooleries,  Impieties,  and  Cruelty,  were  e- 
fteemed  the  Favourites  and  Confidents  of  the 
God  of  Wifdom,  Mercy,  and  Peace. 

Thefe  were  the  Men,  who  having  demo- 
limed  all  Senfe  and  humane  Judgment,  firft 
made  it  a  Principle,  that  People  were  not  a 
Judge  of  their  Governor  and  Government,  nor  to 
meddle  with  it,  nor  to  preserve  themfelves  from 
publick  Deilroyers,  falfely  calling  themfelves 
Governors :  And  yet  thefe  Men,  who  thus  fet  up 
for  the  Support  and  Defenders  of  Government, 
without  the  common  Honefty  of  diftinguifhing 
the  Good  from  the  Bad,  and  Protection  from 
Murder  and  Depredation,  were  at  the  fame 

Time 


CATO's  LETTERS.      49 

time  themfelves  the  conftant  and  avowed 
Troublers  of  every  Government  which  they 
could  not  direcl:  and  command  ;  and  every 
Government,  however  excellent,  which  did  not 
make  their  Reveries  its  own  Rules,  and  them- 
felves alone  its  peculiar  Care,  has  been  ho- 
noured with  their  profefled  Hatred  ;  whilft  Ty- 
rants and  publick  Butchers,  who  flattered  them, 
have  been  deified.  This  was  the  poor  State  of 
Chriftendom,  before  the  Reformation,  and  I  wi{h 
I  could  fay,  of  no  Parts  of  it  fince. 

This  barbarous  Anarchy  in  Reafbning  and 
Poljticks,  has  made  it  neceflary  to  prove  Pro- 
pofitions  which  the  Light  of  Nature  had  de- 
monftrated.  And,  as  the  Apoftles  were  forced 
to  prove  to  the  mifled  Gentiles,  that  they  were 
no  Gods  which  were  made  with  Hands ;  I  am 
put  to  prove,  that  the  People  have  a  Right  to 
judge,  whether  their  Governors  were  made  for 
them,  or  they  for  their  Governors  ?  Whether 
their  Governors  have  neceflfary  and  natural 
Qualifications  ?  Whether  they  have  any  Go- 
vernors or  no  ?  And  whether,  when  they  have 
none,  every  Man  muft  not  be  his  own  ?  I 
therefore  return  to  Inftances  and  Illuftrations 
from  Fa£b,  which  cannot  be  denied,  tho'  Pro- 
pofitions  as  true  as  Fa6ls  may,  by  thofe  efpe- 
cially  who  are  defective  in  Point  of  Modefly 
or  Difcernment. 

In  Poland,  according  to  the  Conftitution  of 
that  Country,  it  is  neceffary,  we  are  told,  that, 
in  their  Diets,  the  Confent  of  every  Man  pre- 
fent  muft  be  had  to  make  a  Refolve  effectual  : 
And  therefore,  to  prevent  the  cutting  of  Peo- 
ple's Throats,  they  have  no  Remedy  but  to 

VOL.  II.  C  cue 


5o       Giro's  LETTERS. 

cut  the  Throats  of  one  another  ;  that  is,  they 
mud  pull  out  their  Sabres,  and  force  the  re- 
fra&ory  Members  (who  are  always  the  Mi- 
nority) to  fubmit.  And  amongft  us  in  England^ 
where  a  Jury  cannot  agree,  there  can  be  no 
Verdi£t  ;  and  fo  they  mud  fad  till  they  do,  or 
till  one  of  them  is  dead,  and  then  the  Jury  is 
diflblved. 

This  from  the  Nature  of  Things  themfelves, 
-mud  be  the  conftant  Cafe  in  all  Difputes  be- 
tween Dominion   and  Property.     Where  the 
Entered  of  the  Governors  and  that  of  the  Go- 
verned clalh,  there  can  be  no  dated  Judge  be- 
tween them :  To  appeal  to  a  Foreign  Pov/er, 
Is  to  give  up  the  Sovereignty  ;  and  for  either 
Side  to  fubmit,  is  to  give  up  the  Quedion  : 
And  therefore,  if  they  themfelves  do  not  ami- 
cably  determine  the  Difpute   between   them- 
felves, Heaven  alone  mud.    In  fuch  Cafe,  Re- 
courfe  mud  be  had  to  the  firft  Principles  of 
Government  itfelf ;  which  being  a  Depamire  • 
from  the  State  of  Nature,  and  a  Union  of  ma- 
ny Families  forming  themfelves  into  a  political 
Machine  for  mutual  Protection  and  Defence, 
it  is  evident,    that  this  form'd  Relation  can 
continue  no  longer  than  the  Machine  fubiiils 
and  can  acl: ;  and  when  it  does  nor3  the  Indi- 
viduals mud  return  to  their  former  Srare  again. 
No  Conditution  can  provide  againd  what  will 
happen,  when   that  Conditution  is  diflblved. 
Government  is  only  an  Appointment  of  one  or 
more  Perfons,  to  do  certain  Actions  for  the 
Good  and  Emolument  of  the  Society  ,    and 
if  the  Perfons  thus  intruded,  will  not  act  at 
or  a6t  contrary  to  their  Trud,  their  Power 

mull: 


's   LETTERS. 

inuft    return    of  Courfe  to  thofe  who  gave 
it. 

Suppofe,  for  Example,  the  Grand  Monarch 
had  bought  a  neighbouring  Kingdom  and  all 
the  Lands  in  it,  from  the  Courtiers,  and  the 
Majority  of  the  People's  Deputies,  and  amongft 
the  reft,  the  Church-Lands,  into  the  Bargain, 
with  the  Confent  of  their  Convocation  or  Sv- 
nod,  or  by  what  other  Name  that  AfTembly 
was  called ;  Would  the  People  and  Clergy 
have  thought  themfelv.es  obliged  to  have  made 
good  this  Bargain,  if  they  could  have  help'd 
it  ?  I  dare  fay  neither  would  ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  that  the  People  would  have  had  the 
Countenance  of  thefe  reverend  Patriots  to  have 
told  their  Reprfentatives  in  round  Terms,  that: 
they  were  chofen  to  acr.  for  the  Intereil  of  thofe 
that  fent  them,  and  not  for  their  own  ;  that 
their  Power  was  given  them  to  protect  and  de- 
fend their  Country,  and  not  to  fell  and  enflave 
k. . 

This  Supposition,  as  wild  as  it  feems,  yet 
is  not  abfblutely  and  univerfally  impoifible. 
King  John  actually  fold  the  Kingdom  of  Eng- 
land to  his  Holinefs :  And  there  are  People  in, 
all  Nations  ready  to  fell  their  Country  at 
Home  \  and  fuch  can  never  have  any  Princi- 
ples to  withhold  them  from  felling  it  Abroad. 

It  is  foolifh  to  fay,  that  this  Doctrine  can 
be  mifchievous  to  Society,  at  leaft  in  any 
Proportion  to  the  wild  Ruin  and  fatal  Cala- 
mities which  rnuft  befal,  and  do  befal  the 
World,  where  the  contrary  Doctrine  is  main- 
tained  :  For,  all  Bodies  of  Men  fubfilling  upon 
their  own  Subftance,  or  upon  the  Profits  of 

C  'L  their 


CATO's   LETTERS. 

their  Trade  and  Induflry,  find  their  Account 
fb  much  in  Eafe  and  Peace,  and  have  juftly 
fiich  terrible  Apprehenfions  of  Civil  Difbrders, 
which  deftroy  every  Thing  they  enjoy  ;  that 
they  always  bear  a  Thoufand  Injuries  before 
they  return  one,  and  (land  under  the  Burthens 
as  long  as  they  can  bear  them,  as  I  have  in 
another  Letter  obferved. 

What  with  the  Force  of  Education,  and  the 
Reverence  which  People  are  taught,  and  ha  ye 
been  always  ufed  to  pay  to  Princes;  what  with 
the  perpetual  Harangues  of  Flatterers,  the  gau- 
dy Pageantry  and  Outfide  of  Power,  and  its 
gilded  Enfigns,  always  glittering  in  their  Eyes; 
what  with  the  Execution  of  the  Laws  in  the 
Ible  Power  of  the  Prince  ;  what  with  all  the 
regular  Magiftrates,  pompous  Guards  and 
Handing  Troops,  with  the  fortified  Towns, 
the  Artillery,  and  all  the  Magazines  of  War, 
at  his  Difpofal ;  befides  large  Revenues,  and 
Multitudes  of  Followers  and  Dependents,  to 
fupport  and  abet  all  he  does  '.  Obedience  to 
Authority  is  fb  well  fecured,  that  it  is  wild  to 
imagine  that  any  Number  of  Men,  formidable 
enough  to  difturb  a  fettled  State,  can  unite  to- 
gether and  hope  to  overturn  it,  till  the  publick 
Grievances  are  fb  enormous,  the  OpprefHon  fb 
great,  and  the  Difaffe6Hon  fb  universal,  that 
there  can  be  no  Queftion  remaining,  whether 
their  Calamities  are  real  or  imaginary,  and 
whether  the  Magiftrate  has  protected  or  en- 
deavoured to  deftroy  his  People. 

This  was  the  Cafe  of  Richard  the  Second, 
Edward  the  Second,  and  James  the  Second, 
and  will  ever  be  the  Cafe  under  the  fame 

Circum- 


's  LETTERS. 

Circumftances.  No  Society  of  Men  will  groan 
under  Oppreffions  longer  than  they  know  how 
ro  throw  them  off  whatever  unnatural  Whim- 
fies  and  Fa;r  Motions  idle  and  ledentary  Bab- 
blers mav  utter  frcia  Colleges  and  Cloifters  ; 
and  teach  to  others  for  vile  Self-ends,  ~D  ;h  ines, 
which  the/  th^'.rQlves  are  famous  for  not: 
praclifing. 

Upon  this  Principle  of  People's  Judging  for 
the:  selves,  and  refilling  lawlefs  Force,  (lands 
our  late  happy  %evolntion,  and  with  ir  the  juil 
and  rightful  Title  of  our  mod  excellent  So- 
vereign King  Gecrg?9  to  the  Scepter  of  thefe 
Realms  ;  a  Scepter  which  he  has,  and  I  doubt: 
not  wtll  ever  fway,  to  his  own  Honour,  and 
the  Honour,  Protection^  and  Proiperity  of  us 
his  People, 

I  on. 


THere  is  no  Government  now  upon  Earth^ 
which  owes  its  Formation  or  Beginning 
to  rhe  immediate  Revelation  of  God,  or  can 
derive  its  Exiilence  from  fuch  Revelation  :  It 
is  certain,  on  the  contrary,  that  the  Rife  and 
Inftitution  or  Variation  of  Government,  from 
Time  to  Time,  is  within  tfce  Memory  of  Men 
or  of  Hiftories  ;  and  that  every  Government, 
which  we  know  at  this  Day  in  the  World,  was 
eftablifhed  by  the  Wifdom  and  Force  of  raeer 
Men,  and  by  the  Concurrence  of  Means  and 

C  Caufes 


54       CATffs  LETTERS. 

Caufes  evidently  humane.  Government  there- 
fore can  have  no  Power,  but  fuch  as  Men  can 
.give,  and  fuch  as  they  actually  did  gixre,  or 
permit  for  their  own  Sakes  :  Nor  can  any  Go- 
vernment be  in  Facl:  erected  but  by  Confent, 
if  not  of  every  Subject,  yet  of  as  many  as 
can  compel  rhe  reft ;  fince  no  Man,  or  Coun- 
cil of  Men,  can  have  perfbnal  Strength  enough 
to  govern  Multitudes  by  Force,  or  can  claim 
to  themfelves  and  their  Families  any  Superi- 
ority, or  natural  Sovereignty  over  their  Fel- 
low-Creatures naturally  as  good  as  them.  Such 
Strength,  therefore,  wherever  it  is,  is  civil  and 
accumulative  Strength,  derived  from  the  Laws 
and  Conilitutions  of  the  Society,  of  which  the 
Governors  "themfelves  are  but  Members. 

So  that  to  know  the  JurifclicHon  of  Gover- 
mrs,  and  irs  Limits ;  we  muft  have  recount 
to  the  Infritution  of  Government,  and  afcertain 
thofe  Limits  by  the  Meafure  of  Power,  which 
Men  in  the  State  of  Nature  have  over  them- 
felves and  one  another:  And  as  no  Man  can 
rake  from  many,  who  are  ftronger  than  him, 
what  they  have  no  Mind  to  give  him  •,  and  he 
who  has  not  Confent  mud  have  Force,  which 
is  itfelf  the  Confent  of  the  Stronger  ;  fo  no  Man 
can  give  to  another  either  what  is  none  of  his 
own,  or  what  in  its  own  Nature  is  Inseparable 
from  himfelf ;  as  his  Religion  particularly  is. 

Every  Man's  Religion  is  his  own  :  nor  can 
the  Religion  of  any  Man,  of  what  Nature  or 
Figure  foever,  be  the  Religion  of  another 
Man,  unlefs  he  alfb  chufes  it  ,  which  A6Hon 
utterly  excludes  all  Force,  Power,  or  Govern- 
ment, Religion  can  never  come  without  Con- 


LETTERS.       5? 

viclion,  nor  can  Conviction  come  from  Civil 
Authority ;  Religion,  which  is  the  Fear  of 
God,  cannot  be  Tub] eel:  to  Power,  which  is  the 
Fear  of  Man.  It  is  a  Relation  between  God 
and  our  own  Souls  only,  and  confifts  in  a  Dif- 
pofition  of  Mind  to  obey  the  Will  of  our  great 
Creator,  in  the  Manner  which  we  think  mod 
acceptable  to  him.  It  is  independent  upon  all 
humane  Directions,  and  fuperior  to  them  ;  and 
confcquently  uncontroulable  by  external  Force, 
which  cannot  reach  the  free  Faculties  of  the 
Mind,  or  inform  the  Undcrftanding,  much  left 
convince  it.  Religion  therefore,  which  can  never 
bei(ubjscttQ  the  Jurifcli&ion  of  another,  can  never 
be  alienated  to  another,  or  put  in  his  Power. 

Nor  has  any  Man  in  the  State  of  Nature, 
Power  over  his  own  Life,  or  to  take  away  the 
Life  of  another,  uniefs  to  defend  his  own,  or 
what  is  as  much  his  own,  namely  his  Property. 
This  Power  therefore,  which  no  Man  has,  no 
Man  Can  transfer  to  another. 

Nor  cp'jld  any  Man,  in  the  State  of  Nature, 
have  a  Right  to  violate  the  Property  of  another, 
that  is,  what  another  had  acquired  by  his  Arc 
or  Labour  ;  or  to  interrupt  him  in  his  Induflry 
and  Enjoyments,  as  long  as  he  himfelf  was  not 
injured  by  that  Induflry  and  thofe  Enjoyments. 
No  Man  therefore  could  transfer  to  the  Ma- 
gi (Irate  that  Right  which  he  had  not  himfelE 

No  Man  in  his  Senfes  v/as  ever  fb  wild  as  to 
give  an  unlimited  Power  to  another  to  take  a- 
way  his  Life,  or  the  Means  of  Livings  accord- 
ing to  the  Caprice,  Pailion,  and  unreafbnable 
Pleafure  of  that  other  :  But  if  any  Man  re- 
ftrained  himfeif  from  any  Part  of  his  Pleafures, 

C  4  or 


LETTERS 

or  parted  with  any  Portion  of  his  Acquisitions, 
he  did  it  with  the  honeft  Purpofe  of  enjoying 
the  reft  with  the  greater  Security,  and  always 
in  Subiervlency  to  his  own  Happinefs,  which 
no  Man  will  or  can  willingly  and  intentionally 
give  away  to  any  other  whatfcever. 

And  if  any  one,  through  his  own  Inadver- 
tence, or  by  the  Fraud  or  Violence  of  another, 
can  be  drawn  into  fb  foolifli  a  Contra6t,  he  is 
reiievable  by  the  eternal  Laws  of  God  and 
Reafon.  No  Engagement  that  is  wicked  and 
unjuir,  can  be  executed  without  Injuftice  and 
Wickedncfs :  This  is  fb  true,  that  I  queftion 
.whether  there  be  a  Confritution  in  the  World 
which  does  not  afford,  or  pretend  to  afford,  a 
Remedy  for  relieving  ignorant,  dift  reflect  and 
unwary  Men,  trepaned  into  fiich  Engagements 
by  artful  Knaves,  or  frightned  into  them  by 
imperious  ones.  So  that  here  the  Laws  of  Na- 
ture and  general  Reafon  fuperfede  the  municipal 
and  poiitive  Laws  of  Nations  ;  and  no  where 
oftner  than  in  England.  What  elfe  was  the 
Deiign,  and  ought  to  be  the  Bufmefs  of  our 
Courts  of  Equity  ?  And  I  hope  whole  Coun- 
tries and  Societies  are  rio  more  .exempted  from 
the  Privileges  and  Protection  of  Reafbn  and 
Equity,  than  are  private  Particulars. 

Here  then  is  the  natural  Limitation  of  the 
Magiilrate's  Authority  :  He  ought  not  to  take 
what  no  Man  ought  to  give,  nor  exact  what 
no  Man  ought  to  perform  :  All  he  has  is  given 
him,  and  thole  that  gave  it  mud:  judge  of  the 
Application.  In  Government  there  is  no  fuch 
Relation  as  Lord  and  Slave,  lawlefs  Will  and 
blind  Submiffion  j  nor  ought  tobeamongftMen: 

But 


CATffs  LETTERS.     57 

But  the  only  Relation  is  that  of  Father  and 
Children,  Patron  and  Client,  Protection  and 
Allegiance,  Benefaclion  and  Gratitude,  mutual 
AffedHon  and  mutual  Ailiftance. 

So  that  the  Nature  of  Government  does  not 
alter  the  natural  Right  of  Men  to  Liberty,, 
which  in  all  political  Societies  is  alike  their  due ; 
But  (brae  Governments  provide  better  thaa 
others,  for  the  Security  and  impartial  Difrribu- 
fion  of  that  Right.  There  has  been  always 
fuch  a  conftant  and  certain  Fund  of  Corruption 
and  Malignity  in  humane  Nature,  that  it  has 
been  rare  to  find  that  Man,  whofe  Views  ancf 
Happinefs  did  not  center  in  the  Gratification  of 
his  Appetites,  and  worft  Appetites,  his  Luxury, 
his  Pride,  his  Avarice  and  Luft  of  Power ;  and 
who  confidered  any  publick  Truft  repofed  in, 
him,  with  any  other  View,  than  as  the  Means 
to  fatiate  fuch>  unruly  and  dangerous  Dehres  ! 
And  this  has  been  moft  eminently  true  of  Great 
Men,  and  thofe  who  afpired  to  Dominion, 
They  were  firfl  made  Great  for  the  Sake  of  the 
Publick,  and  afterwards  at  its  Expence.  And 
if  they  had  been  content  to  have  been  moderate- 
Traytors^  Mankind  would  have  been  dill  mo- 
derately happy  ;  but  their  Ambition  and  Trea- 
Ion  obferving  no  Degree?,  there  was  no  Degree 
of  Vilenefs  and  Mifery,  which  the  poor  People- 
did  net  often  feeL 

^The  Appetites  therefore  of  Men,  especially 
of  Great  Men,  are  carefully  to  be  obferved 
and  fbpp'd,  or  elfe  they  wiil  never  (lop  them- 
frives.  The  Experience  of  ev.v. ry  Age  con- 
vincf.s  u.5,  that  we  muft  not  i'-idge  of  Men  by 
wtiat  ih-jy  ought  to  do,  but  by  what  they  will 

C  5 


CATffs  LETTERS. 

and  all  Hiftory  affords  but  few  Inftances  of 
Men  trufted  with  great  Power  without  abuilng 
it,  when  with  Security  they  could.  The  Ser- 
vants of  Society,  that  is  to  fay,  its  Magiftrates, 
did^  almoft  univerfally  ferve  it  by  feizing  it, 
felling  it,  or  plundering  it  ;  efpecially  when 
they  were  left  by  the  Soc'ety  unlimited  as  to 
their  Duty  and  Wages.  In  that  Cafe,  thefe 
Faithful  Stewards  generally  took  all ;  and  being 
Servants,  made  Slaves  of  their  M afters. 

For  thefe  Reafons,  and  convinced  by  woful 
and  eternal  Experience,  Societies  found  ft  ne- 
ceflary  to  lay  Reftraints  upon  their  Magi  (bates 
or  pubiick  Servants,  and  to  put  Checks  upon 
thole  who  would  otherwife  put  Chains  upon 
them  ;  and  therefore  theft  Societies  fer  them- 
felves  to  model  and  form  national  Conftitutions 
with  fuch  Wifdom  and  Art,  that  the  pubiick 
Intereft  fhould  be  confulted  and  carried  on  at 
the  fame  Time,  when  thofe  entrufted  with  the 
Adminiftration  of  it  were  confulting  and  pur- 
fuing  their  own. 

Hence  grew  the  DiftincHon  between  Arbf- 
trary  and  Free  Governments :  Not  that  more  or 
lefs  Power  was  veiled  i  n  the  one  than  in  the  other ; 
nor  that  either  of  them  lay  under  lefs  or  more 
Obligations,  in  jullice,  to  protect  their  Sub- 
jects, and  ftudy  their  Eaie,  Profperity  and  Se- 
ciiriry,  and  to- watch  for  the  fsm-e.  But  the 
Power  and  Sovereignty  of  MagTftrates  in  free 
Countries  was  fo  qualified,  and  fb  divided  into 
different  Channels,  and^  committed  to  the  Di- 
redlion  of  fb  many  different  Men,  with  diffe- 
rent Interefts  and  Views,  that  the  Majority  of 
them  could  feldora  or  never  find  their  Account 


's  LETTERS. 

in  betraying  their  Truft  in  fundamental  In- 
ftances.  '  Their  Emulation,  Envy,  Fear,  or 
Intereft,  always  made  them  Spies  and  Checks 
upon  one  another.  By  all  which  fvleans,  the 
People  have  often  come  at  the  Heads  of  thofe 
who  forfeited  their  Heads,  by  betraying  the 
People. 

In  defpotick  Governments,  Things  went  far 
otherwife,  thole  Governments  having  been  fra- 
med otherwife  ;  if  the  fame  could  be  called 
Governments,  where  the  Rules  of  publick 
Power  were  dilated  by  private  and  lawleis 
Luft  ;  where  Folly  and  Madnefs  often  fway'd 
the  Scepter,  and  blind  Rage  weilded  the  Sword, 
The  whole  Wealth  of  the  Stale,  with  its  Civil 
or  Military  Power,  being  in  the  Prince,  the 
People  could  have  no  Remedy  but  Death  and 
Patience,  while  he  opprefled  them  by  the 
Lump,  and  butchefd  thc-m  by  Thoufands  i 
llnlefs  perhaps  the  Ambition  or  perfbnal  Re- 
fentments  of  fbme  of  the  Inftruments  of  his 
Tyranny  procured  a  Revolt,  which  rarely 
mended  their  Condition. 

The  only  Secret  therefore  in  forming  a  Free 
Government,  is  to  make  the  Intereils  of  the 
Governors  and  of  the  Governed  the  fame,  as 
far  as  humane  Policy  can  contrive.  Liberty 
cannot  be  preserved  any  other  Way.  Men  have 
long  found,  from  the  Weaknefs  an^  Depravity 
of  themfclves  and  one  another,  that  moit  Men 
will  acSl  for  Intereflr,  againft  Duty,  as  often  as. 
they  dare.  So  that  to  engage  them  to  their 
Duty,  Intereft  mull  be  linked  to  the  Observance 
of  it,  and  Danger  to  the  Breach  of  it,  Per- 
lbnal Advantages  and  Security,  mud  be  t. 

Rewards 


<?o     C  A  T  O's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S. 

Rewards  of  Duty  and  Obedience  ;  and  Dif- 
grace,  Torture,  and  Death,  the  Punifhment  of 
Treachery  and  Corruption. 

Humane  WifHom  has  yet  found  out  but  one 

certain  Expedient  to  effect  this  ;  and  that  is, 

to  have  the  Concerns  of  all  directed  by  all,  as 

far  as  poffibly  can  be  :  And  where  the  Perfons 

interefted  are  too  numerous,  or  live  too  diftant 

to  meet  together  on  all  Emergencies,  they  muft 

moderate  Neceffity  by  Prudence,   and  acl:  by 

Deputies  whofe  Intereft  is  the  fame  with  their 

own,  and  whofe  Property  is  fo  intermingled 

with  theirs,   and  fo  engaged    upon  the   fame 

Bottom,    that  Principals  and   Deputies    muft 

Irand  and  fall  together.    When  the  Deputies 

thus  a&  for  their  own  Intereft,  by  acting  for 

the  Intereft  of  their  Principals ;  when  they  can 

make  no  Law  but  what  they  themfelves,  and 

their  Pofterity,  mud  be  fcbjecfc  to  ;  when  they 

can  give  no  Money,  but  what  they  muft  pay 

their  Share  of;  and  when  they  can  da  no  Mi£ 

chief,  but  what  muft  fall  upon  their  own  Heads 

in  common  with  their  Countrymen;  their  Prin~ 

cipals  may  then  expect  good  Laws,  little  Mi£ 

chief,  and  much  Frugality. 

Here  therefore  lies  the  great  Point  of  Nicety- 
and  Care,  in  forming  the  Conftitution,  that  the- 
Perfons  entrufted  and  reprefeming,  fhall  either- 
never  have  an  Intereft  detached  from  the  Per- 
fons entrusting  and  reprefented,  or  never  the 
Means  t:>  purfue  it.     Now  to  corn  pa  Is  this  great- 
Point  efk%6i:ualiy,  no  other  Way  is  left,,  but  one- 
of  thefe  two,  or  rather  both ;  namely,  to  make 
the  Deputies  fo  numerous,  that  that  there  may 
be  no.  Poiiibility  of  corrupting  the  Majority ;, 


CATO's  LETTERS.     61 

or,  by  changing  them  fo  often,  that  there  is  no 
fufficient  Time  to  corrupt  them,  and  to  carry 
the  Ends  of  that  Corruption.  The  People  may 
be  very  fure,  that  the  major  Part  of  their  De- 
puties being  honeft,  will  keep  the  reft  fo  ;  and 
that  they  will  all  be  honeft,  when  they  have 
no  Temptations  to  be  Knaves. 

We  have  fbme  Sketch  of  this  Policy  in  the 
Conftitudon  of  our  leveral  great  Companies, 
where  the  general  Court,  ccmpos'd  of  all  its 
Members,  conftitutes  the  Legiflature,  and  the 
Confent  of  that  Court  is  the  Sanction  of  their 
Laws  ;  and  where  the  Adminiftration  of  their 
Affairs  is  put  under  the  Conduct  of  a  certain 
Number  chofen  by  ihe  Whole.  Here  every 
Man  concerned,  faw  the  Neceffity  of  fecuring 
Part  of  their  Property,  by  putting  the  Perfons 
intrufted  under  proper  Regulations ;  however 
remifs  they  may  be  in  taking  Care  of  the  Whole; 
And  if  Provihon  had  been  made,  that,  as  a- 
third  Part  of  the  Directors  are  to  go  out  every 
Year,  (b  none  fhould  ftay  in  above  three,  (as  I 
am  told,  was  at  firlt  promifcd)  all  Jugling  with 
Courtiers,  and  raifmg  great  Eitates  by  Con- 
federacy, at  the  Expence  of  the  Company, 
had,  in  a  great  Meafare  been  prevented ;  thoj 
there  were  ftill  wanting  other  Limttation.%. 
which  might  have  efte&uali^  obviated  all  thofe 
Evils. 

This  was  the  ancient  Conftitution  of  England? 
Our  Kings  had  neither  Revenues  large  enough,, 
nor  Offices  gainful  and  numerous  enough  in, 
their  Diipofai,  to  corrupt  any  coniiderable 
Number  of  Members ;  nor  any  Force  to* 
them. :  Beiides,  the  fame  Parliament 

fcldom 


6i     CA  TO's  LETTERS. 

feldom  or  never  met  twice  :  For,  the  ferving 
in  it  being  found  an  Office  of  Burden  and  no 
Profit,  it  was  thought  reafbnable  that  all  Men 
qualified  fhould,  in  their  Turns,  leave  their 
Families  and  domeftick  Concerns,  to  ferve  the 
Publick ;  and  their  Boroughs  bore  their  Charges, 
The  only  Grievance  then  was,  that  they  were 
not  called  together  often  enough,  to  redrefs  the 
Grievances  which  the  People  fuffered  from  the 
Court  during  their  Interraiinon  :  And  there- 
fore, a  Law  was  made  in  Edward,  the  Third's 
Time,  that  Parliaments  fhould  be  held  once  a 
Year. 

But  this  Law,  like  the  Queen's  Peace,  did 
not  execute  it  felf ;  and  therefore  the  Court 
leldom  convened  them,  bur  when  they  wanted 
Money,  or  had  other  Purpofes  of  their  own  to 
ferve  ;  and  fbmetimes  raifed  Money  without: 
them :  Which  arbitrary  Proceeding  brought  up- 
on the  Publick  numerous  Mifchiefs  ;  and,  in 
the  Reign  of  King  Charles  the  Firft,  along  and 
bloody  Civil  War.  In  that  Reign  an  AcT:  was 
pafled,  that  they  fhould  meet  of  themfelves, 
if  they  were  not  called  according  to  the  Di- 
rection of  that  Law,  which  was  worthily  re- 
peaFd  upon  the  Reiteration  of  King  Charles  the 
Second  :  And  in  the  fame  kind  Fit,  a  great  Re- 
venue  was  given  him  for  Life,  and  continued 
to  his  Brother.  By  which  Mean?,  thejfe  Princes 
were  enabled  to  keep  ftanding  Troops,  and  to 
corrupt  Parliaments,  or  to  IFve  without  them  j 
and  to  commit  fuch  A&s  of  Power  as  brought 
about,  and  indeed  forced  the  People  upon  the 
late  happy  Revolution.  Soon  after  which,  a 
new  A6t  was  paffed,  that  Parliaments  (hould 

bs 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

be  rechofen  once  in  three  Years :  Which  Law 
was  alfb  repealed,  upon  his  Majefty's  Acceffion 
to  the  Throne,  that  the  prefent  Parliament  might: 
have  Time  to  re6Hfy  thofe  Abufes  which  we 
laboured  under,  and  to  make  Regulations  pro- 
per to  prevent  them  All  for  the  future.  All 
which  has  been  fince  happily  effected.;  and,  I 
blefs  God,  we  are  told,  that  the  People  will 
have  the  Opportunity  to  thank  them,  in  ano- 
ther Election,  for  their  great  Services  to  their 
Country.  I  (hall  be  always  ready,  on  my 
Part,  to  do  them  Honour,  and  pay  them  my 
Acknowledgments,  in  the  moil:  effectual  man- 
ner in  my'Power. But  more  of  this  in  the 

fucceeding  Papers, 

&€» 


S  I 

TH  E  mod  reafbnable  Meaning  that  can 
b-e  put  upon  this  Apothegm,  that  Virtu? 
is  its  own  Reward^  is,  that  it  feldom  meets  with 
any  other.  God  himfelf,  who  having  made  us^ 
beft  knows  our  Natures,  does  not  truft  to  the 
jntrinfkk  Excellence  and  native  Beauty  of  Ho- 
linefs  alone,  to  engage  us  in  its  Interefts  and 
Purfuits,  but  recommends  it  to  us  by  the  ftronger 
and  more  affecting  Motives  of  Rewards  and 
Punifhments.  No  wife  Man,  therefore,  will 
in  any  Inftanee  of  Moment  truPt  to  the  meer 
Integrity  of  another.  The  Experience  of  all 
Ages  may  convince  us,  that  Men,  when  they 

are 


64     Giro's  LETTERS. 

are  above  Fear,  grow  for  the  mpft  part  above 
Honetty  apd  Shame  :  And  this  is  particularly 
and  certainly  true  of  Societies  of  Men,  when 
they  are  numerous  enough  to  keep  one  another 
in  Countenance  ;  for  when  the  Weight  of  In- 
famy is  divided  amongft  many,  no  one  finks 
under  his  own  Burden. 

Great  Bodies  of  Men  have  leldom  judged 
what  they  ought  to  do,  by  any  other  Rule  than* 
what  they  could  do.  What  Nation  is  there 
that  has  not  oppreffed  any  other,  when  the 
fame  could  be  done  with  Advantage  and  Secu- 
rity ?  What  Party  has  ever  had  Regard  to  the 
Principles  which  they  profeffed,  or  ever  re- 
formed the  Errors  they  condemned  ?  What 
Company,  or  particular  Society  of  Merchants 
or  Tradelmen,  has  ever  acled  for  the  Irttereft 
of  general  Trade,  tko'  it  always  filled  their 
Mouths  in  private  Conversion? 

And  yet  Men,  thus  form'd  and  qualified,  are 
the  Materials  for  Government.  For  the  Sake 
of  Men  it  is  inflituted,  and  by  the  Prudence  of 
Men  it  muft  be  conducted ,  and  the  Art  of 
political  Mechanifm  is,  to  erecl  3  firm  Building 
with  fuch  crazy  and  corrupt  Materials.  Ths 
ftrongeft  Cables  are  made  out  of  loofe  Hemp 
and  Flax  ;  and  the  World  it  {elf  may,  with 
the  Help  of  proper  Machines,  be  moved  by 
the  Force  of  a  Tingle  Hair ;  and  fo  may  the 
Government  of  the  World  as  well  as  the  World 
it  felf  But  whatever  Dlfcourfes  1  fhai  I  here- 
after make  upon  this  great  and  uieful  SubjecT, 
1  (hall  confine  my  (elf  in  this  Letter  to  free 
monarchical  Conititutions  alone,  and  to  the 
Application  of  (bine  of  the  Principles  laid  down 
in  my  lait  It 


C  A  T  O's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S.     6; 

It  is  there  faid,  that  when  the  Society  confifts 
of  too  many,  or  when  they  live  too  far  apart  to 
be  able  to  meet  together,  to  take  Care  of  their 
own  AfTairs,  they  can  no  otherwife  preferve 
their  Liberties,  then  by  chufing  Deputies  to  re- 
prefent  them,  and  to  acT:  for  them;  and  that 
thefe  Deputies  muft  be  either  fo  numerous,  that 
there  can  be  no  Means  of  corrupting  the  Majo- 
rity, or  fb  often  changed,  that  there  fhall  be 
no  Time  to  do  it  fo  as  to  anfwer  any  End  by 
doing  it.  Without  one  of  thefe  Regulations,  or 
both,  I  lay  it  down  as  a  certain  Maxim  in  Po- 
liticks, that  it  is  impoilible  to  preferve  a  tree 
Government  long. 

I  think  I  may  with  great  Modefty  affirm, 
that  in  former  Reigns,  the  People  of  England 
found  no  fufficient  Security  in  the  Number  of 
their  Reprefentatlves.  What  with  the  Crowd 
of  Offices  in  the  Gift  of  the  Crown,  which 
were  poflefTed  by  Men  of  no  other  Merit,  nor 
held  by  any  other  Tenure,  but  merely  a  Ca- 
pacity to  get  into  the  Houfeof  Commons,,  and 
the  Diflervice  they  could  and  would  do  their 
Country  there  :  What  with  the  Promifes  and 
Expectations  given  to  others,  who  by  Court- 
Influence,  and  often  by  Court-Money,  carried 
their  Elections:  What  by  artful  Carefles,  and 
the  familiar  and  deceitful  Addreffes  of  great 
Men  to  weak  Men:  What  with  luxurious  Din- 
ners and  Rivers  of  *BuYgundy^  Champaign  and, 
Tc^ry,  thrown  down  the  Throats  of  Gluttons ; 
and  what  with  Penfions,  and  other  perfonal 
Gratifications,  befbowed  where  Wind  and  Smoke 
would  not  pafs  for  current  Coin  :  What  with 
Party  Watch-words  and  imaginary  Terrors, 

fpread 


66       C^fO's  LETTERS* 

fpread  amongft  the  drunken  'Squires,  and  the 
deluded  and  enthufiaftick  Bigots,  of  dreadful 
Defigns  in  Embric,  to  blow  up  the  Church, 
and  the  Proteftant  Intereft ;  and  fbmetimes  with 
the  Dread  of  mighty  Invafions  juft  ready  to 
break  upon  us  from  the  Man  in  the  Moon  :  I 
fay,  bjr  ail  thefe  corrupt  Arts,  the  Reprefenta- 
tives  of  the  EngHJh  People,  in  former  Reigns, 
have  been  brought  to  betray  the  People,  and  to 
join  with  their  Qppreflprs.  So  much  are  Men 
governed  by  artful  Applications  to  their  private 
Paflions  and  Intereft.  And  it  is  evident  to  me, 
that  if  ever  we  have  a  weak  or  an  ambitious 
Prince,  with  a  Miniftfy  like  him,  we  muft  find 
out  fome  other  Reiburces,  or  acquiefce  in  the 
Lofs  of  our  Liberties  The  Courfe  and  Tranfl- 
ency  of  humane  A  flairs,  will  not  fufFer  us  to 
live  always  under  the  prcfent  righteous  Admi- 
niftration. 

So  that  I  can  fee  no  Means  in  humane  Policy 
to  proierve  the  publick  Liberty  -and  amonarchb 
cal  Form  of  Government  together,  but  by  the 
frequent  frefh  Elections  of  the  People's  Depu- 
ties :  This  is  what  the  Writers  in  Politicks  call 
Rotation  of  Magiftracy.  Men,  when  they  firft 
enter  into  Magiftracy,  have  often  their  former 
Condition  before  their  Eyes  :  They  remember 
what  they  rhemfelves  fuffered,  with  their  Fel- 
low Subjects,  from  the  Abufe  of  Power,  and 
how  much  they  blamed  it ;  and  fb  their^  firft 
Purposes  are  to  be  humble,  modeft  and  juft  ; 
and  probably,  for  fome  Time,  they  continue 
fo.  But  the  Pcffeilion  of  Power  loon  alters 
and  viciates  their  Hearts,  which  are  at  the 
fame  time  fure  to  be  leavened,  and  puffed  up 

to 


LETTERS.     <j}r 

to  an  unnatural  Size,  by  the  deceitful  Incenfe 
of  falfe  Friends,  and  the  proftrate  SubmilTlcn 
of  Para  fires.  Firft,  they  grow  indifferent  to  all 
their  good  Deligns,  and  then  drop  them:  Next 
they  lofe  their  Moderation;  afterwards,  they 
renounce  all  Meafures  with  their^old  Acquaint- 
ance anc1  old  Principles,  and  feeing  themfelves 
in  magnifying  Glaffes,  grow,  in  Conceit,  a 
different  Species  from  their  Fellow  Subjects ; 
and  fo  by.  too  fudden  Degrees  become  in'olenty 
rapacious  and  tyrannical,  and  ready  to  catch  at 
all  Means,  often  the  vileft  and  moil  oppreiiive, 
to  raife  their  Fortunes  as  high  as  their  imagi- 
nary Greatnefs.  So  that  the  only  Way  to  put 
them  in  mind  of  their  former  Condition,  and 

,  consequently  of  the  Condition  of  other  People, 
is  often  to  reduce  them  to  it ;  and  to  let  others 
oF  equal  Capacities  (hare  of  Power  in  their 
Turn  ;  and  this  alfo  is  the  only  Way  to  qualify 
Men,  and  make  them  equally  fit  for  Dominion 
and  Subjection. 

A  Rotation  therefore,  in  Power  and    Magi- 
ftracy,  is  effentially  necefTary  to  a  free  Govern- 

I  ment  :  It  is  indeed  the  Thing  it  felf ;  and  con- 
flitures,  animates,  and  informs  it,  as  much^  as 
the  Soul  conftitutes  ttie  Man.  It  is  a  Thing 
facred  and  inviolable,  wherever  Liberty  is 
thought  facred  ;  nor  can  it  ever  be  committed 
to  the  Difpofal  of  thofe  who  are  truited  with 
the  Prefervation  of  National  Conftitutions :  For 
tho'  they  may  have  the  Power  to  model  it  for 
the  publick  Advantage,  and  for  the  more 
effe&ual  Security  of  that  Right ;  yet  they  can 
have  none  to  give  it  up,  or,  which  is  the  fame 
Thing,  to  make  it  ufelefs. 

The 


68      Giro's  LETTERS. 

The  Condi  tut  ion  of  a  limited  Monarchy, 
is  the  joint  Concurrence  of  the  Crown  and  of 
the  Nobles  (without  whom  it  cannot  fubfift) 
and  ot  the  Body  of  the  People,  to  make  Laws , 
for  the  cominon  Benefit  of  the  Subject  ;  and 
where  the  People,  trough  Number  or  Diflance, 
cannot  meet,  they  muft  fend  Deputies  to  fpeak 
in  their  Names,  and  to  attend  upon  their  In- 
tereft :  Thefe  Deputies  therefore  a£l  by,  under, 
and  in  fbbferveticy  to  the  Conftitution,  and 
have  not  a  Power  above  it  and  over  it. 

In  Holland,  and  fbme  other  free  Countries* 
the  States  are  often  obliged  to  confult  their 
Principals  ;  and,  in  fbme  Inftances,  our  own 
Parliaments  have  declined  entring  upon  Que- 
ilions  of  Importance,  till  they  had  gone  into 
the  Country,  and  known  the  Sentiments  of 
thofe  that  fent  them  ;  as  in  all  Cafes  they  ought 
to  confult  their  Inclinations  as  well  as  their  In- 
tereft.  Who  will  fay  that  the  Rump,  or  Fag- 
end  of  the  Long  Parliament  of  Forty  One,  had 
any  Right  to  expel  fuch  Members  as  they  did 
not  like  ?  Or  to  watch  for  their  Abfence,  that 
they  might  feize  to  themfelves,  or  give  up  to 
any  body  elfe,  the  Right  of  thofe  from  whofe 
Confidence  and  Credulity  they  derived  the  Au- 
thority which  they  a&ed  by  ? 

With  Thanks  to  God,  I  own,  we  have  a 
Prince  fb  fenfible  of  this  Right,  and  wh  j  owes 
his  Crown  fb  intirely  to  the  Principles  laid 
down,  and  I  think  fully  proved  in  thefe  Letters; 
that  it  is  impoilible  to  fiifpecl:,  either  from  his 
Inclinations,  his  Interelt,  or  his  known  Juftice,. 
that  he  mould  ever  fall  into  any  Meafures  to 
deftroy  that  People,  who  have  given  him  his 

Crown, 


'S  LETTERS. 

Crown,  and  fupported  him  in  it  with  fb  much 
Generofity  and  Expence  ,  or  that  he  fhould 
undermine,  by  that  Means,  the  Ground  upon 
\vhich  he  ftands.  I  do  therefore  the  lefs  regard 
the  idle  Sufpicions  and  Calumnies  of  difaffe£red 
Men,  who  would  iurmiie,  that  a  Defign  is  yet 

on  Foot  to  continue  this  Parliament •  a  Re- 

fledion  the  moft  impudent  ^and  invidious  that 
can  be  thrown  upon  his  Majefty,  his  Miniiters, 
or  his  two  Houfes ;  and  a  Reflexion  that  can 
come  from  none  but  profeffed,  or  at  leaft  from 
concealed  Jacobites. 

It  is  no  lefs  than  an  Insinuation,  that  our  mod 
excellent  Sovereign  King  George  has  a  Diftruft  of 
his  faithful  Subjects ;  that  he  will  refufe  them 
the  Means  of  their  own  Prefervation,  and  the 
Prefervation  of  that  Conftitution  which  they 
chofe  him  to  preferve ;  that  he  will  {hut  his 
Ears  againft  their  modeft,  juft,  and  dutiful 
Complaints;  and  that  he  apprehends  Danger 
from  meeting  them  in  a  New  and  Free-chofen 
Parliament.  This  is  contrary  to  the  Tenour 
of  his  whole  Life  and  AdHons;  who,  as  he  has 
received  Three  Crowns  from  their  Gift,  fb  he 
lies  under  all  the  Ties  of  Generofity,  Gratitude, 
and  Duty,  to  cherifh  and  protect  them,  and 
to  make  them  always  great,  free,  and  happy. 

It  is  a  moft  fcandalous  Calumny  upon  Hi's 
faithful  Servants,  to  fugged  that  any  of  them, 
confcious  of  Guilt  and  Crimes,  feared  any  thing 
from  the  moil  ftricl:  and  rigorous  Infpe&ion  into 
their  Proceedings.  Some  of  them  have  already 
flood  the  fiery  Tryal,  and  come  off  triumphant 
with  general  Approbation.  They  have,  befides 
the  Advantage  of  his  Majefty's  mod  gracious 

Pardon, 


70     C^rO's  LETTERS. 

Pardon,  which  trrey  did  not  want,  and  which 
was  not  pafled  for  their  Sakes.  Who  there- 
fore can  fufpe<St  that  Patriots  fb  uncorrupt,  fp 
prudent,  and  fo  popular,  will  difhonour  their 
Mailer,  give  up  the  Conftitution,  ruin  their 
Country,  and  render  themfelves  the  Objects 
of  univerfal  Scorn,  Deteftation  and  Curfes,  by 
advifing  the  moil  odious,  dangerous,  and  de- 
ft ru&ive  Meafures,  that  ever  Counfellors  gave 
a  Prince. 

It  is  a  moil  ungrateful  Return  to  our  illuflri- 
ous  Reprefenatives,  to  fugged,  that  Men  who 
have  left  their  domeftick  Concerns  to  ferve 
their  Country  at  their  own  Expence,  and  with- 
out any  perfbnal  Advantages,  and  have  be- 
llowed their  Labours  upon  the  Publick  for  a 
much  longer  Time  than  their  Principals  had  at 
firfl  a  Right  to  expecl:  from  them  ;  and  have, 
during  all  that  Time,  been  rectifying  the 
Abufes  which  have  crept  into  our  Conftitution ; 
and  have  ailifted  his  Majelly  in  going  through 
two  very  ufeful  and  nectflary  Wars,  and  have 
regulated  our  Finances,  and  the  Expence  of  our 
Guards  and  Garrifons,  and  corrected  many 
Abufes  in  the  Fleet  and  the  Civil  Adminiftra- 
tion  ;  and  have  taken  effectual  Vengeance  of 
all  thofe  who  were  concerned  in  promoting, 
procuring,  aiding,  or  ailliling  the  late  dreadful 
South- Sea  Project.  — —  I  fay,  after  fo  many 
Things  done  by-  them  for  the  publick  Ho- 
nour and  Profperity,  it  is  the  bafeft  Ingrati- 
tude to  (iirmlie,  that  any  of  them  would  give 
up  that  Conilitution  which  they  were  chofen, 
and  have  taken  fb  much  Pains,  to  preferve. 

Idol 


's  LETTERS. 

I  do  indeed   confefs,  if  any  Invasion  was  to 
be   feared   from    ?.Wm»y,    Mtckfenburo-.    Spain* 

f*f      •          rr>       I   •  T  n  •  ^  ' 

or  Civitn  Veccbia  ;    it  new  r rovmces   were  to 
be  obtained  Abroad,  new  Armies  to  be  railed, 
or  new  Fleets  to  be   equipped  upon   warlike 
Expeditions  :    If  new  Provifion  was  wanting 
for  the  Civil  Lift,  and  new  Taxes  to  be  levied, 
or -new  Companies  to  be  erected  to  pay  off  the 
publick  Debts  :  If  the  Univerfities  were  to  be 
further  regulated,  or  any  Infpe&icn  was  necefc 
fary  into  the  Increafe  of  Fees  -and  Exa6Hons  of 
Civil  Officers  ;  if  there  was  the  lead  Ground 
to  fufpe6t   Bribery  or  Corruption   in  a  Place 
where  it  fhould  not  be  ;  or  if  there  was  any 
new  Project  on  Foot  to  banifh  tyrannical  and 
popifh  Principles  far  out  of  the  Land  :    I  fay, 
that  in  fcch  a  Scene  of  Affairs,  I  dare  not  be 
altogether  fb  pofitive  in  my  AfTertion,  that  we 
ought  to  venture,  and  at  all  Events  to  leave  to 
Chance   that  which  we  are  in   PofleJlion   of 
already.——  But  as   we  are  at  prefent  in  the 
happy   State  of  Indolence   and    Security,    at 
Peace  with  all  the  World  and  our  own  Con- 
fciences ;  as  little   more  Money  can  be  raifed 
from    the  People,  mod  of  it  being -already  in 
-Hands,  which,  according  to  the  Rules  of  good 
Policy,  unite  Dominion  and  Property  ;  as  our 
Benefactors  too  are  generous  and  honourable, 
our  Boroughs  not  infenfible  or  ungrateful,  nor 
the  Counties  themfelves  inexorable   to  (hining 
Merit :  So  ii  is  much  to  be  hoped,  that  another 
Parliament  may  be   chbfen   equally  deferving, 
and  as  zealous  for  the  publick  Intercft ;  or  at 
worfr,  there  are  honed  and   tried  Meafures  at 
Hand;  which  will  undoubtedly  make  them  f>. 

And 


Giro's   LETTERS. 

And.  I  offer  this  as  a  conclufive,  and  I  think  a 
moft  convincing  Argument,  that  the  Kingdom 
will  be  obliged  with  a  new  Eleclion. 

I  am,  &c. 


IHave  (hewn  in  a  late  Paper,  wherein  con- 
iifts  the  Difference  between  Free  and  Arbi- 
trary Governments,  as  to  their  Frame  and  Con- 
ftitution  ;  and  in  this  and  the  following,  I  fhall 
(hew  their  different  Spirit  and  Effects.  But  firft 
I  will  ihew  wherein  Liberty  it  felf  confifts. 

By  Liberty,  I  under ftand  the  Power  which 
every  Man  has  over  his  own  Actions,  and  his 
Right  to  enjoy  the  Fruits  of  his  Labour,  Art, 
and  Indultry,  as  far  as  by  it  he  hurts  not  the 
Society,  or  any  Members  of  it,  by  taking  from 
any  Member,  or  by  hindering  him  from  enjoy- 
ing what  he  himfelf  enjoys.  The  Fruits  of  a 
Man's  honeft  Induftry  are  the  juft  Rewards  of 
it,  afcertain'd  to  him  by  natural  and  eternal 
Equity,  as  is  his  Title  to  ufe  them  in  the  Man- 
ner he  thinks  fit  :  And  thus,  with  the  above 
Limitations,  every  Man  is  fole  Lord  and  Arbiter 
of  his  own  private  Aclions  and  Property  — 
A  Character  of  which  no  Man  living  can 
diveft  him  but  by  Ufurpation,  or  his  own 
Content, 

The  entring  into  political  Society,  is  fo  far 
from  a  Departure  from  this  natural  Right,  that 

to 


LETTERS.      75 

to  preferve  it,  was  the  fole  Reafbn  why  Men 
did  fb  ;  and  mutual  Protection  and  Ailiilance 
is  the  only  reasonable  Purpofe  of  all  reasonable 
Societies.  To  make  fuch  Protection  practica- 
ble, Magiftracy  was  formed,  with  Power  to 
defend  the  Innocent  from  Violence,  and  to 
punifh  thofe  that  offered  it ;  nor  can  there  be 
any  other  Pretence  forMagiflracy  in  the  World. 
In  order  to  this  good  End,  the  Magiftrate  is 
intruded  with  conducting  and  applying  the  uni- 
ted Force  of  the  Community  ;  and  with  exact- 
ing fuch  a  Share  of  every  Man's  Property,  as 
is  neceflary  to  preferve  the  Whole,  and  to  de- 
fend every  Man  and  his  Property  from  foreign 
and  domeftick  Injuries,  Thefe  are  Boundaries 
of  the  Power  of  the  Magiftrate,  who  deferts  his 
Function  whenever  he  breaks  them.  By  the 
Laws  of  Society,  he  is  more  limited  and  re- 
ftrained  than  any  Man  amongft  them  ;  iince, 
while  they  are  abfblutely  free  in  all  their 
Actions,  which  purely  concern  themfelves ;  all 
his  Actions,  as  a  publkk  Perfon,  being  for  the 
Sake  of  the  Society,  rnuft  refer  to  it,  and 
anfwer  the  Ends  of  it. 

It  is  a  miftaken  Notion  in  Government,  that 
the  Intereft  of  the  Majority  is  only  to  be  cor> 
fulted,  fmce  in  Society  every  Man  has  a  Right 
to  every  Man's  Afliftance  in  the  Enjoyment  ar.d 
Defence  of  his  private  Property  ;  otherwife  the 
greater  Number  may  fell  the  lefler,  and  divide 
their  Eftates  amongft  themfelves  ;  and  fo,  in- 
ilead  of  a  Society,  where  all  peaceable  Men 
are  protected,  become  a  Confpiracy  of  the 
Many  againft  the  Minority  :  With  as  much 
Equity  may  one  Man  wantonly  difpofe  of  all, 

VOL.  II,  D 


74      OTTO'S  LETTERS. 

•and  Violence  may  be  fancHfied  by  mere 
Power. 

And  it  is  as  foolifh  to  fay,  that  Govern- 
ment is  concern'd  to  meddle  with  the  private 
Thoughts  and  Actions  of  Men,  while  they 
injure  by  neither  the  Society,  or  any  of  its 
Members.  Every  Man  is,  in  Nature  snd  Rea- 
fon,  the  Judge  and  Difpofer  of  his  own  do- 
meftick  Affairs ;  and,  according  to  the  Rules 
•of  Religion  and  Equity,  every  Man  mud  carry 
his  own  Confcience.  So  that  neither  has  the 
Magiftrate  a  Right  to  direct  the  private  Be- 
fiaviour  of  Men ;  nor  has  the  Magiftrate,  or  any 
Body  elfe,  any  manner  of  Power  to  model 
People's  Speculations,  no  more  than  their 
Dreams.  Government  being  intended  to  pro- 
tect Men  from  the  Injuries  of  one  another,  and 
not  to  direct  them  in  their  own  Affairs,  in 
which  no  one  is  interefted  but  themfelves  ;  it  is 
plain,  that  their  Thoughts  and  domeftick  Con- 
cerns are  exempted  intirely  from  its  Jurifdicli- 
on  :  In  truth,  Mens  Thoughts  are  not  fubjecl: 
to  their  own  Jurifdidtion. 

Idiots  and  Lunaticks  •  indeed,  who  cannot 
take  Care  of  themfelves,  muft  be  taken  Care 
•of  by  others:  But  whilft  Men  have  their  five 
Senf  s,  I  cannot  fee  what  the  Magistrate  has  to 
do  with  Actions  by  which  the  Society  cannot 
be  affected  ;  and  -where  he  docs  meddle  with 
Tuch,  he  does  it  impertinently  or  tyrannically. 
Muft  the  Magiftrate  tye  up  every  Man's  Legs, 
becaufe  (bme  Men  fall  into  Ditches  ?  Or,  muft 
he  put  out  their  Eyes,  becaufe  with  them  they 
fee  lying  Vanities  ?  Or,  would  it  become  the 
Wifdom  and  Care  of  Governors  to  eftablifh  a 

travelling 


CATO's   LETTERS.      75- 

travelling  Society,  to  prevent  People  by  a  pro- 
per  Confinement  from  throwing  themfelves  in- 
to Wells,  or  over  Precipices  ?  Or  to  endow  a. 
Fraternity  of  Phyficians  and  Surgeons  all  over 
the  Nation,  to  take  Care  of  their  Subjects 
Health,  without  being  confulted;  and  to  vomit, 
bleed,  purge,  and  fcarify  thern^  at  Pleafure, 
whether  the/  would  or  no,  juft  as  thefe 
eftablifhed  Judges  of  Health  (hould  think  fit  ? 
If  this  were  the  Cafe,  what  a  Stir  and  Hubbub 
fhould  we  foon  fee  kept  about  the  eftablilhed 
Potions  and  Lancets ;  every  Man,  Woman, 
and  Child,  tho'  ever  fb  healthy,  mufl  be  a  Pa- 
tient, or  woe  be  to  them  !  The  beft  Diet  and 
Medicines  would  fbon  grow  pernicious  from  any 
other  Hand  ;  and  their  Pills  alone,  however 
ridiculous,  infufficient,  or  diftafteful,  would  be 
attended  with  a  Bleffing. 

Let  People  alone,  and  they  will  take  care  of 
themfelves,  and  do  it  beft  j  and  if  they  do  not, 
a  fiifficient  Punifhment  will  follow  their  Ne- 
glect, without  the  Magiftrate's  Jnterpofition 
and  Penalties.  It  is  plain  that  fuch  bufy  Care 
and  officious  Intrusion  into  the  perfonal  Aftairs, 
or  private  Action?,  Thoughts,  and  Imagina- 
tions of  Men,  has  in  it  more  Craft  than  Kind- 
nefs ;  and  is  only  a  Device  to  miflead  People., 
and  pick  their  Pockets,  urrder  the  falfe  Pretence 
of  the  publick  and  their  private  Good.  To 
-quarrel  with  any  Man  for  his  Opinions,  Hu- 
mours, or  the  Fafhion  of  his  Cloths,  is  an  Of- 
fence taken  without  being  given.  What  is  ic 
to  the  Magiftrate  how  I  warn  my  Hands,  or 
cut  my  Corns,  what  Fafhion  or  Colours  1 
wear,  or  \vhat  Notions  I  entertain,  or  what 

D  a.  Gcftures 


euro's  LETTERS. 

•Gef.v.rts  I  .ufe,  or  what  Words  I  pronounce," 
when  they  pleafe  me,  and  do  him  and  my 
ISTeighbour  no  hurt  ?  As  well  may  he  deter- 
mine the  Colour  of  my  Hair,  and  controul  my 
Shape  and  Features. 

True  and  impartial  Liberty  is  therefore  the 
Right  of  every  Man  to  purfue  the  natural, 
reafbnable,  and  religious  Dilates  of  his  own 
Iviind  ;  to  think  what  he  will,  and  adl  as  he 
thinks,  provided  he  acls  not  to  the  Prejudice  of 
another  ;  to  fpend  his  own  Money  himfelf, 
and  lay  out  the  Produce  of  his  Labour  his 
own  Way  ;  and  to  labour  for  his  own  Pleafure 
and  Profit,  and  not  for  others  who  are  idle, 
and  would  live  and  riot  by  pillaging  and  op- 
prefling  him,  and  thofe  that  are  like  him. 

So  that  Civil  Government  is  only  a  partial 
Reftraint  put  by  the  Laws  of  Agreement  and 
Society  upon  natural  and  abiblute  Liberty, 
which  might  otherwise  grow  licentious  :  And 
Tyranny  is  an  unlimited  Reilraint  put  upon 
natural  Liberty,  by  the  Will  of  one  or  a  few. 
Magistracy,  amongft  a  free  People,  is  the  Exer- 
cife  of  Power  for  the  fake  of  the  People  ;  and 
Tyrants  abufe  the  People,  for  the  fake  of 
Power.  Free  Government  is  the  protecting  the 
People  in  their  Liberties  by  ftatcd  Rules ;  Ty- 
ranny is  a  brutifh  Struggle  for  unlimited  Li- 
berty to  one  or  a  few,  who  would  rob  all  others 
of  their  Liberty,  and  a6l  by  no  Rule  but  law- 
lefs  Luft. 

So  much  for  an  Idea  of  Civil  Liberty.  I 
will  now  add  a  Word  or  two,  to  (hew  how 
much  it  is  the  Delight  and  Paifion  of  Mankind ; 
and  then  fiiew  its  Advantages. 

The 


euro's  LETTERS:     77 

The  Love  of  Liberty  is  an  Appetite  fb  ilrong^ 
ly  implanted  in  the  Nature  of  all  living  Crea- 
tures, that  even  the  Appetite  of  Sel f- prefer va- 
tion  which  is  allowed  robe  the  ftrongeft,  (eems: 
to  be  contained  in  it ;  fince  by  the  Means  of 
Liberty,  they  enjoy  the  Means  of  preferving 
themfelves,  and  of  fatisfying  their  Defires  In? 
the  Manner  which  they  themfelves  chuie  and 
like  beic.  Many  Animals  can  never  be  tamed, 
but  feel  the  Bitter-  •-•£  Reftraint  in  the  midir 
of  the  kindeft  U  rather  than  bear  it, 

grieve  or  ftarve  themfelves  to  Death ;  and  fomc 
beat  out  their  Brains  againfr.  their  Prifbns. 

Where  Liberty  is  loft,  Life  grows  precarious, 
always  miferabie,  and  often  intolerable.     Li- 
berty  is    to   live    upon    one's   own   Terms  ; 
Slavery  is  to  live  at  the  sneer  Mercy  of  ano- 
ther 5  and  a  Life  of  Slavery  is  to  thofe  who 
can  bear  it,  a  continual  State  of  Uncertainty 
and  Wretched  nefs,  often  an  Apprehenfion   oF 
Violence,  and  often  the  lingring  Dread  of  a 
violent  Death  :  But  by  others,  when  no  other 
Remedy  is  to  be  had,  Death  is  reckoned  a  good 
one,     And  thus  to  many  Men,  and  to  many 
other  Creatures  as  well  as  Men,  the  Love  of 
Liberty  is  beyond  the  Love  of  Life. 

This  Paflion  for  Liberty  in  Men,  and  their 
Poffeliion  of  it,  is  of  that  Efficacy  and  Impor- 
tance, that  it  feems  the  Parent  of  all  the  Vir- 
tues :  And  therefore,  in  free  Countries  there 
feems  to  be  another  Species  of  Mankind,  than 
.  is  to  be  found  under  Tyrants.  Small  Armies 
of  Greeks  and  -Romans  defpifed  the  greateft  Hofb 
of  Slaves  ;  and  a  Million  of  Slaves  have  been 
fmnetimes  beaten  and  conquered  by  a  few 

D  Thou- 


78       Giro's  LETTERS. 

Thoufand  Freemen,  Infomuch,  that  the  Dif- 
ference feem'd  greater  between  them  than  be- 
tween Men  and  Sheep.  It  was  therefore  well 
faid  by  Lucullus,  when,  being  about  to  engage 
the  great  King  7igranes\  Army,  he  was  told  by 
iorne  of  his  Officers,  how  prodigious  great  the 
fame  was,  confiding  of  between  three  and  four 
Hundred  Thoufand  Men  :  No  matter,  faid  that 
brave  Reman,  drawing  up  his  little  Army  of 
Fourteen  Thouiand,  but  Fourteen  Thoufand 
Remaps  :  No  matter  ;  The  Lion  never  enquires  into 
the  Number  of  the  Sheep.  And  thefe  Royal  Troops- 
proved  no  better  ;  for  the  Romans  had  little  elfe 
to  do  but  to  kiii  and  purfue  ;  which  yet  they 
eould  fcarce  do  for  laughing  ;  fo  mucb  more 
were  rn-ey  diverted  than  animated  by  the  ridi- 
culous Dread  and  fudden  Flight  of  thefe  Impe- 
rial Slaves  and  Royal  Cowards. 

Men  eternally  cowed  and  opprefled  by  haugh- 
ty and  infolent  Governors,  made  baft  thenv 
felves  by  the  Bafenefs  of  that  fort  of  Govern* 
rnent,  and  become  Slaves  by  ruling  over  Slaves, 
want  Spirit  and  Souls  to  meet  in  the  Field 
Freemen,  who  fcorn  Oppreflbrs  and  are  their 
own  Governors,  or  at  leaft  meafure  and  direct 
the  Power  of  their  Governors. 

Education  alters  Nature,  and  becomes  (tron- 
ger.  Slavery,  while  it  continues,  being  a  per- 
petual Awe  upon  the  Spirits,  deprefles  them, 
and  finks  natural  Courage  ;  and  Want  and 
Fear,  the  Concomitants  of  Bondage,  always 
produce  Defpondency  and  Bafenefs  :  Nor  will 
Men  in  Bonds  ever  fight  bravely,  but  to  be 
free.  And  indeed,  what  elfe  mould  they  fight 
for  j  fines  every  Victory  they  gain  for  a  Ty- 

rantj. 


's  LETTERS.      79 

rant,  makes  them  poorer  and  fewer ;  and,  in- 
creaiing  his  Pride,  increases  his  Cruelty,  and' 
their  own  Mifery  and  Chains  ? 

Thofe,  who  from  Terror  and  Deluiion,  the 
frequent  Caufes  and  certain  EfFeds  of  Servi- 
tude, come  to  think  their  Governors  greater 
than  Men,  as  they  find  them  worfe,  will  be  as-- 
apt to  think  thernfelves  lefs  :  And  when  the 
Head  and  the  Heart  are  thus  both  gone,  the 
Hands  will  fignify  little :  They  who  are' 
ufed  like  Beads,  will  be  apt  to  degenerate  into 
Beads.  But  thofe,  on  the  contrary,  who  by 
the  Freedom  of  their  Government  and  Educa- 
tion, are  taught  and  accuftomed  to  think  freely 
of  Men  and  Things,  find,  by  comparing  one 
Man  with  another,  that  all  Men  are  naturally 

«/ 

alike  ;  and  rh  t  their  Governors,  as  they  have 
the  fame  Face,  Conftitution,  and  Shape  with 
themfelves,  and  are  fubjecT:  to  the  lame  Sick- 
nefs,  Accidents,  and  Death  with  the  meanefr 
of  their  People  ;  fo  they  poffefs  the  fame  Paf- 
fions  and  Faculties  of  the  Mind  which  their 
Subjects  poflefs,  and  not  better.  They  there- 
fore (corn  to  degrade  and  proftrafe  themfelves, 
to  adore  thofe  of  their  own  Species,  however 
covered  with  Titles,  and  difguifed  by  Power  : 
They  confider  them  as  their  own  Creatures  ; 
and,  as  far  as  they  furmount  thernfelves,  the: 
Work  of  their  own  Hands,  and  only  the  chief 
Servants  of  the  State,  who  have  no  more  Power 
to  do  Evil  than  one  of  thernfelves,  and  are 
void  of  every  Privilege  and  Superiority,  but  to 
ferve  them  and  the  State.  They  know  it  is  a. 
Contradiction  in  Religion  and  Reafbn,  for  any 
Man  to  have  a  Right  to  do  Evil ;  and  that  not. 

D  4 


So       euro's  LETTERS. 

to  refill  any  Man's  Wickednefs,  is  to  encourage 
it  ;  and  that  they  have  the  lead  Reafon  to  bear  | 
Evil  and    OpprefFion  from  their   Governors,  I 
who  of  all   Men  are  the  moft   obliged  to  do 
them    good.     They  therefore   deteft  Slavery, 
and  defpife  or  pity  Slaves  ;  and  adoring  Liberty 
alone,  as  they  who  fee   its  Beauty  and   feel  its 
Advantages  always  will,   'tis  no  wonder  they 
are  brave  for  it. 

Indeed,  Liberty  is  the  divine  Source  of  all 
.humane  Happineis.  To  poiTefs,  in  Security, 
the  Effects  of  our  Induftry,  is  the  rn oft  power- 
ful and  reafbnable  Incitement  to  be  induftnous: 
And  to  be  able  to  provide  for  our  Children* 
and  leave  them  all  that  we  have,  is  the  bell 
Motive  to  beget  them.  But  where  Property  is 
precarious,  Labour  will  languifh,  The  Pri- 
vileges of  thinking,  faying,  and  doing  what 
we  pleafe,  and  of  growing  as  rich  as  we  can* 
without  any  other  Reftri£Kbn,  than  that  by  all 
this  we  hurt  not  the  Publick,  nor  one  another, 
are  the  glorious  Privileges  of  Liberty ;  and 
its  Effects,  to  liv/e  in  Freedom,  Plenty,  and 
Safety. 

Thefe  are  Privileges  that  increafe  Mankind, 
and  the  Hpppinefs  of  Mankind.  And  there- 
fore Countries  are  generally  peopled  in  Propor- 
tion as  they  are  free,  and  are  certainly  happy 
in  that  Proportion  :  And  upon  the  fame  Tracl: 
of  Land  that  would  maintain  a  Hundred  Thou- 
fand  Freemen  in  Plenty,  Five  Thoufand  Slaves 
would  ftarve.  In  Italy,  fertile  Italy,  Men  die 
fbmetimes  of  Hunger  amongft  the  Sheaves, 
and  in  a  plentiful  Harveft;  for  what  they  fow 
and  reap  is  none  of  their  own  ;  and  their  cruel 

and 


's  LETTERS. 

and  greedy  Governors,  who  live  by  the  LaBour 
of  their  wretched  Vaffals,  do  not  fufrer  them 
to  eat  the  Bread  of  their  own  Earning,  nor  to 
fuftain  their  Lives  with  their  own  Hands. 

Liberty  naturally  draws  new  People  to  it,  as 
well  as  encreafes  the  old  Stock  ;  and  Men  as 
naturally  run  when  they  dare  from  Slavery^  and 
Wretchednefs,    whitherfbever    they  can    help- 
themfelves.     Hence    great  Cities   lofing   their- 
Liberty  become  Defarts,  and   little  Towns  by 
Liberty  grow  great  Cities^:    as   will   be  fully 
proved  before  I  have  gone  through  this  Argu- 
ment.    1    will  not  deny,    but   that  there   are- 
fome  great  Cities  of 'Slaves :  Burfuch  are  only 
Imperial  Cities,  and  the  Seats  of  great  Princes, 
who  draw  the  Wealth  of  a  Continent   to  their" 
Capital,   the  Center  of   their   Treafure    and: 
Luxury.     Babylon,  Anticch^  Sehucia^  an-d  Alex- 
andria, were  great  Cities  peopled  by  Tyrants,, 
but  peopled  partly   by  Force,  partly  by   the.- 
above  Reafon,  and  partly  by  Grants  and  In- 
dulgences.    Their  Power,  great  and  bcundle/s •• 

:  as  it  was,  could  not  alone  people  their  Cities-; 

'  but  they  were  forced  to  fbfren  Authority  by 
Rindnefs ;  and  having  brought  the  Inhabitants- 
together  by  Force,  and  oy  driving  themCaptr/e-' 
like  Cattle,  could  not  keep  them  together  with- 
out beftowing  on  them  many  Privileges,  to  en- 
courage the  tirft  Inhabitants  to  flay,  and  to  in- 
vite more  to  come. 

This  was  a   Confeilicn  in   thofe  Tyrants,., 
that  their  Power-  was  mii'chjevous  and  unjuft; 
fince  they  could  not  erec~t  one  great  City,  and' 
make  it  fiourifh,  without  renouncing  in  a  great: 
Meafure  their  Power  over  it ;  which-  by  grant- 

D  5.  ingg 


Giro's  LETTERS.       I 

ing  it  thefe  Privileges,  in  Effect  they  did.  Thefe 
Privileges  were  nYdLaws,  by  which  the  Trade 
and  Induftry  of  the  Citizens  was  encouraged^ 
and  their  Lives  and  Properties  ascertained  and 
protected,  and  no  longer  fub']e£ted  to  the  Law 
of  mere  Will  and  Pleafure :  And  therefore,, 
while  thefe  free  Cities,  enjoying  their  wn  Li- 
berties and  Laws,  flourifhed  under  .iiem ;  the 
Provinces  were  miferably  haraifed,  pillaged, 
dispeopled,  and  impoverifhed,  and  the  Inha- 
bitants exhaufted,  ftarved,  butchered,  and  car- 
ried away  Captive. 

This  fhews  that  all  Civil  Happinefs  and 
Profperity  is  infeparable  from  Liberty;  and 
that  Tyranny  cannot  make  Men,  or  Societies 
of  Men,  happy,  without  departing  from  its 
Nature,  and  giving  them  Privileges  inconfiftent 
with  Tyranny.  And  here  is  an  unanfwerable 
Argument  amongft  a  Thoufand  others,  againft 
abfolute  Power  in  a  Tingle  Man.  Nor  is  there 
one  Way  ^  in  the  World  to  give  Happinefs  to 
Communities,  but  by  fheltering  them  under 
certain  and  exprefs  Laws,  irrevocable  at  any 
Man's  Pleafure. 

There  is  not,  nor  can  be,  any  Security  for  a 
People  to  truft  to  the  mere  Will  of  One,  who, 
while  his  Will  is  his  Law,  cannot  protect  them 
if  he  would.  The  Number  of  Sycophants  and 
wicked  Counfellors,  that  he  will  always  and 
necetfariiy  have  about  him,  will  defeat  all  his 
good  Intentions^  by  reprefenting  Things  falfly, 
and  Ptrfons  maliciocily ;  by  fuggefting  Danger 
where  it  is  not,  and  urging  Neceiiiry  where 
there  is  none  :  by  filling  their  own  Coffers  un- 
der Colour  of  filling  his,  and  by  raifing  Money 

for 


CATffs  LETTERS.       83: 

forthemfelves,  pretending  the  pubiick  Exigen- 
cies of  the  State  ;  by  facrificing  particular  Men* 
to  their  own  Revenge,  under  Pretence  of  pubiick 
Security  ;  and   by  engaging  him  and  his  Peo- 
pie  in   dangerous  and  deftructive  Wars,    for 
their  own  Profit  or  Fame  ;  by  throwing  pub- 
lick  Affairs  into  perpetual  Confufion,  to  pre- 
vent an  Enquiry  into  their  own  Behaviour;  and 
by  making  him  jealous  of  his  People,  and   his- 
People  oF  him,  on  purpofe  to  manage  and  mi£- 
lead  both  Sides. 

By  all  thefe,  and    many  more  wicked  Artsg%, 
they  will  be  confhntly  leading  him  into  cruel, 
and   oppreillve    Meafures,    deitruclive  to    his 
People,  and  fcandalous  and  dangerous  to  him- 
felf;  but  entirely  agreeable  to  their  own  Spirit: 
and  Defigns,  Thus  will  they  commit  all  Wick- 
ed nefs  by  their  Matter's  Authority,   againft  his 
Inclinations,  and  grow  rich  by  the  People's  Po- 
verty, without  his  Knowledge  ,  and  the  Royal 
Authority  will  be  firft  a  Warrant  for  Oppref- 
fion,    and  afterwards    a  Protection    from  the.' 
PunifLment  due  to  it,     For,  in  fhort,  the  Power" 
of  Princes   is    often  little   elfe    but  a  {talking, 
Horfe  to  ihe  Intrigues  and  Ambition  ot  their" 
Minifters. 

But  if  the  Difpofition  of  fuch   a  Prince  be 
evil,  what  muflr   be  the   forlorn  Condition  of" 
his  People,  arid  what  Door  of  Hope  can  re- 
main for  common  Protection !  The  belt  Princes 
have  often  evil  Councilors,  and  the  Bad  will 
have   no   other  :    And  in  fuch    a  Cafe,  whan 
Bounds  can  be  let  to  their  Fury,  and   to  the  - 
Havock  they  will  make?  The  Infrruments  and: 
Advliers  of  Tyranny  and  Depredation  always  • 

thi"  n  ^ 


84      CATO's  LETTERS. 

thrive  belt  and  are  neareft  their  Ends,  when 
Depredation  and  Tyranny  run  higheft  :  Vv  hen. 
moil:  is  plundered  from  the  People,  their  Share 
is  greater!: ;  we  mayx  therefore  fuppofe  every 
Evil  willbefal  fuch  a  People,  without  fuppofing 
extravagantly.  No  Happfnefs,  no  Security, 
but  certain  Mifery,  and  a  vile  and  precarious 
Life,  are  the  blefled  Terms  of  fuch  a  Govern- 
ment- -  A  Government,  which  neceflarily  in*- 
troduces  all  Evils,  and  from  the  fame  Neceility 
neither  muft  nor  can  redrefs  any. 

The  Nature  of  his  Education,  bred  up  as  he 
ever  is  in  perpetual  Flattery,  makes  him  haugh?- 
ty  and  ignorant  ;  and  the  Nature  of  his  Go- 
vernment, which  fubfifts  by  brutifti  Severity 
and  Oppreflion,  makes  him  cruel.  He  is  ir> 
acceilible,  but  by  his  Minifters,  whofe  Study 
and  Intereft  will  be  to  keep  him  from  knowing 
or  helping  the  State  of  his  miferable  People. 
Their  Mailer's  Knowledge  in  his  own  Affairs, 
would  break  in  upon  their  Scheme  and  Power, 
they  are  not  likely  to  lay  before  him  Reprefen^ 
rations  of  Grievances  caufed  by  themfelves^ 
nor,  if  they  are  the  Effects  of  his  own  Barba- 
rity and  C  ommand,  will  he  hear-them. 

Even  where  abfblute  Princes  are  not  Tyrants,' 
there  Miniilers  will  be  Tyrants.  But  it  is  in- 
deed impoflible  for  an  Arbitrary  Prince  to  be 
otherwife,  fince  Oppreiiion  is  absolutely  ne- 
ceilary  to  his  being  fo  Without  giving  his 
People  Liberty,  he  cannot  make  them  happy  ; 
and  by  giving  them  Liberty,  he  gives  up  his 
own  Power.  So  that  ro  be  and  continue  Arbi- 
trary, he  is  doomed  to  be  a  Tyrant  in  his  own 
Defence.  The  Oppreiiion  of  the  People,  Coi> 

ruption, 


LETTERS.      8? 

hiption,  wicked  Counfels,  and  pernicious 
Maxims  in  the  Court,  and  every  where  Bafe- 
nefs,  Ignorance,  and  Chains,  mtift  fupport 
Tyranny,  or  it  cannot  be  fupported.  So  that 
in  fuch  Governments  there  are  inevitable  Grie- 
vances, without  poffible  Redrefs :  Mifery,  with* 
out  Mitigation  or  Remedy;  and  whatever  is 
good  for  the  People,  is  bad  for  their  Gover- 
nors ;  and  what  is  good  for  the  Governors,  is 
pernicious  to  the  People. 

I  am,  Sec. 


S  1 

I  Go  on  with  my  Configurations  upon  Liber- 
ty, to  fhew  that  all  Civil  Virtue  and  Hap- 
pinefs,  and  every  moral  Excellency,  all  Polite- 
nefs  and  all  good  Arts  and  Sciences,  are  pro- 
duced by  Liberty  ;  and  that  all  Wickednefs, 
Bafenefs,  and  Mifery,  are  immediately  and  ne- 
ceflarily  produced  by  Tyranny  ;  which  being 
founded  upon  the  DeftrucHon  of  every  thing 
that  is  valuable,  dehrable,  and  noble,  muft 
•lubfift  upon  Means  durable  to  its  Nature,  and 
remain  in  everlafting  Enmity  to  all  Goodnels 
and  even  human  Blelling. 

By  the  Eftablifhnien't  of  Liberty,  a  due  Df- 
frribution  of  Property  and  an  equal  Didribu- 
tion  of  Tuftice  is  eRablifHed  and  fecured.  As 
Rapine  is  the  Child  of  OppreJ'flon,  J-uftice  is 
the  Offspring  of  Liberty,  and  her  Hand-maid  ; 
it  is  the  Guardian  of  Innocence,  and  the  Ten. 

ror 


86     CA  7"0's  LETTERS. 

ror  of  Vice  :  And  when  Fame,  Honour,  and 
Advantages  are  the  Rewards  of  Virtue,  (lie  will 
be  courted  for  the  Dower  fhe  brings  ;  other- 
wife,  like  Beauty  without  Wealth,  fhe  may  be 
praifed,  but  more  probably  will  be  calumni- 
ated, envied,  and  very  often  perfecuted  ;  while 
Vice,  when  it  is  gainful,  like  rich  Deformity 
and  profperous  Folly,  will  be  admired  and 
purfued.  Where  Virtue  is  all  her  own  Reward, 
{he  will  be  feldom  thought  any  ;  and  few  will' 
buy  that  for  a  great  Price,  which  will  fell  for 
none.  So  that  Virtue,  to  be  followed,  muft  be- 
endowed,  and  her  Credit  is  beft  fecured  by  her 
Intereft ;  that  is,  fhe  muft  be  (lengthened  and 
recommended  by  the  publick  Laws,  and  em- 
bellilhed  by  publick  Encouragements,  or  elle  - 
(he  will  be  (lighted  and  fhun'd. 

Now  the  Laws  which  encourage  and  encreafe 
Virtue,  are  the  fix'd  Laws  of  general  and  im- 
partial Liberty  ;  Laws,  which  being  the  Rule 
of  every  Man's  Actions,  and  the  Meafure  of 
every  Man's  Power,  make  Honefty  and  Equity 
their  Intereft.  Where  Liberty  is  throughly 
eftablifh'd,  and  its  Laws  equally  executed,  every 
Man  will  find  hi?  Account  in  doing  as  he  would 
be  done  unto,  and  no  Man  will  take  from  ano- 
ther what  he  would  not  part  with  himfelf: 
Honour  and  Advantage  will  follow  the  Upright:," 
and  Punifhment  overtake  the  Oppreffor.'  The. 
Property  of  the  Poor  will  be  as  facred  as  the* 
Privileges  of  the  Prince,  and  ^the  Law  will  be 
the  only  Bulwark  of  both.  Every  Man's  ho- 
ned Induftry  and  ufeful  Talents,  while  they 
are  employ  a  for  the  Publick,  will  be  employed, 
for  himfelf:  and  while  he  ferves  hinifelc,  he- 


LETTERS.      87 

will  ferve  the  Publick  :  Publick  and  private  In- 
tereft  will  fecure  each  other  ;  and  all  will  chear- 
fully  give  a  Part  to  preferve  the  Whole,  and 
be  brave  to  defend  it. 

Thefe  certain  Laws  therefore  are  the  only 
certain  Beginnings  and  Caufes  of  Honefty  and 
Virtue  amongft  Men.  There  may  be  other 
Motives,  I  own  ;  but  fuch  as  only  fway  parti- 
cular Men,  few  enough,  God  knows  :  And 
univerfal  Experience  has  {hewn  us,  that  they 
are  not  generally  prevailing,  and  never  to  be 
depended  upon.  Now  thefe  Laws  are  to  be 
produced  by  Liberty  alone,  and  only  by  fuch 
Laws  can  Liberty  be  lecured  and  increafed  : 
And  to  make  Laws  certainly  good,  they  mud 
be  made  by  mutual  Agreement,  and  have  for 
their  End  the  general  Intereft. 

But  Tyranny  muft  ftand  upon  Force  ;  and 
the  Laws  of  Tyranny  being  only  the  fickle 
Will  and  unfteady  Appetite  of  one  Man,  which 
may  vary  every  Hour  ;  there  can  be  no  fettled 
Rule  of  Right  or  Wrong  in  the  variable  Hu- 
mours and  fudden  Paiiions  of  a  Tyrant,  who, 
though  he  may  fbmetimes  punifh  Crimes  more 
out  of  Rage  than  Juftice,  will  be  much  more 
likely  to  perfecute  and  opprefs  Innocence,  and 
to  deftroy  Thoufands  cruelly,  for  one  that  he 
protects  juftly.  There  are  Inftances  of  Princes* 
who,  being  out  of  Humour  with  a  Favourite, 
have  put  to  Death  all  that  (poke  well  of  him, 
and  afterwards  all  that  did  nor  :  Of  Princes9 
who  put  fome  of  their  Minifters  to  Death,  for 
ufmg  one  or  two  of  his  Barbers  and  Buffoons 
ill ;  and  other?,  for  ufmg  a  whole  Country 
•well :  Of  Princes,  who  have  deilroyed  a  wheie 

People 


a?     euro's  LETTERS 

People  for  the  Crimes  or  Virtues  of  one  Marr; 
and  who,  having  killed  a  Minion  in  a  Pailion, 
have,  to  revenge  themfelves  upon  thofe  who 
had  not  provoked  them,  deftroyed,  in  the  fame 
unreafbnable  Fury,  a  Hundred  of  their  Servants 
who  had  no  Hand  in  it,  as  well  as  all  that  had'; 
who  yet  would  have  been  deftroyed,  had  they 
not  done  it :  Of  Princes,  who  have  deftroyed 
Millions  in  fingle  mad  Projects  and  Expedi- 
tions :  Of  Princes,  who  have  given  up  Cities 
and  Provinces  to  the  Revenge  or  Avarice  of  a 
vile  Woman  or  Eunuch,  to  be  plundered,  or 
maOacred,  or  burned,  as  he  or  the  thought  fit 
to  direct  :  And  of  Princes,,  who,  to  gratify  the 
Ambition  and  Rapine  of  a  few  lorry  Servants, 
have  loft  the  Hearts  of  their  whole  People, 
and  detach'd  themfelves  from  their  good  Sub- 
jects, to  protect  thefe  Men  in  their  Iniquity, 
who  yet  had  done  them  no  other  Service,  but 
that  of  deflroying  their  Reputation,  and  fha- 
king  their  Throne, 

Such  are  Arbitrary  Princes,  whofe  Laws  are 
nothing  but  fudden  Fury,  or  lafting  Folly  and 

Wickednefs  in  uncertain  Shapes. Hopeful 

Rules  thefe,  for  the  governing  of  Mankind, 
and  making  them  Happy  !  Rules  which  are 
none,  fince  they  cannot  be  depended  upon  for 
a  Moment;  and  generally  change  for  the  worfe, 
if  that  can  be.  A  Subject  worth  Twenty 
.Thoufand  Pounds  to  Day,  may,  by  a  fudden 
Edicl:  iffucd  by  the  dark  Coun-fel  of  a  Tray- 
tor,  be  a  Beggar  to  Morrow,  and  lofe  his.  Life 
without  forfeiting  the  fame.  The  Property  of 
a  whole  Kingdom  fnaSl  be  great,  or  little,  or 
none,  juft  at  the  Mercy  of  a  Secretary's  Pen, 

guided 


CATO's  LETTERS.      8? 

guided  by  a  Child,  or  a  Dotard,  or  a  foolifh 
woman,  or  a  favourite  Buffoon,  or  a  Game- 
fter,  or  whoever  is  uppermoft  for  the  Day  ; 
and  the  next  Day  fhall  alter  entirely  the  Yefter- 
day's  Scheme,  tho'  not  for  the  better;  and  the 
fame  Men,  in  different  Humour?,  (hall  be  the 
Authors  of  both.  Thus  in  Arbitrary  Coun- 
tries, a  Law  aged  Two  Days  is  an  old  Law ; 
and  no  Law  is  fuffered  to  be  a  Handing  Law, 
but  fiich  as  are  found  by  long  Experience  to  be 
fb  very  bad,  and  fb  throughly  deftru&ive,  that 
human  Malice,  and  all  the  Arts  of  a  Tyrant's 

Court  cannot  make  them  worfe  • A  Court 

which  never  ceafeth  to  fqueeze,  kill,  and  op- 
prefs,  till  it  has  wound  up  human  K'lifery  fb 
high,  that  it  will  go  no  further,  This  is  fb 
much  Fact,  that  I  appeal  to  all  Hiftory  and 
Travels,  and  to  thofe  that  read  them,  whether 
an  Arbitrary  Countries,  both  in  Europe  and  out 
of  it,  the  People  do  not  grow  thinner,  and  their 
Milery  greater ;  and  whether  Countries  are  not 
peopled^  and  rich  in  Proportion  to  the  Liberty 
they  enjoy  and  allow. 

It  has  been  long  my  Opinion,  and  is  more 
and  more  fb,  that  in  flaviO)  Countries  the  Peo- 
ple mud  either  throw  off  their  cruel  and  de- 
ilroying  Government,  and  fet  up  another  m 
its  Room,  or  in  fbme  Ages  the  Race  of  Man- 
kind there  will  be  extinct.  Indeed,  if  it  had 
not  been  for  free  States,  that  have  repaired  and 
prevented  in  many  Places  the  Mifchiefs  done 
by  Tyrants,  the  Earth  had  been  long  {ince  a 
Defart,  as  the  fineft  Countries  in  it  are  at  this 
Day  by  that  Means.  The  Gardens  of  the 
World,  the  fruitful  and  lovely  Countries  of  the 

lower 


^o       Giro's  LETTERS. 

lower  Alia)  filled  formerly  by  Liberty  with 
People,  Politeness,  and  Plenty,  are  now  glori*- 
oufly  peopled  with  Owls  and  Grafhoppers ; 
and  perhaps  here  and  there,  at  vale  Di fiances, 
with  Inhabitants  not  more  valuable,  and  lefs 
happy  ;  a  few  dirty  Huts  of  Slaves  groaning, 
ftarving,  and  perifhing  under  the  fatherly  Pro- 
te£Hon  of  the  Sultan,  a  Prince  of  the  molt 
Orthodox  Standard. 

The  Laws  therefore  of  Tyrants  are  not 
Laws,  but  wild  A&s  of  Will,  counfelled  by 
Rage  or  Folly,  and  executed  by  Dragoons* 
And  as  thefe  Laws  are  evil,  all  forts  of  Evil 
muir  concur  to  fupport  them.  While  the  Peo- 
ple have  common  Senfe  left,  they  will  eafily 
fee  whether  they  are  juftly  governed  and  well 
or  ill  uled  ;  whether  they  are  protected  or 
plundered  :  They  will  know  that  no  Man. 
ought  to  be  the  Dire&or  of  the  Aftairs  of  All, 
without  their  Content ;  that  no  Content  can 
give  him  unlimited  Power  over  their  Bodies 
and  Minds,  and  that  the  Laws  of  Nature  can. 
never  be  entirely  abrogated  by  pofitive  Laws ; ' 
but  that,  on  the  contrary.,  the  entring  into  So- 
ciety,  and  becoming  fubjecl:  to  Government,  is 
only  the  parting  with  natural  Liberty  in  fome 
Inftances,  to  be  protected  ia  the  Enjoyment  of 
it  in  others. 

So  that  for  any  Man  to  have  Arbitrary  Ppw* 
er,  he  muft  have  it  without  Confent ;  or  if  ir 
is  unadvifedly  given  at  firft,  they  who  gave  it 
fbon  repent  when  they  find  its  Effects.  And 
in  Truth,  all  thofe  Princes  that  have  fuch  Pow- 
er, do,  by  keeping  up  great  Armies  in  Time 
of  Peace,  effc6i:ually  confe^  that  they  rule 

without 


C  A  TO's  LETTERS.      92 

without  Content,  and  dread  their  People,  whofe 
worfl  Enemies  they  undoubtedly  are.  An  Ar- 
bitrary Prince  therefore  muft  preferve  and  exe- 
cute his  Power  by  Force  and  Terror  ;  which 
yet  will  not  do,  without  calling  in  the  Auxi- 
liary Aids  and  ftri6fc  Allies  of  Tyranny,  Im- 
pofture,  and  conftant  Oppreilion.  Let  his 
People  be  ever  fb  low  and  miserable,  if  they 
are  not  alfo  blind,  he  is  not  fafe.  He  muft 
have  eftabliflied  Deceivers  to  mislead  them  \vith 
Lies,  and  terrify  them  with  the  Wrath  of  God, 
in  cafe  they  ftir  Hand  or  Foot,  or  fb  much  as 
a  Thought,  to  mend  their  doleful  Condition  ; 
as  if  the  good  God  was  the  San&ifier  of  all 
Villainy,  and  the  Patron  of  the  worfl  of  all 
Villains  !  And  he  mult  have  a  Band  of  ftand- 
ing  Cut  throats  to  murder  all  Men  .who  would 
facrilegioufiy  defend  their  own.  And  both  his 
Cut  throats  and  his  Deceivers  mud  go  Shares 
with  him  in  his  Tyranny. 

Men  will  naturally  fee  their  Intereft,  and  feel 
their  Condition  ;  and  will  quickly  find  that 
the  Sword,  the  Rack,  and  the  Spunge,  are  noc 
Government,  but  the  Height  of  Cruelty  and 
Robbery ;  and  will  never  fubmit  to  them,  but 
by  the  united  Powers  of  Violence  and  Dera- 
tion :  Their  Bodies  muft  be  chained,  and  their 
Minds  enchanted  and  deceived,  and  the  Sword 
muft  be  kept  conftantly  over  their  Heads,  and 
their  Spirits  kept  low  with  Poverty,  before  they 
can  be  brought  to  be  ufed  at  the  wanton  and 
brutifh  Pleaiure  of  the  moft  dignified  and  lofty 
Oppreflbr.  So  that  God  muft  be  belied,  and 
his  Creatures  muft  be  fettered,  frightened,  de- 
ceived, and  ftarved,  and  Mankind  made  bafe 

and 


CATO's   LETTERS. 

and  undone,  that  one  of  the  word  of  them  may 
live  riotoufly  and  fafely  amongft  his  Whores, 
Butchers,  and  Buffoons. 

Men,  therefore,  mud  ceafe  to  be  Men,  and 
in  Stupidity  and  Tamenefs  grow  Cattle,  before 
they  can  become  quiet  Subjects  to  fuch  a  Go- 
vernment ;  which  is  a  Complication  of  all  the 
Villainies,  Falfhood,  Oppreiiion,  Cruelty,  and 
Depredation,  upon  the  Face  of  the  Earth  :  Nor 
can  there  be  a  more  provoking,  impudent, 
fhocking,  and  blasphemous  Pofition,  than  to 
aflert  all  this  Groupe  of  Honors,  or  the  Author 
of  them,  is  of  God's  Appointment. 

If  fuch  Kjngs   A-C   ly  God   appointed, 
Satan    may    be   the   Lcrd^s   Anointed. 

And  whoever  /carters  fuch  a  Doctrine  oughtv 
by  all  the  Laws  of  God,  Reafon,  and  Self-Pre- 
lervation,  to  be  put  to  Death  as  a  general  Poilbn- 
er5  and  an  Advocate  for  publick  Deftruclion. 

All  Men  own,  that  it  is  the  Duty  of  a  Prince 
to  protect  his  People  :  And  fbme  have  faid, 
that  it  is  their  Duty  to  obey  him,  when  he 
Butchers  them  —  An  admirable  Conlcquence^ 
and  full  of  fweet  Confolation  !  His  whole  Bu- 
finefs  and  Office  is  to  defend  them,  and  to  do 
them  good  ;  therefore,  they  are  bound  to  let 
him  deftroy  them."- — -Was  ever  fuch  Impu- 
dence in  an  enlighten'd  Country  ?  It  is  perfect- 
ly agreeable  to  the  Doctrines  and  Followers  of' 
Mahomet  :  But  fhall  Englifomen,  who  make 
their  own  Laws,  be  told,  that  they  have  no 
Right  to  the  common  Air,  and  to  the  Life  and 
Fortune  which  God  has  given  them  j  but  by 

thl 


CATffs  LETTERS.      95 

the  Permiflion  of  an  Officer  cf  their  own  mak- 
ing ;  who  is  what  he  is  only  for  their  Sakes  and 
Security,  and  has  no  more  Right  to  thefe 
Bleifings,  nor  to  do  Evil,  than  one  of  thern- 
felves?  And  (hall  we  be  told  this  by  Men,  who 
are  eternally  the  firft  to  violate  their  own 
Doclrines  ?  Or  fhali  they  after  this  have  the 
Front  to  teach  us  any  Doctrine,  or  to  recom- 
mend to  us  any  one  Virtue,  when  they  have 
thus  given  up  all  Virtue  and  Truth,  and  every 
Blefiing  that  Life  affords  ?  For  there  is  no  Evil, 
Mifery,  and  Wickednefs,  which  Arbitrary  Mo- 
narchies do  not  produce,  and  muft  produce  ; 
nor  do  they,  or  can  they  produce  any  certain, 
general  or  diifufive  Good. 

I  have  fhewn,  in  my  lail,  that  an  Arbitrary 
Prince  cannot  protect  his  People  if  he  would  ; 
and  I  add  here,  that  he  dares  not.  It  would 
difguft  the  Infbruments  of  his  Power,  and  the 
Sharers  in  his  Oppreiiicn,  who  will  confider 
the  Property  of  the  People  as  the  Perquifite  of 
their  Office,  and  claim  a  Privilege  of  being 
little  1  yrants,  for  making  him  a  great  one :  So 
that  every  Kindnefs  to  his  Subjects  will  be  a 
Grievance  to  his  Servants,  and  he  muft  af- 
fert  and  exercife  his  Tyranny  to  the  Height 
for  their  Sakes,  or  they  will  do  it  for  him. 
And  the  Inftances  are  rare,  if  any,  of  any 
Abiblute  Monarch's  protecting  in  earned  his 
People  againft  the  Depredations  of  his  Minifters 
and  Soldiers,  but  it  has  cod  him  his  Life  ; 
as  may  be  (hewn  by  many  Examples  ,in  the 
Roman  Hiftory  :  For  this  the  Emperor  Pertinax 
was  murder'd,  and  fo  was  Galba. 

Macbiavcl 


94     C^rO's  LETTERS. 

jMachtavel  has  told  us,  that  it  is  impofiibk 
for  fuch  a  Prince  to  pleafe  both  the  People  and 
his  Soldiers  :  The  one  will  not  be  fatisfied  with- 
out Protection,  nor  the  other  without  Rapine: 
To  comply  with  the  People,  he  muft  give  up 
his  Power  ;  and  to  comply  with  his  Soldiers, 
he  muft  give  up  his  People.  So  that  to  con- 
tinue what  he  is,  and  to  preferve  himfelf  from 
the  Violence  of  his  Followers,  he  mult  coun- 
tenance all  their  Villainies  and  Oppreiiion,  and 
be  himfelf  no  more  than  an  Imperial  Thief  at 
the  Head  of  a  Band  of  Thieves  ;  for  which 
Character  he  is  generally  well  qualified  by  the 
bafe  and  cruel  Maxims  of  that  Ibrt  of  Power, 
and  by  the  vile  Education  always  given  to  fuch 
a  Prince,  by  the  worft  and  moft  infamous  of  all 
Men,  their  iupple  and  lying  Sycophants. 

Even  the  Chriftian  Religion  can  do  but  little 
or  no  Good  in  Lands  of  Tyranny,  fmce  Mi- 
racles have  ceafed  ;  but  is  made  to  do  infinite 
Harm,  by  being  corrupted  and   perverted  into 
a  deadly  Engine  in  the  Hands  of  a  Tyrant  and 
his  Importors,  to    rivet   his  Subjects   Chains, 
arid  to  confirm  them  thorough  Wretches,  Slaves, 
and  Ignorants      I  cannot  indeed  fay,  that  they 
have  the   Chriftian   Religion    at   all   among!!: 
them,  but  only  ule  its  amiable  Name  to  coun- 
tenance abominable  Falfhoods,   and  Nonfenfe, 
and  heavy  Oppreiiion  ;  and  to  defend  furious 
and   implacable  Bigotry,    which  is  the   direcl: 
Chara&erjftick    and    Spirit  of   Mahometamfm^ 
and  deltroys  the  very  Genius  and  firft  Princi- 
ples of  Chriftianity.     All  this  will  be  further 
(hewn  hereafter.     I  (hall  conclude  with  obfer- 
ving,  that  Arbitrary  Monarchy   is  a  confrant 

Wat 


CATffs  LETTERS.      9? 

War  upon  Heaven  and  Earth,  and  againft  the 
Souls  as  well  as  Bodies  and  Properties  of 
Men. 

1  am,    d<C. 


S  I 

I  Have  in  former  Letters  began  to  (new,  by  an 
Induction  of  Particulars,  and  (hall  hereafter 
more  fully  fhew,  that  Population,  Riches,  true 
Religion,  Virtue,  Magnanimity,  Arts,  Sciences 
and  Learning,   are   the  neceffary  Effects,  and 
Productions  of  Liberty  ;  and  fhall  fpend  this 
i  Paper,  in  proving  that  an  extenfive  Trade,  Na- 
|  vigation,  and  Naval  Power,  entirely  flow  from 
the  fame  Source  :  In  this  Cafe,  if  natural  Ad- 
vantages and  Encouragements  are  wanting,  Art, 
I  Expence,  and  Violence,  are  loft  and  thrown 
away.     Nothing   is    more  certain   than    that 
Trade  cannot  be  forced  ;  (he  is  a  coy  and  hu- 
Imorous  Dame,  who  mud  be  won  by  Flattery 
land  Allurements,  and  always  flies  Force  and 
•  Power;  (he  is  not  confined  to   Nations,  Se£ts, 
I  or  Climates,  but  gravels  and  wanders  about  the 
Earth,  till   (he  fixes  her  Refidence  where   fhe 
finds  the  bed  Welcome  and  kindeft  Reception; 
her  Contexture  is  fo  nice  and  delicate,  that  {he 
cannot  breathe  in  a  tyrannical  Air  ;  Will  and 
Pleafure  are  fo  oppofite  to  her  Nature,  that  but 
touch  her  with  the  Sword  and  (lie  dies  :  But  if 
you  give  her   gentle   and  kind  Entertainment, 
(he  is  a  graceful  and  beneficent  Miftrefs ;  (he 

will 


96       Giro's  LETTERS. 

will  turn  Defarts  into  fruitful  Fields,  Villages 
into  great  Cities,  Cotages  into  Palaces,  Beg- 
gars into  Princes,  convert  Cowards  into  He- 
roes, Blockheads  into  Philofbphers,  will  change 
the  Coverings  of  little  Worms  into  the  richeft 
Brocades,  the  Fleeces  of  harmlefs  Sheep  into 
the  Pride  and  Ornaments  of  Kings,  and  by  a 
farther  Metamorphofis  will  tranfimite  them  a- 
gain  into  armed  Hofts  and  haughty  Fleets. 

Now  it  is  abfolutely  •impoilible,  from  the 
Nature  of  an  Arbitrary  Government,  that  (he 
{liould  enjoy  Security  and  Protection,  or  indeed 
be  free  from  Violence,  under  it.  There  is  not 
one  Man  in  a  Thoufand  that  has  the  Endqw- 
ments  and  Abilities  neceflary  to  govern  a  State9 
and  much  fewer  yet  that  have  juft  Notions  how 
to  make  Trade  and  Commerce  ufeful  and  ad- 
vantageous to  it;  and  amongft  thefe,'tis  rare  to 
find  one  who  will  forgo  all  perfbnal  Advan- 
tages, and  devote  himfelf  and  his  Labours 
wholly  to  his  Country's  Intereft  :  But  if  fuch  a 
Phoenix  fhould  arife  in  any  Country,  he  v/ill 
find  it  hard  to  get  Accefstoan  Arbitrary  Court, 
and  much  harder  yet  to  grapple  with  and  (tern 
the  reigning  Corruptions  in  it,  where  Virtue 
has  nothing  to  do,  and  Vice  rides  triumphant  ; 
where  .Bribery,  fervile  Flattery,  blind  Submit 
fion,  riotous  Expence,  and  very  often  Luft  and 
unnatural  Prostitutions,  are  the  Ladders  to 
Greatnefs ;  which  will  certainly  be  fupported 
by  the  fame  Methods  by  which  it  is  obtained. 

What  has  a  virtuous  Man  to  do,  or  what  can 
he  do,  in  fuch  Company  ?  If  he  pities  the  Peo- 
ple's Calamities,  he  (hall  be  called  Seditious  ; 
if  he  recommends  any  Publick  Good,  he  (hall 

be 


L  ETTERS.       97 

be  called  Preaching  Fool;  if  he  fiiould  live 
fober[y  and  virtuoufly  himfelf,  they  will  think 
him  fit  only  to  be  fent  to  a  Cloyfter  ;  if  he  does 
not  flatter  the  Prince  and  his  Superiors,  he  will 
be  thought  to^envy  their  Profperky  ;  if  he  pre- 
fumes  to  advife  his  Prince  to  purfue  his  true 
Intereilr,  he  will  be  efteemed  a  formidable  Ene- 
my to  the  whole  Court,  who  will  unire  to  de- 
ftroy  him  :  In  fine,  his  Virtues  will  be  Crimes, 
Reproaches,  and  of  dangerous  Confequence  to 
thofe  who  have  none.  As  Jayls  pick  up  all  the 
little  pilfering  Rogues  of  a  Country,  fo  fuch 
Courts  engrofs  all  the  great  Ones ;  who  have 
no  Bufmefs  there  but  to  grow  rich,  and  to  riot 
upon  the  publick  Calamities,  to  uCe  all  the 
Means  of  Oppreffion  and  Rapine,  to  make 
hafty  Fortunes  before  the  Bow-ftring  over- 
takes them,  or  a  fudden  Favourite  fupplants 
them. 

^Now  what  Encouragement  or  Security  can 
Trade  and  Induftry  receive  from  fuch  a  Crew 
of  Banditti?  No  Privileges  and  Immunities, 
or  even  Protection,  can  be  obtained  but  for 
Money,  and  are  always  granted  to  thofe  who 
give  moft ;  and  thefe  again  (hall  be  curtailed, 
altered,  abrogated,  and  cancelled,  upon  the 
Change  of  a  Minifter,  or  of  his  Inclinations, 
Intereft,  and  Caprices  :  Monopolies,  exclufive 
Companies,  Liberties  of  Pre-emption,  &c.  (hall 
be  obtained  for  Bribes  or  Favour,  or  in  TruH: 
for  great  Men,  or  vile  and  worthlefs  Women, 
Some  Merchants  (hall  be  openly  encouraged 
and  protected,  and  get  Exemptions  from 
Searches  and  Duties,  or  (hall  be  connived  at  in 
efcaping  them  •  others  fhall  be  burthened, 

VOL.  II.  £  opprc-ffed, 


's  LETTERS. 

oppreffcd,  manacled,  flopr,  and  delayed,  to 
extort  Prefents,  to  wreak  Revenge,  or  to  give 
Preference  of  Markets  to  Favourites,  Gover- 
nors of  Port-Towns,  or  of  Colonies,  who  have 
purchafed  their  Employments  at  Court,  (hall 
be  indulged  and  countenanced  in  making  Re- 
prifals  upon  the  Traders,  and  to  enable  them, 
to  fatisfy  the  yearly  Prefents  due  to  Minions  : 
Admirals  and  Commanders  of  Men  of  War 
fhall  prefs  their  Sailors,  or  be  paid  for  not  do- 
ing it,  and  Military  Officers  and  Soldiers  (hall 
moleft  and  interrupt  them  in  the  Courfe  of  their 
Commerce  and  honeftlnduftry. 

Nor  (hall  it  be  in  the  Power  of  the  moft  vi- 
gilant, a&ive,  and  virtuous  Prince  to  prevent: 
thefe  and  a  Thoufand  other  daily  Oppreifions; 
lie  muil  fee  with  his  Miniflers  Eyes,  and  hear 
v/ich  their  Ears  ;  nor  can  there  be  any  Accefs 
to  him  but  by  their  Means,  and  by  their 
Leave  :  Conftant  Spies  fhall  watch  and  obferve 
the  [nil-  Intentions,  or  leaft  Approaches  to  a 
Complaint  ;  and  the  Perfcn  injured  fhall  be 
threatned,  way-laid,  imprifoned,  and  perhaps 
murdered  ;  but  if  he  efcapes  all  their  Treache- 
ries, and  can  get  to  the  Ear  of  his  Prince,  'tis 
great  odds  but  he  will  be  treated  and  punifhed 
as  a  Calumniator,  a  falfe  Accufer,  and  a  fedi- 
tious  Difturber  of  his  Majefly's  Government  : 
]Sk>  Witnefs  will  dare  to  appear  for  him,  and 
many  falfe  ones  will  be  fuborned  againft  him  ; 
and  the  whole  PofTe  of  Minifters,  Officers,  Fa- 
vourites, Parafites,  Pathicks,  Strumpets,  Buf- 
foons, Fidlers,  and  Pimps,  will  confpire  to  ruin 
him,  as  a  common  Enemy  to  their  common 

Interefls. 

But 


LETTERS. 

/ 

But  if  all  thefe  Mifchiefs  could  he  avoided, 
the  Neceilities  of  fuch  a  Prince,  arifing  from 
the  Profufion  and  vad  Expence  of  his  Court, 
from  his  foolifh  Wars,  and  the   Depredations, 
Embezzlements,    and   various  Thefts    of    his 
Minifters  and  Servants,  will  be  always  calling 
for  new  Supplies,  for  new  Extortions,  which 
mud  be  raifed  by  all  the  Means  by  which  they 
can   be  raifed  :    New   and  fudden  Impofitions 
(hall  be  put  upon  Trade,  new  Loans  be  exact- 
ed from  Merchants  ;    Commodities  of  general 
life  (hall  be  bought  up  by  the  Prince's   Order, 
and  perhaps  upon  Trud,  and   afterwards   re- 
tailed again  at  extravagant  Advantages :  Mer- 
chants (hall  be  encouraged   to    import    their 
Goods  upon  Promifes  of  eafy  and  gentle  Ufage, 
and  thefe  Goods  when  imported  (hall  be  fub- 
]e6red  to  exorbitant  Impofitions  and  Cuftoms, 
and  perhaps  confifcated   upon    frivolous  Pre- 
tences.    But  if  thefe,  and    infinite  other   Op- 
preiiions,  could  be  prevented   for  fome   time, 
by  the  Vigilance  of  a  wife  Prince,  or  the  Care 
of  an  able  Minider,  yet  there  can  be  no  pro- 
bable Security,  or  even  Hopes   of  the   Conti- 
nuance of  honed  and  prudent  Meafures  in  fuch 
a  Government;  for  One  wife  Prince  fo  educated, 
there  will  be  Twenty  foolifh  ones,  and  for  One 
honed  Minifter,  there  will  be  a  Thoufand  cor- 
rupt ones. 

Under  fuch  natural  Difadvantages,  perpetual 
Uncertainties,  or  rather  certain  Opprejiions, 
no  Men  will  embark  large  Stocks  and  extenfive 
Talents  for  Bufmefs,  breed  up  their  Children  to 
precarious  Employments,  build  Forts  or  plant 
Colonies,  when  the  Breath  of  a  weak  Prince, 

2,  or 


ioo    CATffs   LETTERS. 

or  the  Caprice  of  a  corrupt  Favourite,  (hall 
dafh  at  once  all  their  Labours  and  their  Hopes; 
and  therefore  it  is  impoilible  that  any  Trade 
can  fubfift  long  in  fuch  a  Government,  but 
what  is  neceflary  to  fupport  the  Luxury  and 
Vices  of  a  Court  \  and  even  furh  Trade  is,  for 
the  mod  part,  carried  on  by  the  Stocks,  and 
for  the  Advantage  of  free  Countries,  and  their 
own  petty  Merchants  are  only.  Factors  to  the 
others.  True  Merchants  are  Citizens  of  the 
World,  and  that  is  their  Country  where  they 
can  live  bed  and  mod  fecure ;  and  whatever 
they  can  pick  up  and  gather  together  in  tyran- 
nical Governments,  they  remove  to  free  ones. 
Taver-aicr  inveded  all  the  Riches  he  had  amaC 
fed  by  his  long  Ramble  over  the  World  in  the 
"barren  Rocks  of  Switzerland:  And  being  asked 
by  the  laftKing  of  France,  how  it  came  to  pafs 
that  he,  who  had  feen  the  fined  Countries  on 
the  Globe,  came  to  lay  out  his  Fortune  in  the 
word  ;  he  gave  his  haughty  Majedy  this  fhort 
Anfv.'er,  That  he  was  willing  to  have  fome- 
thing  which  he  could  call  his  own. 

As  I  think  it  is  evident  by  what  I  have  faid 
before,  that  Trade  cannot  long  fubfift,  much 
lefs  fhurifli,  in  Arbitrary  Governments  ;  ^  fo 
there  is  fo  clofe  and  infeparable  a  Connexion 
between  that  and  Naval  Power,  that  I  dare 
boldly  affirm,  that  the  latter  can  never  arrive 
to  any  formidable  Height,  and  continue  long 
in  that  Situation,  under  fuch  a  State.  Where 
there  is  an  extenfive  Trade,  great  Numbers  of 
able-bodied  and  courageous  Sailors,  Men  bred 
to  Fatigues,  Hardfhips,  and  Hazards,  ard 
confcquently  Soldiers  by  Profdiion,  are  kept  in 

'  condanc 


's   LETTERS.     101 

conflant  Pay  ;  not  only  without  any  Charge  to 
the  Publick,  but  greatly  to  its  Benefit  ;  not 
only  by  daily  adding  to  irs  Wealth  and  Power, 
but  by  venting  and  employing  Abroad,  to  their 
Country's  Honour  and  Safety,  thofe  turbulent 
und  unruly  Spirits  that  would  be  Fuel  for 
Fad  ions,  and  the  Tools  and  Inftruments  of 
ambitious  or  diicontented  Great  Men  ar  Home. 
ThefeMen  are  always  ready  at  their  Country's 
Call,  to  defend  the  Profeiilon  they  live  by,  and 
with  it  the  publick  Happinefs:  They  are,  and 
ever  -mult  be,  in  the  publick  Interefr,  with 
which  their  own  is  fo  dofely  unired  ;  for  they 
(ubfift  by  exporting  the  Productions  of  the 
People's  Induflry,  which  they  condanrly  en- 
crcafe  by  fb  doing  :  1  hey  receive  their  Pay 
from  the  Merchants,  a  Sort  oF  Men  always  in 
the  Intereds  of  Liberty,  from  which  alone  they 
can  receive  Protection  and  Encouragement. 
And  as  this  Race  of  Men  contribute  vaftly  to 
the  publick  Security  and  Wealth,  fb  they  take 
nothing  from  it  :  They  are  not  quartered  up 
and  down  their  native  Country,  like  the  Hands 
of  deipotick  Frinces,  to  opprels  their  Subjects, 
interrupt  their  Iriduftry,  debauch  their  Wives 
and  Daughters,  infult  their  Perfbns,  to  be  Ex- 
amples of  Lewdnefs  and  Prodigality,  and  to 
be  always  ready  at  Hand  to  execute  the  bloody 
Commands  of  a  Tyrant. 

No  Monarch  was  ever  yet  powerful  enough 
to  keep  as  many  Seamen  in  ccnftant  Pay  at  his- 
own  Expence,  as  fmgle  Cities  have  been  able  to 
do  without  any  at  all :  The  Pay  of  a  Sailor,  with 
his  Provifion,  is  equal  to  that  of  a  Trooper  in  Ar- 
bkrary  Governments^  nor  can  they  learn  their 

T7  T*          ' 

ii-  ^  1  raaet 


C.-4TO's  LETTERS. 

Trade,  by  taking  Sea-Air  for  a  few  Summer. 
Months,  and  wafting  about  the  Coails  of  their 
own  Country  :  They  gain  Experience  and 
Boldnefs,  by  various  and  difficult  Voyages, 
and  by  being  conftamly  inured  to  Hardfhips 
and  Dangers.  Nor  is  it  poilible  for  fmgle 
Princes,  with  all  their  Power  and  Vigilance, 
to  have  fuch  regular  Supplies  of  Naval  Provi- 
fions,  as  trading  Countries  mud  have  always  in 
Srore.  There  mult  be  a  regular  and  condar.t 

iercourfe  with  the  Nations  from  whom  thefe 
Supplies  come  ;  a  certain  and  regular  Method 
of  raying  for  them  ;  and  condant  Demands 
\vi!l  produce  condant  Supplies.  There  are  al- 
ways numerous  Magazines  in  the  Hands  of 
rrivate  Merchants,  ready  for  their  own  life  or 
Sale;  There  mud  be  great  Numbers  of  Ship-. 

"ighrs,  Anchor-Smiths,  Rope  and  Sail-Ma- 
JUTS,  and  infinite  other  ArtUiccrs5  fure  always 
•.  i"  cerdtart  Employments  ;  and  \vho,  if  they 
ai  : .  .  :  rcfled  by  one  Mailer,  may  go  to  ano- 

'•T.  There  rri'ud  be  Numbers  of  Ships  ufed 
r,jr  Trade,  that,  upon  Occafions,  may  be  em- 
ployed for  Men  of  War,  for  Tranlports,  for 
Firefhips,  and  Tenders.  Now  all  thefe  Things, 
or  fcarce  any  of  them,  can  ever  be  brought 
about  by  Arbitrary  Courts;  Stores  will  be  em- 
bezzled, exhauded,  and  worn  out  before  new 
ones  are  Supplied  ;  Payments  will  not  be 
punctually  made  ;  Artificers  will  be  difcou- 
raged,  opprefled,  and  often  left  without  Em- 
ploy :  Every  thing  will  be  done  at  an  exorbi- 
tant Expence,  and  often  not  done  when  it  is 
paid  for  ;  and  when  Payments  are  made,  the 
greated  Part  fhall  go  in  Fees,  or  for  Bribes,  or 
in  fee  ret  Trulb. 


LETTERS.     103 

For  thefe  Reafuns,  and  many  others5  defpo- 
tick  Monarchs,  though  infinitely  powerful  ac 
Land,  yet  could  never  rival  Neptune^  and  ex- 
tend their  Empire  over  the  liquid  World  ;  for 
though  great  and  vigorous  Efforts  have  been 
often  made  by  thefe  haughty  Tyrants  of  Man- 
kind, to  fiibjedt  that  Element  to  their  Ambi- 
tion and  their  Power,  being  taught  by  woful 
Experience,  arifing  from  perpetual  Lofles  and 
Disappointments,  cf  what  vail  Importance  that 
Dominion  was  to  unllmke  j  ana  unlverfal  Sove- 
reignty ;  yet  all  their  Riches,  Application  and 
Pride  have  never  been  able,  in  one  In  (lance,, 
to  effect  ir.  Sometimes  indeed,  like  a  .Phan- 
tome,  fhe  has  made  a  faint  Appearance  at  an 
Arbitrary  Court,  but  difappear'd  again  jit  the 
firft  Approach  of  the  Morning  Light  :  She  is 
the  Portion  of  free  States,  is  married  to  Liber- 
ty, and  ever  flies  the  foul  and  polluted  Em- 
braces of  a  Tyrant. 

The  little  Srate  of  Athens  was  always  able  to 
humble  the  Pride,  2nd  put  a  Check  to  the 
growing  Greatnefs  of  the  towering  Per  fan  Mo- 
narchs,  by  their  Naval  Power  ;  and  vh 
flripp'd  of  all  their  Territories  r-y  Land,  and 
even  their  Capital  City,  the  Seat  of  their  Com- 
monwealth, yet  had  Strength  enough  left  to 
vanquifh  their  numerous  Fleets,  which  almoib 
covered  the  Sea,  and  to  defeat  an  Expedition 
carried  on  by  Armies  that  drank  up  Rivers, 
and  exhaufted  all  the  Stores  of  Land. 

The  fingle  City  of  Venice  has  proved  it  felf 
and  Over-match  in  Naval  Power  to  the  great 
Ottoman  Empire,  porTefled  of  fo  many  Iflands^ 
ufeful  Ports,  enviroad  with  fb  many  Sea  C6*»s, 

E  4  an4 


104    C^TO's  LETTERS. 

and  abounding  with  all  forts  of  Scores  necefTary 
to  Navigation  ;  and  in  the  Year  Fifty  fix,  gave 
them  fb  fignal  an  Overthrow  at  the  Dardanels, 
JLS  put  that  State  in  fuch  a  Confirmation,  that 
they  believed  their  Empire  at  an  End  ;  and  'tis 
thought  if  the  Venetians  had  purfued  their  Vic- 
tory, they  had  driven  them  out  of  Conftertti- 
vcp/e,  and  even  out  of  Europe ;  for  the  Grand 
Seignior  himlelf  was  preparing  to  fly  into  Afin. 
The  little  I  (land  of  Rjjodes  defended  itfelf  for 
fome  Ages  againfl  the  whole  Power  of  the 
Sultan,  tho'  encompafled  by  his  Dominions  ; 
and  it  was  with  great  Difficulty,  Hazard,  and 
Expence,  that  he  at  laft  overcame  them,  and 
drove  the  Inhabitants  to  Malta,  where  they 
have  ever  fince  braved  his  Pride,  and  live  up- 
rn  the  Plunder  of  his  Subjects:  And  notwith- 
ftar.ding  all  his  numerous  and  expensive  Efforts 
to  fhare  with  the  Chriftians  the  Dominion  of 
the  Sea  ;  yet  there  are  no  other  Seeds  or  Tra- 
ces of  it  left  through  his  great  and  exterifive 
Territories,  but  what  are  found  in  the  free 
Py.ratical  States  of  Algiers,  Tunis,  and  Tripoli. 

Neither  the  Sophi  of  Per/I* ,  the  Great  Mcgul, 
the  many  Kings  \vho  command  the  Banks  of 
the  Ganges,  nor  all  the  haughty  Potentates  of 
Afii  and  Affick^  are  able  to  contend  at  Sea 
with  the  Englifh  or  Dutch  Eaft-India  Companies, 
or  even  to  defend  their  Subjects  againit  but  few 
Pyrites,  with  all  their  Population,  and  their 
Mines  of  Gold  and  Diamonds. 

Spain  in  all  her  Pride,  with  the  Wealth  of 
both  Indict,  with  Dominions  fb  vail  and  exten- 
V*ve,  that  the  Sun  rifes  and  frts   within   them, 
and  a  Sea-Line3  which  if  extended  would  en- 
viron 


's  LETTERS.    105- 

viron  the  Earth,  yet  was  not  able  to  difpute 
their  Title  to  that  Element  with  a  few  revolted 
Provinces,  who  grew  up  through  the  Courle 
of  an  expenfive  War  to  that  amazing  Great- 
riefs,  that  in  lefs  than  a  Century  they  faw 
themfelves,  from  a  few  Fisher-Towns  encorn- 
pafied  with  Bogs  and  Morafles,  become  a  mcfl 
•Formidable  State,  equal  to  the  greateil  Poten- 
tates at  Sea,  and  to  moft  at  Land  ;  to  have 
great  Kings  in  a  diftant  World  fubmit  to  be 
-their  Vaflals  ;  and,  in  fine,  to  be  Proteclors  of 
that  mighty  Nation  from  whom  they  revoked-. 
Here  is  a  ftupendious  Inftance  of  the  Effech  of 
Liberty,  which  neighbouring  Monarchs  with 
Twenty  times  the  Territory  tremble  at,  and 
Pofterity  will  hardly  believe. 

France  with  all  its  Oeconomy,  Addrefs,  and 
Power,  with  its  utmoft  and  moft  expenfive 
Effort?,  and  the  Affiftance  of  neighbouring  and 
rival  Kings,  has  not  been  able  to  eftablifh  an 
Empire  upon  that  coy  Element.  She  faw  it, 
•like  a  Mufhroom,  rife  in  a  Night,  and  wicher 
again  the  next  Day.  It's  true,  at  irnmenfe  Ex- 
pence  and  infinite  Labour,  (he  got  together 
a  formidable  Fleet,  and  with  it  got  Victories^ 
and  took  Thoufands  of  rival  Ships ;  yet  every 
Day  grew  weaker  as  her  Enemies  grew  ftronger, 
and  could  never  recover  a  (ingle  Defeat,  which 
in  Holland  would  have  been  repaired  in  a  few 
more  Weeks  than  the  Battle  was  Days  m  fight- 
ing :  So  impoflible  it  is  for  Art  to  contend 
again  ft  Nature,  and  Slavery  to  difpute  the  Na- 
val Prize  with  Liberty. 

Sweden  and  Dewnar^  though  pofTefFed  of  the1 
Naval  Stores  of  Europe  *  who  fubfift  by  that 

E  5; 


xoS    Giro's  LETTERS. 

Commerce,  and  are  conftantly  employed  to 
build  Ships  for  their  Neighbours,  yet  are  not 
able,  with  their  united  Force,  to  equip,  man 
out,  and  keep  upon  the  Sea  for  any  confider- 
able  Time,  a  Fleet  large  enough  to  dilpute 
with  an  Englifh  or  Dutch  Squadron  ;  and  I  dare 
venture  my  Reputation  and  Skill  in  Politicks, 
by  boldly  averting,  that  another  vain  and  un- 
natural Northern  Apparition  will  fbon  vanifli 
aad  disappear  again,  like  the  Morning  Star  at 
the  Glimmering  of  the  Sun,  and  every  one  (hall 
ask,  H7bere  is  it  ? 

I  am, 


I  Have   {hewn  in  my  laft,  that  Trad^  and 
Naval  Power  are  produced  by  Liberty  only; 
and  (hall  fhew  in  This,  that  Military  Virtue- 
can  proceed  from  nothing  elfe,  as  I  have  in  a 
good  Meafure  (hewn  already. 

In  free  Countries,  as  People  work  for  them-' 
felves,  fo  they  fight  for  themfelves  :  But  in 
Arbitrary  Countries,  'tis  all  one  to  the  People, 
in  Point  of  Intereft,  who  conquers  them  ;  they 
cannot  ^be  worfe  ^ufed  ;  and  when  a  Tyrant's. 
Army  is  beat,  his  Country  is  conquered  :  He 
has  no  Refburce,  his  Subjects  having  neither 
Arms,  nor  Courage,  nor  Reafon  to  fight  for 
him:  He  has  no  Support  but  his  Itanding  Forces^ 
who,  for  enabling  him  to  opprefs.  go  Sharers  in 
hisOppreillon  •  and  fighting  for  themfelves  while 
they  fight  for  him,  do  fbmetimes  fight  well  i 

But 


's  LETTERS.     107 

Bat  his  poor  People,  who  are  opprefled  by 
him,  can  have  no  other  Concern  for  his  Fare*, 
than  to  wifh  him  the  worft. 

In  Attacks  upon  a  free  State,  every  Man  will 
fight  to  defend  it,  becaufe  every  Man  has 
fornething  to  defend  in  it.  He  is  in  love  with 
his  Condition,  his  Eafe,  and  Property,  and 
will  venture  his  Life  rather  than  lofe  them,  be-^ 
caufe  with  them  he  lofes  all  the  Blefilngs  of 
Life.  When  thefe  Bleilings  are  gone,  it  is 
Madnefs  to  think  that  any  Man  will  fpill  his 
Blood  for  him  who  took  them  away,  and  i& 
doubtlefs  hfs  Enemy,  tho'  he  may  call  himfelf 
his  Prince.  It  is  much  more  natural  to  wifti 
his  Deftru&ion,  and  help  to  procure  it. 

For  thefe  Reafbns,  Imall  free  States  have 
conquered  the  greateft  Princes;  and  the  greateft 
Princes  have  never  been  able  to  conquer  free 
States,  but  either  by  furpnzing  them  bafely7 
or  by  corrupting  them,  or  by  Forces  almoit  infi- 
nitely fuperior,  or  when  they  were  diffracted  and 
weaken'd  bydomeflickDivifions  and  Treachery. 

The  Greeks  thought  fcarce  any  Number  of 
Perfians  too  great  for  their  own  fmall  Armies^ 
or  any  Army  of  their  own  too  frnaii  ^for  the 
greateft  Number  of  Perfians.  Agefilmts  invaded 
the  great  Per  fan  Empire,  the  greateft  then  int 
the  World,  at  the  Head  of  no  more  than  Ten 
Thoufand  Foot,  and  Four  Thoufand  Horfe* 
and  carried  all  before  him  ;  he  defeated  the 
Jfatick.  Forces  with  fo  much  Eafe,  that  they 
fcarce  interrupted  his  March  ;  he  fubdued  their 
Provinces  as  fa  ft  as  he  entered  them,  and  he 
took  their  Cities  without  felling  down  before 
t-hem  :.  And  had  he  not  been  recalled  by  his; 


io8     Giro's  LETTERS. 

Countrymen,  to  defend  his  own  City  againft 
a  Confederacy  of  other  Greek,  Citie?,  much 
more  terribly  Foes  than  the  greateft  Armies  of 
the  great  King,  it  is  very  probable  that  that 
brave  old  S  far  tan  would  have  foon  robbed  him 
of  his  Empire. 

^And  not  long  before  this,  when  Cyrus  made 
War  upon  his  Brother  Artaxerxes  for  the  Crown, 
Thirteen  Thoufand  auxiliary  Greeks  entertained 
by  him  for  that  End,  routed  the  Emperor's 
Army  of  Nine  Hundred  Thoufand  Men,  2nd 
got  the  Victory  for  Cyri/j,  had  he  cutliv'd  the 
Battle  to  enjoy  k  And  though  they  had  now 
loft  the  Prince  they  fought  for,  and  afterwards 
Clearchus  their  Genera],  who  with  other  of  their 
Officers  was  treacheroufly  murdered  by  the 
ferjiA^s  when  they  had  brought  him  to  a  Par- 
Jey ;  tho'  they  were  in  great  Srreights,  defti- 
rute  of  Horfes,  Money,  and  Provifions,  far 
from  Home,  in  the  Heart  of  an  Enemy's  Coun- 
try, xv arched  and  diftrcffed  by  a  great  Army 
of  Four  Hundred  Thoufand  Men,  who  waited 
for  an^Occafion  to  cut  them  off  in  their  Re- 
treat, if  they  attempted  It ;  yet  thefe  excellent 
Soldiers,  excellent  by  being  Freemen,  com* 
minded  by  the  famous  Xenopbon,  made  good 
that  Retreat  of  Two  Thoufand  Three  Hun* 
dred  Miles  over  The  Bellies  of  their  Enemies, 
through  Provinces  of  PC- fans,  and  in  fpight  of 
a  yaft  Hoft  of  ?c;-finm,  who  coailed  'and  ha, 
rals'd  them  all  the  Way. 

Alexander  of  Macedon,  with  his  free-Greeks^ 
attack'd  the  Perfans,  and  beat  them  at  all  Di£ 
advantages  in  the  open  Fields,  when  they  were 
five,  tai,  nay,  twenty  Times  his  Number; 

and 


LETTERS.     109 

and  having  pafled  the  Hellefpont  with  not  Fif- 
teen Thoufand  Pounds  in  his  Treafury,  and 
not  above  Thirty-five  Thoufand  Men  in  his 
Army,  he  made  himfelf  Mailer  of  that  great 
and  overgrown  Empire,  with  as  much  Expedi- 
tion as  he  could  travel  over  it ;  and  though 
he  fought  three  Battles  for  it,  he  fcarce  loft  in 
them  all  one  Regiment  of  his  Men. 

Leonidas,  at  the  Head  of  Four  Thoufand 
Greeks,  fought  Xerxes  at  the  Head  of  Six  and 
twenty  Hundred  Thoufand  Perfitxs,  according 
to  Herodotus,  in  the  Streights  of  Thermopylae  for 
two  Days  together,  and  repulfed  them  at  every 
A  {fault  with  vaft  Slaughter ;  nor  did  they  at 
laft  get  the  better  of  him,  till  being  led  by  a 
treacherous  Greek,  a  fecret  Way  over  the  Moun- 
tains, they  fell  upon  him  in  the  Rear,  and  fur- 
rounded  him  with  their  Numbers ;  neither  did 
he  then  defert  his  Poft,  tho?  all  his  Men  re- 
treated, except  Three  Hundred  Spartans,  who 
refolutely  ilood  by  him,  and  were  all  (lain  with 
him  upon  the  Spot ;  with  Twenty  Thoufand 
Perjj/tns  round  them. 

The  F(omans,  enjoying  the  fame  Liberty,  and 
animated  by  it,  vanquifhed  all  the  enOaved 
Nations  of  the  known  World,  with  the  fame 
Eaie,  and  upon  the  fame  unequal  Terms.  The 
fubduing  of  free  Countries  coil  them  long  La- 
bour and  Patience,  great  Difficulty,  and  a; 
World  of  Blood  ,  and  they  differed  many  De- 
feats before  they  got  a  decifive  Victory  :  The 
Inhabitants  being  all  Freemen  were  all  brave, 
all  Soldiers,  and  were  exhaufted  before  their 
States  could  be  conquered  :  And  the  Volfcifim, 
y  Tufca-ns,  and  Samnltcs  preferved  their 

Liberties 


no  CA  TO's  LETTERS. 

Liberties,  as  long  as  they  had  Men  left  to  de- 
fend them.  The  Samtrifes  particularly  declared 
in  their  Embaffy  to  Hannibal,  that  having  often 
brought  great  Numbers  of  Men  into  the  Field 
againft  the  Upmans,  and  Sometimes  defeated 
the  Roman  Armies,  they  were  at  laft  fb  wafted 
that  they  could  not  refifl  one  Rowan  Legion. 

But  when  the  Romans  came  to  War  againft 
great  and  arbitrary  Kings,  they  had  little  elfe 
to  do  but  to  (hew  their  Swords  ;  they  gained 
Battles  almoft  without  fighting,  and  Two  or 
Three  Legions  have  routed  Three  or  Four 
Hundred  Thoufand  Men.  One  Battle  gene- 
rally won  a  Kingdom,  and  fometimes  two  or 
three.  Antiochus  was  fb  frightened  wich  one 
Skirmifh  with  Acliius  at  Thermofykg)  that  he 
run  away  out  ofQrfece%  and  left  all  he  pofTefled 
there  to  the  Romans  ;  and  being  beaten  after- 
wards by  Sczplc,  the  Brother  of  Africanus,  he 
quitted  to  them  all  his  Kingdoms  and  Terri- 
tories on  this  fide  Mount  Taurus.  And  Paulas 
SSLmiliiiSi  by  one  Battle  with  Perfeits^  became 
Mailer  of  Macedonia.  Tigranss,  Ptolemy ,  and 
Sypbax,  all  Monarchs  of  mighty  Territories, 
were  ftill  more  eafily  vanquifhed.  So  that  the 
great  Kingdoms  of  A/ia,  sEgypt,  Numidia,  and 
Macedon,  were  all  of  them  much  more  eafily 
overcome,  and  differed  much  fewer  Defeats 
than  the  Stimnites  alone,  though  inhabiting  a 
fmall  barren  Province. 

The  only  dreadful  Foes  the  Remans  ever 
found,  were  People  as  free  as  themielves  ;  and 
the  mod  dreadful  of  all  were  the  Carthaginians. 
Hannibal  alone  beat  them  oftner,  and  flew  mere 
of  iheir  Men  in  Battle,  than  all  the  Kings  Jn 

the 


's  LETTERS,     in 

the  World  ever  did,  or  could  do.  But  for  all 
the  great  and  repeated  Defeats  he  gave  them, 
though  he  had  deftroyed  Two  Hundred  Thou- 
iand  of  their  Men,  and  many  of  their  excel- 
lent Commanders ;  and  though,  at  the  fame 
Time,  their  Armies  were  cut  off  in  Spain,  and 
with  them  the  two  brave  Scipio's  ;  and  though 
they  had  differed  great  Loffes  in  Sicily,  and  at 
Sea  ;  yet  they  never  funk  nor  wanted  Soldiers,- 
nor  their  Soldiers  Courage ;  and  as  to  great 
Commanders,  they  had  more  and  better  than 
ever  they  had  before  :  And  having  conquered 
Hannibal,  they  quickly  conquered  the  World. 

This  vait  Virtue  of  theirs,  and  this  uncon- 
querable Spirit,  was  not  owing  to  Climate  or 
Complexion,  but  to  Liberty  alone,  and  the 
Equality  of  their  Government,  in  which  every 
f(oman  had  a  Share  :  They  were  nurfed  up  in 
the  Principles  of  Liberty  •,  in  their  Infancy  they 
were  inftrucl:ed  to  love  it.  and  Experience  af- 
terwards confirmed  their  Affections,  and  fhew- 
ed  them  its  glorious  Advantages  :  Their  own 
happy  Condition  taught  them  a  Contempt  and 
Indignation  for  thole  wretched  and  barbarous 
Governments,  which  could  neither  afford  their 
Subjects  Happinefs  nor  Protection  :  And  when 
they  attacked  thefe  Governments  and  their 
wretched  People,  they  found  themfelves  like 
Lions  amongft  Sheep. 

It  is  therefore  Government  alone  that  makes 
Men  cowardly  or  brave  :  And  Bcccalini  well 
ridicules  the  abfurd  Complaint  of  the  Princes 
of  his  Time,  that  their  Subjects  wanted  than 
Love  for  their  Country  which  was  found  in 
free  States,  when  he  makes  Apollo  tell  them^ 

that 


iii     CATO's  LETTERS. 

that  no  People  were  ever  in  Love  with  Ra- 
pine, Fraud,  and  Oppreffion  \  that  they  muft 
mend  their  own  Adminifbation,  and  their  Peo- 
ples Condition  ;  and  that  People  will  then  love 
their  Country,  when  they  live  happily  in  it. 
The  old  Romans  were  Matters  oF  Mankind  ; 
but  the  prefent  Race  of  People  in  Rr<met  are 
not  a  Match  for  one  of  the  Swifs  Cantons ; 
nor  could  thefe  Cantons  ever  be  conquered, 
even  by  the  united  Forces  of  the  Houfe  of  Au- 
jlrin.  Charles  Duke  of  'Burgundy  was  the  laft 
that  durft  invade  them  ;  but  tho'  he  had  been 
a  long  Terror  and  conftant  Rival  to  Louis  the 
XI th  of  France,  a  crafty,  politick,  and  power- 
ful Monarch  ;  and  often  too  hard  for  him; 
he  paid  dear  for  his  Bravery  in  attacking  the 
Swt^ers,  and  loft  by  doing  it  Three  Armies, 
and  his  own  Life.  They  were  a  free  People, 
and  fought  in  their  own  Quarrel;  the- greatefl 
Incitement  upon  Earth  to  Boldnrfs  and  Mag- 
nanimity. The  Swi  tiers  had  a  Property,  the/ 
in  Rocks;  and  were  Freemen,  though  amongft 
Mountains.  This  gives  them  the  Figure  they 
•-make  in  Europe  ;  fuch  a  Figure,  that  they  are 
courted  by  the  greateft  Princes  in  it,  and  have 
fupported  fome  of  them  in  their  Wars,  when 
their  own  native  Slaves  could  net  fupport 
them. 

The  Dutch,  having  revolted  from  the  greaf- 
eft  Potentate  then  in  Europe,  defended  them- 
felves  agamQ  all  his  Power  for  near  an  Hun- 
dred Years,  and  grew  rich  all  the  Time,  while 
he  grew  poor  ;  fo  poor,  that  Spain  has  never 
yet  recovered  its  Lodes  in  that  War  :  And 
though  they  are  in  their  Conliuution  more 

formed 


CATO's  LETTERS.    1 

formed  for  Trade  than  War,  yet  their  own 
Bravery  in  their  own  Defence  is  aftonifhing  to 
thofe  that  know  not  what  the  Spirit  of  Liberty 
can  do  in  any  People  :  Even  their  Women 
joined  to  defend  their  Walls  ;  as  the  Women 
of  Sparta  once  did,  and  as  the  Women  of 
J*r.r:slcna  more  lately  did,  tho'  the  united  Force 
of  the  Two  Monarchies  of  France  and  S^afn 
had  at  lad  the  Honour  to  take  that  City, 
especially  when  We,  who  had  engaged  them 
in  the  War,  had  alfo  given  them  up. 

Thefe  fame  Dutch  in  that  War,  when  they 
were  clofely  befieged  in  one  of  their  Towns 
by  the  Spanifh  Army,  let  in  the  Sea  upon  their 
Country,  trufting  rather  to  the  Mercy  of  that 
Element,  than  to  the  Mercy  of  an  invading 
Tyrant ;  and  the  Sea  iaved  them.  It  mufl  be 
remembred  too,  that  they  had  the  Power  of 
the  Emperor,  as  well  as  that  of  Spain,  to  con- 
tend wirh  ;  both  thefe  mighty  Monarchs  ha- 
ving joined  their  Cotinfels  and  Arms  to  fubdue 
Seven  little  Provinces,  which  yet  they  never 
were  able  to  fubdue:  The  Ciry  of  Oflend  alone 
cod  them  a  Three  Years  Siege,  and  an  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty  Thoufand  Men  •,  and  when 
they  took  it,  they  took  only  a  Heap  of  Rub- 
l>i{h,  to  which  it  was  reduced  before  it  was 
fur  rendered. 

In  free  States,  every  Man  being  a  Soldier,  cr 
quickly  made  fo,  they  improve  in  a  War,  and 
every  Campaign  they  fight  better  and  better  : 
Whereas  the  Armies  of  an  abfblute  Prince  grow 
every  Campaign  worfe  ;  efpecially  if  they  are 
composed  of  his  own  Subjects,  who  being 
Slaves,  are  with  great  Difficulty  and  long  Dif- 

cipline 


H4    Cafe's  LETTERS. 

cipline  made  Soldiers,  and  Icarce  ever  mads 
good  ones  ;  and  when  his  old  Troops  are  gone, 
his  ne\v  ones  fignlfy  little.  This  was  eminent- 
ly (hewn  in  the  late  War  with  France,  which 
degenerated  in  Arms  every  Year  ;  while  the 
Englijk  and  Dutch  did  as- evidently  mend.  And 
doubtlefs,  if  the  French  Barrier  of  fortified 
Towns  had  been  quite  broken  through,  as  it 
was  very  near.  One  Battle  would  have  corn- 
pleated  the  ConquePt  of  Francs,  and  perhaps  it 
would  net  have  coPc  a  Battle. 

And  if  free  States  fupport   thernfelves  better 
in  a  War  than   an  -ite  Prince,   they  do 

like  wife  much  fooner  retrieve  their  Loffes  by 
it.  The  Dutch,  vihen  they  had  been  beaten 
twice  at  Sea  by  Cromwell's  Admirals  and  Englijh 
Seamen,  wirh  great  Slaughter  and  Lofs  of 
Ships,  did  notwithstanding,  in  Two  Months 
Time  after  the  fecond  great  Defeat,  fit  out  a 
Third  Fleet  of  a  Hundred  and  Forty  Men  of 
War,  under  the  famous  Van  Trump  :  Upon 
this  Lord  Clarendon  obferves,  that  "  there  can- 
"  not  be  a  greater  Inftance  of  the  Opulency 
*'  of  that  People,  than  that  they  fhould  be 
able3  afrer  fo  many  LoiTes,  and  fo  late  a 
great  Defeat,  in  fo  ftiort  a  Time,  to  fet  out 
a  Fleet  ftrong  enough  to  vifit  thofe  who  had 
"  (b  lately  overcome  them,"  This  is  what  no 
Arbitrary  Prince  in  Europe,  or  upon  the  Face 
of  the  Earth,  could  have  done  ;  nor  do  I 
believe,  that  all  the  Arbitrary  Monarchs  in 
Europe,  Africa,  and  Ajia,  with  all  their  united 
Powers  together,  could  do  it  at  this  Day.  The 
whole  Strength  of  the  Spaniflo  Monarchy  could 
not  fit  out  their  famous  Armada,  without  the 

AiMance 


C  A  TO's  LETTERS, 

Miftance  of  Money  from  the  little  free  State 
of  Genoa  ;  and  that  invincible  Armada,  being 
beatea  by  theEnglt/h  and  quite  deftroyed,  Spain 
has  never  been  able,  with  all  her  Indies,  and 
her  Mountains  of  Silver  and  Gold,  to  make 
any  Figure  at  Sea  fince,  nor  been  able  to  pay 
that  very  Money  which  equip'd  that  its  la  ft 
great  Fleet. 

The  little  City  of  Tyre  gave  Alexander  tie 
Great  more  Refinance,  and  cofl  him  more  La- 
bour to  take  it,  than  to  conquer  the  great  Mo- 
narchy of  A(IA\  and  tho',  when  with  infinite 
Labour  and  Courage  he  had  taken  it,  -he  burnt 
it  to  the  Ground,  flew  eight  thoufand  Tynans 
in  tVe  Sackage  of  their  Town,  crucified  two 
thoufand  more,  and  fold  all  the  reft  for  Slaves  ; 
yet  iome  of  the  Citizens,  with  their  Wives  and 
Children,  being  efcaped  to  Carthage,  (a  Colony 
of  their  own)  and  others  being  conveyed  away 
and  favecl  by  their  Neighbours  the  Sidonians 
during  the  Seige,  they  returned  and  rebuilt  their 
deflated  City  ;  and  in  fo  finall  a  Time  as 
nineteen  Years  afterwards,  endured  another 
Seige  cf  fifteen  Months  from  Anti genus,  the 
rnoft  powerful  of  all  Alexanders  Succeilors  ; 
nor  could  he  take  it  at  lafi:,  but  upon  honour- 
able Terms.  What  an  Inftance  of  the  Bleiiings 
and  Power  of  Liberty  and  Trade! 

From  the  Moment  the  fymans  loft  their  Li- 
berty, their  Spirit  was  gone,  and  their  Valour 
fcarce  ever  afrer  appeared.  In  the  Beginning 
of  Augtiftus^s  Reign,  the  befr  and  braveft  of 
them  perifhed  by  the  Sword,  either  in  the  Civil 
War,  where  Romans  fighting  againft  Romans, 
Multitudes  were  (lain  with  Brutus  and  Cfffms^ 

the 


n6    C^JO's   LETTERS. 

the  lad  brave  Men  that  ever  drew  a  Sword  for 
the  Commonwealth,  or  in  the  bloody  Pro- 
fcriptions  that  followed  ;  wherein  all  the  ex- 
cellent Men  and  Aifertors  of  Liberty,  who 
efcaped  the  Battle,  were  gleaned  up  and  mur- 
dered by  Soldiers  and  Informers,  and  amongfi: 
the  reft,  the  divine  Cicero.  Afterwards,  when 
Anguftus  had  got  the  World  to  himfelf,  Jura 
omnium  in  fe  traxit  ;  Flatterers  were  his  only 
Favourites,  and  none  were  preferred  to  Magi- 
ftracy,  but  the  fervile  Creatures  of  his  Power  ; 
Liberty  was  extinct,  and  irs  Spirit  gone,  and 
tho5  there  was  a  univerfal  Peace,  yet  the  Power 
of  the  Empire  continually  decayed.  Augufiits 
himfelf  was  fo  fenfible  of  this,  that  the  Loft  of 
two  or  three  Legions  under  Va^us  in  Germany t 
frightened  h'm,  and  had  almoft  broke  his 
Heart  ,  net  from  any  Tendernefs  in  it,  for  he 
had  butchered  Myriads,  and  enflaved  all ;  but 
he  knew  that  now  tyman  Legions  were  hard  to 
be  got,  and  (carce  worth  getting.  Having  de- 
ft roy'd  fb  many  brave  Romans ^  and  made  the 
reft  bafe  by  Slavery,  and  by  the  Corruptions 
which  fupport  it,  he  knew  the  Difficulty  of 
forming  a  fty-man  Army. 

His  Succeilbrs  were  worfe  ;  they  went  on  in 
a  perpetual  Series  of  Slaughters,  dreading  and 
deftroying  every  Thing  that  had  the  Appear- 
ance of  Virtue  or  Goodnefs  ,  and  even  fo  early 
as  jiberius's  Reign,  T  hat  Emperor,  fays  Tacitus* 
knew  magis  Fawn  quam  vi  flare  res  fusts,  that  his 
Empire  was  fcpported  more  by  the  Reputation 
of  tyman  Greatnefs,  than  by  the  real  Strength 
of  the  fymans,  who  grew  every  Day  more  and 
more  weak  and  wretched  j  and  tho'  they  had 

now 


CATO's  LETTERS.     117 

now  and  then  a  little  Sun-fhine  in  the  Reign  of 
a  good  Emperor,  yet  the  Root  of  the  Evil  re- 
mained :  They  were  no  longer  Freemen  ;  and 
for  far  the  moft  part,  their  Government  was 
nothing  elfe  but  aconftant  State  of  OppreiLon, 
and  a  continued  Succeiiion  of  Mafiacres.  Ty- 
rants governed  them,  and  Soldiers  created  and 
governed  the  Tyrants,  or  butchered  them  if 
they  would  not  be  Butchers. 

As  to  military  Virtue,  it  was  no  more  :  The 
Prastorian  Bands  were  only  a  Band  of  Hang- 
men with  an  Emperor  at  their  Head  ;  Italy  and 
the  Provinces  were  exhaufted;  the  Ionian  Peo- 
ple were  nothing  but  an  idle  and  debauched 
Mob,  who  cared  not  who  was  uppermoft,  ib 
they  had  but  a  little  Victuals  and  faw  Shews : 
The  provincial  Armies  were  foreign  Hirelings, 
and  there  was  not  a  Upman  Army  in  the  I^ctnan 
Empire.  Inops  Italia,  plebs  tirbana  tmbejtis,  ni- 
bil  in  exercittlus  validum  prater  externum.  This 
was  (aid  not  long  after  the  Death  of  Auguftw  ; 
nor  do  I  remember  an  Inflance  of  one  great 
Roman  Captain  after  Germanics  and  Corlulo;  the 
rirft  murdered  by  Tiberius,  his  Uncle  and  Fa- 
ther by  Adoption  ;  and  the  ether  by  Xm>,  for 
whom  he  reconquered  and  fettled  the  Eafl  ;  and 
after  Vefpajinn  and  Titw9  every  fyman  Emperor 
cf  remarkable  Bravery  v/ns  a  Foreigner,  and 
every  Victory  gained  by  them,  was  gained  by 
Foreigners  ;  who  being  all  Mercenaries,  were 
perpetually  letting  up  and  pulling  down  their 
own  Monarchs  At  length,  being  pofiefTed  of 
.  the  whole  Power  cf  the  Empire,  they  took  it 
to  thcrnfelvcs  ;  and  thus  it  ended,  and  became 
dismembered  by  feveral  Nations,  and  into  fe- 

veral 


n8    CA  TO's  LETTERS. 

j 

veral  Governments,  according  to  their  Fortune; 
and  it  is  remarkable,  that  tho'  thofe  Nations 
had  frequent  Wars  amongft  themfelves  about 
the  Countries  they  invaded,  yet  they  had  no- 
thing to  apprehend  from  the  P^omans  while  they 
were  feizing  Roman  Provinces. 

Tyrants  are  fb  feniible  that  when  they  have 
loft  their  Army,  they  have  loft  all.,  that  a- 
mongft  their  other  deftru6tive  Expedients  to 
preferve  themfelves,  whatever  becomes  of  their 
People,  one  of  their  Methods  is  to  lay  whole 
Counties  wafte,  and  to  keep  them  wafte,  to 
prevent  an  Invader  from  fubfifting  ;  and  their 
bed  Provinces  are  by  this  Means  turned  often 
into  Wilderneffes.  For  this  Reafbn  a  March  to 
Conftantimplc  is  fcarce  practicable  to  an  Enemy 
from  any  Quarter. 

I  will  conclude  with  anfwering  an  Objecti- 
on :  It  may  be  faid,  that  the  Armies  of  Ty- 
rants do  often  right  bravely,  and  are  brave  ; 
and  I  own  it  is  true  in  many  Inftances  :  But  I 
defire  it  may  be  remembered,  that  in  Arbitra- 
ry Countries,  nothing  flouri (lies  except  the  Court 
and  the  Army.  A  Tyrant  muft  give  his  Spoilers 
Part  of  the  Spoil,  or  elfe  they  will  fight  but 
faintly  for  it,  or  perhaps  put  him  to  death  if 
he  does  not.  The  moil  abfblute  Princes  mud 
therefore  ufe  their  Soldiers  like  Freemen,  as 
they  tender  their  own  Power  and  their  Lives  ; 
and  under  the  greateft  Tyrants,  the  Men  of 
War  enjoy  great  Privileges,  even  greater  than 
in  Free  States.  The  Privileges  and  Immunities 
they  enjoy,  conftitute  a  Sort  of  Liberty,  dear 
to  themfelves,  but  terrible  always  to  the  Sub- 
je&,  and  often  pernicious  to  the  Prince :  ^  it 

being 


LETTERS.     119 

feeing  the  certain  Condition  of  a  Tyrant,  that 
to  be  able  to  opprefs  his  People,  or  plague  his 
Neighbours,  he  muft  empower  his  Soldiers  to 
deftroy  himfelf. 

The  chief  Forces  therefore  of  an  Arbitrary 
Prince,  confift  of  Freemen  :  Such  were  the 
Prxtorian  Bands  of  the  R$man  Emperors,  and 
fuch  are  the  Turlyjh  Janizaries ;  and  both  of 
them,  tho'  they  maintained  the  Tyranny,  have 
frequently  kill'dthe  Tyrants;  and  fuch  are  the 
Grand  Seignior's  %aims,  Tymaricts,  or  Horfe- 
men,  who  have  Lands  given  them  in  the  Pro- 
vinces, and  are  the  only  Nobility  and  Gentry 
there :  And  fuch  too  were  the  Mamatukes  of 
Egypt)  which  Country  at  laft  they  ufurped  for 
themfelves,  having  put  the  King  their  Mailer 
to  death.  1  might  mention  here  the  Swift 
Guards,  and  Gens  d^armes  of  a  neighbouring 
Prince,  which  are  his  Janizaries.  As  to  the 
Turkjfh  Janizaries,  I  own  the  Sultan  may  put 
particular  Men  of  them  to  death,  but  no  Sul- 
tan dares  touch  their  Privileges  as  a  Body  ;  and 
two  or  three  of  their  greateft  Emperors  were 
depofed  and  deftroyed  by  them  for  attempting 
it. 

Meer  Slaves  can  defend  no  Prince,  nor  en- 
able him  even  to  rule  over  Slaves  :  So  that  by 
giving  Liberty,  or  rather  Licentioufnefs,  to  a 
few,  the  Slavery  of  All  is  maintained. 

All  this  does,  I  think,  fully  prove,  that 
where  there  is  no  Liberty,  there  can  be  no 
Magnanimity.  It  is  true,  Enthufiafm  has  in- 
fpired  Armies,  and  moll:  remarkably  of  all  (he 
Snracen  Armies,  with  amazing  Refblution  and 
Fury  j  but  e?en  that  was  Fiercenefs  for  Liberty 

of 


no     Giro's   LETTERS. 

of  Opinion  to  themfelves,  and  for  fubduing  all 
Men  to  it  ,  and  betides,  this  Courage  of  En- 
thufiafm  is  rarely  eminent,  except  in  the  firft 
Rife  of  States  and  Empires. 

I  am,  &cc. 


I  Shall  (hew  in  this  Paper,  that  neither  ^ 
Chriftian  Religion,  nor  Natural  Religion, 
nor  any  thing  elfe  that  ought  to  be  called  Re- 
ligion, can  fubfift  under  Tyrannical  Govern- 
ments, now  that  Miracles  are  ceafed.  I  readily 
confefs,  that  fuch  Governments  are  fertile  in 
Superftition,  in  wild  Whimfies,  delufive  Phan- 
toms, and  ridiculous  Dreams,  proper  to  terrify 
the  humane  Soul,  degrade  its  Dignity,  deface 
its  Beauty,  and  fetter  it  with  flaviih  and  un- 
manly Fears,  to  render  it  a  proper  Object  of 
Fraud,  Grimace,  and  Impofition ;  and  to  make 
Mankind  the  ready  Dupes  of  gloomy  Impoilors, 
and  the  tame  Slaves  of  raging  Tyrants.  Servi- 
tude eftablifned  in  the  Mind,  is  ben:  efta- 
blifhed. 

But  all  thefe  bewildered  Imaginations,  thefe 
dark  and  dreadful  Horrors,  which  banifh  Rea- 
fon,  and  contract  and  imbitter  the  Heart, 
what  have  they  to  do  with  true  Religion,  un- 

lefs  to  deftroyit? That  Religion,   which 

improves  and  enlarges  the  Faculties  of  Men, 
exalts  their  Spirits,  and  makes  them  brave  for 
God  and  themfclves ;  that  Religion,  which 

gives 


o's  LETTERS.     i« 

•gives  them  great  and  worthy  Conceptions  of 
the  Deity ;  and  that  Religion,  which  infpires 
them  with  generous  and  beneficent  Affections 
to  one  another,  and  with  univerfal  Love  and 
Benevolence  to  the  whole  Creation.  No  Man 
can  love  God,  if  he  loves  not  his  Neighbour  ; 
and  whoever  loves  his  Neighbour,  will  neither 
injure,  ^  revile,  nor  opprels  him  :  Nor  can  we 
otherwife  fhewour  Love  to  God,  than  by  kind, 
humane  and  affe&ionate  A6tions  to  his  Crea- 
tures :  A  new  Commandment,  fays  our  blelTed 
Saviour,  I  give  unto  you,  tlmt  je  love  c-ni 
Another, 

Almighty  God,  the  great  Author  of  our 
Nature,  and  of  all  Things,  who  has  the  Hea- 
vens for  his  Throne,  and  the  Earth  for  his  Foot- 
ftool,  is  raifed  far  above  the  Reach  of  our 
Kindnefs,  ^our  Malice  or  our  Flattery.  He  de- 
rives infinite  Happinefs  from  his  own  infinite 
Perfections ;  nor  can  any  frail  Power  or  Actions 
of  ours  leifen  or  improve  it  ;  Religion  there- 
fore^ from  which  he  can  reap  no  Advantage, 
was  infticuted  by  him  for  the  Sake  of  Men,  as 
the  beft  Means  and  the  (Irongeft  Motive  to  their 
own  Happinefs,  and  mutual  Happinefs  ;  and 
by  it  Men  are  taught  and  animated  to  be  ufe* 
ful,  aflifting,  forgiving,  kind  and  merciful  one 
to  another.  But  to  hurt,  calumniate  or  hate 
one  another  for  his  Sake,  and  in  Defence  of 
any  Religion,  is  a  flat  (  ontradi&ion  to  his  Re- 
ligion, and  an  open  Defiance  of  the  Author  of 
ReHgion  :  And  to  quarrel  about  Belief  and 
Opinions,  which  do  not  immediately  and  ne- 
ceffarily  produce  practical  Virtue  and  focial 
Duties,  is  equally  wicked  and  abfurd.  This  is 

VOL.  11.  F  to 


Giro's  LETTERS. 

to  be  wicked  in  behalf  of  Righteoufnefs,  and 
to  be  cruel  out  of  Piety.  A  Religion  which 
begets  Selfifhnefs  and  Partiality  only  to  a  few, 
and  its  own  Followers,  and  which  infpires  Ha- 
tred and  Outrage  toward  all  the  reft  of  the 
World,  can  never  be  the  Religion  of  the  mer- 
ciful and  impartial  Maker  and  Judge  of  the 
World.  Speculations  are  only  fo  far  a  Part  of 
Religion,  as  they  produce  the  moral  Duties  of 
Religion,  general  Peace  and  unlimited  Charity, 
publick  Spirit,  Equity,  Forbearance,  and  good 
Deeds  to  all  Men  :  And  the  Worfhip  of  God 
is.  no  longer  the  Worihip  of  God,  than  as  it 
warms  our  Minds  with  the  Remembrance  of  his 
gracious  Condefcenfions,  his  indulgent  Gire, 
Bounty,  and  Providence,  exercifed  towards  us; 
and  as  it  raifes  and  forms  our  Affcdiions  to  an 
Imitation  of  fuch  his  divine  and  unreftrained 
Goodnefsj  and  to  ufe  one  another  kindly  by  his 
great  Example,  who  ufes  us  all  fb.  So  that 
our  worthy,  tender,  and  beneficent  Behaviour 
to  one  another,  is  the  bed  Way  to  acknowledge 
his  to  us :  It  is  the  mofl  acceptable  Way  we  can 
\vorfhip  him,  and  the  Way  he  will  heft  accept 
our  Worfhip  :  And  whatever  Devotion  has  not 
this  Effe&,  or  a  contrary  EffeCr,  is  the  dry  or 
mad  Freaks  of  an  Enthufiafr.,  and  ought  to  be 
called  by  another  and  a  properer  Name. 

This  is  a  general  Idea  of  true  Religion,  and 
thefe  are  the  certain  and  only  Marks  of  it  :  All 
which,  as  they  are  oppofite  to  the  EfTence  and 
Spirit  of  an  Arbitrary  Government  ;  fb  every 
Arbitrary  Government  is  an  Enemy  to  the  Spi- 
rit of  true  Religion,  and  defeats  its  Ends.  In 
thefe  Governments,  in  Defiance  of  Religion, 

Huma- 


CATO's  LETTERS,     izj 

Humanity,  and  common  Senfe,  Millions  mufl 
be  miferable  to  exalt  and  embellifh  one  or  a  few, 
^nd  to  make  them  proud,  arrogant,  and  great  : 
Prote&ion  and  Security  are  no  more  ;  the  Spirit 
of  the  People  is  funk  ;  and  their  Induftry  dif- 
couraged  and  loft,  or  only  employed  to  feed 
Luxury  and  Pride  :  and  Multitudes  ftarve,  that: 
a  few  may  riot  and  abound.  All  Love  to  Man- 
kind is  extincl:,  and  Virtue  and  publick  Spirit 
are  dangerous  or  unknown  ;  while  Vice,  Fal£ 
hood  and  lervile  Sycophancy  become  neceffary 
to  maintain  precarious  Safety  and  an  ignomi- 
nious Life  :  And,  in  line,  Men  live  upon  the 
Spoils  of  one  another,  like  ravenous  Fiflies  and 
Beads  of  Prey :  They  become  rapacious,  bru- 
tiih  and  favage  to  one  another,  as  their  cruel 
Governors  are  to  them  all ;  and  as  a  further  Imi- 
tation of  fuch  M afters,  their  Souls  are  abjeclr, 
mean,  and  villainous.  To  live  upon  Prey,  and 
worry  humane  Race,  is  the  Genius  and  Sup- 
port of  Tyrants,  as  well  as  of  Wolves  and 
Tygers ;  and  it  is  the  Spirit  and  Practice  of 
Men  to  refemble  their  Governors,  and  to  a£t 
like  them.  Virtue  and  Vice  in  Courts,  run 
like  Water  in  a  continual  Defcent,  and  quickly 
overflow  the  inferior  Soil. 

Tcrva  Leaena  lupum,  £cc. 

Now,  what  can  be  found  here  to  anfwer  the 
Spirit  and  Precepts  of  the  Chriftian  Religion, 
which  is  all  Love,  Charity,  Meeknefs,  mutual 
Aliiftance,  and  mutual  Indulgence ;  and  muft 
either  deftroy  Tyranny,  which  deftroys  all  thefe, 
or  be  deftroyed  by  it  ?  A  Religion  given  by 

F  z  God 


jii4    CATCTs   LETTERS, 

G--H  to  infplre  Men  with  every  foclal  Virtue^ 
.and  ro  furn;fh  them  with  every  Argument  far 
iVi-al  Happmefi,  will  never  find  Quarter,  much 
]<-fs  Pr.)  region,  from  a  Government,  which 
f.ibfifb  by  an  unrelenting  War  againft  every 
Virtue,  and  all 'humane  Felicity,  On  the  con- 
trary, all  its  divine  Doctrines  (hall  be  perverted, 
-,all  its  divine  Principles  mangled,  and  botl^  its 
Principles  and  its  Precepts  corrupted,  difguifed 
:and  wrefted,  to  be  made  free  of  the  Court: 
Truth  will  'be  made  to  patronize  Impofiure, 
:and  Meeknefs  to  fupport  Tyranny :  ^Obedience 
#o  equal  Laws,  and  Submililon  to  juft  Autho- 
rity, ill  allbe  turned  intoaiervile  and  crouching 
Subieclion  to  blind  Rage  and  inhumane  Fury  \ 
complaint  and  refpective  Behaviour  into  fla- 
vi{h 'Flattery,  and  fupple  Homage  to  Power; 
Meeknefs  and  Humility  into  Dejection,  Poor- 
Tiefs  of  Spirit,  and  bodily  Probations  ;  Cha- 
fity,  Benevolence,  and  Humanity,  into  a  fiery 
.and  outrageous  Zeal,  to  propagate  fafhionable 
.and  gainful  Opinions:  Chrililan  Courage  fball 
l)e  changed  into  Cruelty  and  brutifh  Violence; 
impartial  Juilice  into  (avage  Severity  j  Pn> 
fe6tion  into  Oppreflion  and  Plundering  ;  the 
Fear  of  God  into  the  Fear  of  Man  ;  and  the 
Worfhip  of  the  Deity  into  an  idolatrous  Ado- 
ration of  a  Tyrant. 

Tho'  God  Almighty  fent  his  only  Son  into 
the  World  to  teach  his  Will  to  Men,  and  to 
confirm hts  Minion  by  Wonders  and  Miracles; 
yet,  having  once  fully  manifefted  himfelf  and 
his  Law,  he  has  left  it  to  be  propagated  and 
earned  on  by  humane  Means  only,  according 
to  rlie  Holy  Writings  inlpired  by  him  ;  and  if 

the 


CATO's  LETTER'S. 

the  Powers  of  the  World  will   nor  fubmit  to 
thofe  Directions,  -and  will  neither  purfue  thenr 
themfelves,  nor  fiifter  their  Subjects  to  purfue 
them,  nor  leave  them  the  Means  of  doing  it  ; 
then  the  Chriftian  Religion  mud  take  the  Fate 
of  all  fublunary  Things,-  and  he  loft    from  a- 
mpngfr.   Mcn,a  unlefs   Heaven  interpofes  again, 
miraculoufly  in   its  Favour.     Now  the  Expe- 
rience of  alleges   will  convince   us,  that  all, 
tyrannical  Princes  will  be  agaihft  the  Religion*, 
which   is  agair.ft  them  ;  and  either  abolifh  it,, 
or,  which   is   much   worfe,    pervert  it  into  a 
deadly  and  unnatural  Engine,  to  encreafe  and' 
defend  that  Pride  and  Power,  which  Chriftiani- 
ry  abhors  ;   and   to   promote   thofe  Evils  and 
Miferies,  which  Chriftianity  forbids,  and  were 
it  left  to  itfelf,  would  prevent   or  relieve,     A. 
Religion  modelled  by  ufurped  Power,  to  coun- 
tenance Ufurpation  and  Oppreiiion,  is  as  oppo- 
fi:  e  to   the  Chriflian   Religion,  as  Tyranny  is 
to  Liberty,  and  Wickedness  to  Virtue.     When 
Religion  is 'taught  to  fpeak  Court-Language.,, 
and  none  are  fuffered  to    preach  it,  but  fuch. 
as  fpeak  the  fams  Dialecl  ;  when  thofe  who  are- 
IViinifters  of  the  Gofpel,  mud  be   alfb  the  Mi- 
n'fters  of  Ambition,  and  either  fandify  Falf- 
hood  and  Violence,  by  the  W7ord  of  Mercy  and 
Truth,  or  hold   their  Tongues;  when  Prefer- 
ments and  worldly  Honours  are  on  the  Si'de  oF 
Itnpofture,  and  Gal  lies,  Racks,  and  Dungeons 
are  the  Rewards  of  Confidence  and  Piety  ;  the 
Good  and  Efficacy  of  Chriftianity  will  be  ar 
effectually  gone,    as   if  it  were    formally  ex- 
changed for   "Mahomet anifin  ;    and  under  thofe 
Circumftances  if  its  Name  is  retained,  it  is  only 

F  ^  retainedi 


3i<5     CATffs  LETTERS. 

retained  to  do  Evil,  and  might  be  innocently 
banifhed  with  the  Thing.  The  Chriftian  Re- 
ligion  has  as  rarely  gained  by  Courts,  as  Courts 
have  improved  by  the  Chriftian  Religion;  and 
Arbitrary  Courts  have  fe'idorn  meddled  with  it, 
but  either  to  perfccute  it,  ordebafe  and  corrupt 
it ;  nor  could  the  Power  and  Fury  of  Tyrants 
ever  hurt  or  weaken  it  fb  much  as  their  pre- 
tended Favours  and  Countenance  have  dorse  : 
By  appearing  for  ir,  they  turned  their  Power 
moil  effectually  againft  it.  Their  avowed  Per- 
fecution  of  Chriftianity,  did  only  deftroy 
Chriftians  •  but  afterwards,  while  they  fet  up 
for  protecting  none  but  the  true  Chriftians^ 
that  is,  thofe  that  were  as  bad  as  themfelves, 
and  having  no  Religion  of  their  own,  adopted 
blindly  the  Religion  of  their  Prince  ;  and  for 
punifhing  all  who  were  not  true  Chriftians, 
that  is,  :  11  that  were  better  than  themfelves, 
and  v/ould  take  their  Religion  from  no  Man's 
Word,  but  only  from  the  Word  of  God  ;  they 
lifted  Chriftians  agamft  Chriftians,  and  di(- 
figured,  undermined  and  banifhed  Chriftianity 
Me  If,  byfalfe  Friendfhip  to  its  Profeflbrs :  And 
thcfe  ProfeiTors  thus  corrupted,  joining  a  holy 
Title  to  an  impious  Caule,  concurred  in  the 
Confpirscy,  and  contended  fiercely  in  the  Name 
of  Chrift  for  fecular  Advantages,  which  Chrift 
never  gave  nor  took,  and  for  a  fecular  Sove-. 
reignty,  which  he  rejected,  and  his  Gofpel  for- 
bids. Thus  one  fort  of  Tyranny  was  artfully 
made  to  fupport  another,  and  both  by  a  Union 
ot  Interefts  maintained  a  War  againft  Religion 
under  Colour  of  defending  it,  and  fought  the 
Author  of  it  under  his  own  Banner ;  that  is,  as 

Dr. 


's  LETTERS. 

Dr.  Tillotfon  finely  fays,  lley  lied  for  the  Truth, 
find  killed  for  Go<£s  Sak/. 

The  many  various  anci  contradi&ory  Opi- 
nions of  weak  Enthufiafts,  or  of  defigning  Men, 
and  all  the  different  and  repugnant  Interpreta- 
tions of  Scripture,  publifhed  and  contended 
for  by  them,  could  have  done  but  fmall  Preju- 
dice to  Religion  and  Society,  if  humane  Au- 
thority had  not  interpofed  with  its  Penalties 
•and  Rewards,  annexed  to  the  believing  or  not 
believing  fortuitous  Speculations,  uielefs  No- 
tions, dry  Idea's,  and  the  inconfiftent  Reveries 
of  disordered  Brains;  or  the  felfifh  Inventions 
of  ufurping  Popes,  ambitious  Synods,  and  tur- 
bulent and  afpiring  Doctors,  or  the  crafty 
Schemes  of  discontented  or  opprefllve  Statefc 
men  :  For  all  thefe  have  been  the  important 
Caufes,  and  the  wicked  Fewel  of  religious  Wars 
and  Perfections. 

It  is  fo  much  the  general  fntereft  of  Society 
to  perform  and  to  encourage  all  its  Members  to 
perform  the  practical  Duties  of  Religion,  that 
if  a  ftronger  and  more  prevailing  Intereft  were 
not  thrown  by  Power  into  the  contrary  Scale, 
there  would  be  no  Difference  amongll  Men 
about  the  Nature  and  Extent  of  their  Duties 
to  Magiftrates,  to  Parents,  Children,  and  to 
Friends  and  Neighbours  :  And  if  thefe  fbcial 
Duties  (the  only  Duties  humane  Society,  as 
fuch,  is  concerned  to  promote)  were  agreed 
upon  and  pradlifed,  the  Magiftrate  would  have 
no  more  to  do  with  their  Opinions  than  witrr 
their-  Shape  and  Complexion  ;  nor  could  he- 
know,  if  he  would,  by  what  Method  to  alter 

F  4  them,. 


jf*8     CATCfs  LETTERS. 

them.     No  Man's  Belief  is  in  his  own 
©r  can  be  in  the  Power  of  another. 

The  utmoil  Length  the  Power  of  the 
giilrate  can  in  this  Matter  extend,  beyond  that 
0f  Exhortation,  which  is  in  every  Man's  Power, 
can  be  only  to  make  Hypocrites,  Slaves,  Fools, 
•or  Atheids.  When  he  has  forced  his  Subjetls 
to  bely  their  Conferences,  or  to  a6l  againft 
them,  he  has  in  effect  driven  them  out  of  all 
Religion,  to  bring  them  into  his  own  ;  and 
when  they  thus  fee  and  feel  the  profeifed  De- 
fender of  Religion  overturning  all  its  Precepts, 
exhorting  by  Bribes,  and  rebuking  by  Stripes, 
Confiscations,  and  Dungeons,"  and  making 
Cbriftiariity  the  Inflrument  of  Fury,  Ambi- 
tion, Rapine,  and  Tyranny  ;  what  can  they 
think,  but  either  that  he  is  no  Chriftian,  or 
that  Chriflianity  is  not  true  ?  If  they  come  to 
fufpecl:  it  of  Impqftute,  they  grow  Infidels-; 
and  if  they  grow  into  a  Belief  that  Religion, 
countenances  Bitternefs,,  Outrage,  and  Severi- 
ties, nay,  commands  them,  they  become  Bi- 
gots ;  the  \yorft  and  moil  mifchievous  Character 
of  the  Two :  For,  Unbelievers,  guided  by  the 
Rules  of  Prudence  or  Good-nature,  may  be 
good  Neighbours  and  inoffenfive  Men  ;  but 
Bigotry,  {landing  upon  the  Ruins  of  Reaion, 
and  being  conducted  by  no  Light  but  that  of 
an  inflamed  Imagination,  and  a  four,  bitter, 
and  narrow  Spirit,  there  is  no  Violence  nor 
Barbarity  which  it  is  not  capable  of  wifhing  or 
a£ting. 

Happinefs  is  the  chief  End  of  Man,  and  the 
living  of  his  Soul  is  his  chief  Happinefs ;  lo 
that  every  Man  is  moil  concerned  for  his  own-. 


's   LETTERS. 

Soul,  and  more  than  any  other  can  be  :  And 
if  no  Obftruftion  is  thrown  in  his  Way,  he- 
will  for  the  moft  part  do  all  in  his  Power  for' 
his  own  Salvation,    and   will  certainly   do  it 
beft  ;  and  when  he  has  done  all  that  he  can, 
he  has  done  all  that  he  ought  :  People  cannoc 
be  faved  by  Force,  nor  can  all  the  Powers  in 
the  World  togeiher  make  one  true  Chr5ftian5 
or  convince  one  Man.     Conviction  is  rhe  Pro- 
vince and  Effecl:  of  Reafon  ;  and    when  that  • 
fails-,  nothing  but  the  Grace  of  God  can  fup- 
ply  it  :  And  what  has  the  Power  and  Penalties 
of  Men  to  do  either  with  Reafon  or  Grace  ; 
which  being  both  the  Gifts-of  God,  are  net  to  - 
be  conquered    by  Chain?,  tho'  they    may  be  • 
weakened,  and  even  banifhed  by  worldly  AT-  - 
luremenrs  blended  with  Chriftiariity,  and   by 
the  worldly  Pride  of  its  Profeffors  ? 

The  Methods  of  Power  are  repugnant   to 
the  Nature  of  Convidion,  which   mi; ft"  either  - 
be  promoted   by  Exhortation,   Kindnefs,  Ex- 
ample, and  Arguments,  or  csn  never  be  pro- 
moted at  all  :  Violence  dees,  on  the  contrary 
but  provoke  Men,  and  confirm  them  in  Error  ; 
nor  will  they  ever  be  brought  to  believe,   that : 
thofe  who  barbaroufly  rob  them  of  their  pre-^ 
fenr  Happinefs,-  can  be  charitably  concerned  : 
for  their  future. 

It  is  evident  in  Fa&,  that  moil  of  the  dif- 
ferent religious  Inftitutions  now   fubfifting  im 
rhe  Worid,  have  been  founded  upon  Anibluc 
and   Pride,   and    were   advanced,    propagated, 
r,nd  eftabliftied  by  Ufurpatton,   Faclion,   ar  . 
Oppreliion  :  They  were   begun   for  the   mad  : 
part  by  Enthufiuib,  or .  by  deiigniag  and  urr- 

F  5  prelentd... 


CA  ro's  LETTERS. 

preferred  Churchmen  ;  or  at  lead  occafioned 
by  the  continued  Ufurpatlons  and  Infults  of 
cruel  and  opprefiive  ones,  and  always  in  Times 
of  Fa£Hon  and  general  Difcontent.  Turbulent 
and  afpiring  Men,  difcarded  and  difcontented 
Courtiers,  or  ambitious  and  defining  Stated- 
men,  have  taken  Advantage  from  thefe  general 
Di (orders,  or  from  the  hot  and  giddy  Spirits 
of  an  enthufiaftieal  or  oppreffed  People  ;  and 
from  thence  have  formed  Parries,  and  fitting 
themfelves  at  the  Head,  formed  National  Efta- 
blifhments,  with  the  Concurrence  of  weak 
Princes,  and  fometimes  in  Oppofition  to  them, 
by  the  Affirmance  of  factious  Clergymen  and 
factious  Aflemblies,  and  often  by  Tumults  and 
popular  Indirections ;  and  at  laft,  under  Pre- 
tence  of  faving  Mens  Souls,  they  feized  their 
Property.  A  fmall  Acquaintance  with  Ecclefi- 
aftical  Hiftory,  and  the  Hlftory  of  the  Turks 
and  Saracens,  will  (hew  fuch  Caufes  as  thefe  to 
have  given  Rife  to  moft  of  the  National  Re- 
ligious Eftablifhments  upon  Earth  :  Nor  can  I 
fee  how  any  future  Ones  can  arife  by  other 
Means,  whilft  Violence  and  worldly  Imereil 
have  any  thing  to  do  with  them. 
^Such  therefore  as  is  the  Government  of  a 
Country,  fuch  will  be  made  its  Religion ;  and 
No-body,  I  hope,  is  now  to  learn  what  is,  and 
ever  wiil  be,  the  Religion  of  moil:  Ststfemen  ; 
even  a  Religion  of  Power,  to  do  as  little  Good 
and  as^  much  Mifchief  as  they  pleafe.  Nor 
have  Churchmen,  when  they  ruled  States,  had 
ever^  any  other  View  ;  but  having  double  Au- 
thority, had  generally  double  Infolence,  and 

remarkably  Ids  Mercy  and  Regard  to  Con- 

/»»"-« 


fiienci 


LETTERS. 

fcience  or  Property,  than  others  who  had  Fewer 
Ties  to  be  merciful  and  juli:  :  And  therefore 
the  fbreft  Tyrants  have  been  they,  who  united* 
in  one  Perfon  the  Royalty  and  Priefthood. 
The  Pope's  Yoke  is  more  grievous  than  that  of 
any  Chriftian  Prince  upon  Earth;  nor  is-  there 
a  Trace  of  Property,  or  Felicity,  or  of  the  Re- 
ligion of  Jefus  Chrtft,  found  in  the  Dominions 
of  this  Father  of  Chriftendom  ;  all  is  Ignorance,, 
Bigotry,  Idolatry,  Barbarity,  Hunger,  Chains,, 
and  every  Species  ofMifery.  And  the  Caliphs; 
of  JEgypt,  who  founded  the  Saracen  Empire- 
there,  and  maintained  it  for  a  great  while9. 
were  at  once  Kings  and  Priefts ,  and  there  ne- 
ver lived  more  raging  Bigots,  or  more  furious 
and  oppreilive  Barbarians,  The  Monarchy  oF 
Pe'-fia,  which  is  alib  a  fevere  Tyranny,  has  the* 
Priefthood  annexed  to  it  ;  and  the  Sophy  is  at 
the  fame  time  the  Caliph.  The  Turkjjh  Reli- 
gion is-  founded  on  Impoilure,  blended  with 
outragious  and  avowed  Violence ;  and  by  their 
Religion,  the  imperial  Executioner  is,  next  to 
their  Alcoran,  the  moft  (acred  Thing  among!*: 
them  :.  And  though  he  is  not  himfelf  Chief-" 
Pried,  yet  he  creates  and  uncreates  him  at: 
Pleaiure,  and  is  without  the  Name  of  Mw//-/,, 
the  chief  Doctor,  or  rather  Author  of  their 
Religion  ;  and  we  all  know  what  fort  of  a-. 
Religion  it  is. 

In  Fa£r,  as  Arbitrary  Princes-  want  a  Reli- 
gion fuited  to  the  Genius  of  their  Power,  they 
model  their  Religon  fb  as  to  (erve  all  the  Pur~ 
pofes  of  Tyranny,  and  debafe,  corrupt,  dif^- 
couragei  or  perfecute  all  Religion  which  is  a- 
gainil  Tyranny,  as  ail  true  Religion,  is  :  .Fos 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

this  Reafbn,  not  one  of  the  great  Abfblute 
Princes  in  Europe  embraced  the  Reformation, 
•nor  would  fuffer  his  People  to  embrace  it,,  but 
they  were  all  bitter  and  profefTed  Enemies  to 
it :  Whereas  all  the  great  free  States,  except 
Poland,  and  moil  of  the  (mail  free  States,  be- 
came  Proteftants.  Thus  the  Englifo,  Scotch,  the 
Dutch)  the  Bohemians,  and  Sweden  and  Denmark^, 
(which  were  then  free  Kingdoms)  the  greatefi 
Part  of  Switqerlandy  with-  Geneva,  and  all  the 
Hans-Towns,  which  were  not  awed  by  the  Em- 
peror, threw  off  the  Pcpifh  Yoke  :  And  not 
one  of  the  free  Pcpifh  States,  out  of  Italy,  could 
le  ever  brought  to  receive  the  Inquifyion  ;  and 
the  State  of  Venice,  the  greateft  free  State  there^ 
to  fhew  that  they  received  it  againft  their  Will, 
have  taken  wife  Care  to, render  it  ineffectual : 
And  many  of  the  Popi/h  free  States  v/ould  ne- 
ver come  into  Perfecution,  which  they  knew 
would  impoyerifh  and  difpeople  them ;  and 
therefore  the  Srates  of  Arragon^  Valencia,  and 
Catalonia,  oppofcd,  as  much  as  they  were  able, 
the  Expulfion  of  the  Moors,  which  was  a  pure 
A£t  of  Regal  Power,  to  the  undoing  of -Spain, 
and  therefore  a  deftrudtive  and  barbarous  A 6k 
of  Tyranny.  As  to  the  Proteflant  Countries* 
which  have  finco  loft  their  Liberties,  there  is 
much  mlferable  Ignorance,  and  much  bitter 
and  implacable  Bigotry,  but  little  Religion^ 
and  no  Charity  amongft  them. 

We- look  upon  Mantc%uma,  and  other  Ty* 
rants,  who  v/.orfnipped  God  with  humane  Sa- 
crifice, as  fo.many  Monfters,  and  hug  our  fclves 
that  we  have  no  fuch  Sons  of  Moloch  here  in 
Europe  j  npt  coniideriiig,  that  every  Man.  put 

t<x 


LETTERS.     133 


to  Death  for  his  Religion,  by  the 

and  elfewhere,  is  a   real  humane  Sacrifice,  as 

it  is  burning  and  butchering  Men  for  God's 

Sake. 

I  think  No-  body  will  deny  but  that  in  King 
Jtmes's  Time,  we  owed  the  Preservation  of 
our  Religion  to  our  Liberties,  which  both  our 
Glergy  and  People  almoft  unanimoufly  con- 
curred to  defend,  with  a  Refolution  and  Bold- 
nefs  worthy  of  Britons  and  Freemen.  And  as 
the  Caufe  and  Bleflings  of  Liberty  are  flili 
better  underftood,  its  Spirit  and  Intereft  do 
daily  increafe.  Moft  of  the  Bifhops,  and  ma- 
ny of  the  inferior  Clergy,  are  profefledly  in 
the  Principles  of  Civil  and  Religious  Liberty, 
notwithftanding  the  ftrong  and  early  Prejudices 
of  Education.  And  1  hope  foon  to  fee  them 
all  as  thorough  Advocates  for  publick  Liberty^ 
as  their  PredecefTors  were,  upon  Grounds  lefs 
juft,  in  the  Times  of  Popery  •  and  then  there 
will  be  an  End  of  the  pernicious  and  knavifh 
Diftin&ion  of  Whig  and  Toy  •  and  all  the 
World  will  unite  in  paying  them  that  Refpedfc 
which  is  due  to  their  holy  Office. 

I  (hall  conclude  with  this  fhort  Application^ 
That  as  we  love  Religion,  and  the  Author  of 
it,  we  ought  to  love  and  preserve  our  Liber- 
ties* 


s  i 


i34  £A  T0>s  LETTERS. 


s  i 

'Avlng  already  fiiewn  that  Naval  Trade- 
and  Power  cannot  fubfiil  but  in  free 
Countries  alone,  I  will  now  flhcw,  that  the 
fame  is  true  of  domeftick  Arts  and  Sciences ; 
and  that  both  thefe,  and  Population,  which  is 
their  conftant  Concomitant,  and  their  chief 
Caufe  as  well  as  their  certain  Effect,  are  born 
of  Liberty,  and  nurfed,  educated,  encouraged,, 
and  endowed  by  Liberty  alone. 

Men  will  not  fpontaneoufly  toil  and  labour 
but  for  their  own  Advantage,  for  their  Pleafure 
or  their  Profit,  and  to  obtain  fomething  which 
they  want  or  defire,  and  which,  for  the  mo  ft 
part,  is  not  to  be  obtained  but  by  Force  or 
Confent.  Force  is  often  dangerous ;  and  when- 
employed  to  acquire  what  is  not  ours,  it  is  al- 
ways unj'uft  ;  and  therefore  Men,  to  procure 
from  others  what  they  had  not  before,  mufb 
gain  their  Confent ,  which  is  not  to  be  gained, 
but  by  giving  them  in  lieu  of  the  Thing  de- 
fired,  fomething  which  they  want  and  value 
more  than  what  they  part  with.  This  is  what 
we  call  Trade;  which  is  the  Exchange  of  one 
Commodity  for  another,  or  for  that  which  pur- 
chafes  all  Commodities,  Silver  and  Gold. 

Men,  in  their  firft  State,  content  themfelves 
with  the  fpontaneous  Productions  of  Nature, 
the  Fruits  of  the  Field,  and  the  liquid  Stream, 
and  fuch  occafional  Supplies  as  they  now  and 

then. 


CMfO's  LETTERS, 

then  receive  from   the  Deftru&ion  of  other 
Animals.     But   when   thofe  Supplies   become 
kifufficient  to  fupport   their  Numbers,    their 
next  Refburce  is  to  open  the  Bofbm  of  the 
Earth,  and  by  proper  Application  and  Cul- 
ture, to  extort  her  hidden  Stores :   And  thus 
were  invented  Tillage  and  Planting.     And  an 
Hundred  Men  thus  employed,  can  fetch  from 
the  Bowels  of  our  common  Mother,  Food  and 
Suftenance  enough  for  Ten  Times  their  own 
Number ;  and  one  Tenth  part  more  may  poffi- 
bly  be  able  to  fupply  all  the  Inftruments  of 
Husbandry,  and  whatever  is  barely  neceffary 
to  fupport  thefe  Husbandmen  :  So  that  all  the 
reft  of  the  People  muft  rob  or  ftarve,  unlefe 
either  the  Proprietors  of  the  Land  will  give 
them  the  Produce  of  their  Eftates  for  nothing, 
or   they  can  find  fomething  wherewithal   to 
purchafe  it. 

Now  in  Countries  where  no  other  Arts  are 
in  life,  but  only  Husbandry  and  the  Profeiilons 
neceflary  to  it,  and  to  fupport  thofe  who  are 
employed  about  it ;  all  the  other  Inhabitants 
have  no  Means  of  purchasing  Food  and  Rai- 
ment, but  by  felling  their  Perfons,  and  becom- 
ing vile  Slaves  and  Vaifals  to  their  Princes, 
Lords,  or  other  Proprietors  of  the  Land  ;  and 
are  obliged,  for  neceflary  Suftenance,  to  follow 
them  in  their  wild  Wars,  and  their  perfbnal 
and  factious  Quarrels,  and  to  become  the  bafe 
Inftruments  of  their  Ambition  and  Pride.  Great 
Men  will  rather  throw  their  Eftates  into  Forefls 
and  Chafes,  for  the  Support  of  wild  Beaftp, 
and  for  their  own  Pleafure  in  hunting  them, 
than  into  Farms,  Gardens,  and  fruitful  Fields, 

if 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

if  they  can  get  nothing  from  the  Productions  of 
them. 

This  is  the  forlorn  Condition  0f  Mankind, 
in  moft  of  the  wild  Empires  of  the  Eaft  ;  this 
was  their  Condition  in  all  the  Gothic^  Govern- 
ments ;  and  this  is  the  Condition  of  Poland 
and  of  the  Highlands  of  Scotland  ;  where  a  few 
have  Liberty,  and  all  the  reft  are  Slaves.  And 
nothing  can  free  Mankind  from  this  ab]e6l  and 
forlorn  Condition,  but  the  Invention  of  Arts 
and  Sciences ;  that  is,  the  finding  out  of  more 
Materials  and  Expedients  to  make  Life  eafy 
and  pjeafant  ;  and  the  inducing  People  to  be- 
lieve, what  they  will  readily  believe,  that  other 
Things  are  neceffary  to  their  Happinefs,  be- 
fides  thofe  which  Nature  has  made  neceffary. 
Thus  the  Luxury  of  the  Rich  becomes  the 
Bread  of  the  Poor. 

As  fbon  as  Men  are  freed  from  the  Impor- 
tunities of  Hunger  and  Cold,  the  Thoughts 
and  Defrre  of  Con-veniency,  Plenty,  Ornament1, 
and  Poiitcnefs,  do  prefently  fucceed  :  And  thea 
follow  after,  in  very  quick  Progre/lion,  Emu- 
lation, Ambition,  Profufion,  and  the  Love  of 
Power  :  And  all  thefc,  under  proper  Regula- 
tions, contribute  to  the  Happi-nefs$  Wealth, 
and  Security  of  Societies,  It  is  natural  to  Men 
and  Socitr  ies,  to  be  letting  their  Wits  and  their  - 
Hands  to  work,  to  find  out  all  Means  to  fatifr 
fy  their  Wants  and  Defires,  and  to  enable  them 
to  live  in  Credit  and  Comfort,  and  to  make 
fiiitable  ProvHion  that  their  Pofterky  inay  live 
fb  after  them. 

Necellity  is  the  Mother  of  Invention,  and  fo 
Is  the  Opinion  o£  Neceility.  Whiiil  Things 

ar€t» 


CATO's  LETTERS.    137 

are  in  their  own  Nature  neccflary  to  us,  ort. 
from  Cuftom  and  Fancy,  marie  neceflary  ;  we 
will  be  turning  every  Thought,  and  trying 
every  Method,  how  to  come  at  them  ;  and 
where  they  cannot  be  got  by  Violence  and  Ra- 
pine, Recourfe  will  be  had  to  Invention  and 
Induftry.  And  here  is  the  Source  of  Arts  and 
Sciences  ;  which  alone  can  fupport  Multitudes 
of  People,  who  will  never  be  wanting  to  the 
Means  which  bring  them  Support. 

Wherever  there  is  Employment  for  People, 
there  will-  be  People  ;  and  People,  in  moft 
Countries,  are  forced,  for  want  of  other  Em- 
ployment, to  cut  the  Throats  of  one  another, 
or  of  their  Neighbours  ;  and  to  ramble  after 
their  Princes  in  all  their  mad  Ccnquefls,  ridi- 
culous Contentions,  and  other  mifchievous 
'Maggots  •  and  all  to  get,  with  great  Labour, 
Hazard,  and  often  with  great  Hunger  and 
Slaughter,  a  poor,  precarious,  and  momentary 
Subdftence. 

And  therefore,  whatever  State  gives  more 
Encouragement  to  its  Subjects,  than  the  neigh- 
bouring States  do,  and  finds  them  more  Work, 
and  gives  them  greater  Rewards  for  that  Work ; 
and  by  all  thefe  hud  able  Ways  makes  humane 
Condition  eafier  than  it  is  elfewhere,  and  (e- 
cures  Life  and  Property  better;  that  State  will 
draw  the  Inhabitants  from  the  neighbouring 
Countries  to  its  own  ;  and  when  they  are 
there,  they  will,  by  being  richer  and  fafer, 
multiply  fatter.  Men  will  naturally  fly  from 
Danger  to  Security,  from  Poverty  to  Plenty, 
and  from  a  Life  of  Miiery  to  a  Life  of  Feli- 
city, 

And. 


i}8     CATO's  LETTERS. 

And  as  there  will  be  always  Induftry  where- 
ever  there  is  Protection  ;  fo  "wherever  there  is 
Induftry  and  Labour,  there  will  be  the  Silver, 
the  Gold,  the  Jewels,  the  Power,  and  the  Em- 
pire.    It  does  not  import  who  they  are  that 
have  conquered,  or  inhabit  the  Countries  where 
Silver  and  Gold  are  Natives,  or  who  they  are 
that  toil  for  them  in  the  Mine,  fmre  they  wilt 
be  the  PoiFeilors  of  the  Coin,  who  can   pur- 
chafe  it  afterwards  with  the  Goods  and  Ma- 
nufa&ures  which  the  Proprietors  of  the  Mine 
and  their  People  want.     One  Artificer  in  Eng- 
land,  or  H^lland^  can  make  Manufacture  enough 
in  a  Week  to  buy  as  much  Hlver  and  Gold  "at 
the  Mine,  as  a  Labourer  there  can  dig   and 
prepare  in  a  Month,  or  perhaps  Two  :  and  all 
the  while  that  Spain  and  Portugal  leffen   their 
Inhabitants,  we  encreafe  ours  :  They  lofe  their 
People  by  fending  them  away  to  dig  in   the 
Mines  ;  and  we,  by  making  the  Manufactures 
they  want,  and  the  Inftruments  they  ufe,  mul- 
tiply ours.     By  i  this  Means  every  Man   they 
fend  out  of  their  Country  is  a  Lofs  to  it,  be- 
caufe  the  Return  and  Produce  of  their  Labour 
goes  to  enrich  rival  Nations ;  whereas  every  Man 
we  fend  to  our  Plantations,  adds  to  the  Number 
of  our  Inhabitants  here  at  Home,  by  maintain- 
ing fb  many  of  them  employed  in  fo  many  Ma- 
nufactures which  tliey  take  off  there  ;  befides  To- 
many  Artificers  in  Shipping,  and  all  the  nume- 
rous Traders  and  Agents  concern'd  in  managing 
and  venting  the  Produce  of  the  Plants  tions,  when 
5tis  brought  hither,  and  in  bringing  it  hither  : 
So  that  the  EvgHfo  Planters  in  Amtricn^  befides 
maintaining  themfeives  and  Ten  times  as  many 


LETTERS.   139 

maintain  likewife  great  Numbers  of 
their  Countrymen  in  England. 

Such  are  the  Bleffings  of  Liberty,  and  fuch 
is  the  Difference  which  it  makes  between  Coun- 
try and  Country !  The  Spanijh  Nation  loft  much 
more  by  the  Lofs  of  their  Liberties,  followed 
with  the  Expulfion  of  the  Moors,  than  ever  they 
got  by  the  Gold  and  Silver  Mountains  of  Mexico 
and  Peru,  or  could  get  by  all  the  Mines  of  Gold, 
Silver,  and  Diamonds  upon  Earth. 

Where  there  is  Liberty,  there  are  Encou- 
ragements to  Labour,  becaufe  People  labour  for 
themfelves ;  and  no  one  can  take  from  them  the 
Acquisitions  they  make  by  their  Labour :  There 
will  be  the  greateft  Numbers  of  People,  be- 
caufe they  find  Employment  and  Protection  ; 
there  will  be  the  greareft  Stocks,  becaufe  mod 
is  to  be  got,  and  eafieft  to  be  got,  and  fafeft 
\vhen  it  is  got  ,  and  thofe  Stocks  will  be  al- 
ways encreafmg  by  a  new  Acceiiion  of  Money 
acquired  elfewhere,  where  there  is  no  Security 
of  enjoying  it  j  there  People  will  be  able  to  work 
cheapeft,  becaufe  lefs  Taxes  will  be  put  upon 
their  Work,  and  upon  the  NeceiTaries  which 
mud  fupport  them  whilft  they  are  about  it: 
There  People  will  dare  to  own  their  being  rich, 
there  will  be  mod  People  bred  up  to  Trade, 
and  Trade  and  Traders  will  be  moft  refpe£fced  ; 
and  there  the  Intereft  of  Money  will  be  lower, 
and  the  Security  of  pcffdling  it  greater,  than 
it  ever  can  be  in  Tyrannical  Governments, 
where  Life  and  Property,  and  all  Things  muft 
depend  upon  the  Humour  of  a  Prince,  the 
Caprice  of  a  MInifier,  or  the  Demand  of  a 
Harlot.  Under  thofe  Governments,  few  People 

can 


140    CATO's   LETTERS. 

1 

can  have  Money,  and  they  that  have  muft  lock 
it  up,  or  bury  it  to  keep  it,  and  dare  not  en- 
gage in  large  Defigns,  when  the  Advantages 
may  be  reaped  by  their  rapacious  Governors,  or 
given  up  bv  them  in  a  fenfelefs  and  wicked 
Treaty  :  Befitfes.  fuch  Governors  contemn 
Trade  and  Artificers;  and  only  Men  of  the 
Sword,  who  have  an  Intereft"  incompatible  with 
Trade,  are  encounagejd  by  them. 

For  thefe  H  ?afbns,  Trade  cannot  be  carried 
on  fb  cheap  as  in  free  Countries  :  and  whoever 
fupplies  the  CommodTty  ch^apeft,  will  com- 
mand the  Marker.  In  f  ee  Countries,  Men  bring 
out  their  Money  for  iheir  life,  Pleafure,  and 
Profit,  and  think"  of  all  Ways  to  employ  it  for 
their  Intereft  and  Advantage.  New  Projects  are 
every  Day  invented,  new  Trades  fearched  after, 
new  Manufactures  fet  up  ;  and  when  Tradef- 
men  have  nothing  to  fear  hur  from  thofe  whcnr 
they  truft,  Credit  will  run  h»gh,  and  they  will 
venture  in  Trade  ft)r  many  times  as  much  as 
they  are  worth  :  But  in  Arbitrary  Countries, 
Men  in  Trade  are  every  Moment  liable  to  be 
undone,  without  the  Guilt  of  Sea  or  Wind, 
without  the  Folly  or  Treachery  of  their  Cor* 
refpondents,  or  their  own  want  of  Care  or  In-- 
duilry;  their  Wealth  (hall  be  their  Snare,  and* 
their  Abilities,  Vigilance,  and  their  Succefs 
fhall  either  be  their  undoing,  or  nothing  to  their 
Advantage  :  Nor  can  they  truft  any  one  elfe, 
or  any  one  elfe  them,  when  Payment  and  Per- 
formance muft  depend  upon  the  Honefty  and 
Wifdom  of  thofe  who  often  have  none. 

Ignorance  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  of  every 
Thing  that  is  good,  and  Poverty,  Mifery,  and 


LETTERS.    141 

-Defblation,  are  found  for  the  mod  part  all  to- 
gether, and  are  all  certainly  produced  by  Ty- 
ranny. In  .all  the  great  Empires  of  Morocco, 
Abyfjiniti,  Pr/w,  and  India,  there  is  not  amongft 
the  Natives  fuck  a  Thing  as  a  tolerable  Archi- 
tect ,  nor  one  good  Building,  unlefs  we  except  a 
Palace  built  by  a  Portuguese  for  the  Alyjjinian 
Emperor;  and  perhaps  there  may  be  in  all 
thefe  vaft  Continents,  a  few  more  good  Houfes 
built  by  Europeans.  The  ^Ethiopians  have  fcarce 
'fuch  a  Thing  as  an  Artificer  amongft  them  j 
their  only  Weavers  are  the  Jews,  who  are  like- 
wife  their-Smiths,  whofe  hlghen  Employment 
in  Iron  is  to  make  Heads  for  their  Spears  ;  and 
for  Artiils  of  their  own,  their  wretched  Trum- 
peters and  Horn-winders  feem  to  be  the  high- 
eft  ;  and  when  the  Jefuits  built  a  few  Churches 
and  Chappels  in  their  Country,  the  whole  Na- 
tion were  akrm'd,  taking  them  for  fb  many 
Caftles  and  FortrefTes.  The  reft  of  their  Con- 
dition is  of  a-piece  \  they  are  abjectly  miferable, 
in  fpight  of  their  Soil,  which  in  many  Pkces  is 
luxuriant,  and  yields  Three  Crops  a  Year  :  Of 
fuch  fmall  Effect  are  the  Gifts  of  God  to  his 
Creatures,  when  the  Breath  of  a  Tyrant  can 
blaft  them  ! 

In  YerfiA,  the  Carpenters  and  Joyners  have 
but  Four  Tools  for  all  rhHr  Work,  and  v%7e 
may  gtitfs  what  fort  of  Work  they  make  ;  they 
have  a  Hatchet,  a  Sawe,  and  a  Chizzel,  and 
one  fort  of  Plainer,  brought  thither  not  long 
fmce  by  a  Frenchman.  As  to  Printing,  they  have 
none  •,  nor  any  Pape r  bur  coarfe  brown  Stuff, 
which  cannot  be  folded  without  breaking  to 
Pieces,  In  Painting,  they  do  not  go  beyond 

Birds 


's  LETTERS. 

Birds  and  Flowers,  and  are  utterly  ignorant  of 
Figures  and  Hiftory. 

Egypt  was  once  the  Mother  of  Arts  and  Sci- 
ences, and  from  thence  Greece  had  them :  But 
Egypt  lofing  its  Liberties,  loft  with  them  all 
Politenefs,  as  all  Nations  do  ;  and  the  Pyramids 
were  built  by  the  fit  ft  Egyptian  Tyrants,  while 
the  Knowledge  of  Arts  was  not  yet  loft  in  Bar- 
barifrn,  and  before  the  Country  was  difpeopled, 
elfe  they  never  had  been  built.  Nor  could  all 
the  Power  of  the  Ottoman  Empire  build  fuch 
in  the  Place  now,  tho'  the  Turks  were  not  Sa- 
vages in  the  Sciences,  as  they  are.  u  Till  the 

Timeofllamfbjimtus,  fays  Herodotus,t}iQ Egyfr 
"  tians  report,  that  Liberty  flourifhed,  and  the 
*6  Laws  were  the  highefl  Power."  Then  he 
tells  us,  that  Cheops^  the  Succeflbr  of  that  Kin& 
falling  into  all  Debauchery  and  Tyranny,  cm- 
ployed  a  hundred  thoufand  of  his  People  in 
drawing  of  Stone  ;  Diodoms  Siculus  fays,  three 
hundred  and  (ixty  thoufand  were  employed  in 
this  inhumane  Drudgery  —  and  then  he  began 
a  Pyramid.  The  Egyptians  grew  afterwards  in 
Ignorance,  Barbarity,  and  Vilenefs,  and  al- 
moft  any  Body  that  invaded  them,  mattered 
them  ;  and  when  they  were  defended,  the  free 
Greeks  defended  them,  a  Band  of  them  being 
generally  entertained  for  that  End  by  the  Egyp- 
tian Kings.  It  is  true,  one  or  two  of  the  Pto- 
lomies,  particularly  the  Firft,  attempted  to  re- 
vive  Arts,  and  Learning  amongft  them  ;  but  the 
Attempt  came  to  nothing  :  They  were  Slaves, 
incapable  either  of  tafting  or  producing  Em- 
be!  li  foments  and  Excellencies  of  Liberty,  of 
which  they  had  been  long  deprived  ,  and  there- 
fore 


LETTERS.     143 


fore  the  Greek.  Art!  (Is,  and  Profeflbrs  in 
had  the  Glory  of  every  Improvement  to  rhem- 
felves,  as  indeed  they  were  the  Authors  of  all. 
The  Remans  afterwards  left  there  many  Monu- 
ments of  their  Grandeur  and  Politenefs  :  But 
their  free  Government  ended  ;  as  Tyranny  fuc- 
ceeded  ,  fb  did  Barbarity,  all  over  the  Empire,' 
and  no  where  more  than  in  Egyft,  which  is 
at  this  Day  the  Prey  of  robbing  and  thiev- 
ing Arabs,  and  ot  opprdlive  and  devouring 


I  (hall  here  fubjoin  ^a  flimmary  Account  given 
us  by  that  great  and  judicious  Traveller  Mon- 
SeurTavernier,  concerning  the  Condition  of  the 
Three  great  Eaftern  Empires,  beft  known  to 
us.  It  is  in  his  laft  Chapter  of  The  Hiftory  of  the 
Great  Mogul. 

There  is,  fays  he,  almofl  no  Perfbn  fecure 
from  the  Violence  of  the  Governors,  Tima-riots, 
and  Farmers  of  the  Royal  Rents;  nor  can  the 
Princes,  tho'  they  were  difpofed,  hinder  thefe 
Violences,  nor  prevent  the  Tyranny  of  their 
Servants  over  their  People  ;  which  (hould  be 
the  chief  Employment  of  a  King.  This  Ty-  . 
ranny  is  often  fo  extenfive,  that  it  leaves  to  the 
Peafanrand  Tradefman  neither  Food  nor  Rai- 
ment, but  robs  them  of  the  common  Necefla- 
rics  of  Life,  and  they  live  in  Mifery,  and  die 
with  Hunger:  They  either  beget  no  Children  ; 
or  if  they  do,  they  fee  them  perifli  in  their  In- 
fancy, for  want  of  Food  :  Sometimes  they  de- 
fert  their  Hutts  and  Land,  to  become  Lacqueys 
to  the  Soldiers,  or  fly  to  Neighbouring  Na- 
tions, (where  their  Condition  is  •net  mended.^  In 
ihort,  the  Land  is  not  till'd  but  by  Force,  and 

there- 


144     C^ro's   LETTERS, 

therefore  wretchedly  tilPd  ;  and  great  Part  of 
it  lies  waile  and  is  toft  :  There  is  no  Body  to 
clear  the  Ditches  and  Water- Courfes;  no  Body 
to  build  Houfts,  or  ro  repair  thofe  that  are  ruin- 
ous. The  Timan.,t  will  not  improve  the 
Ground  for  his  Succeflor,  not  knowing  how 
foon  he  may  come  :  nor  will  the  Peafant  work 
for  a  Tyrant,  and  ftarve  while  he  does  it  :  And 
neither  T/w/mV  nor  Peafant  will  labour  for 
Bread  which  orhers  are  to  eat.  So  the  Peafant 
Is  left  to  ftarve,  and  the  Land  to  become  & 
Defart. 

Hence  it  is,  that  we  fee  thofe  vaft  States  in 
'Afia  run  and  running  to  wretched  Ruin  :  Moltj 
oif  their  Towns  are  railed  with  Dirt  and  Earth; 
and  you  fre  nothing  but  ruinous  Towns,  and 
tieferted  Villages:  And  hence  It  5s,  that  thofe 
celebrated  Regions  of  MefcfntAmia,  Anatolia, 
Paleftina,  with  thofe  admirable  Plains  of  An- 
tioch,  and  fo  many  other  Countries,  anciently 
Ib  well  manured,  fo  fertile,  ar=d  fbfuli  of  Peo- 
ple, are  all  at  preterit  half  deferte4»  abandoned, 
and  unfilled,  or  become  peftllent  and  uninhabi- 
table Bogs.  E;*ypt  is  in  the  like  Condition;  and 
within  thefe  fourfcore  Years,  above  the  tenth 
Part  of  its  incomparable  Soil  is  loft  by  Pover- 
ty, and  want  of  Hands  to  fcour  the  Channels 
of  the  NHe,  and  remove  the  Sand  which  covers 
their  Fields. 

From  the  fame  Caufes,  Arts  languifii  and 
ftarve  in  thofe  Countries :  For  with  what  Heart 
can  an  Artizan  labour  and  ftudy  for  ignorant 
Beggars,  who  are  not  Judges  of  his  Work,  and 
cannot  pay  him  for  it,  or  For  Grandees  who  will 
cot  ?  He  is  fb  far  .from  any  Profped  of  Re- 
ward, 


L  ETTERS.     145- 

ward,  that  he  is  not  only  without  all  Hopes  of 
Wealth,  Office,  or  Lands;  but,  to  avoid  being 
thought  rich,  he  muft  live  poorly  :  He  mull 
never  eat  a  good  Meal,  never  wear  a  decent 
Coat,  and  never  appear  to  be  worth  Six-pe^ 
Kay,  he  is  happy  if  he  can  efcape  the  j^nv^; 
a  terrible  Whip  exercifed  by  the  great  Lords 
upon  the  Artiib,  the  Encouragement  of  In- 
genuity. 

Indeed,  the  Knowledge  and  Beauty  of  Arts 
had  been  loft  in  theft-  Countries  long  fmce,  were 
it  not  that  the  Kings  and  Grandees  give  Wages 
to  certain  Handicraftfinen,  who  work  in  thtir 
Houfes,  and  to  efcape  the  Whip,  do  their  bell : 
Befides,  the  rich  Merchants,  who  fhare  their 
Gains  with  Men  in  Power,  to  be  protected  by 
tr.erri,  do  give  thefe  Handicraftfmen  a  little  more 
Pa 7,  and  but  a  little.  We  mud  not  therefore 
think,  upon  feeing  rich  Eaftern  Stuffs  here,  that 
the  Workman  there  is  in  any  Condition  or 
Efteem  :  He  works  not  for  himfelf,  and  only 
Neceility  and  the  Cudgel  makes  him  work  ; 
and  let  him  work  how  he  will,  he  is  doomed 
to  live  milerably,  to  cloath  himlelf  meanly, 
and  to  eat  poorly. 

TraflRck  alfb  in  thofe  Countries,  is  faint  and 
decaying  :  For  how  many  are  there  that  care  to 
take  much  Pains,  to  make  dangerous  Voyages, 
and  take  long  Journies  ;  to  be  conftantly  run- 
ning up  and  down  ,  to  write  much,  to  live  in 
perpetual  Anxiety  and  Care,  and  to  rifque  all 
Hazard «  and  Chances  •  and  all  for  a  precarious 
Gain,  which  is  at  the  Mercy  of  the  next  greedy 
Governor  ? 

- 

VOL  II.  G  This 


Giro's  LETTERS. 

This  whole  Chapter  of  Tavernier  deferves  e« 
very  Man's  reading  :  I  have  only  Room  to  add 
Part  of  another  Paragraph.  Talking  of  the 
Turkjfh  Empire  :  We  have  travell'd,  fays  he, 
through  a ltt\ oft  all  the  Parts  of  it  ;  we  have 
(ten  how  woruliy  it  is  ruined  and  diipeopled  ; 
and  how  5n  the  Capital  City,  the  raifing  of  five 
or  fix  thoufand  Men,  requires  three  whole 
Months:  And  we  know  what  a  Fall  it  muft 
have  had  before  now,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
Supplies  of  Chriftian  Slaves  and  Captives 
brought  thither  every  Year,  from  all  Parts. 
Without  doubt,  if  the  fame  Sort  of  Govern- 
ment continue,  that  State  will  deftroy  itfelf : 
It  is  at  this  Day  maintained  by  its  own  Weak- 
nefs,  and  muft  at  laft  fall  by  it.  The  Governors 
are  frequently  changed  to  make  Room  for  new 
Opprefibrs ;  but  neither  has  anyone  Governor, 
or  one  Subject  in  the  whole  Empire,  a  Penny 
that  he  can  call  his  own,  to  maintain  the  leaft 
Party  ;  nor,  if  he  had  Money,  are  there  any 
JVlen  to  be  had  in  theft  wide  delolate  Provinces. 
J\  blefled  Expedient  this,  to  make  a  State  Tub- 
lift  !  An  Expedient,  much  like  that  of  a  Brama, 
of  Pegu,  who,  to  prevent  Sedition,  command- 
ed that  no  Land  (hould  be  til  I'd  for  fbme  Years 
together ;  and  having  thus  deftroyed  half  the 
Kingdom  with  Hunger,  he  turned  it  intoFor- 
refts :  Which  Method,  however,  did  not  an-" 
fwer  his  End,  nor  prevent  Diviiions  in  that 
State,  which  was  reduced  fb  low,  that  a  Hand- 
ful of  Chinefe  Fugitives  were  like  to  have  taken 
and  maftered  the  Capital  City,  Ava. 

Thus  far  Tavernier.  Sir  Paul  F(icaut  tells  us, 
that  it  is  a  reigning  Maxim  in  the  Turkifh  Po- 
licy, 


LETTERS.     147 

Iky,  to  lay  a  great  Part  of  their  Empire  wade- 

A  Maxim,  which  they  need  take  no  Pains 

to  pra&ife;  fince  without  deftroying  deliberate- 
ly their  People  and  Provinces,  which  yet  they 
do,  the  dreadful  Spirit  of  their  Government 
creates  Defolation  fait  enough  in  all  Con- 
fcience. 

The  whole  City  of  Dibit,  the  Capital  of 
India,  is  obliged  to  follow  the  Great  Mogul 
their  Emperor,  when  he  takes  a  Journey,  their 
whole  Dependence  being  upon  the  Court  and 
the  Soldiery  ;  for  they  cannot  fupport  them- 
felves  j  nor  is  the  Country  round  them,  which. 
is  either  wafte,  or  its  Inhabitants  ftarving,  able 
to  fupport  them.  So  that  the  Citizens  of  this 
mighty  Metropolis,  are  only  the  wretched  Sut- 
tlers  to  a  Camp  ;  and  they  are  forced  to  leave- 
their  Houfes  empty,  and  (troll  after  their  Mo- 
narch, whenever  he  is  gracioufly  difpofed  to 
take  a  Jaunt  ;  and  are  abfent  fbmetimes  from 
home  a  Year  and  a  half  together. 

The  Jefuit,  Niche  Us  Pimenta,  who  was  in 
Pegu  about  an  hundred  and  twenty  Years  ago, 
gives  this  Account  of  it :  The  lad  King,  ffiys  he, 
was  a  mighty  King,  and  could  bring  into  the 
Field  a  Million  and  fixty  thoufand  Men,  taking 
one  out  of  ten  :  But  his  Son  had,  by  his  Wars, 
his  Opprelfions,  his  Murders,  and  other  Cru- 
elties, made  fuch  quick  Difpatch  of  his  Sub- 
jects, that  all  that  were  left  did  not  exceed 
(even  Thoufand,  including  Men,  Women, 
and  Children.  What  an  affecting  Inltance 
is  here  of  the  Peftilential  Nature  of  Ty- 
ranny J 

G  x  It 


s48     CATO's  LETTERS. 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  fome  of  thefe  fatal 
Wars  were  made  by  this  inhumane  Prince,  for 
White  Elephants  ;  and  that  iie  either  made  or 
provoked  Invasions  upon  that  Score,  as  I  have 
inftanced  in  another  Paper :  And  I  fhall  here 
add  fbmcthJng  to  make  this  Conjecture  ftill 
more  probable.  Mr.  fylph  Fitch,  a  Merchant 
of  London^  was  at  Pegu  thirteen  or  fourteen 
Years  before  Pitneiti/t,  in  the  Reign  of  the  above 
potent  King  ;  and  he  fays,  "  Such  is  the  E- 
**  fteem  that  this  King  has  for  an  Elephant  of 
"  this  Colour,  that  amongft  his  other  Titles,  • 

he,  is    called  King  of  the  White  Elephant ,  a 

Title,  which  to  him  feems  as  lofty  as  any  of 
64  the  reft.  And  that  no  other  Prince  round 
"  about  him  may  wear  this  glorious  Title, 
*c  therefore  none  of  them  mull  keep  a  White 
*c  Elephant,  tho9  Nature  gave  it  them  ;  but 

mull  fend  it  to  him,  or  an  Army  fhall  fetch 
*c  it ;  for  rather  than  not  have  it,  he  will  make 
"  War  for  it." 

Ke  fays,  that  the  Houfes  of  thefe  Creatures 
are  fpcndidly  gilt,  and  fo  are  the  Silver  Veflels . 
out  of  which  they  are  fed.  When  they 'go  to 
the  River  to  be  wafhed,  which  they  do  every 
Day,  fix  or  feven  Men  bear  up  a  Canop>y  of 
Cloth  of  Gold  or  Silk  over  them  ;  and  as  many 
more  march  with  Drums  and  mufical  Inftruments 
before  them ;  and  when  they  come  out  of  the 
Water,  their  Feet  were  .wafhed  in  great  Silver 
Bafons  by  Perfbns  of  Quality,  whole  Office  it 
js  thus  to  ferve  them.  TWermVrfays,  the  Great 
Mogul  allows  fixt  Peniions  (and  fbmetimes  very 
large  ones)  to  every  Elephant,  with  proper 
Attendance  ;  nay,  two  Men  are  employed  in 

the 


LETTERS.     14$* 

the  fultry  Months,  to  Hand,  one  on  each  Side, 
to  Fan  them. 

I  only  mention  this,  to-fhew  how  much  more 
Care  the  fe  Tyrants  take  of  their  Beads,  than 
of  their  People*  And  it  is  too  true  of  all  Ar- 
bitrary Princes  ;  their  Stable  of  Horfes  is  dear- 
er to  them  than  their  People,  and  live  infinitely 
better. 

This  is  nlmoft  uniVerfally  true  wherever  there 
are  fiich.  Nay,  they  value  their  Dogs  more 
than  they  do  the  LU7es  of  Men.  Y\  hen  the 
Grand  Seignior  goes  a  Hunting,  a  gneat  Number 
of  Peafants  mult  enclofe  the  Ground  for  feveral 
Leagues  round,  and  keep  in  the  Game  ;  and 
this  they  mud  often  do  for  many  Days  toge- 
ther, fometimes  in  Ice  and  Snow,  with  hungry 
Bellies.  By  which  Means  their  Work  is  neg- 
lected, their  Grounds  are  deftroyed,  and  the/ 
themfelves  are  many  times  killed  in  the  Sport, 
or  ftarved  in  attending  it  ;  and  k  often  hap- 
pens, that  forty  or  fifty  of  his  own  Followers 
perifh  in  a  Day.  Sultan  Ma/wmet's  grand  Fal- 
coner had  once  the  Honefty  and  Boldnefs  to  re- 
prelent  to  his  Mafter  all  this  Deftruclion  and 
Carnage  which  attended  hisendlefs  Pailion  for 
Hunting  ;  but  all  the  Anfwer  which  he  received 
from  this  Father  of  the  Faithful,  was,  ~By  nil 
Means  take  Care  of  the  Dogs,  let  them  have  Cloath- 
ing  find  other  Accommodations. 

This  Paper  upon  Arts  and  Population  grows. 
too  long  •  1  {hall  therefore  referve  to  another 
what  1  have  to  fay  further  upon  this  Subje£h 


1  am, 

G  •       s  i 


i  jo     CMTO's  LETTERS. 


IHere  fend  you  what  1  have  to  fay  further 
upon  Arrs,  Induftry,  and  Population.  To 
live  fecurely,  happily,  and  independently,  is 
the  End  and  Effect  of  Liberty  ;  and  it  is  the 
Ambition  of  all  Men  to  live  agreeably  to  their 
.own  Humours  and  Difcretion.  Nor  did  ever 
any  Man  that  could  Jive  fatisfacborily  without 
a  Matter,  defire  to  live  under  one  ;  and  real  or 
fancied  Neceflky  alone  makes  Men  the  Ser- 
vants, Followers,  and  Creatures  of  one  ano- 
ther. And  therefore  all  Men  are  animated  by 
the  Pailion  of  acquiring  and  defending  Pro- 
perty, becaufe  Property  is  the  bed  Support  of 
that  Independency,  fo  paflionately  defired  by 
all  Men.  Even  Men  the  moft  dependent  have 
it  conftantly  in  their  Heads  and  their  .Wifhes, 
to  become  independent  one  Time  or  other  ; 
and  the  Property  they  arc  acquiring,  or  mean 
to  acquire  by  that  Dependency,  is  intended  to 
bring  them  out  of  it,  and  to  procure  them  an 
agreeable  Independency.  And  as  Happinefs  is 
the  Effect  of  Independency,  and  Independency 
the  EfTecl:  of  Property,  fb  certain  Property  is 
the  Effect  of  Liberty  alone,  and  can  only  be 
fecured  by  the  Laws  of  Liberty  ;  Laws  which 
are  made  by  Confent,  and  cannot  be  repealed 
without  it. 

tAll  thefe  Bleffings,  therefore,  are  only  the 
Gifts  and  Confequences  of  Liberty,  and  only 

to 


C A  ro's  LETTERS,    i ji 

to  be  found  in  free  Countries ;  where  Power  is 
fixed  on  one  Side,  and  Property  fecured  on  the 
other  ;  where  the  one  cannot  break  Bounds 
without  Check,  Penalties,  or  Forfeiture,  nor 
the  other  fuffer  Diminution  without  Redrefs  ; . 
v/here  the  People  have  no  Matters  but  the 
Laws,  and  fuch  as  the  Laws  appoint  ;  where 
both  Law  and  Magiftracy  are  formed  by  the 
People  or  their  Deputies,  and  no  Demands  are 
made  upon  them,  but  what  are  made  by  the 
Law  ;  and  they  know  to  a  Penny,  what  to 
pay  before  it  is  asked  ;  and  where  they  that 
exact  from  them  more  than  the  Law  allows, 
are  punifhable  by  the  Law  ;  and  where  the 
Legiflators  are  equally  bound  by  their  own 
A  els,  and  equally  involved  in  the  Confe- 
quences. 

There  can  be  no  Good,  v/here  there  are 
none  of  theCauies  cf  Good  ;  and  coniequently 
all  the  Advantages  of  Liberty  muft  be  loft  with 
Liberty,  and  all  the  Evils  of  Tyranny  muft 
accompany  Tyranny.  I  have  in  my  laft  taken 
a  View  of  the  E&ftern  Monarchies,  with  Re- 
gard to  the  miferable  Decay  of  their  People 
and  Arts ;  I  {hall  in  this  confine  myfelf,  for  In- 
fiances,  to  Europe,  and  begin  with  Mufcovy, 
by  far  the  greateft  Empire  for  Territory  in 
Chriftendem  :  And  becaufe  the  beft  fhort  Ac- 
count that  I  have  feen  of  that  Government,  js 
given  by  Dr.  Giles  Fletcher,  who  v/as  there  in 
the  latter  End  of  Q.  Elizabeth's  Time,  I  ftiali 
here  tranfcribe  Part  of  that  Account. 

Talking  of  the  many  wicked  and  barbarous 
Arts  ufed  by  the  late  C^ars  of  I(ujpa,  to  drain 
and  opprels  their  People,  he  6ys :  They 

G  4  ^  would 


151     Giro's   LETTERS. 

would  fuSer  their  People  to  give  freely  to  the 
Monafteries,  (as  many  do,  efpecially  in  their 
iaft  Wills}  and  this  they  do,  becaufe  they 
"  may  have  the  Money  of  the  Realm  mere 
ready  at  Hand,  when  they  lift  to  take  it, 
which  is  many  Times  done  ;  the  Friars  part- 
ing freely  with  fome  rather  than  lofe  all. 

John  Bafilowit%  pretended  to  refign  the 
Crown  to  the  Prince  of  Ca%an9  and  to  retire 
for  the  reft  of  his  Life  to  a  Monaftery  :  He 
then  caufed  this  new  King  to  call  in  all  the 
Ecclefiaftical  Charters,  and  to  cancel  them. 
Then  pretending  to  d alike  this  Facr,  and 
the  Mifrule  oi  the  new  King,  he  refumed 
the  Scepter,  poflefTed  as  he  was  of  ail  the 
Church  Lands,  of  which  he  kept  what  he 
would,  and  gave  new  Charters  tor  the  reft. 
By  this  he  wrung  from  the  Ecclefiafticks  a 
vaft  Sum,  snd  yet  hoped  to  abate  the  ill 
Opinion  of  his  Government,  by  {hewing  a 


cc 

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cc 
cc 
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cc 

cc 

C( 

ct 

IK 

cc 

c« 
cc 

"  worfe. 
cc 

cc 
cc 

H 

cc 
cc 


tc 


When  they  want  to  levy  a  new  Tax,  they 
make  a  Shew  of  Want  ,  as  was  done  by 
Duke  Theodore,  who,  tho'  left  very  rich  by 
his  Father,  yet  (old  moil  of  his  Plate,  and 
coined  the  reft,  that  he  might  feern  in  Ne- 
ceiiity  ;  whereupon  prefently  came  out  a 
new  Tax  upon  his  People. 
"  They  would  (bmetimes  fend  their  Meflen- 
gers  into  the  Provinces  to  foreftal  and  en- 
grofs  the  Commodities  of  the  Country,  ta- 
king them  at  (mall  Prices,  what  they  them- 
felves  lift,  and  felling  them  again  at  exceiilve 
Prices  to  their  own  Merchants,  or  to  Stran- 
gers. If  they  refute  to  buy  them,  then  they 

"  force 


5  LETTERS,    ijj 

"  force  them  into  it :  The  like  they  do,  when 
".any  Commodity  thus  engroffed,  Foreign  or 
"  Native,  fach  as  Cloth  of  Gold,  Broad  Cloth,. 
"•  and  the  like,  happens  to  decay,  by  lying  up- 
"  on  Hand,  it  is  forced  upon  the  Merchants 
"  at  the  Emperor's  Price,  whether  they  will  or 
*'  no. 

*'  Befides  the  engroffing  of  foreign  Comma* 
<{  diiies,  and  forcing  them  upon  the  Merchants, 
44  they  make  a  Monopoly  for  a  Seafbn  of  ail 
<c  fuch  Commodities  as  are  paid  the  Prince  for 
"  Rent  or  Cuftjm  ;  and  this  they  do  to  en- 
<e  hance  the  Price  of  them  :  Thus  they  mono- 
cc  polize  Furrs,  Corn,  Wrood,  &c.  during  ail 
tc  which  Time,  none  muft  fell  of  the  fame 
"  Commodity,  till  the  Emperor's  be  all  fold. 

<c"  The  above  mention'd  Join  Bafjfowt^  fent 
"  into  Permit  (  a  Country  of  the  poor  Srf- 
"  moldes  )  for  certain  Loads  of  Cedar,  tho'  he 
"  well  knew  that  none  grew  there  ;  and  ths- 
"  Inhabitants  returned  Anllver,  that  'hey  could 
"  find  none.  \Vhereupon  he  raxed  the  Coun- 

^  try  in  Twelve  Thoufand  Rubles.  • - 

"  Again,  he  fent  to  the  City  of  Mcfecw  to  pro- 
"vide  for  him  a  Meafure  full  of  Fleas  fo  a 
"  Medicine.  They  answered,  that  the  Th!ng: 
"  was-  impoiiible  ;  "and  if  tliey  could  get  theny 
14  yet  they  could  not  meafure  them  because  of 
"  their  leaping  cut.  Upon  which,  he  iet  a 
"  Mui5i  upon  them  of  Seven  Thoufand  Ru- 

u  bles. 

"  To  thefe   may  be  added,  their  Seizures 

*s  and  Confifcations  uyon   fuch   as   are  undtr 
u  Difpleafure,  and  the  Connivance  at  the  Op- 

4t  preiiions  and  Extortions  of  the  Governor* 

r^  i^   ^C 

Cj   -T 


'3  LETTERS. 

*f  of  the  Provinces,"  till  their  Time  be  expired, 
**  and  then  turning  all  their  wicked  Plunder 
into  the  Emperor's  Treafury,  but  never  a 
"  Penny  back  again  to  the  right  Owner,  how 
"**  great  or  evident  foever  the  Injury  be. 

**  As  to  the  People,  they  are  of  no  Rank  or 
"  Account,  and  efteemed  no  better  thanVillains, 
and  fb  they  fubfcribe  themfelves  in  all  their 
"  Writings  to  any  of  the  Nobility,  as  they 
of  the  Nobility  do  to  the  Emperor  :  And  in- 
deed, no  Bond  Slaves  are  kept  more  in  Awe 
and  Subjection,  than   the  common   People 
"  are,  by  the  Nobility,  Officers,  and  Soldiers; 
fb  that  when  a  poor  Moufick.  (one  of  the 
Commonalty)  meets  any  of  them  upon  the 
High- way,  he  muft  turn  himfelf  about,  as 
not  daring  to  look  them  in  the  Face,  and 
fall   down    with    his   Head    tp   the   very 
"  Ground. 

"  And  as  to  the  Lands  and  Goods  of  theie 
miferable  People,  they  are  fb  expofed  to  the 
Rapine  of  the  Nobility  and  Soldiers,  befides 
the  Taxes,  Cuftoms,  and  Seizures,  and  other 
"  publick  Exactions  laid  upon  them  by  the 
**  Emperor,  that  they  are  utterly  difcouraged 
from  following  their  Trades  and  Profeiliions ; 
becaufe  the  more  they  have,  the  more  Dan- 
ger they  are   in,  not   only  of  their  Goods, 
"  but  even  of  their  Lives :  And  if  they  hap-* 
"  pen  to  have  any  thing,  they  convey  it  into 
"  Monafteries,  or  hide  it  in  Woods  or  under 
""  Ground,  as  Men  do  when  they  are  in  fear 
u  of  a  Foreign  Invafion.     So  that  many  Vil- 
"  lages  and  Towns  are  intirely  without  Inha- 
"  Litants  ;   and  in  the  Way  tov/ards  Mofcew, 

"  be- 


's  L  E  T  T  E  R  $. 

61  betwixt  Volaghda  and  Tareftave,  for  about  art 
"  Hundred  Engli/h  Miles,  there  are  at  lead 
"  Fifty  Villages,  fome  half  a  Mile  long,  fbme 
"  a  whole  Mile  long,  that  ftand  wholly  defb- 
"  late,  without  a  fingle  Inhabitant.  The  like 
"  Defblation  is  feen  in  all:  other  Places  of  the 
"  Realm,  as  I  have  been  told  by  thole  that 
"  travelled  the  Country. 

"  In  every  great  Town  the  Emperor  hath  a 

"  Drinking  Houfe,  which  he  rents  out :  Here 

"  the  Labouring  Man  and  Artificer  many  times 

"  fpeads   all    from    his   Wife    and   Children1, 

"  Some  drink  away  all  they  wear  about  them, 

to  their  very  Shirts,   and  fo  walk  naked  ;. 

"  and  all  for   the  Honour  of  the   Emperor. 

Nay,   while  they  are  thus  drinking  them- 

"  felves  naked,   and   ftarving  their  Families, 

"  No- body  muft  call  them  away,   upon  an/ 

Account,  becaufe  he  would  hinder  the  Em^ 

"  peror's  Revenue. 

*fr  The  capital  Punifhments  upon  the  People- 
**  are  very   cruel ;   but  if  Theft  or  Marder 
be  committed  upon  them  by  one  of  the  No- 
bility, he  is  feldom  punilhed,  or  fo  much  as 
'  called  to  account  for  it,  becaufe  the  People 
"  are  the  Slaves  of  the  Nobility  :  Or  if  thefer 
Crimes  are  committed  by  a  Gentleman  Sol- 
dier, perhaps  he  may  be  imprifbned  at  the 
Emperor's  Pleafure,  or  perhaps  fined  * 

"  and  that  is  all. 

I  make  this  Quotation  upon  Memory,  having 
only  taken  down  fbme  Hints  when  I  read  it ; 
but  I  can  affert  it  to  be  a  jtifr.  one,  and  alrao{£ 
wholly  in  the  Dodlcr's  Words* 

I  know 


156    Giro's  LETTERS. 

1  know  much  has  been  faid  of  the  Improve- 
ments made  by  the  prefent  O^r,  and  of  his- 
many  Pro*]ech  in  Favour  of  Arts  and  Trade  : 
And  it  is  very  true,  that  he  is  a  Prince  of  a 
very  adYive  and  inquifitive  Genius.     But  tho' 
be  has  made  himfelf  a  more  powerful  Prince 
than  any  of  his  Predece(Tors  were,  I  do  not  find 
that  the  Numbers  of  his  People  are  increafed, 
or   their   general   wretched    Condition   much 
mended.     He  has  a  vaft  Army  conftantly  ®n 
Foot,    and  keeps  vaft  Numbers  of  his  poor 
Subjects  conftantly  employed  in  making  Havens 
and  Canals  ;  great  Taxes  are  raifed,  and  great 
and  daily  Wafte  made  of  his  People,  who  are 
like  wife  miferably  opprefTed  by  his  Boyars,  to 
whom  he  ftill  leaves  the  railing  of  Money  and 
the  Direction  of  Trade  :  So  that  the  general 
Oppreilion  remains,   Trade  is   deadened   and 
diftreffed,    and  the  People   burdened    beyond 
Meafure  ;  fudden  and  arbitrary  Duties  are  lafd 
upon  Commodities  imported  ;  the  old  Way  of 
Monopolies  is  continued  ;  the  State  of  the  Ex- 
change, and  the  Aliay  and  uncertain  Value  of  the 
current  Coin,  are  as  bad  as  they  can  be  ;  Arts 
and  Ingenuity  are  really  difcou raged,  and  thole 
who  have  Skill  in  any  Art  muft  conceal  it,  to 
avoid  working  for  nothing  ;  there  are  Grie- 
vances without  Number,  and  like  to  be,   for 
he  who  complains  is  certainly  undone,  and  Pe- 
titions are  anfwered   with  Stripes,  and  fbme- 
times  with  Death  itfelf.     In  fliort,  the  Condi- 
tion of  the  fyjfian  People  is  much  upon  the 
fame  Foot  as  it  was  in  Dr.  Fiefcfo/s  Time ;  and 
whoever  doubts  it,  may  find  full  Conviction 
from  Capr,  Berry's  State  of  JtyJjM,  under  the 
prefeut  C^ar.  In 


's  LETTERS,     i 

In  Poland,  nothing  can  be  more  miferable 
than  the  Condition  of  the  Peafants,  who  are 
fubjecl:  to  the  mere  Mercy  of  the  great  Lords, 
as  to  Life  and  Death  and  Property  ;  and  mult 
labour  Five  Days  in  the  Week,  nay,  fbmetimes 
Six,  for  thele  Lords ;  and  if  they  cannot  fubfiil 
themfelves  and  their  Families  up^n  one  Day's 
Labour  in  Seven,  they  mud  famifh.  The 
State  of  the  other  Northern  Kingdoms  is,  with 
refpecl;  to  the  People,  as  wretched  as  any  yet 
named  :  They  have  many  Soldiers,  endlefs 
Taxes,  dreadful  Poverty,  few  People,  and 
gaudy  Courts.  It  is  indeed  (aid  of  fome  Ar- 
bitrary Princes  in  fome  Parts  of  Europe,  that 
they  are  merciful  to  their  Subjects,  and  do  not 
ufe  them  barbaroufly  ;  that  is,  they  do  not 
deliberately  butcher  them,  but  only  take  all 
they  have,  and  leave  them  to  darVe  peace- 
ably upon  the  red  :  Ail  the  Riches  of  the 
Country  are  to  be  feen  at  Court,  and  the  Peo- 
ple are  wretchedly  poor.  Cant/tbit  VACNVS • 

A  Countryman  once  complained  to  General 
Kjrki  that  his  Soldiers  had  plundered  him  of 
all  he  had  in  the  World  ;  Thou  art  a  L/tpPy  M/rw, 
fays  the  General,  for  then  they  wilt  plunder  thee 
no  more. 

The  woful  Decay  of  People  and  Plenty   m 
many  States  in  Italy  is  fb  adonifhing,  that  were 
it  not  obvious  to  every  Eye  that  fees  it,  and  fo 
well  atteded  to  thofe  who  have  not  feen  it,  by 
thofe  who  have,  it  would  feem  beyond   all  Be- 
lief.    "  When  I  came  into   the  Pope's  Terri- 
tories at  ?~i:t  Centino,  (fays  Dr.  Bur-net)  there 
was  a  rich  Bottom  all  uncultivated,  and  riot 
"  fb  much  as  ftock'd  with  Cattle  :  But  2<^  I 

*'  paflect 


158   CA  ro's  LETTERS. 


ct 
ft 


"  paflfed  from  Montifiafcone  to  Viterlo,  this  ap- 
peared yet  more  amazing  ;  for  a  vaft  Cham- 
pain  Country  lay  almoft  quite  deferred.  And 
"  that  wide  Town,  which  is  of  fo  great  Com- 
pafs,  hath  few  Inhabitants,  and  thofe  look'd 
poor  and  miserable.  When  I  was  within  a 
"  Day's  Journey  of  fyme,  I  fancied  the  Neigh- 
"  bourhood  of  fb  great  a  City  mult  mend  the 
"  Matter,  but  I  was  much  difappointed  ;  for 
"  a  Soil  that  was  fo  rich,  and  lay  fb  fweetly 
"  that  it  far  exceeded  any  thing  I  ever  faw 
"  out  of  Italy,  had  neither  Inhabitants  in  it 
**  nor  Cattle  upon  it,  to  the  Tenth  part  of 
"  what  it  could  bear.  The  Surprize  this  gave 
"  me  increafed  upon  me,  as  1  went  out  of 
"  f(ome  on  its  other  Side,  chiefly  all  the  Way 
^  to  Naples,  and  on  the  Way  to  Chitn  Vecchia  ; 
"  for  that  vaft  and  rich  Champain  Country 
"  which  runs  all  along  to  Terracing  which  from 
"  Chita  Vecchia.  is  a  Hundred  Miles  long,  and" 
"  is  in  many  Places  Twelve  or  Twenty  Miles 
"  broad,  is  abandoned  to  fuch  a  Degree,  that  as 
"  far  as  one's  Eye  can  carry  ore,  there  is  often 

"  not  fb  much  as  a  Houfe  to  be  feen  • The 

"  Severity  of  the  Government  hath  driven 
"  away  the  Inhabitants ,  and  their  being  driven 
"  away  hath  reduced  it  to  fuch  a  Pafs,  that  it 
c;  is  hardly  pofiible  to  people  it."  He  adds, 
that  in  Rome  itfelf,  "  it  is  not  poilible  for  the 
"  People  to  live  and  pay  Taxes  ;  which  has 
"  driven,  as  'tis  believ'd,  almoft  a  Fourth 
"  Part  of  the  People  out  of  Rome  during  this 
"  Pontificate. 

He  tells  us  el fe where,  that  the  "Pope  buys   in 
all  the  Corn  of  St.  Peter's  Patrimony.    "'  He 

"  buys 


's  LETTERS. 

cc  buys  it  at  Five  Crowns  their  Meafure,  and 
"  even  that  is  ftowly  and  ill  paid.  So  that 
"  there  was  Eight  Hundred  Thoufand  Crowns 
"  owing  upon  that  Score  when  I  was  at  Home. 
«'  In  felling  this  out,  the  Meafure  is  leflen'd  a 
**  Fifth  Part,  and  the  Price  of  the  Whole  is 
"  doubled ;  fo  that  what  was  bought  at  Five 
"  Crowns  is  fold  out  at  Twelve  ;  and  if  ^the 
**  Bakers,  who  are  obliged  to  take  a  determin'd 
46  Quantity  of  Corn  from  the  Chamber,  can- 
u  not  retail  out  all  that  is  impofed  upon  them, 
"  but  are  forced  to  return  fome  Part  of  it 
"  back,  the  Chamber  difcounts  to  them  only 
I1  the  firft  Price  of  Five  Crowns. 

It  is  obferved  by  another  noble  Author  of 
our  Country,  that  Mario  Cblgl^  Brother  to  Pope 
Alexander  the  Vllth,  by  one  fordid  Cheat  upon 
the  Sale  of  Corn,  is  faid  within  Eight  Years  to 
have  deftroyed  above  the  Third  part  of  the 
People  in  the  Ecclefiaftical  State  ;  and  that  that 
Country,  which  was  the  Strength  of  the  I(c- 
mans  in  the  Carthaginian  Wars,  fuffered  ^more 
by  the  Covetoufnefs  and  Fraud  of  that  Villain, 
than  by  all  the  Defeats  received  from  Hannibal. 

The  Country  of  Ferrtira  was  formerly  very 
populous,  and  the  Lands  being  fertile,  were 
well  cultivated  ;  but  fmce  the  Pope  has  got: 
Pofleilion  of  it,  it  is  almoft  depopulated  ;  the- 
Lands  are  nigh  defolate,  and  for  want  of  Peo- 
ple, it  is  like  the  reft  of  the  Ecclefiaftical  State, 
unhealthy  to  live  in.  His  Hoiinefs  has  reduced 
the  Inhabitants  from  above  an  Hundred  Thou- 
fand, to  about  a  Dozen.  In  the  City  itfelfi 
Grafs  grows  in  the  Streets,  and  moft  of  the 
Houfes  are  empty. 

The 


160     C4TO's  LETTERS. 

The  Great  Duke's  Dominions  lie  much  in  the 
fame  difmal  Solitude.  When  Sienna  and  Piftt 
were  free  States,  they  fwarmed  with  People, 
and  were  rich  in  Trade  and  Territory  :  Sienna 
alone  was  computed  to  have  had  above  half  a 
Million  of  Subjects  ;  but  in  a  matter  of  a  hun- 
dred and  fourfcore  Years,  during  which  Time 
it  has  been  in  the  Poifefiion  of  his  Highnefs  of 
Florence,  they  are  funk  below  twenty  thoufand, 
and  thefe  miferably  poor.  The  fame  is  the  ab- 
je£l  Condition  of  Pifa,  Piftoja,  Aretfo,  Cortonn, 
and  many  other  great  Towns.  Florence,  his 
Capital  particularly,  which  in  the  Days  of  Li- 
berty, could  by  the  Ringing  of  a  Bell,  bring, 
together,  of  its  own  Citizens  and  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Valley  of  Arno,  a  hundred  and 
thirty- five  thoufand  well  armed  Men  in  a  few 
Hours  Time,  is  now  fb  poor  and  low,  that  it 
could  not  bring  together  three  tolerable  Regi- 
ments in  thirteen  Months. 

The  City  of  Pifa  alone  was  reckoned,  when 
it  was  free,  to  have  had  a  hundred  and  fifty 
thoufand  Inhabitants,  all  happy  in  Liberty  and 
Commerce  ;  and  now  they  are  about  ten  thou- 
fand, without  Liberty,  and  Commerce,  and 
Bread.  Formerly  an  hundred  of  its  Citizens 
could  fit  out  an  hundred  Gallics,  and  maintain 
them  during  a  War,  at  their  own  Charge  ;  and 
now  the  whole  City  could  not  furnifn  out  nor 
maintain  one.  Their  (lately  Palaces  are  def- 
late, like  their  Territory,  or  let  out  for  Stables, 
or  any  other  forry  life,  at  three  or  four  Pounds 
a  Year  Rent.  Their  Streets  are  covered  with 
Grafs ;  their  Territory,  by  being  wafte,  is 
grown  unwholefome,  and  their  few  Remains  of 

People 

- 


's   LETTERS.     161 

People  are  ftarving.  And  that  great  ^  State 
which  the  Great  Duke  could  not  mafter  without 
the  Armies  of  Spain,  are  not  now  able  to  coa- 
tend  with  his  infamous  Crew  of  Tax-gather- 
ers. The  People  are  famiflvd  Slaves,  their 
Houfes  are  Ruins,  their  Trade  is  gone,  their 
Land  unmanured,  and  yet  their  Taxes  are  not 
leflencd  ;  and  if  there  be  any  Plenty  amcngft 
them,  'tis  only  Plenty  of  Beggars, 

The  fame  is  the  Condition  of  the  Mi  I  an  e^ 
atrd  other  Countries  under  the  fame  fort  of  Go- 
vernment *  the  People  ftarve  in  the  beft  Soils : 
Whereas  in  Switzerland,  and  in  the  Territories 
cf  Genoa,  Luce?.,  and  the  Grifens,  they  are  nume- 
rous, and  live  happily  in  the  word.  The 
"  People  in  France,  (fays  the  Author  of  the 
"  Supplement  to  Dr.  Burnett  Travels)  efpecial- 
"  iy  the  Peafants,  are  very  poor,  and  mpft  of 
them  reduced  to  great  Want  and  jViifery , 
*'  and  yet  France  is  an  extraordinary  good 
"  Country.  The  People  of  Switzerland  (which 
"  K  a  Country  cf  Mountains]  cannot  be  (aid  to 
"  be  very  rich,  but  there  are  very  few,  even 
"  of  the' Peafants,  that  are  mifcrably  poor. 

The  moft  Part  of  them  have  enough  to 

live  on.  Every  where  in  France,  even  in  the 
beft  Cities,  there  are  Swarms  of  Beggars ; 
and  yet  fcarce  any  to  be  feen  throughout  all 
Switzerland  The  Houlcs  of  the  Country 
"  People  in  France  are  extreamly  mean  ;  and 
"  in  them  no  other  Furniture  is  to  be  found 
"  but  poor  naily  Beds,  Straw- Chairs,  with 
<s  Plates  and  Difnes  of  Wood  and  Earth.  In 
"  Switzerland^  the  Peafants  have  their  Houfes 
"  furniihed  v/ith  good  Feather-Beds,  good 

"  Chairs 


Ct 


Ci 


l6^     C^O's  LETTERS. 

Chairs,  and  other  convenient  Houfhold^ 
Stuff;  their  Windows  are  all  of  Glafs,  al- 
ways kept  mended  and  whole  ;  and  their 
Lfnnen,  both  for  Bedding  and  their  Tables, 
*  is  very  neat  and  white." 

This  was  written    above   thirty  Years  ago, 
when  France  was  in   a  much  better   Condition 
than  it  has  been   face     The  Glory  of  their 
late  Grand  Monarch  coft  them  much   Mift-ry, 
and  many  Myriads  of  People.     And  yet  even 
thirty  Years  ago,  their  Mi/cries  were  great  and 
meeting  I         As  I  came  from  Pans   to  Lnns, 
;fay.s  Dr.  Burner,)      I  -yas  amazed   to  fee  fo 
'  much  Mifery  as  appeared  not  only  in  Vil- 
lages, but  even  in  big  Towns,  where  all  the 
Marks  of  an  extreme  Poverty  (hewed  them- 
felves,  both   in  the   Buildings,    the  Cloths, 
and  aimoit  in  the  Lo<  ks  of  the  Inhabitants  : 
And  a  general  dJfpe:.piing  in  all  the  Towns, 
was  a  very  vifible  tffe<£  of  the  Hard/hips 
under  which  they  lay.'     What  blefied  Clr- 
cumftances   that  great  Kingdom    is   in   now, 
Mr.  Law,  who  is  amonpft  us,  can  bell  tell  ; 
tho'  we  all  pretty  well   know.     It  is  really  a 
Science,  and  no  eafv  one,  to  know  the  Names, 
Numbers,  and  Quality  oF  their  Taxes  ;  which 
are   fo  miny,  fo  various,  and   fb  heavy,  that 
one  of  their  own  Writers  calls  them,  Inventions 
proper  to   impovertjh   the  People,  and  to  enrich  the 
Diftionaries.    '  Bulion,   Trea/urer  to  Lewis  XIII. 
told  his  Matter,  that  bis  Subjecls  were  too  happy, 
they  were  not  yet  reduced  to   eat   Grafs      And  the 
cruel  Spirit  and  Politicks  of  that  Minifler  were 
afterwards  fo  well  improved,  that  1  am  apt  to 
think  their  prefent  Felicity  is  no  Parr  of  their 
Misfortunes.  Such 


's  LETTERS, 

Such  Inftances  (hew  what  hopeful  Methods 
fuch  Governments  take  to  encreafe  People, 
Trade,  and  Riches. 

As  to  the  politer  Arts,  I  own  feveral  of  them 
have  flourifhed  under  fome  of  the  Popes  them- 
felves,  and  fome  other  Arbitrary  Princes ;  fuch 
as  Painting,  Architecture,  Sculpture,  and  Mu- 
fick.  But  thele  Arts,  and  the  Improvements 
of  them,  were  fb  far  from  owing  any  Thing 
to  that  Sort  of  Government,  that  by  Liberty 
alone,  and  the  Privileges  given  to  the  Profef- 
fors  of  them,  they  came  to  excel  in  them  ;  nor 
would  they  ever  have  excelled  upon  the  com- 
mon Foot  and  Condition  of  their  other  Sub- 
jects :  So  that  to  make  them  Excellent,  they 
made  them  Free.  And  thus  even  Tyrants,  the 
Enemies  of  Liberty,  were,  for  their  Furniture, 
Luxury,  Pomp,  Pleafure,  and  Entertainment, 
forced  to  be  beholding  to  Liberty;  and  for  theft 
particular  Purpofes,  they  gave  it  to  ^ particular 
Men.  But  for  the  reft  of  their  Subjects,  they 
were  left  by  them  in  the  Condition  of  Brutes, 
both  in  Point  of  Livelihood  and  Knowledge, 
for  it  is  more  Liberty  than  Shape,  that  makes 
the  Difference;  fince  Reafbn  without  Liberty 
proves  little  better,  and  fometirnes  worfe  than 
none.  Servitude"  marrs  all  Genius,  nor  is  either 
a  Pen  or  a  Pencil  of  any  life  in  a  Hand  that  is 
manacled. 

I  am,  dec. 


164     Giro's   LETTERS. 


I  !(., 


I  Beg  Leave  to  interrupt  my  Difcourfe  upon 
General  Liberty  for  one  Poft  ot  more,  as 
Occafioh  (hail  prefent,  and  defire  you  will  pub- 
l;(h  the  encloied  Letter  in  your  Journal,  in  the 
Place  which  ufed  to  be  tilled  v/ith  one  to  your 
felf. 


To  tbs  Freeholders,  Citizens,  And  Burghers   of 
the  Counties,  Cities,  and  Towns  of  Great-  Britain. 

GENTLEMEN, 

Here  is  no  Natural  or  Political  Body  but  is 
fub]e6t  to  the  Variations  and  Injuries  of 
Time.  Both  are  compofed  of  Springs,  Wheels, 
and  L'gaments,  all  in  perpetual  Motion,  and 
all  liable  to  wear  out  and  decay:  And  as  the 
Farts  are  mortal,  the  Whole  muft  be  mortal 
too.  But  as  natural  Bodies  may  continue  their 
Exigence,  and  preferve  their  Duration,  by 
A&ion,  by  the  Addition  of  new  Particles,  or 
by  removing  from  Time  to  Time  all  occafion- 
al  Obilruclions  which  clog  their  Motion,  a  rod 
check:  their  Vigour,  as  long  as  their  Stamina, 
firft  Principles,  or  original  Conftituticn  is  ca- 
pable of  fubfifting  :  fb  a  political  Machine  may 
do  the  fame  :  And  fbme  Writers  in  Politicks 
have  aflerted,  that  the  fame  might  be  immor- 
tal )  which  is  not  my  Opinion. 

But 


LETTERS. 

But  whether  this  is  true  or  nor,   certain  it  is 
i  that  in  many  Refpects  a  Political  Body  has  the 
I  Advantage  of  a  Natural  One.     We  can  often 
i  look  into  its  inmcft  Frame  and  Contexture  ; 
j  and  when  any  of  its  condiment   Parts  are  de- 
j  cayed    or  worn   out,  can   fupply  it  with  new 
ones :  (which  cannot  he  done  in  the  other  wich- 
|  out  a  total  Diffblution  of  the  Fabrick  :)  And  we 
can  frequently  annex  additional  Props  and  But- 
j  trefTes  to  fupport  for  fbme  Time  a  tottering 
i  Building,   and  hinder  it  from  falling  upon  our 
!  Heads.     This  is  often  all  that  can  be  done  in 
I  decayed  Governments,  when  a  State  Is    in   a 
Catahexy  ;  and  this    is  what  is  every  honeft 
Man's  Duty  to  do,  when  he  can  do  no  better. 
But,  I  thank  God,  the  Cpnftitution    of  Eng- 
land is  yet  (bund   and  vigorous :  Many  of  its 
Parts  are  active  and  flrong;  and  if  fbme  Mem- 
bers are  corrupted  or  decayed,  there  are   Ma- 
terials at  Hand  to  fupply  the  Defeat.     There  is 
Wealth  and  Power  in  being  :  Our  Country  a- 
bounds  with  Men  of  Courage  and  Underftand- 
ing  ;  nor  are  there  wanting  thofe  of  Integrity 
and  publick  Spirit  :  There  is  an  ardent  Defire 
and  diffufive  Love  of  Liberty  throughout  the 
Kingdom  \  and  many  begin  to  be  tired,  fide, 
and  afhamed  of  Party-Animofities,  and  of  quar- 
relling with  their  Neighbours,  their  Relations, 
and  often  with  their  bed  Friends,  to  gratify  the 
Pride,  the  Ambition,    and   Rapine   of  thofe, 
who  only  fell  and  beiray  them.     It  is  yet  in  our 
Power  to  fave  our  felves,  and  moft  Men  have 
Inclinations  to  do  it;    and  it  i?.  only  owing  to 
the  Art  and  Addrefs  of  cur  common  Enemies, 

if  we  do  not  agree  on   the  Means  of  doing 

• 

it.  I 


•s.66   CATffs  LETTERS. 

I  dare  therefore  affirm,  that  there  is  fuch  a 
general  Difpofition  towards  Liberty  through  the 
whole  Kingdom,  that  if  there  (hall  be  found 
in  the  next  Houfe  of  Commons  as  many  honeft, 
bold,  and  wi(e  Men,  as  would  have  faved 
Sodom  and  Gomoirah,  England  is  yet  fafe,  in 
fpi^ht  of  all  the  Efforts  of  Delufion  and  Bri- 
bery :  And  I  dare  as  freely  affirm,  that  if  fbme 
vigorous  and  bold  Refblutions  are  not  there 
taken  to  allift  our  m^H:  excellent  King  towards 
difcharging  the  publick  Debts,  and  in  redreffing 
all  forts  of  publick  Corruptions,  the  Liberty 

of  Great  Britain My  Heart  can  fpeak  no 

more. 

It  lies  upon  you,  Gentlemen,  to  give  Mo- 
tion to  the  Machine  :  You  are  the  firft  Springs 
that  give  Life  to  all  virtuous  Refblutions :  Such 
as  you  (hew  your  felves,  fuch  will  be  your  Re* 
prefentatives :  Such  as  is  the  Tree,  fuch  will 
be  the  Fruit.  Chute  honed  Men,  free  and  in- 
dependent Men,  and  they  will  a6t  honeftly  for 
the  publick  Intereft,  which  is  your  Intereft. 
It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  Criminals  will  de- 
ftroy  their  own  Handywork  ;  that  they  will 
either  reform  or  punifh  themfelves  j  or,  that 
Men,  who  have  brought  our  Misfortunes  upon 
us,  will  go  about  in  good  Earned  to  redrefs 
them,  or  even  own  that  there  are  any  fuch. 
Befides,  deep  Wounds  mull  be  probed  and 
fearched  to  the  Core,  before  they  can  be  cured; 
and  thofe  who  gave  them  can  feldom  bear  to 
fee  the  Operation,  much  lefs  will  they  pay  for 
the  Cure,  if  they  can  be  at  eafe  by  the  Death 
of  the  Patient. 

Let 


LETTERS.     167 

Let  us  not  therefore,  my  Countrymen,  de- 
(eit  or  deceive  our  felves,  or  think  we  can  be 
fafe,  if  ever  fuch   Men  can   get   into  Power. 
Let  us  not  again  be  deluded  with  falfe  Promifes 
and  deceitful  Aflurances,  but  let  us  judge  what 
Men  will  do  by  what  they  have  done.     What 
warm  and   plaufible  Remon flrances  have  you 
formerly  heard  an  4  received  ?  What  impetuous 
Srcrms  and  Hurricanes  of  falfe  and  counterfeit 
Zeal  againft  OpprelTions  and  Mifcarriages  in 
the- late  Reigns;  againft   exorbitant   Penfions, 
outrageous  Taxes,  wild  and  expensive  Expedi- 
tions ;  againft  encreafing  the  publick  Debts ; 
againft  ftanding  Troops  quartered  up  and  down 
your  Countries ;  againft  oppreflive  Companies, 
to  the  DeftrucYion  of  your  Trade  and  Induftry; 
againft  private  Mens  raifing  immenfe  Eftates 
upon  your  Ruin ;  and  againft  their  bribing  and 
corrupting   the  Guardians  of  the  jDublick  Li- 
berty ? And  are  you  at  laft  perfectly  eafy  in 

every  one  of  thofe  Complaints  ? 

Now,  therefore,  my  beft  Friends,  is  the 
Time  to  help  your  (elves :  Now  aft  honeftly 
and  boldly  for  Liberty,  or  forget  the  glorious 
and  charming  Sound.  Let  not  a  publick 
Traitor  come  within  the  Walls  of  your  Cities 
and  Towns,  without  treating  him  as  an  Enemy 
to  your  King  and  Country  deferves.  Throw 
your  Eyes  about  your  feveral  Countries,  and 
chufe  your  Patrons,  your  Prote&ors,  your 
Neighbours  and  your  known  Friends  ;  chufe 
for  your  Reprefentatives  Men  whofe  Interefts 
are  blended  with  your  own  ;  Men  who  have 
no  Hands  dipt  in  the  publick  Spoils,  but  have 
fufiered  by  them  as  much  as  you  your  felves 

have 


168     CATO's  LETTERS. 

have  fuffered  \  Men  who  have  not  jobbed  for 
Stock,  nor  for  Wage?,  nor  for  you. 

Make  not  fo  foolifh  a  Bargain,  as  for  a  little 
loofe   Money,  to  give  up  defperately  all  you 
have  ;  your  Liberties,   your  Eftates,  your  Fa- 
milies.    Is  it  for  your  Sakts,  think  you,  that 
thefe  Jobbers  of  Stocks,  and  of  Honelly,  and 
of  their  Country,  come   to  carefs  you,  flatter 
you,  and  bow  to  you  ?  Do  you,  or  can  you 
believe  that   they  come  to  impair   their  own  j 
Fortunes,  to  encreafe  yours  ?  Or  think  you  not 
that  they  will  have  their  Pennyworths  out  of  ! 
you  ?    Depend   upon  it,  they   will ;  and,  for 
every  Bucket  of  W7ater  thrown  into  yourWrells,  I 
they'  will  pump  out  Tuns. 

Reafcn  not  therefore,  as  too  many  of  you 
have  done,  and  I  fear^  yet  do,  That  fince  thofe 
you  truft  make  perfonal  Advantages  of  your 
Confidence  and  Credulity,  you  ought  to  fhare 
in  thofe  Advantages.  But  throw  your  Choice 
upon  fuch  who  will  neither  buy  you  nor  fell 
you.-  Whoever  purchafes  an  Office  at  more 
than  it  is  honeftly  worth,  mud  be  fupportedby 
him  who  fells  it,  in  all  difhoneft  Gains;  or 
elfe  he  will  call  for  his  Money  again,  if  he 
knows  how  to  get  it.  No  Man  will  bribe  you 
into  your  own  Interefts,  or  give  you  Money 
that  he  may  have  leave  to  ferve  you  by  his 
own  Labour,  and  at  his  farther  Expence  ;  but 
will  think  himfelf  at  Liberty  to  make  Repri- 
fils :  He  will  find  no  Difficulty  in  himfelf  to  fell 
thofe,  who  have  before  fold  themfelves  and 
their  Cur.try:  Nor  can  you  have  any  Right 
or  Pretence  to  reprove  one  that  does  fo. 

Miftake 


LETTERS.     169 

Miftake  not,  my  Countrymen,  in  believing, 
that  Men  in  your  Condition  and  Circumftances 
are  too  low  for  the  Scythe,  and  that  you  can 
fhrink  out  of  puhlick  Misfortunes.  For  you, 
Gentlemen,  are  the  firft  Principles  of  Wealth 
and  Power.  From  your  Labour  and  Induftry 
arifes  all  that  can  be  called  Riches,  and  by 
your  Hands  it  muft  be  defended  :  Kings,  No- 
bility,^ Gentry,  Clergy,  Lawyers,  and  milita- 
ry Officers,  do  all  fupport  their  Grandeur  by 
your  Sweat  and  Hazard,  and  in  Tyrannical 
Governments  upon  the  Peoples  Spoils :  They 
there  riot  upon  the  Subfiftance  of  the  poor  Peo- 
ple, whofe  Poverty  is  their  Riches.  Incorrupt 
Adminiftratipns,  your  Superiors  of  all  Kinds 
make  Bargains,  and  purfue  Ends  at  the  pub- 
lick  Expence,  and  grow  rich  by  making  the 
People  poor. 

You  feel  the  firft  Effects  of  tyrannical  Go- 
vernment, and  Great  Men  are  generally  made 
the  Inftruments  of  it,  and  reap  the  Advantages. 
Exorbitant  Taxes,  want  of  Trade,  Decay  of 
Manufactures,  Difcouragernent  of  Induftry, 
Infolence  and  OppreiTion  of  Soldiers,  Exactions 
of  Civil  Officers,  Ignorance,  Superftition,  and 
Bigotry,  are  all  the  conftant  Concomitants  of 
Tyranny,  and  always  produce  it,  and  are  pro- 
duced by  it.  And  all  thefe  terrible  Evils  muft 
fall  moft  fignally  upon  the  middle  and  inferiour 
Ranks  of  Mankind  :  There  muft  be  a  great 
Number  of  Slaves  to  furbifh  up  one  grand  Mo- 
narch, and  the  poor  People  muft  be  thofe 
| Slaves,  He  muft  engage  many  in  his  Intereft, 
before  he  can  eftablifh  a  Power  which  deftroys 
1  the  reft  ;  and  all  thefe  Many  muft  be  fupported, 

VOL.  II.  H  and 


170    Giro's  LETTERS. 

and  have  their  Condition  befter'd  by  the 
Change  ;  and  all  this  Charge  and  Expence  the 
wretched  People  mud  work  for  and  pay 

Forget  therefore,  Gentlemen,  the  fool ifh  and 
knavifh  Diftinction  of  High  Church  and  Low 
Church,  Whig  and  Tory ;  Sounds  which  continue 
in  your  Mouths  when  the  Meaning  of  them  is 
gone,  and  are  now  only  ufed  to  (et  }tou  toge- 
ther by  the  Ears,  that  Rogues  may  pick  your 
Pockets.  I  own  my  felf  to  be  one  of  thofe, 
whom  one  Side  in  Re(pe&,  and  the  other  in 
Contumely,  call  Whigs ;  and  yet  I  never  dif- 
courfed  with  a  candid  and  fenfible  Tory,  who 
did  not  concur  with  me  in  Opinion,  when  we 
explained  our  Intentions.  We  both  agreed  in 
our  Notions  of  old  Engttjh  Liberty,  in  a  Paffion 
for  Freedom  to  our  {elves,  and  to  procure  it 
for  every  one  elfe  :  We  were  both  for  prefer- 
ving  the  EngHJh  Monarchy,  and  the  Legal 
Conftitution  of  the  National  Church  againft 
its  enthufiaftick  Friends  and  Enemies ;  and  were 
for  giving  Liberty  of  Conference  to  thofe,  who 
through  a  prejudiced  Education,  or,  as  we  be- 
lieved, a  lefs  Capacity  of  Judging,  were  fo  un- 
happy as  to  think  differently  from  our  (elves,  in 
an  Affair  which  concerned  us  not,  and  which  we 
had  nothing  to  do  with. 

We  both  honoured  and  refblved  to  preferve 
upon  the  Throne  our  moft  Excellent  Sovereign 
King  G  E  0  I^G  E,  and  to  endeavour  to  continue 
him  a  glorious  King  over  honeft  Men,  and 
Freemen  ;  and  not  to  attempt  to  make  him, 
what  he  fcorns  to  be  made,  a  Patron  of  Para- 
fites,  and  a  Lord  of  Slaves :  And  we  thought 
we  could  not  (hew  our  Durv  co  him  more 

effeflu- 


CATO's  LETTERS.    171 

effe^lually,  than  in  bringing  to  exemplary  Pu- 
ni foment,  all  who  had  betrayed  him  and  us : 
We  wifhed  the  old  Names  of  Diftin&ion  and 
Faction  buried  deep  as  the  Center,  and  nothing 
heard  in  their  Room,  but  Court  and  Country, 
Proteftantand  Papift,  Freemen  and  Slaves.  It 
will  lie  at  your  Door,  Gentlemen,  to  put  am 
End  to  the  above  filly  and  wicked  Gibber  ifti. 
Choofe  thofe  who  have  no  Intereft  to  continue 
it,  and  it  will  not  be  continued. 

Confider,  my  dear  Friends  and  Countrymen, 
what  I  have  (aid,  and  think  what  you  are  do- 
ing, while  you  are  raifing  Hue  and  Cry  after 
Men  who  will  betray  you  ;  while  you  are 
(fending  afar  for  Courtiers,  for  Directors  of  Bub- 
bles, for  Company-men,  and  publick  Pick- 
pockets, to  represent  you;  while  you  are  giving 
up,  perhaps  for  ever,  to  the  Mercy  of  B!ood- 
Suckers,  your  honed  Induftry,  and  the  juft 
Profits  of  your  Trade,  for  a  poor  momentary 
Share  of  their  infamous  Plunder  ;  and  thereby 
bringing  a  Canker  upon  your  Subfiftence,  and 
the  jufe  Refentment  of  Heaven  upon  your  En- 
deavours, Shew  your  felves  once,  and  once 
for  all,  Britons  and  Freemen,  and  not  foreign 
and  faleable  Slaves ;  {hew  that  you  know  hov/ 
to  honour  your  King,  and  yet  to  keep  your 
Liberties  ;  that  you  obey  him  out  of  Choice, 
and  not  out  of  fervile  Fear  ;  that  you  know 
how  to  diftinguifh  your  Loyalty  to  your  Prince, 
from  a  blind  SubmifHon  to  his  and  your  own 
Servants ;  and  that  you  can  make  your  Duty  to 
him  confident  with  a  vigorous  Refolution  to 
pum(h  all  who  betray  him  and  you, 

If  you  did  but  know,  Gentlemen,  how  you 
are  uled  abovcf  by  thofe  who  think  it  worth 

H  %  their 


CATffs  LETTERS. 

their  Time  to  flatter  you  below,  and  to  your 
Faces,  you  would  not  want  my  Advice  and 
Admonitions  You  are  called  the  Mobb,  the 
Canal,  the  ftupid  Herd,  the  Dregs  and  Beads 
of  the  People,  and  your  Intereft  is  never 
thought  of  by  thofe  Men, who  thus  mifcal  you  ; 
Men  who  have  no  more  Wit,  and  much  lefs 
Honefty  than  yourfelves;  and  Men  whofe  In- 
fblence  and  Saucinefs  are  owing  to  Wealth, 
which  they  have  plundered  from  you.  It  de- 
pends now  upon  your  felves,  whether  you  will 
ideferve  thefe  bafe  and  reproachful  Names,  or 
not ;  fhew  that  you  are  Men,  and  you  will  be 
ufed  like  Men  ;  but  if  you  fell  your  (elves  like 
the  Beafts  in  the  Field,  the  Purchafers  will  have 
a  Right  to  fell  you  again,  and  make  honed 
Gains  out  of  a  villainous  Bargain. 

For  my  own  Particular,  I  cannot  give  my 
felf  leave  to  defpair  of  you,  becaufe  I  muft  at 
the  fame  time  defpair  of  old  En^lifh  Liberty  : 
You  are  our  Alpha  and  Omega,  our  firft  and  laft 
Refburce  ;  and  when  your  Virtue  is  gone,  all 
is  gone.  It  is  true,  you  have  a  wife  and  virtu- 
ous Prince  at  prefent,  who  will  not  take  Ad- 
vantage of  your  Follies,  and  you  may  depend 
upon  the  fame  Security  from  his  Son  :  But  nei- 
ther he  nor  his  Son,  nor  his  Family,  are  Immor- 
tal 3  and  therefore,  I  hope  you  will  adit  wifely, 
and  truft  to  your  lelves  alone.  But  whatever  Part, 
Gentlemen,  you  (hall  think  fit  to  take,  you 
Jhall  not  do  it  blindfold,  and  in  the  Dark.  You 
lhall  have  the  fair  and  dark  Side  of  your  Con- 
duct laid  before  you,  and  then  you  may  chufe 
whether  you  will  be  Freemen  or  Vaflals ;  whe- 
ther you  will  fpend  your  own  Money  and 
Efiates,  or  lee  oihers  worfe  than  you  fpend 

them 


CATO's  LETTERS.     173 

them  for  you  :  Methinks  the  Choice  fhould  be 
eafy.  You  (hall  hear  more  from  me  upon  this 
Subject  ,  and  you  may  believe  me^ 

GENTLEMEN, 

Tour  very  fin  cere  and 

moft  affeftionate-  humble  Servant 


A  Second  Letter  to  the  Englidi  Freeholders* 

G£NTLEM£N, 

\7  O  U  are  born  to  Liberty,  and  it  is  your 
JL    Intereft  and   Duty  to  prefcrve  it.     The 
Confutation  you  live  under  is  a  mixed  Monar- 
chy,where  your  Governors  have  every  Right  to 
protect  and  defend   you,  and  none   to   injure 
and  opprefs  you.     You  have  a  large  Share  in 
the  Legislature  ;  you  have  the  fole  Power  over 
your  own  Purfes;  and  you  have  an  undoubted 
Right  to  call  to  Account  and  purpfh  the  Inftru- 
ments  of  your  Oppreffion  :  But  it  depends  up- 
on your  felves  alone  to  make  thefe  Rights  of 
yours,  thefe  noble  Privileges,  of  u(e   to   you. . 
The  Deft  Laws  give  no  Security  if  they  *  re  not 
executed,   but  indeed  become   worfe  than  no- 
Laws  ;  and  they  never  will  be  executed,  ^unlefe 
thofe  who  are  entrufted  with  the  Exfcutioa  of 
them  have  an  Intereft  in  their  Execution. 

All  Men  defire  naturally  Riches  and  Power  ;, 
and  almoft  all  Men  will  take  every  Method, 
juft  or  unjuft,  to  attain  them.  Hence  the  JDirfi- 
culty  of  governing  Men,  and  of  mftituting 

H 


174     CAT&s  LETTERS. 

Government  equally  proper  to  reflrain  them 
and  protect  them  ;  and  hence  the  Inefficiency 
of  fimple  Forms  of  Government,  to  provide 
for  the  Happmefs  and  Security  of  Societies. 
An  Arbitrary  Prince  will  quickly  grow  into  a 
Tyrant  \  the  uncontroul'd  Dominions  of  the 
Nobles  will  as  certainly  produce  Oligarchy ,  or 
the  Tyranny  of  a  Few  ;  that  is,  Pride,  Com- 
bination, and  Rapine  in  the  Sovereigns,  and 
Mifery  and  Dejection  in  the  Many  :  and  the 
unreftrained  Ltcentioufnefs  of  the  Multitude 
will  beget  Confufiori  and  Anarchy.  To  provide 
againft  thefe  certain  and  eternal  Evils,  mixed 
Forms  of  Government  v/ere  invented,  where 
Dominion  and  Liberty  arefb  equally  tempered, 
and  fb  mutually  checked  one  by  another,  that 
neither  of  them  can  have  Intereft  and  Force 
enough  to  opprefs  the  other. 

Thefe  Inftitutions  have  provided  againft  ma- 
ny Evils,  but  not  againft  all  \  for,  whilft  Men 
continue  in  this  State  of  Degeneracy,  that  is* 
whilft  Men  are  Men,  Ambition,  Avarice,  and 
Vanity,  and  other  Pa/lions,  will  govern  their 
A6Hons  ;  and  in  fpight  of  all  Equity  and  Rea- 
fon,  they  will  be  ever  ufurping,  or  attempting 
to  ufurp  upon  the  Liberty  and  Fortunes  of  one 
another,  and  all  Men  will  be  Itriving  to  en- 
large their  own.  Dominion  will  always  defire 
Increafe,  and  Property  always  to  preferve  it 
(elf,  and  thefe  oppolite  Views  and  Interefts 
will  be  caufing  a  perpetual  Struggle  :  But  by 
this  Struggle  Liberty  is  preferved,  as  Water  is 
kept  fweet  by  Motion. 

The  Nature  and  Reafbn  of  this  fort  of  Go- 
vernment, is  to  make  the  feveral  Parts  of  it 

controul 


LETTERS.     177 

controul  and  counterpoife  one  another,  and  fb 
keep  all  within  their  proper  Bounds.  The  In- 
tereft  of  the  Magiftracy,  which  is  the  Lot  and 
Portion  of  the  Great,  is  to  prevent  Conftifion, 
which  levels  all  Things :  The  Jntereft  of  the 
B.idy  of  the  People,  is  to  keep  Power  from 
Oppreifion.  a *\d  their  Magiftrates  from  chang- 
ing into  Plunderers  and  Murderers  ;  and  the 
Intereft  of  the  (landing  Senate,  which^  is,  or 
ought  to  be  compoled  of  Men  diftinguiftiable 
for  their  Fortunes  and  Abilities,  is  to  avoid 
Ruin  and  Diflolurlon  from  cither  of  thefe  Ex- 
tremes :  So  that,  to  preferve  Liberty,  all  thefe 
co-ordinate  Powers  muft  be  kept  up  in  their 
whole  Strength  and  Independency. 

Names  will  not  defend  you,  Gentlemen, 
when  the  Thing  figniHed  by  them  is  gone. 
The  Emperors  of  Home  were  as  abfolute  with 
the  Shew  of  a  Senate,  and  the  Appearance  of 
the  Peoples  chufmg  their  Praetors,  Tribunes, 
and  other  Officers  of  the  Commonwealth,  as 
the  Eaftern  Monarchs  are  now  without  thefe 
feeming  Checks,  and  this  Shew  of  Liberty  : 
And  in  fome  Refpe&s  they  were  more  fecure* 
as  the  Infamy  of  their  Tyranny  was  fhared  by 
theie  Affemblies,  and  the  Advantages  were  all 
their  own  ;  and  the  Condition  of  the  People 
was  rather  the  worfe  for  thefe  Mock  Magi- 
ftrates  and  pretended  Reprefentatives,  who, 
under  the  Colour  and  Title  of  the  Protectors, 
of  the  People,  were,  at  the  Peoples  Expenee^ 
the  real  Helpers  and  Partakers  of  the  Tyrant's 
Iniquity.  The  Kings  of  France  have  Parlia- 
ments, but  Parliaments  which  dare  not  dispute 
their  Royal  Pleafure  j  and  the  poor  People 

H  4.  would 


176    Giro's  LETTERS. 

would  not  fare  one  Jot  the  better,  if  rhefe 
Parliaments  were  bribed  not  to  difpute  it. 

This  wretched  Cafe,  Gentlemen,  will  be 
yours,  and  the  wretched  Cafe  of  your  Pofte- 
rity^if  ever  an  ambitious  Prince  and  defigning 
JVlinifter  (hall  hereafter  be  able  to  corrupt  or 
awe  your  Reprefentatives.  And  whatever 
wicked  Bargains  are  then  made,  will  be  made 
at  your  Expence,  and  you  mufl  pay  the  ter- 
rible Reckoning  at  laft.  You  have  a  King  at 
prefent,  from  whom  you  have  none  of  thefe 
Things  to  fear.  But,  alas  I  Gentlemen,  how 
few  Titus's  and  Trojans  were  there  found  a- 
mongft  the  R^oman  Emperors !  and  how  few  can 
England  (hew  fmce  the  Conqueft  !  It  requires 
therefore  your  beil  Thoughts  and  moft  vigo- 
rous Refblutions  to  preferve  your  Conftitution 
in  tire  in  all  its  Parts,  without  fuftering  any  one 
Part  to  prevail  fb  far  over  the  other,  as  to  re- 
duce it,  in  Effect,  though  not  in  Name,  to  a 
ft m pie  Form  of  Government,  which  is  always 
Tyranny.  It  will  be  all  one  to  you,  whether 
this  is  brought  about  by  Confederacy  or  by 
Force.  Whatever  be  the  villainous  Means, 
Violence.  Oppreifion,  and  every  Rank  of  Evil, 
v/ill  be  the  End. 

In  order  to  this  honeft  or  publick  Defign, 
you  oughr  to  ehufe  Reprefentatives,  whofe  In- 
tereits  are  at  prefent  the  fame  with  your  own, 
and  likely  to  continue  the  fame  ;  Reprefenta- 
tives, who  are  not  already  pre-in gaged,  nor, 
from  their  Circumftances,  Education,  Profef- 
fion,  or  Manner  of  Life,  likely  to  be  engaged, 
in  a  contrary  Intereft.  He  will  prove  but  a 
lorry  Advocate,  who  takes  Fees  from  your  Ad- 

verfary  i 


CATtfs  LETTERS.    177 

verfary ;  and  as  indifferent  a  Plenipotentiary* 
who  receives  a  Pention  from  the  Prince  whom- 
he  is  commiilioned  to  treat  with  :  Nor  can 
there  be  any  Security  in  the  Fidelity  of  one, 
who  can  find  it  more  his  Intereft  to  betray  your 
than  to  ferve  you  faithfully. 

Virtue  and  Vice  will  be  but  ill  ballanced9, 
when  Power  and  Riches  are  thrown   into  the^ 
wrong  Scale.      A   great   Proteftarit    Peer    of 
France,  having   changed   his  Religion  in  Com- 
pliance with  his  Mailer,  Henry  the  Fourth  of 
F'vrwre,  who  had  changed   too,  was  fbon  after 
asked   by  that  Monarch  publickly,  which   oF 
the  two  Religions   he  thought  the  beft  ?'  The- 
Proteftant^Sir, undoubtedly  is  the  left,  fald  the  Peer, 
by  your  own  P^yal  Confejfion  :  jjnce  in  the  Exchange 
for  it)  your   Mfijefly  Las  given  me  Popery,  and  a 
"Ma* flaPs  Staff  to  beet.     Where  Boot  is  given, 
there  is  always  -2  tacit  Confeillon  that  the  Ex- 
change is  uncqu.u  without  it.    Chufe  not  there- 
fore fuch  who  are  likely  to  truck  away  your 
Liberties  for  an  Equivalent  to  thernfelves,  and 
to  fell  you  to  thofe  againft  v>7hom  it  is  their 
Duty  to-  defend  you.     When  their  Duty  is  ira 
one  Scale,  and  a  Thoufand  Pounds  a  Year,  or 
more,  or  even  lefs,  is  thrown  into  the  contrary 
Scale,  you  may  eafily  guefs,  as-  the  World  goey, 
how  the  Ballance  is  like  to  turn. 

It  is  the  Right  and  Duty  of  the  Freeholders' 
and  Burghers  of  Great  Britain,  to  examine  in- 
to the  Conduct,  and  to  know  ihe  Opinions  an$ 
Intensions  of  fuch  as  offer  therniclves  to  their 
Choice.  Hov/  can  any  of  them  be  truly  rcpre- 
(ented,  when  they  know  not  who  represents- 
them-?  And  as  k  v/as  alway  $  their.  Right,,  the/ 

H  -y  had. 


178     CATO's  LETTERS. 

had  once  the  frequent  Means  and  Opportunity 
to  refent  efle&ually  the  Corruptions  of  thofe 
who  had  bafely  betrayed  their  facred  Truft ; 
and  of  reje£ing  with  Scorn  and  Deteftation* 
fuch  Traiterous  Parricides;  and  of  fending  up 
honefter  and  wifer  Men  in  their  Room.  This, 
my  dear  Countrymen,  we  had  once  the  fre- 
quent Means  of  doing  :  Make  life  now,  O 
worthy  and  free  Britons !  make  good  life  of 
this  prefent  Dawn,  this  precious  Day  of  Li- 
berty, to  recover  once  more  that  invaluable 
Privilege.  Do  not  wildly  chufe  any  One,  who 
has  given  up,  or  attempted  to  give  up  your 
Birthrights  ;  and  above  all,  that  Right  which 
fecures  all  the  reft.  Admit  no  Man  to  be  fb 
much  as  a  Candidate  in  your  Counties  and 
Burroughs,  till  he  has  declared  in  the  cleared 
Manner,  and  in  the  moft  exprefs  and  folemn 
Words  declared,  his  moft  hearty  and  vigorous 
Resolutions,  to  endeavour  to  Repeal  all  Laws 
which  render  you  incapable  to  ferve  your  King, 
or  to  punifh  Traitors,  or  to  prefer ve  your  ori- 
ginal and  elTential  Rights.  This,  Gentlemen,. 
Js  your  Time  ;  which,  if  you  fuffer  it  to  be 
loft,  will  probably  be  for  ever  loft. 

There  are  a  fort  of  Men  who  proul  about 
the  Country  to  buy  Boroughs  ;  Creatures, 
who  acccft  you  for  ycur  Votes  with  the  Spirit 
and  Deiign,  and  in  the  Manner  of  Jockeys; 
find  treating  you  like  Cattle,  would  purchafe 
you  for  lefs  or  more,  julr  as  they  think  they 
can  fell  you  again.  Can  you  bear  this  Infuit, 
Gentlemen,  upon  your  Honefty,  yoir;  Reafbn, 
and  your  Liberties  ?  Or  if  there  are  any  a- 
mongtt  you,  who  countenance  fuch  vile  and 

execrable 


LETTERS:   179 

execrable  Bargains,  which  affecl:  and  involve- 
you  all  in  their  Confequences,  ought  they  not 
to  be  treated  like  publick  Enemies,  as  indeed 
they  are,  and  be  hunted  from  amongft  you  * 
1  have  often  wondered  how  a  little  contempti- 
ble Corporation,  confuting,    as  foine  of  them 
do,    of  Broom  makers,    Hedge- breakers^    andi 
Sheep-ftealers,  could  (land  the  Looks  and  Re- 
bukes of  a   rich  and  honcft  Neighbourhood^, 
after    thefe  dirty  Rogues  had  openly  fold  at: 
the  Market-Crofs,  perhaps  for  Forty  Shillings- 
a-piece,  not  only  their  own  Liberties,  but,  as 
far  as  in  them  lay,  the  Liberties  of  that  rich 
Neighbourhood,    and    of    all    England.     Such, 
faleable  Vermin  ought  to  be  treated  as  Perfbns 
excommunicate,    as    the   Pells  and  Felons   of 
Society,  v.'hich  they  would  fell  for  Porridge  r 
And  if  proper  Abhorrence  were  every  where 
fhewn  towards  them,  and  no  Commerce  held 
wirh  them,  they  would  fcon  grow  honeft  our 
of  Neceffity  ,  or  if  they  did  nor,  they  might 
juftly   fear,  like  guilty   Cain,  that  every  Man 
they   met  would    kill  them.     If  this  Meth< 
was   taken,  it  would  cure  Corruption  of  this 
kind  :   Let  thofe  who  fell  rheir  Country  be- 
every  where  renounced  and   fhun'd  by  their 
Neighbourhood  and  their  Country,  and  £ich- 
Sale  will  foon  be  over. 

The  Majority  of  you,  Gentlemen,  are  ye: 
uncorrupted  :  ]ndeed  none  but  a  few  of  the- 
worft  and  puoreft  of  you  are  yet  corrupted*. 
The  Body  of  the  Freeholders  know  not  what 
it  is  to  take  Money  ;  and  chufe  their  Repre- 
ientatives  from  amongft  themielves,  and  from< 
a  thorough- Acquaintance,  either  with  the  Mem 

oar 


180    Giro's  LETTERS.  - 

or  with  their  Chara&ers.  The  little  beggarly 
Boroughs  only  are  the  Pools  of  Corruption  °y 
with  them,  Money  is  Merit,  and  full  of  Re- 
commendation. They  engage  for  Men  with- 
out knowing  their  Names,  and  chufe  them 
fbmetimes  without  feeing  their  Faces  ;  and  yec 
their  Members,  when  they  are  chofen,  are  as 
good  as  yours;  that  is,  their  Votes  are  as  good. 
It  is  in  your  Power,  Gentlemen,  and  in  that 
of  your  honefl  Neighbours,  to  cure  this  migh- 
ty Evil,  which  has  hitherto  been  incurable, 
or  not  fuffered  to  be  cured.  They  are  but  a 
Few,  and  an  inconfiderable  few,  in  Comparifbn- 
of  you  ;  and  cannot  live  without  you,  though 
you  can  without  them. 

Try  the  Expedient  which  I  propofe  ;  nei- 
ther buy  nor  fell  with  thole  Reprobate  Merce- 
naries, who  fell  themielves  and  you.  Confide* 
how  much  it  imports  you  ,  your  All  is  con- 
cern'd  in  it.  This  is  not  a  Difpute  about 
Dreams  or  Speculations,  which  afle£r.  not  your 
Property  ;  but  it  is  a  Difpute  whether  you  (hall 
have  any  Property,  which  thefe  Wretches- 
throw  away,  by  chufmg  for  the  Guardians  of 
Property  Men  whom  they  know  not,  or  who 
are  only  known  to  them  by  a  very  bad  Token, 
that  of  having  corrupted  them. 

Lay  not  out  your  Money  with  thofe  who- 
for  Money  fell  your  Liberties,  which  is  the 
only  Source  of  your  Money,  and  of  all  the 
Happinefs  you  enjoy.  Remember  how,  when 
your  All  is  at  Slake,  as  it  always  is  in  an 
Election  of  thole  who  are  either  to  guard,  or 
to  give  up  your  All;  1  fny,  remember,  how 
wanttmly  and  blindly  upon  that  Occafion,  thefe- 

Wretches 


's  LETTERS. 

Wretches  furrender  themfelves,  and  you,  and: 
your  All,  and  all  England,  to  the  bed  Bidder, 
without  knowing,  often,  who  he  is.  What 
Mercy  do  thefe  cruel  Slaves  deferve  at  your 
Hands  ?  The  moft  horrible  Thing  that  they 
can  do  againft  you  and  your  Pofterity,  they 
do. 

When  Hannibal  ha^  gamed  his  laft  and 
greateft  Battle  againft  the  Romans,  and  many 
of  the  Nobility  were  deliberating  about  leaving 
J{ome,  the  young  Scffio  entred  the  Room  with 
his  Sword  drawn,  and  obliged  every  Man  pre- 
fent,  to  bind  himfelf  with  an  Oath  nor  to  de- 
fert  their  Country.  And  will  you,  Gentlemen, 
fufFer  the  little  Hireling  Inhabitants  of  Bo* 
roughs,  who  receive  from  you  and  your  Neigh- 
bours their  daily  Bread  ;  will  you,  can  you 
fuffer  them  to  betray  you,  to  give  up  your 
Fortunes,  and  to  comprehend  you  as  they  doj 
in  the  Sale  they  make  of  Themfelves  ?  Do  you 
not  know  how  much  you  are  at  the  Mercy  oP 
their  Hbnefty,  how  much  it  depends  upon 
their  Breath  whether  you  are  to  be  Freemerr 
or  Slaves  :  And  yet  will  you  ftand  flupidly  by,. 
and  fee  them  truck  you  away  for  looie  Gui- 
neas ?  Would  you  allow  the  Common  Laws 
of  Neighbourhood  to  fuch  as  iteal  or  plunder 
your  Goods,  rob  you  of  your  Money,  feize 
your  Houfes,  drive  you  from  your  Poffejlions, 
enfiave  your  Perlbns,  and  ftarve  your  Families  ?' 
No  (lire,  you  would  not.  And  yet  will  you, 
and  can  you  continue  to  treat  as  Neighbours 
and  Friends,  thofe  ra(h,  wicked,  and  mercilefs 
Profligates ;  who,  as  far  as  in  them  lies,  would 
bring  upon  you  and  your  Poilcritv,  all  tho-fe 

black 


CA  TO's  LETTERS. 

black  and  melancholly  Evils,  by  committing 
the  mighty  and  facred  Truft  of  all  your  Lives 
and  Properties  to  Men,  who  hire  them  to  be- 
tray it ;  and  having  firft  made  them  Rogues, 
may  afterwards,  for  ought  they  know,  make 
them  Slaves,  and  you  with  them. 

Can  you  bear  this,  Gentlemen  ?  It  is  the 
Root  of  all  your  heavy  Sufferings,  and  may 
yet  produce  worfe  and  more  heavy.  You  are 
Freemen,  and  Men  of  Reafon  and  Spirit ; 
awaken  your  Spirit,  exert  your  Reafon,  and 
alfert  your  Freedom.  You  have  a  Right  to 
petition  the  Parliament,  you  have  a  Right  to 
addreis  the  King,  to  propofe  your  Thoughts 
and  Grievances  to  Both  ;  and  to  be  heard  and 
relieved  when  you  fufTtr  any.  And  from  the 
fame  Reafbn  and  Equity,  you,  Gentlemen 
Freeholders,  have  a  Right  and  a  near  Concern 
to  advife  your  neighbouring  Boroughs  in  the 
Choice  of  their  Members  •,  arid  to  warn  them 
of  the  Confluences,  if  they  make  a  bad  one, 

For  God's  fake,  Gentlemen,  and  for  your 
own,  and  for  all  our  lakes,  (hew  your  Spirit, 
your  Underftanding,  and  your  Activity,  upon 
this  Occafion  j  and  the  hearty  Prayers  and 
Wifhes  of  every  honed  Man  will  attend  you. 

Alas  !    Gentlemen,   with  Tears  I  tell  you, 

the  Cure  of  Corruption  is  left  to  you 

A  Cure  from  another  Quarter  is  cruelly  de- 
nied to  us.  A  worthy  Attempt  was  lately 
made  to  deftroy  it  effectually  ;  and  we  hoped 
that  no  Man,  or  Set  of  Men,  pretending  to 
common  Honefty,  would  have  had  the  Face 
to  difcourage  or  fruftrate  that  Attempt ;  but  itr 
was  fruftrated,  and  we  know  where,  and  by 

whom* 


LETTERS.     i8j 

whom,  and  for  what  Ends.  Thofe  who  owe 
their  whole  Figure,  and  Fortune,  and  Force 
to  Corruption,  rather  than  part  with  it,  feem 
determined  to  fee  the  Nation  confumed  and 
perifh  in  it-  Your  Help  mud  be  from  God 
and  your  felves  ;  be  honed,  and  make  your 
Neighbours  honed  ;  both  are  in  your  Power, 
and  1  glory  that  they  are.  As  you  love  your 
Liberties,  exercife  your  Virtue ;  they  depend 
upon  it.  Remember  the  true  but  difmal  Pic- 
ture I  have  given  you  of  Slavery  and  arbitrary 
Power ;  and  if  you  would  avoid  them,  be  vir- 
tuous, {corn  Bribes,  and  abhor  the  Man  that 
offers  them,  and  expofe  him.  Confider  him 
as  an  accurfed  Tempter,  and  a  barbarous  Ra- 
vifher,  who  would  buy  you  out  of  your  Inte- 
grity, and  fpoil  you  of  your  Liberties. 

Give  me  leave  now,  Gentlemen,  to  mark 
out  to  you  more  particularly,  what  fort  of  Men 
you  ought  not  to  chufe  :  Chufe  not  thofe  who 
live  at  a  great  Didance  from  you,  and  whofe 
Abilities,  Probity,  and  Fortunes  are  not  well 
known  to  you.  When  you  have  chofen  them, 
it  will  be  too  late  to  know  them.  Chufe  not 
the  elded  Sons  of  Noblemen,  who  muft  be  na- 
turally in  the  Intereft  of  the  Nobility,  as  the 
Nobility  generally  are  in  the  Intereft  of  the 
Court,  whatever  it  be.  Reject  Bigots  of  all 
Kinds,  and  Sides :  Thcfe  Men,  whofe  Minds 
are  (hut  up  in  Band  boxes,  and  who  walk  upon 
Stilts,  have  not  Thoughts  large  enough  for  go- 
verning Society.  Even  their  Honeftf,  when 
they  have  any,  is  uielefs  to  the  Publfck  ;  and 
is  ofcen,  on  the  contrary,  made  an  ill  Indru- 
ment  in  the  Hands  of  thole  who  have  none. 

Reje6t 


1  84     CATO's  LETTERS. 


alfo  all  timorous,  fearful,  and  daftardly 
Spirits  ;  Men,  who  having  good  Principles,[]ei- 
ther  dare  not  own  them,  or  dare  not  act  ac- 
cording to  them.  Chufe  not  Men  who  are 
noted  for  Non-  Attendance,  and  who  have  been 
Members  of  Parliaments,  without  waiting 
upon  the  Bufmefs  of  Parliament  ;  Men,  who 
will  probably  be  engaged  in  a  Fox-Chace,  in 
a  Tavern,  or  in  other  debauch'd  Houfes,  tho? 
the  Kingdom  were  undoing.  While  your 
Happinels  or  Mifery  depends  fo  much  upon 
the  Breath  of  your  Representatives  ;  it  is  of 
great  Importance  to  you,  thar  their  Attend- 
ance be  as  conftant  as  their  Behaviour  is  honefr. 
What  Excufe  can  they  offer  for  themfelves, 
when  by  their  wanton  Abfence,  a  Vote  may 
pal's  which  may  coil  you  Millions?  We  know 
what  bold  Advantages  have  been  taken'  in-former 
Parliaments,  of  a  thin  Houfe,  to  raife  great 
and  unexpected  Sums  from  the  Nation,  to 
enable  its  woril  Foes  to  carry  on  an  unnatural 
Confpiracy  againft  it. 

Reject  with  Indignation  thofe  Men,  who,  in 
the  late  execrable  South-Sen  Confpiracy,  took 
Stock  for  Votes  ,  and  for  an  infamous  Bribe 
in  Stock,  vored  your  Liberties,  and  Purfes,  in- 
to the  mercilefs  Claws  of  the  South-Sen  Trai- 
tors, and  are  iince  many  of  them  juftly  un- 
done by  the  Bargain,  And  think  you,  Gen*. 
rlemen,  that  thefe  Men  who  could  fell  their 
Country,  when  they  had  a  Stake  in  it,  will 
not  fell  it  for  lefs,  when  they  have  none  ?  You 
©ught  to  add  to  the  fame  Clafs,  and  treat  in 
the  fame  Manner,  all  thole  v/ho  headed  and: 

'  abetted 


CATO's  LETTERS.    185: 

abetted  that  deftru&ive  Scheme,  or  endea- 
voured to  protect  thofe  who  did  fo. 

You  are  to  be  particularly  careful,  that  thofe 
you  chufe  be  duly  qualified  according  to  Law, 
and  that  no  Deceit  is  pra&ifed  in  obtaining 
temporary  Qualifications.  You  ought  to  en- 
quire into  their  Eftates,  and  how  they  came 
by  them  ;  and  if  they  have  none,  as  many 
who  Hand  Candidates,  I  am  told,  have  not, 
you  may  guefs  who  ailifts  them,  and  what 
hopeful  Services  are  expecled  from  them. 
Such  Men  you  may  be  lure  will  never  fpeak 
your  Senfe  in  Parliament  — — •  nor  even  their 
own,  if  they  have  any  ;  nor  be  fuffered  to 
coniult  your  Intereft.  They  muft  work  for 
their  Matters  againft  you,  who  ought  to  be 
fo. 

Neither  can  you  expect  to  be  well  ferved  by 
Men,  whole  Eirates  are  embarked  in  Compa- 
nies :  They  themfelves  will  be  engaged  with 
their  Fortunes  in  the  particular  Intereft  of  fuch 
Companies,  which  are  always  againft  the  In- 
tereft of  general  Trade ;  and  they  will  be  but: 
too  apt  to  fall  into  the  Juggling  and  Artifices 
of  Courts,  to  raife  their  Stock  to  imaginary 

Values A  certain  and  known  Method  to 

promote  Cheating,  and  to  fink  Trade. 

Shun  likewife  all  thofe  who  are  in  the  Way 
of  Ambition  ;  a  Paiiion  which  is  rarely  grati- 
fied by  Integrity,  and  an  honeft  Zeal  for  your 
Good  ;  fhun  all  Men  of  narrow  Fortunes, 
who  are  not  for  your  Purpofe,  from  obvious 
Reafbns  ;  fhun  all  Lawyers,  who  have  not 
eftablimed  Practice  or  good  Eftates,  and  who 
are,  confequently  more  liable  to  Corruption-, 

and 


iB6    CAfO's  LETTERS. 

and  whom  the  Court  has  more  Means  of  cor- 
rupting, than  other  Men  ;  fhun  all  Men  in- 
voived  in  Debt,  all  Men  of  ill  Morals,  and 
debauched  and  difhoneft  Lives,  all  Gamefters, 
and  all  Men  who  fpend  more  than  their  In- 
come. Their  Extravagance  makes  them  ne- 
cefiitous,  and  their  Neceillties  make  them 
venal. 

We  do  not  ordinarily  truft  a  Man  with  a 
fmall  Sum  without  a  Note,  or  Mortgage,  or  a 
Bond  ;  and  fuch  Security  is  but  reasonable; 
and  is  it  not  as  reafonable,  that,  when  we 
truft  Men  with  all  we  have,  as  we  do  our  Re- 
prefenratives,  we  ought  to  feck  and  procure  all 
the  Security  which  the  Nature  of  the  Thing 
will  admit  ?  Would  it  not  be  direft  Madnefs 
to  truft  our  All,  our  whole  accumulative  Por- 
tion in  this  Life,  to  thofe  whom  no  Man  would, 
in  a.  private  Way,  truft  for  Five  Shillings  ? 
Call  to  mind,  Gentlemen,  whether  fbme  of 
you  have  never  formerly  made  fiich  a  ram  and 
dangerous  Choice  •  and  for  God's  Sake  mend 
it  now. 

I  fuppofe  thus  far  you  will  all  agree  with 
me;  as  1  dare  fay  you  will,  when  I  tell  you 
that  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Sword  are  not  pro- 
per Reprefcntat'ves  of  a  People,  whofe  Civil 
Conftitunon  abhors  (landing  Armies,  and  can- 
not fubfift  under  them.  The  Fortunes  and  Ex- 
pectations of  rhefe  Gentlemen,  depend  upon 
obferving  the  Word  of  Command  ;  and  it  is 
but  natural  they  fhould  fi'pport  Power  in  which 
they  are  Sharers.  You  muft  not  therefore  ex- 
peel:  that  they  will  ever  concur  in  a  Vote,  or 
an  Addrefs,  to  disband  or  reduce  themfelves ;, 

however 


LETTERS.   287 

however  defirable  or  neceflary  the  fame  may 
be  to  you.  Thofe  of  them  who  deferve  well 
of  you,  as  very  many  of  the  prefent  Officers, 
do,  are  doubtlefs  entitled  to  Thanks  and  good 
Ufage  from  you  •>  but  to  (hew  them  Refpecl: 
by  giving  them  Seats  in  Parliament,  is  by  no 
means  a  proper,  prudent,  or  natural  Way  of 
doing  it.  Befides,  it  will  create  a  great  and 
unjuft  Partiality  to  particular  Boroughs,  and 
fbme  (hall  be  burdened  with  Soldiers,  when 
others  (hall  be  free  from  them  ;  juft  at  the 
Mercy  and  Expectations  of  the  commanding 
Officer. 

It  is  indeed  a  Misfortune  to  the  Army  it  felf, 
to  have  any  of  its  Officers  Members  of  the 
Houfe  of  Commons,  fince  the  greateft  Merk 
in  the  Field  (hall  not  recommend  a  Man  fb 
much  to  juft  Preferment,  as  the  want  of  Merit 
fometimes  (hall  in  that  Houfe.  A  Complaint, 
however,  which  I  hope  there  is  no  Ground  for 
at  prefent. 

Chufe  not,  Gentlemen,  any  fort  of  Men* 
whofe  Intereft  may  at  any  Time,  and  in  any 
Circum fiance,  confift  in  Confuiion.  Neither 
are  Men  in  Employments  the  propereft  Men 
for  your  Choice.  If  ever  your  Intereft  comes 
in  Competition  with  their  Places,  you  may 
eafily  guefs  which  muft  give  Way  ;  I  think 
there  are  but  few  Inftances  where  they  them- 
felves  fuffer  and  fall  in  that  Struggle.  Under 
this  Head,  I  would  defire  you,  Gentlemen,  to 
obferve  the  Behaviour  of  the  Officers  of  the 
Cuftoms  and  Excife,  upon  the  enfuing  Eledi- 
ons ;  and  remember  that  they  forfeit  one  hun- 
dred Pounds,  if  they  perfiiade  or  deal  with  any 

Per- 


i88     Giro's   LETTERS. 

Perfon,  to  vote  or  to  forbear  voting,  and  are 
made  for  ever  incapable  of  holding  any  Em- 
ployment under  the  Crown.  If  you  find  them 
bufy  and  intermeddling  in  this  Ele6Hon,  take 
the  Advantage  the  Law  gives  you,  and  fee  it 
hoheftly  put  in  Execution  aga'nft  them  :  Be- 
(ides,  flich  ConduiSfe  of  theirs,  and  Profecutiort 
of  yours,  may  give  Occafion  to  a  new  Law, 
with  more  terrible  Penalties  upon  that  fort  of 
Men,  whom  our  Misfortunes  have  made  nu^ 
merous, 

For  a  Conclufion.  Confider,  Gentlemen,  Oh  f 
confider  what  you  are  about,  and  whether  you 
will  bring  Life  or  Death  upon  us.  Oh  !  take 
Care  of  your  felves,  and  of  us  All :  We  are 
all  in  your  Hands,  and  fb  at  prelent  are  your 
JR.eprefentativ*s  ;  but  very  quickly  the  Scene 
will  be  (Tufted,  and  both  you  and  we  will  be  in 
theirs.  Do  not  judge  of  them  by  their  prefent 
humble  :>eeches  and  condescending  Carriage; 
but  think  what  they  are  like  to  be  when  they 
are  n.  longer  under  your  Eye,  when  they  are 
no  Imger  fuing  to  you,  nor  want  you.  Thefe 
humble  Creatures,  who  now  bow  down  before 
you,  will  fbon  look  down  upon  you- — Oh  !. 
Chufe  fuch  as  are  likely  to  do  it  with  moft  Pity 
and  Tendernefs,  and  are  moft  likely  to  relieve 
you  of  thofe  Burdens  under  which  we  all  fad- 
ly  groan,  and  under  which  we  mult  certainly 
fink  never  to  rife  again.,  if  we  are  not  relieved. 

I  am,  Gentlemen,  with  exceeding  Sincerity, 
and  all  good  Wifhes, 

Your  m.ft  affeftionate  humble  Servant ; 

S  JK, 


'S  LETTERS,     i 


s  i 

1N  the  firft  Rife  and  Beginning  of  States,  a 
rough  and  unhewn  Virtue,  a  rude  and  favage 
Fiercenefs,  and  an  unpolifhed  Paffion  for  Li- 
berty, are  the  Qualities  chiefly  in  Repute  :  To 
thefe  fucceed  military  Accomplifhments,  do- 
meftick  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  fuch  political 
Knowledge  and  Acquirements,  as  are  neceffary 
to  make  States  great  and  formidable  Abroad^ 
and  to  preferve  Equality  and  domeflick  Hap- 
pmels  and  Security  at  Home  ;  and  laftly,  when 
thefe  are  attained,  follow  Politenefs,  fpeculative 
Knowledge,  moral  and  experimental  Philofb- 
phy,  with  other  Branches  of  Learning,  and  the 
whole  Train  of  the  Mufes. 

The  Romans  were  long  Mafters  of  the  Arts  of 
War  and  Policy,  before  they  knew  much  of  the 
Embelliftiments  of  Letters. 

Sertis  emm  Gratis  admcvit  ttcumina  Ch/irtis, 
Et,  poft  Punica  "Bella,  quietus  quaere  cepit, 
Quid  Sophocles  &  Tbefpis,  &A<fchilus  lit  liefer  rent. 

Thefe  wye  the  Effects  of  Eafe,  Leifure,  Se- 
curity, and  Plenty,  and  the  Productions  of  Men 
retired  from  the  Hurry  and  Anxieties  of  War, 
and  fequeftered  from  the  Tumults  of  the  World ; 
of  Men  not  ruffled  by  Difappointment,  nor 
feared  with  the  Noife  of  foreign  Invafions,  or 
diilurbed  with  civil  Tumults ;  and  of  Men  not 

diftreffed 


190   C^rO's  LETTERS. 

diftrefled  by  Want,  or  wholly  employed  with 
the  Cares  of  Life,  and  folicitous  for  a  Support 
to  themfelves  and  Families ; 

. 

—fitter  laudem  nullius  avarls. 

The  Romans  had  fecured  their  Conquefts,  and 
fettled  their  Power,  before  they  grew  fond  of 
the  Ornaments  of  Life. 

Hcwjkould  my  Memmius  have  Time  to  ready 
When  by  his  Anceftors  fanfd  Glory  led 
To  Noble  Deeds,  he  mufl  efpoufi  the  Catife 
Of  his  dear  Country  3  Liberties  and  Laws  ? 
Amongft  rough  Wars  how  can  Verfe  fmoothly  flow] 
Or  midfl  fuch  Storms  the  learned  Laurel  grow? 

L.  Memmius  was  one  of  the  principal  Men  of 
Rome,  and  yet  fo  late  as  the  taking  of  Corinth, 
he  was  fo  ignorant  in  the  polite  Arts,  that  when 
he  was  Shipping  off  the  glorious  Spoils  of  that 
great  City  of  Rome,  he  ridiculoufly  threatned 
the  Matters  of  the  VefTels,  that  if  they  broke 
or  loft  any  of  the  Statues,  Paintings,  or  of  the 
other  curious  Gree^  Monuments,  they  (hould  be 
obliged  to  get  others  made  in  their  Room  at  their 
proper  Expence. 

But  the  Romans  quickly  improved  in  their 
Tafte,  and  quickly  grew  fond  of  Works  of 
Genius  of  every  Kind,  having  now  Leifure  to 
admire  them,  and  Encouragement  to  imitate 
them.  And  the  Greeks,  from  whom  the  Romans 
bad  them,  were  firft  great  in  Power,  and  their 
civil  Oeconomy  was  excellently  eftablifhed, 
before  they  grew  eminent  in  Politenefs  and 
Learning,  gut 


LETTERS.     191 

But  neither  will  the  (ingle  Invitations  of 
Leifiire  and  Eafe,  prove  fufficient  to  engage 
Men  in  the  Purfuits  of  Knowledge  as  far  as  "it 
may  be  purfued.  Other  Motives  muft  be  thrown 
in  ;  they  muft  find  certain  Protection  and  En- 
couragements in  fuch  Purfuits,  and  proper  Re- 
wards at  the  End  of  them.  The  Laurel  is 
often  the  chief  Caufe  of  the  Victory.  The 
Greeks,  who  encouraged  Learning  and  the  Sci- 
ences more,  and  preferved  them  longer,  than 
any  People  ever  did,  kept  {rated,  publick  and 
general  Aflemblies,  on  Purpofe  for  the  Trial 
and  Encouragement  of  Wit  and  Arts,  and  for 
the  diftinguifhing  of  thole  who  profefled  them; 
and  thither  reforted  all  who  had  any  Preten- 
Cons  thatWay,  or  had  engaged  in  Performances 
of  that  Kind  •  and  all  the  mod  illuftrious  Men 
in  Greece,  the  Nobility,  the  Magiftracy,  and 
the  Ambafladors  of  Princes,  and  fbmetimes 
Princes  themfelves,  were  the  Auditors  and 
Judges  :  %  By  thefe  Merit  was  diftinguifhed,  the 
Contention  for  Glory  decided,  and  the  Victory 
declared,  and  by  thefe  the  Rewards  of  it  were 
beftowed.  Thus  glorious  was  the  Price  of 
Excelling,  and  thus  equitable,  publick,  and 
loud  was  the  Fame  of  it.  It  is  therefore  no 
Wonder  that  it  was  courted  by  the  Greeks  with 
as  much  Ardour  and  Application,  as  the  chief 
Dignities  in  a  State  ar«  courted  by  others.  And 
confidering  how  ftrong  were  the  Stimulations  of 
the  Greeks  to  (ludy,  Horace  might  well  fay, 


Gratis  Ingenium,  Graifs  dedit  ore  rotunda 
loqui 


Before 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

Before  this  augufl  Aflembly,  Herodotus  repeated 
his  Hiftory  with  great  Applaufe  ;  which  fb 
animated  Thucydides,  then  very  Young,  that  in 
Emulation  of  Herodotus,  he  writ  a  better  Hifto- 
ry  than  that  of  Herodotus.  Here  Cleomenes  re- 
commended himfelf,  by  only  repeating  fbme 
Verfes  skilfully  collected  out  or  Empedocles  ; 
and  here  Euripides  and  Xenocles  contended  for 
Preference  in  the  Drama. 

Indeed  the  Honours  attending  a  Victory  up- 
on thefe  Occafions  were  exceffive,  and  accord- 
ing to  Cicero  did  almoft  equal  thofe  of  a  L\oman 
Triumph.  The  Victors  were  reckon'd  to  have 
arrived  to  the  higheft  humane  Felicity,  and  to 
have  entailed  Glory  upon  all  that  belonged  to 
them  ;  upon  their  Families,  Friends,  their  Na- 
tive City,  and  the  Place  of  their  Education.' 
Elogiums  were  made  upon  them,  Statues  were 
creeled  to  them,  and  ever  after  they  met  every 
where  the  fame  Preference  which  they  had 
met  at  the  O'ymflcl^  Aflemblies. >A  Prefer- 
ence which  fb  fired  the  Emperor  Nero,  that, 
when  he  had  ridiculoufly  flood  Competitor  at 
a  finging  Match,  and  taken  a  Journey  to  Greece 
on  Purpofe,  he  firir.  declared  himfelf  Viclor  ; 
and  then  to  deftroy  all  Marks  and  Memory  of 
thofe  who  had  been  Ib  before  him,  he  com- 
manded all  their  Pictures  and  Statues  to  be 
pulled  down,  and  thrown  into  the  Privies. 

The  Romans ^  as  fbon  as  they  had  Leifure 
from  their  long  and  many  Wars,  fell  quickly 
into  the  fame  Studies,  and  into  the  fame  Emu- 
lation to  excel  in  them.  They  no  fboner  had 
any  Acquaintance  with  Greece,  but  they  were 
poflefled  with  a  Fondnefs  for  all  her  Refine- 
ments. 


LETTERS.     193 


Gr<ecta  capta  fertim  vi&orem  cetit,  &  arfes 

Intiilit  arei  Latio  • 


The  fierce  Romans  fubdued  Greece  by  thei? 
Arms  ;  and  Greece  made  ruftick  Italy  a  Captive 
to  her  Arts.  All  the  Youth  of  J(cme  were 
charmed  with  the  Beauties  of  Learning,  and 
eager  to  poiTefs  them  ;  and  many  of  the  Sena- 
tors were  caught  by  the  fame  PafHons  ;  and 
even  the  elder  Cato9  who  was  at  firft  againft 
thefe  Improvements,  which  he  fear'd  would 
foften  too  much  the  rough  tyman  Genius,  yet 
changed  his  Opinion  fo  far  afterwards,  as  to 
learn  Greek^  in  his  old  Age. 

This  prodigious  Progrefs    of  the  Remans  in 
Learning,  had  no  other  Caufe  than  the  Free- 
dom and  Equality  of  their  Government.     The 
Spirit  of  the  People,  like  that   of  their  State, 
breathed  nothing  but  Liberty,  which  no  Power 
fought  to  controul,  or   could  controul:    The 
Improvement  of  Knowledge,  by   bringing  no 
Terror  to  the  Magistrates,  brought  no  Danger 
to  the  People.     Nothing  is  too  hard  for  Liber- 
ty; and  that  Liberty  which  made  the  Greeks  , 
and  remain  MaPters  of  the  World,  made  them 
Matters  of  all   the  Learning  in  it  :  And  when 
their  Liberties  perimed,  fb  did  their  Learning, 
That  Eloquence,  and  thofe  other  Abilities  and 
Acquifitions,  which  raifed  thofe  who  had  them 
to  the  higheft  Dignities  in  a  free  State,  became 
under  Tyranny  a  certain  Train  to  Ruin,  un- 
lefs  they  were  proftituted  to  the  Service  of  the 
Tyrant. 


VOL,  II.  I  That 


194    Giro's  LETTERS. 

That  Knowledge,  and  thofe  Accomplifli- 
menrs,  wivch  create  Jealoufy  inftead  of  Ap- 
plaufc,  and  Danger  inftead  of  Reward,  _will  be 
but  rarely  and  faintly  purfued ,  and  for  the 
moft  part  not  at  all.  No  Man  will  take  great 
Pains,  fpend  his  Youth  and  loofe  his  Pleafures, 
to  purchafe  Infamy  or  Punifhment :  And  there- 
fore when  fuch  Obilacles  are  thrown  in  his 
Way,  he  will  take  Counfel  of  Self-love,  and 
acquiefce  in  the  fafhionable  Stupidity,  and  pre- 
fer gilded  and  thriving  Folly  to  dangerous  and 
forbidden  Wifdom. 

Ignorance  accompanies  Slavery,  and  is  intro- 
duced by  it.  People  who  live  in  Freedom  will 
think  with  Freedom  ;  but  when  the  Mind  is 
enflaved  by  Fear,  and  the  Body  by  Chains, 
Inquiry  and  Study  will  be  at  an  End.  Men 
will  not  purfue  dangerous  Knowledge,  nor 
venture  their  Heads  to^  improve  their  Under* 
(landings.  Befides,  their  Spirits,  dcje6red  with 
Servitude  and  Poverty,  will  want  Vigour  as 
well  as  Leifure  to  cultivate  Arts,  and  propagate.- 
Truth,  which  is  ever  High-Treafon  againft 
Tyranny.  Neither  the  Titles  nor  the  Deeds  of 
Tyrants  will  bear  Examination  ;  and  their 
Power  is  concerned  to  ftupify  and  deftroy  the 
very  Faculties  of  Reafbn  and  Thinking  :  Nor 
can  Rea(bn  travel  far,  when  Force  and  Dread 
are  in  the  Way  ;  and  when  Men  dare  not  fee, 
their  Eyes  will  (bon  grow  ufelefs. 

In  TV- ^y,  Printing  is  forbid,  left  by  its  Means 
common  Senfe  might  get  the  better  of  Violence, 
and  be  too  hard  for  the  Imperial  Butcher.  It  is 
even  Capital,  and  certain  Death  there,  but  to 
reafbn  freely  upon  their  Alcortn — A  fure  Sign 

of 


LETTERS.     195- 

of  Impofture !  But  by  Impofture,  Stupidity, 
and  Janizaries,  his  Throne  is  fupported  ;  and 
his  vaft,  but  thin  Dominions,  know  no  Inhabi- 
tants but  barbarous,  ignorant,  and  miferable 
Slaves. 

Nor  is  Printing  in  other  Arbitrary  Countries 
of  much  ufe  but  to  rivet  their  Chains:  It  is  per- 
mitted only  on  one  Side,  and  made  the  further 
Means  of  Servitude.  Even  inChri ft ian  Coun- 
tries, under  Arbitrary  Princes,  the  People  are 
for  the  moft  part  as  ignorant  and  implacable 
Bigots  as  the  Turl(s  are.  And  as  it  is  rare  to 
find  a  Slave  who  is  not  a  Bigot,  no  Man  can 
fhew  me  a  Bigot  who  is  not  an  ignorant  Slave  ; 
for  Bigotry  is  a  Slavery  of  the  Soul  to  certain 
religious  Opinions,  Fancies,  or  Stones,  of  which 
the  Bigot  knows  little  or  nothing,  and  damns 
ail  that  do. 

The  ieaft  Cramp  or  Reftraint  upon  Reafon- 
ing  and  Inquiry  of  any  Kind,  will  prove  fbon  a 
mighty  Bar  in  the  Way  to  Learning.  It  is  very 
true,  that  all  forts  of  Knowledge,  at  lead  all 
forts  of  fublime  and  important  Knowledge,  are 
(b  complicated  and  interwoven  together,  that  it 
is  impoiiible  to  learch  into  any  Part  of  it,  and 
to  trace  the  fame  with  Freedom  to  its  fir  ft  Prin- 
ciples, without  borrowing  and  taking  in  the 
Help  of  moft,  if  not  all  of  the  other  Parts. 
Religion  and  Government,  particularly,  are  ac 
the  Beginning  and  End  of  every  Thing,  and 
are  the  Sciences  in  the  World  the  moft  necefTary 
and  important  to  be  known ;  and  as  thefe  are 
more  or  lefs  known,  other  Knowledge  will  be 
proportionably  greater  or  fmaller,  or  none  : 
But  where  thefe  cannot  be  freely  examined,  and 

I  %  their 


LETTERS. 

their  Excellencies  fearched  into  and  under- 
ilood,  all  other  Wifctom  will  be  maimed 
and  ineffectual,  and  indeed  Icarce  worth  ha- 
ving. 

Now,  in  all  Arbitrary  Governments,  and 
under  all  created  and  impofmg  Religions,  no- 
thing muft  be  found  true  in  Philofoplvy,  which 
thwarts  the  received  Scheme,  and  the  upper- 
mod  Opinions  :  The  molt  evident  mathemati- 
cal Demonftrations  muft  not  difprove  orthcdox 
Dogma's  and  eftablifhed  Ideas  ;  the  fineft  poeti- 
cal Flights  muft  be  reftrained  and  difcouraged, 
when  they  would  fly  over  the  narrow  Enclofures 
and  Prifon  Walls  of  Bigots  :  Nor  muft  the  beft, 
the  ftrongelt,  and  the  moft  beautiful  Reafbning 
dare  to  break  through  popular  Prejudices,  or 
attempt  to  contend  with  powerful  and  lucrative 
Usurpation,  A  Bifhop  was  burned  before  the 
Reformation,  for  difcovering  the  World  to  be 
round  •>  and  even  in  the  laft  Century,  the  ex- 
cellent Galilei  was  put  into  the  difmal  Prifon 
of  the  Jnquifition,  for  maintaining  the  Mo- 
tion of  the  Earth  round  the  Sun,  as  her  Cen- 
ter, which  ftood  ftiil.  This  Proportion  of 
his,  which  he  had  demon ftrated,  he  wss  forced 
to  recant,  to  fave  his  Life,  and  fatisfy  the 
Church. 

Where  Religion  and  Government  are  moft 
deformed,  as  Religion  ever  is  where  'tis  fup- 
ported  by  Craft  and  Force,  and  Government 
ever  is  when  3tis  maintained  by  Whips  and 
Chains;  there  all  Examination  into  either,  and 
ail  Reafbning  about  them,  is  moft  ft r idly  for- 
bid and  difcouraged  :  And  as  one  fort  of  In- 
quiry and  Knowledge  begets  another ;  and  as, 

when 


LETTERS.    197 

when  the  Wits  of  Men  are  fuffered  to  exert 
them  (elves  freely,  no  body  knows  where  their 
Purfuits  m;iv  end  ;  (o  no  Tyranny  of  any  kind 
is  fafe  where  general,  impartial,  and  ufcFal 
Knowledge  is  purfued.  Inhumane  Violence 
and  it i, pid  Ignorance,  are  the  certain  andneccfc 
fary  Stay  of  Tyrants ;  and  every  Thing  that 
is  good  or  valuable  in  the  World  is  againft 
them. 

In  the  Efifl  (if  we  except  China)  there  is  not 
a  Glimmering  of  Knowledge,   iho'  the  Eairera 
People    are,   from  their  natural   Climate   and 
Genius,  vaffly  capable  of  all  Knowledge.     Tu- 
vemicr^  mentioning  the  Cruelty  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  the  great  Mifery  of  the  People  there.r. 
fays,        From  the  fame  Caufe  a  grofs  and  .pro- 
found Ignorance  reigns  in  thoie  Stales.    Nor 
is  ir  poiiible  there  Pnould  be  Academies  and 
Colleges  well  founded  in  them.     Where  are 
'  fuch  Founders  to  be  met  with  ?  And  if  they 
were,   where  are  the  Scholars   to   be    had? 
Where  are  thole  who  have  Means  fufricienj 
to  maintain  the'r  Children  in  Colleges  ?  And 
if  there  were,  who  durft  appear  to  be  rich  ? 
And  if  they  would,  where  are  thofe  Benefice.v 
Preferments,    and   Dignities,  which   require 
Knowledge  and  Abilities,  and  animate  young. 
"  Men  to  Study  ? 

I  will  not  deny,  but  that  in  Arbitrary 
Countries  there  are  fbmetimes  found  Men  of 
great  Parts  and  Learning.  But  thefe  are  either 
Ecclehafticks,  who  even  in  the  greateft  Tyran- 
nies, at  lead  in  Eurcpe^  are  blefd'd  with  great  Li- 
berry,  and  many  Independent  Privileges,  and  are 
Freemen  in  the  midilof  Slaves,  and  have  fuit- 


i?8     C^70's  LETTERS. 

able  Leifure  and  Revenues  to  fupport  them  in 
their  Studies ;  or  they  are  Men  invited  and 
encouraged  by  the  Prince  to  flatter  his  Pride, 
and  adminifter  to  his  Pomp  and  Pleafures,  and 
jo  recommend  his  Perfbn  and  Power.  For 
thefe  Reafons  alone  they  are  careffed,  protected, 
and  rewarded.  They  are  endowed  with  the 
Advantages  of  Freemen,  merely  to  be  the  In- 
ftruments  of  Servitude.  They  are  a  fort  of 
Src//},  hired  to  be  the  Guards  of  their  proud 
Matter's  Fame,  and  to  applaud  and  vindicate 
all  his  Wickednefs,  Wildnefs,  Ufurpations, 
Prodigalities  and  Follies.  This  therefore  is  the 
word  of  all  Proftitutions,  and  the  molt  immoral 
of  all  fort  of  Slavery  j  as  it  is  fupporting  Ser- 
vitude with  the  Breath  of  Liberty,  and  afTault- 
ing  and  mangling  Liberty  with  her  own  Wea- 
pons. A  Creature  that  lets  out  his  Genius  to 
hire,  may  fometimes  have  a  very  good  one  ; 
but  he  muft  have  a  vile  and  beggarly  Soul,  and 
his  Performances  are  at  beft  but  the  bafeft  Way 
of  petitioning  for  Alms. 

France  could  boaft  many  Men  of  Wit  and 
Letters  in  the  late  Reign,  trio'  it  was  a  very 
fqvere  one,  and  brought  infinite  Evils  upon  ail 
France  and  Europe.  But  thele  great  Wits  were 
many  of  them  the  Inftruments  and  Parafites  of 
Power,  who  bent  the  whole  Force  of  their 
Genius  to  fandlify  domeftick  Oppreflicn  and 
foreign  llfurpation  :  Such  were  the  Chara£ters 
and  Employment  of  Peliffon,  Botleau*  /^rcmr, 
and  feveral  others.  France  faw  at  the  fame 
Time  feveral  Churchmen  of  great  and  exalted 
Talents,  fuch  as  the  late  Archbifhop  of  Cam- 


>  LETTERS.     199 

'bray,  the  Cardinal  dc  Ket$,  Claude  Joh,  *  the 
prefent  Abbot  Vertot,  and  many  more  excellent 
Men,  all  Lovers  of  Liberty,  which  by  being 
Churchmen,  they  poflefs'd. 

But  tho7  it  be  true  that  the 'late  French  King 
encouraged  all  forts  of  Learning,  that  contri- 
buted to  the  Grandeur  of  his  Name  and  Court, 
and  did  not  contradict  his  Power,  and  courted 
great  Writers  all  over  Europe,  either  to  write 
for  him,  or  not  againft  him  ;  yet  the  Nature 
of  his  Government  was  fo  conftant  a  Damp 
upon  general  Learning,  that  it  was  at  lait 
brought  to  a  very  low  Pafs  in  that  Kingdom, 
even  in  his  Time.  Monfieur  Des  Mai^eaux 
tells  us,  in  his  Dedication  of  St.  Esmond's 
Works  to  the  late  Lord  Halifax,  That  the 
great  Genius's  of  France  were,  about  the  Time  I 
fpeak  of,  fo  cor.ftrained,  *  either  to  have  forbore 
writing  at  all,  or  to  have  exprejfed  what  they  thought 
by  halves  ;  That  la  Bruyere  complains,  that  the 
French  are  cramped  in  Satire  ;  That  Regis,  the 
famous  Pbilofipber,  /elicited  Ten  Tears  for  a  Li- 
cence to  fMjfh  his  Cottrfe  of  Philofophy,  and  at 
lafl  obtained  it  only  on  this  Condition,  to  retrench 
whatever  difpleafed  the  Cenfors ;  That  Monfieur 
de  Fontenelle  bath  been  obliged  to  depart  from  the 
Freedom  which  he  ufed  in  the  frfi  Works  be  fub- 

*  Caude  Toly,  Canon  of  Noftsc  Dame,  Paris,  bath 
ivblittud  t'tfettije,  intituled,  Rccueil  dc  Maximcs  vcrita- 
blcs  6c  imporrantcs  p->vw  rinftitutiou  du  Roy,  contrc  la 
fauffe  Politique  du  Cardinal  Maaarin  }  wherein  he  Jbems, 

.1      „.  .r-  rr-          •.  /• ;»^J    IM  *l*at  /if   thftr    tLiiAtti 


aoo    C  A  T  O's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S. 

tifhed ;  That  but  few  of  the  prefent  French  Au- 
thors diftinguifh  themfehcs  either  by  their  Learning 
or  Wit  j  and  that  all  this  is  to  be  attributed  to 
the  Nature  of  the  Government  j  which  is  unque- 
ftionably  true. 

What  Mr.  Dss  Mai^eaux  fays  upon  this  Ar- 
gument, is  fb  judicious  and  juft,  that  I  fhall 
borrow  another  Paragraph  from  the  fame  De- 
dication.    "  Liberty,  fays  he,  infpires  a  noble 
and    elevated   Confidence,    which  naturally 
enlarges  the  Mind,  and  gives  it  an  Emula- 
tion to  trace  out  new  Roads  towards  attain- 
ing the  Sciences  ;  whereas  a  fervile  Depend- 
ence terrifies  the  Soul,  and  fills  the  Mind 
with  a  timorous  CircumfpecHon,  that  ren- 
ders it   mean  and  groveling,   and  even  de- 
bars  the   life  of  its  moft   refined    Natural 

"  Talents Greece  and  Italy  never  had  il- 

"  luftrious  Writers,  but  whilft   they  preferved 
their  Liberty.     The  Lofs  of  that  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  Decay  of  Wit,  and  the  Ruin 
of   polite  .Learning.     Greece,    formerly   the 
4<  Seat  of  the  Mufes,   is  now  involved   in   a 
frightful  Barbarity,  under  the  Slavery  of  the 
Ottoman  Empire  ;  and  Italy,  which  under  the 
Influence  of  a  Senate,     was  fb   fruitful  in 
great  and  learned  Men,  now  fubjecl  to  the 
Tribunal    of    the   Infufftton^    produces    no 
*•'  considerable  Works  of  Erudition  or  Polite- 
"  nefs. 

All  the  great  Genius's  who  lived  in  the  Days 
of  du*uftus,  were  born  and  educated  in  the 
Days  of  Liberty  ;  and  he  borrowed  from  the 
Commonwealth  all  the  Ornaments  of  his  Court 
and  Empire.  In  fpight  of  all  his  boafled  Tafte 

of 


(C 


(C 


i. 

ti 


LETTERS-  soar 

ef  Letters,  and  the  Encouragement  he  gave; 
them  I  do  not  remember  one  extraordinary 
Genius  bred  under  his  Influence  :  On  the  con- 
trary, ail  that  were  fo,  died  in  his  Time,  with- 
out leaving  any  Succeftbrs.  Qgidquid  ^manv 
facundia  babet  quod  infolenti  Gr^cia;  attt  offottar 
tut  prtfcrat,  circa  Ciceronem  efflorititr.  Omm* 
wgeniA  qua  lucem  fiudiis  wflrls  attulerunt  tune 
*ata  Cunt.  In  deter lus  deinde  quotidic  data  res 
til,  fays-  Seneca  the  Father.  "  Every  Improve- 
"  raent  in  the  tymtn  Eloquence,  which  eithe: 
"  ecuals-  or  excells  that  of  Greece,  fiourdhed 
"  in-  the  Time  of  Cicero  ;  and  all  the  great: 
"  Wits,  that  now  animate  and  direct  our  btu- 
<c  dies,  were  then  born.  But  ever  fmce  then,. 
"  Wit  daily  decays,  and  grows  lower  and 

"  lower.  r 

This  Decay  began  in  the  Time  of  Aug^m? 
who  began  his  Reign  with  butchering  Cicero* 
his  Patron,  his  Father,   and   his  Friend,  ancE 
tlv  Prodigv  of  Roman  Eloquence  and  Learning; 
and  that  Decay  encreafed  fo  fail,  that   from 
the  firft  toman  Emperor  to  the  lalf,  tor   the 
Space  of  about  Five  Hundred  Years,  the  great 
City  of  Home  did   net   produce  five  great  Oe- 
n'fjs's;  and  rhofe  that  it  did  produce,  were  pro- 
duced near  the  Times  of  Liberty,  when  they 
were  yet  warmed  with  its  Memory,  and  be- 
fore the  Tyrants  had  yet  Time  utterly  to  abo- 
lifh  all  that,  was  good,  though  they  made  inh- 
nlte  Hade,    Tacitus  was  their  lalt  great  Hiito» 
rian,  and  Juvenal  their  laft   great  Poet,  bom 
paflionate  Adorers  of   Liberty,     it  w   melan- 
cholly  what  the  former  lays  upon  this  bubjec-n 
Poll  Itellatum.aPud  Adium,  *:qus  omnem 

J'  I 


^o^     CA  T &$  LETTERS. 

tern  ad  itmim  conferrc  pads  interfuit,  magnt  i 
ingenia  cefftre.     The  Romans  had  no  longer  any 
great  Genius's  than  while  they  were  free. 

The  Greeks  preferved  Learning  fbme  Time 
after  the  Romans  had  loft  it ;  for  tho'  they 
were  conquered  by  the  Romans,  yet  many  of 
the ^Gree^ Cities  were  fuffered  to  enjoy  their 
ancient  Liberties  and  Laws,  and  they  paid  on- 
ly  an  eafy  Homage,  and  no  Troops  were  quar- 
tered among  them,  as  in  the  other  Provinces. 
However,  as  they  were  at  the  Mercy  of  Fo- 
reign Mailers,  the  Vigour  of  their  Spirit  was 
gone,  and  they  produced  but  few  good  Au- 
thors ;  Dion  and  Plutarch  are  the  chief.  It  is 
the  pbfervation  of  the  learned,  polite,  and  in- 
genious Author  of  the  ^flexions  Critiques  fur  la 
1'otfie  &  fur  In  Peintwe,  That  Greece  had  more 
great  Men  of  all  Kinds  in  the  Age  of  Plato 
alone,  when  its  Liberties  flourished,  than  in  all 
the  many  Ages  between  Pe>feus,  the  laft  King 
of  Mncedon^  and  the  taking  of  Conflantinoplc  by 
the  Tartly  amounting  to  Seventeen  Hundred 
Years. 

The  feveral  Attempts  made  by  Vefpajian,  Ti- 
tus, and  Trajan,  to  reftore  Learning,  proved 
almoft  vain.  The  Mufes,  who,  frightened  by 
Tyranny,  were  now  tied  out  of  the  World, 
could  not  be  allured  back  to  tyme,  where 
Bafenefs,  Terror?,  and  Servitude  had  long 
reigned,  and  where  their  Seats  were  filled  by 
pedanrkk  Praters,  and  by  babbling  and  hypo- 
critical Philofophers  .-  For,  the  Itch  and  Name 
of  Learning  dill  fubfifted  ,  and  therefore  Seneca 
fays,  ut  omnium  rerum^  fa  literal  urn  qucque  inr 
temper Ahtia  laboramus. 

The 


LETTERS.     10  j 

The  Root  of  the  Evil  remained,  and  the 
Empire  of  mere  Will  had  ufurped  the  Th^ne 
of  the  Laws,  and;  the  Place  of  Learning.    1  he 
Genius,  that  bold  and  glorious  Genius,  inlpir 
by  Liberty,  was  gone  ;  and  the  1  ryal   t»  re* 
flore  Learning  without  reftormg  L^erty,  ofl^ 
ferved  to  ftew  that  they  who  would  do  trooci 
to  a  Community,  which  is  ill  confuted  or 
corrupted,  muft  either  begin  with  the  y°yern' 
menr,  and  alter  or  reform  that,  or  defpair  of 
Succefs,    Alt  that  the  beft  ^nnn  Emperors 
could  at  laft  do,  was,  not  to  butcher  nor  op- 
prefs  their  People  ;  which  yet  they  could  ncl 
reftrain  therr  Minifters  from  doing.     *?»#*** 
blackened  the  Reign  of  Kfp«fi«*  by  to  PiWe, 
Infolence,  and  Cruelties ;    and   the   Mmifters 
of  Nffnw,  under  Colour  of  pumlhing  the 
formers,    a  Crew  of  Rogues  licenfed  and  en- 
couraged by  the  former  Emperors,  to  enlnare 
and  deftroy  their  dreadful  Foes,  the  Innocent 
and  Virtuous,  made  life  of  that  good  Prince  s 
Authority  and  his  Hatred  of  thefe  Vermin,  to 
banifh,  plunder,  kill,   and   ruin  many  ot  th 
beft  Men  in  Rome. 

The  Government,  the  arbitrary  hngie  Oo- 
vernment,  had  long  difcouraged  and  baniihed 
every  Thing  that  was  good,  and  with  the 
Learning  irretrievably. 


C  A  T  O's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S. 


THE  Advocates  for  Abfolute  Monarchy 
argue  as  ignorantly  as  perverfely,  and- 
build  without  a  Foundation  ;  fince,  while  they 
contend  for  unlimited  Submiilion  to  the  Mo- 
narch's Will,  they  muft  either  fuppofe,  that- 
all  A6rs  of  Power  proceed  from  his  Will,  or 
cife  that  the  Will  of  his  Minifters  is  alfb  un- 
limited, and  their  Orders  are  irrefiftible  :  So 
that  either  all  his  Servants,  Inftruments,  and 
Executioners,  are  Abfolute  Monarchs  too  ; 
which  none  but  a  Madman  will  fay :  Or  that 
he  himfelf  does  immediately  direct  every  thing 
that  is  done  ;  which  no  Man  of  common  Senfe 
will  affirm.  Indeed  fuch  Princes  have  the  lea/1: 
Share  of  their  own  Power,  and  feldom  know 
what  is  done,  or  care. 

Monfieur  Tbevcnct  tells  us,  rhat  the  Grand 
Seignior  minds  nothing  but  his  Pleafures,  the 
Pranks  of  Mutes  and  Buffoons,  who  are  his 
conflant  Attendants,  and  always  ftudying  new 
Freaks  and  Grimaces  to  divert  him  ;  and  the 
Dalliances  of  Women,  fent  to  him  from  alt 
Quarters  by  his  Bq/haws,  His  Power  is  abfo- 
iutely  defpotick  :  His  Will,  that  is  to  fay,  his 
Lufr,  his  Maggots,  or  his  Rage,  is  his  only 
Law,  and  the  only  Bounds  to  the  Authority 
of  this  Vicegerent  of  God.  By  Virtue  of  this 
facred  Power,  he  may  rob  any  Man,  or  all 
Men,  of  rheir  Ellares,  and  no  Man  has  a 
Right  to  complain  :  He  may  put  the  bed  Men 
to  the  moil  ignominious  and  barbarous  Death, 

and 


LETTERS.    105 

and  exalt  the  vileft  Criminals  to  the  higheft 
Dignities  ;  and  no  Man  muft  ask  why.  This 
unlimited  Power  of  the  Sultan,  fays  Monfieur 
Thevenot,  is  founded  on  the  Mahometan  Religion, 
which  enjoins  a  blind  Sitbmiffwn  to  nil  his  Com- 
vnfinds,  on  -pain  of  Damnation. 

A  bleffed  and  beneficent  Religion  this,  and 
a  (ingle  Sovereignty  with  a  Witnefs !  But  this 
raonftrous^and  formidable  Power,  which  is  held 
by  him,  is  directed  by  his  Minifters  without 
him,    They  employ  both  him  and  rhemfelv-es  ; 
him  far  from  his  Duty   in  unmanly  Pleasures, 
and  jhemfelves-in  the  Mismanagement  of  his 
Affairs,  and  in  proftituting  his  Name  and  Au- 
thority, to  ferve  their  own  Views      He  wears 
the  Crown,  and  lives  in  a  Brothel  ;  and  they 
fway  the  Scepter,  fuck  the  Peoples  Blood,  and 
fill  their  own  Coffers.     The  Grand  Vifier    or 
Firft    Minifter,    is    in   Effect    King    over    his 
Matter;  he  has  the  Cuftody  of  the  Imperial 
Power,  and  difcharges  the  Office  of  the  Grand 
Seignior  :  And  as  to  the  'Baf^aws^  who  are  like- 
Wife  fo  many  Kings  in  their  Provinces,  Theve- 
not  fays,       They  abufe  their  Authority,  and 
are  more  arbitrary  than  the  Sultan  himfelf 
their  Defign  and  Bufmefs  being  to  raife  fucU 
den  Fortuilfs  by  their  Spoils  and  Oppre-ll'ion. 
And  the  Grand  Seignior  is  forced   to  diffem- 
ble^his  Knowledge  of  this  Rapine  and  Ex- 
orbitancy, for  want   of  Power  to  punifii  or 
redrefs  them  ;  for  that  thefe   Men  have  the 
Soldiers   more   at   their   Devotion  than    he 
has. 

As  to  the  Turkifh  Civil  Officers  and  Judse?, 
he  lays  they  do  what  they  will,  and  judge"  as 

they 


206  CATO's  LETTERS. 

they  pleafe ;  for  all  their  written  Laws  being 
contained  in  the  Alcoran,  which  is  but  a  (hort 
Book,  they  are  fb  arnbiguoufly  exprefled,  and 
fo  loofely  delivered,  that  the  Cadi,  as  well  as 
the  Bfljkwt  wrefts  them  as  he  pleafes  ;  and 
judging  without  Appeal,  both  thefe  greedy  and 
rapacious  Officers  turn  Juftice  into  OppreilioHj 
and  make  it  a  Stale  to  their  Avarice. 

Such  is  the  Spirit  and  Effe&s  of  lawlefs 
Power,  lodg'd  in  one  Man  ;  every  Officer  and 
Creature  of  his  will  have  it ;  and  by  fetting 
up  one  Tyrant,  a  Thoufand  are  fet  up.  As 
this  Power  is  never  to  be  got  or  preferved, 
but  by  Violence  and  OppreiTion  ;  all  Men^ 
who  have  any  Share  in  executing,  and  minf- 
ftring,  and  defending  the  fame,  mud  be  Op- 
preflors  too..  As  no  Man  is  an  Oppreffor  for 
the  meer  Pleafure  and  Security  of  another,  but 
only  for  his  own  Sake  and  Gratification  ;  (o 
all  the  Servants  of  Tyranny  do,  in  their  Ma- 
fter's  Name,  but  rob  and  fpoil  for  themfelves , 
and  every  Servant  is  a  Mafter.  All  over  the* 
Ottoman  Empire,  there  is  a  great  Turl^  in  every 
Town,  and  he  at  Conftantinople  is  perhaps  the- 
idled  and  moft  harmlefs  of  them  all  ;  and  the 
Exercife  of  the  Turl^/Jb  Government,  is  nothing 
elfe  but  a  daily  and  general  Plunder,  and  a 
Contention  between  the  Governors,  who  fhalL 
fpoil  bed  and  get  mod.  Nor,,  let  them  plunder 
and  butcher  as  they  will,  is  there  any  Redrels 
lo  the  opprefled  and  expiring  People  ;  for  tho* 
the  Imperial  Oppreflbr  often  forces  his  minifte* 
rial  Oppreflbrs  to  difgorge,  and  fpoils  the 
Spoiler  of  his  Booty  and  his  Life,  where  he- 
dares  j  yet,  there  being  no  Reftitution  made,. 

the 


C  A  Tffs  LETTERS.    107 

the  Condition  of  the  Opprefled  is  not  mended : 
It  is  Mock-Juftice,  and  worfe  than  none ;  every 
A&  of  Power,  every  Degree  of  Office  there,. 
is  Robbery  and  Violence  ;  and  every  Officer, 
the  leaft  and  loweft,  is  an  irreliftible  Tyrant. 

Single  and  abfolute  Monarchy  therefore,  or 
the  ruling  All  by  the  Will  of  One,  is  Nonfenfe 
and  a  Contradiction  ;  it  is  rather  a  Multipli- 
cation of  Monarchs,  and  in  Fact  the  worft 
fort  of  Oligarchy.  Now  fuppofe  we  were  to 
obey  blindly  the  Will  of  the  Prince  ;  are  we 
alfb  to  obey  blindly  the  Will  of  his  Eunuchs, 
Miftrefles,  and  Janizaries,  who  opprefs  without 
his  Knowledge,  or  againft  his  Will  ?  Sure  the 
Inftruments  and  Delegates  of  Tyranny,  are  not 
alfb  the  Lord's  Anointed.  How  therefore  fhall 
we  know  their  Mind  from  his,  which  perhaps 
contradicts  theirs  ?  Or  how  (hall  we  know  whe- 
ther he  wills  any  Thing  at  all,  and  whether  they 
do  not  will  for  him  ?  This  is  almoft  always  the 
Cafe  ;  and  then  here  is  a  Monarchy  of  Mini- 
fters ;  and  Parafites,Pathicks,  Buffoons,  W7omen^ 
and  Butchers,  rule  for  him,  and  over  him. 

Is  this  Government  too  by  Divine  Right  ? 
If  it  is,  let  us  rail  no  longer  at  Anarchy  ; 
which,  being  the  Abfence  of  all  Government, 
though  it  leaves  every  Man  to  do  what  he 
lifts,  yet  It  likewife  leaves  every  Man  a  Right 
to  defend  himfelf :  Befides,  this  fort  of  Anar- 
chy, where  every  One  is  absolutely  free,  will 
quickly  fettle  into  Order,  and  indeed  cannot 
fubfift  long.  But  (ingle  Monarchy,  which  is 
a  long  Gradation  of  Tyrants,  where  Many  on 
one  Side  do  what  they  will  againft  the  Mofl 
on  the  other  Side,  and  where  Cruelty  and  Luft 

revel 


ao8   Giro's  LETTERS, 

revel  without  Controul  ;  where  wanton  and 
inhumane  Power  has  no  Limits,  and  heavy 
and  forrowful  Oppreifion  no  Remedy  nor  End  ; 
where  the  Innocent  and  Harmlefs  fuffer  rnoft*. 
and  the  Word  and  Vileft  thrive  beft,  and 
where  none  are  fecure  ;  where  WJckednefs 

^^  j 

fuppprts  Power,  and  Property  is*  the  Spoil  of 
Armies  :  I  fay,  this  Abfolute  Monarchy  is 
"worfe  than  Abfolute  Anarchy,  by  not  being  fo 
general  It  is  a  partial  Anarchy,  with  worfe 
Effects  and  no  Remedy. 

All  this  does  flill  further  prove,  that  Men 
and  Societies  have  no  poliible  humane  Security 
but  certain  and  exprefs  Laws,  fetting  expreis: 
Bounds  to  the  Power  of  their  Magiftrates,  a£ 
certaining  the   Meafure  of  Power  as   well  as 
Subjection,   and  retraining  alike  the  Exorbi- 
tances of  both  Prince  and  People,     It  is  eter- 
nally true,  that  fuch  as  is  the  Nature  of  the 
Government,  fuch  will 'be  the  Nature  of  the 
People  ;  and  that  as  they  are  hnppy  or  mife- 
rable,  fb  they  will   be  good  or  bad,  as   their- 
Government  and  Governors  are  good  or  bad,;, 
end  that  their  whole  Integrity  and  Virtue,  or 
all   their  Corruption  and  Bafenefs,  does  arife 
from  that  fingle  Source. 

"  Princes,  fays  Macbiavel,  do,  but  with  little 
Reafon  and>an  ill  Grare,  complain  of  the 
Tranfgrefiions  and  Faults  of  their  Subjects  ; 
'  fmce  by  the  Negligence  and  debauched  Ex- 
ample of  their  Prince  alone,  the  People  are 
and  rnuft  be  debauched  :  And  if  the  People 
of  cur  Times  are  infamous  for  Thefts,  and 
Robberies,    and   Plunderings,    and   preying 
'4  upon  one  another,  and  the  like  Enormities  ; 


" 


C  A  T  O's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S.   209 

"  it  is  all  owing  to  the  Exorbitances  and  Ra- 
"  pacioufhefs  of  their  Governors.  --  ^mania 
"  was  a  Place  full  of  all  DifTolutenefs  and  Ini- 
"  quity,  every  Day  and  every  trivial  Occafion 
"  producing  notorious  Murders  and  Rapines  : 
"  Which  Evils  were  not  derived  fb  much  from 
any  Depravity  in  the  Nature  of  the  People 
(as  fome  would  falfely  fuggeft)  as  from  the 
"  vile  Corruption  of  their  Princes  :  For  being 
"  poor  themfelves,  and  yet  ambitious  to  live 
"  in  Splendor,  Luxury,  and  Magnificence,  (tie 
"  true  Caufes  cf  their  Poverty  !)  they  were  forced 
"  upon  execrable  Courfes  for  Money,  and  i-n- 
"  deed  refilled  none  that  could  fupply  them. 

"  To  pals  by  their  many  other  fpunging 

"  Proje6ts  ;    one  of  their  deteilable  Schemes 

"  was   to  make  Laws  againft  fuch  and  fuch 

"  Things,  and  after  thefe  Laws  were  publifn- 

"  ed,    they  themfelves  would  be  the  firft   to 

"  break  them,  and  to  encourage  others  to  do 

ct  the  fame  :  Nor  was  any  Man  ever  rebuked 

or  puniihed  for  his  Unobfervante,  till  they 

1  few  enough  involved    in  the  fame  Penalty 

and  Premunire  ;  and  then  forfooth,  the  Laws 

"  were  to  be  executed  with  all  Stri6lnefs  and 

Sever-  ty,  not  out  of  any  Zeal  for  juftice,. 

but  from  a  ravenous  Appetite  to  be  finger- 

ing the  Fines.     From  whence  it   followed, 

that   by   grievous    Mulcts  and   Expilations, 

the   People  being  impoverifhed,   were  con- 

ftrained  to  ufe  the  fame  Violences  upon  thofe 

who  were  lefs  potent  than  they  themfelves 

"  were.     By  which  Means   the  People  were 

not  corrected  for  doing  Evil,  but  mftru&ed 

"  how  to  do  it.     And  all  thele  Mifchiefs  pro- 

"  ceeded 


^lo     CA  ro's  LETTERS. 


I  ceeded  fblely  from  the  Bafenefs  and  Iniquity 
"  of  their  Princes. 

Thus  it  is  that  fuch  Courts,  being  continu- 
ally in  a  Confpiracy  againft  the  Property  and 
Felicity  of  their  People,  and  preying  continu- 
ally upon  them  by  all  vile  Means  and  Pretences, 
teach  their  People  to  confpire  againft  Honefty, 
and  to  prey  upon  one  another  ;  nay,  by  rob* 
bing  them,  they  make  it  neceflary  for  them  to 
rob.  Thus  readily,  neceffarily,  and  naturally, 
is  the  Spirit  of  the  Governors  transfused  into 
the  Governed,  who  are  ever  taught  civil  Cor- 
ruption by  their  Superiors,  before  they  prac- 
tife  it  themfelves. 

Father  le  Ccmpte^  giving  an  Account  of  the 
Government  of  Cbin*9  and  (hewing  the  wife 
Provifion  made  by  the  Laws  to  check  the  great 
Power  of  the  Emperor,  fays,  -  u  Nor  is 
Intereft  a  lefs  Motive  than  Reputation  to 
the  Emperor,  to  be  guided  by  the  ancient 
Cuftoms,  and  to  adhere  to  the  Laws  which 
are  framed  fb  much  for  his  Advantage,  that 
he  cannot  violate  them  without  obvious  Pre- 
judice to  his  own  Authority,  nor  alter  them 
without  bringing  his  Kingdom  into  Confu* 
(ion  :  For  fuch  is  the  Temper  of  the  Chi- 
nefes^  that  when  the  Emperor  is  governed 
by  Violence  and  PaiTion,  and  grows  negli- 
gent of  his  Affairs,  the  fame  perverfe  Spirit 
poffefles  his  Subjects  :  Every  Mandarin  thinks 
himfelf  Sovereign  of  his  Province  or  City  : 
The  Chief  Minilters  fell  Offices  and  Places 
to  worthless  Wretches  :  The  Vice-Rnys  be- 
come Co  many  little  Tyrants  :  The  Gover- 
"  nors  obferve  no  Rule  of  Juftice  ;  and  the 

"  People 


u 


4t 

44 
(I 


C  A  TO's  LETTERS.   211 

«  People  thus  opprefled,  are  eafily  flirred  up 
"  to  Sedition  :  Rogues  multiply  and  commit 
"  Villainies  in  Companies,  and  court  all  Occa- 
"  fions  to  do  Mifchief,  and  to  break  the  Peace. 
"  Such  Beginnings  have  occafioned  fatal  Con- 
"  fequences,  and  put  China  under  the  Com- 
"  mand  of  new  Matters  ;  fo  that  the  Empe- 
"  ror's  fureft  Way  to  preferve  his  Crown,  is 
"  to  obferve  the  Laws,  and  give  an  entire  O- 
"  bedience  to  them. 

Every  Abfolute  Prince  and  his  Deputy-Ty- 
rants are  only  the  Inftruments  of  one  another. 
Bv  their  Hands  he  executes   his  Luft,  Avarice, 
and  Rage,  and  by  his  Authority  they  execute 
their  own.    He  is  their  Dupe,  and  they  are  his 
Tools  j  and  however  they  may  differ  in  particular 
Views,  they  are  always  ftrongly  united  in  Cru- 
elty and  Oppreffion.    And  therefore,  whenever 
there  is  any  Contention  amongft  them,  it  is 
only  who  (hall  be  the  uppermoft  Tyrants; 
for  Tyranny  is  the  Aim,  the  Darling,  and  the 
Praftice  of  All :  And  when  the  fupenor  and 
fubordinate  Tyrants   butcher  one  another,  as 
they  often  do  ;  the  People,  tho'  they  lee  the 
Revenge,  yet  feel  no  Relief.     Whoever  bears 
the  Iron  Rod,  They  feel  its  Sharpnefs  and  its 
Weight :  For  almoft  every  Tyrant  grows  worie 
and  worfe  ;  and  yet  generally  leaves  a  Succel- 
for  worfe  than  himfelf.     What  unutterable  and 
encreafmg  Woe  muft  be  the  Lot  of  their  poor 
Subjects  under    continual  Harrows  of    Iron, 
made  daily  more  poignant  and  heavy  !  Nor  is 
the  killing  of  a  Tyrant  any  Cure,  unlefs  the 
Tyranny  be  killed  with  him.    The  Nature  of 
his  Power  breathes  nothing  but  Deftru6hon, 

private 


Giro's  LETTERS. 

private  Ruin,  and  publick  Defolation  ;  the 
common  Maxims  of  Juftice  and  Mercy  are  nor 
known  to  him,  or  known  only  for  High-Trea- 
fbn,  and  the  very  contrary  are  conftanrly 
practifed  ;  and  his  MinSfrers,  to  be  faithful 
Servants,  mud  be  the  worft  of  Men,  and  alt 
Tyrants  like  himfelf. 

Thefe  Kings  (of  the  E/?/r)  fays  Monfieur 
Hernier,  fee  no  Men  about  them,  but  Men  of 
nothing ;  Slaves,  Ignoranrs,  Brutes,  and  fuch 
Courtiers  as  are  raifed  from  the  Duft  to  Digni- 
ties ;  who,  for  want  of  good  Education,  do 
almofr.  always  retain  fomewhat  of  their  Origi- 
nal, and  of  the  Temper  of  Beggars  enriched* 
'hey  are  proud,  infufrerable,  cowardly,  in- 
fcnfible  of  Honour,  perfidious,  and  void  of 
Affection,  and  of  all  regard  for  their  King 
and  Country. 

Thefe  Kings,  fays  he,  muft  ruin  all,  to  find 
Means  to  defray  thofe  prodigious  Expences, 
which  they  cannot  avoid  for  the  Support  of 
their  great  Court,  which  has  no  other  Source 
of  Subfnlance  but  their  Coffers  and  Treafiires ; 
and  for  maintaining  constantly  the  vaft  Number 
of  Forces  neceffary  to  keep  the  People  in  Sub- 
jection, and  to-prevent  their  running  away,  and 
to  force  them  to  work,  in  order  to  draw  from 
them  the  Fruits  of  their  Work.  For,  the  Peo- 
ple, being  kept  continually  under  the  dreadful 
Yoke  of  Oppreilion,  and  made  to  labour 
through  Fear,  for  the  Benefit  of  their  Go- 
vernors only,  are  perfectly  wild  and  defperate, 
and  ready  to  do  any  Acl:  of  Defpair,  Captain 
Perry  fays  the  fame  of  the  Mvfcoyhes ;  that 
made  defperate  by  Oppreflion  and  Want,  they 

run. 


CA  fO's  LETTERS,    1 

run  eagerly  into  Tumults,  Murders,  arid  Rebel- 
lions: &ndDr.F.letcher  fays,  they  are  fo  enraged 
with  Hunger  and  Cold,  that  they  beg  in  a  wild 
and  defperate  Tone  j  -Give  wf,  and  cut  me :  Help 
we,  and  kjil  me,  &C. 

I  would  obferve  here,  how  much  more  eafy, 
as  well  as  glorious,  it  is  to  govern  Freemen  than 
Slaves.  It  is  true,  that  Freemen  go  (bmetimes 
much  further  in  their  Oppofition  to  unjuft 
Pow^r,  than  Slaves  go  or  can  ,go  \  becaufe  they 
have  more  Spirit,.  Senfe,  Virtue,  and  Force  : 
But  that  they  are  with  more  Difficulty  go- 
verned, is  absolutely  falfe.  It  is  indeed  diffi- 
cult to  opprefs  them,  and  their  Rebellion  is 
generally  no  more  than  their  diftinguifhing  of 
.Government  from  Oppreffion  \  a  DiftincTrion 
which  their  Governors  do  but  too  feldom  make, 
and  which  Slaves,  born  to  Oppreiiion,  know 
not  how  to  make.  In  truth.  Government  is  a 
Thing  not  fo  much  as  known  in  the  greateil, 
by  far  the  greatefl  Part  of  the  Earth.  Govern- 
ment fuppofes,  on  one  JLJde,  a  rational  Execu- 
tion of  rational  Handing  Laws,  made  by  the 
Confent  of  Society;  and  on  the  other  Side,  a 
rational  Subjection  to  thofe  Laws.  But  what 
has  Arbitrary  Will,  wanton  and  outrageous 
Lud,  Cruelty  and  Oppreiiion,  to  do  with  Go- 
vernment, but  to  dellroy  it  ? 

But  to  (hew  yet  further  the  Anarchy  of  Ab- 
fblute  Monarchy,  I  fhall  infert  here  what 
Monfieur  Bemier  fays  of  the  Education  of  (uch 
Sort  of  Princes.  He  fays,  that  one  of  the 
principal  Sources  of  the  Mifery,  of  the  Mil" 
government,  of  the  Diipeopling,  and  of_  the 
Decay  of  the  Eaftern  Empires,  proceeds  from 

hence, 


ii4   CATffs  LETTERS. 

hence,  that  the  Children  of  their  Kings  are 
brought  up  only  by  Women  and  Eunuchs,  who 
generally  are  no  other  than  wretched  Slaves  from 
fyjjia,  Circaffiti)  Gurgiftan,  Mingrclia,  and  Ethi- 
opia ;  Creatures  of  mean  and  infblent,  fervik 
and  ignorant  Souls. 

Thefe   Princes  become  Kings,  without  In- 
ftru&ion  worthy  of  Men,  and  without  know- 
ing what  it  is  to  be  a  King.     They  are  amazed 
when  they  come  out  of  the  Seraglio,  as  Perfbns 
coming  out  of  another  World,  or  out  of  fbme 
fubterraneous  Cave,  where  they  had  fpent  their 
whole  Lives.     They  wonder  at  every  Thing 
they  meet,    like    fb  many  Ignorants.     They 
either  fear  all  and  believe  all,  like  Children;  or 
nothing  at  all,  like  Idiots.     They  are  common- 
ly high  and  proud,  and  feemingly  grave  :   But 
this  their  Loftinefs  and  Gravity  is  fb  flat,  ip 
diftafteful,    and  Ib  unbecoming  them,  that  it  is 
vifibly  nothing  but  Brutality  and  Barbaroufhefs, 
and  the  Effect  of  fbme  ill-ftudied  Document?. 
Sometimes  they  run  into  (bme  childifh  Civili- 
ties, ftill  more  unfavoury  ;  or  into  fuch  Cruel- 
ties  as  are  blind  and  brutal ;  or  into  the  vile 
and  mean  Vice  of  Drunkennefs,  or  into  a  grofs 
and   excefllve   Luxury  ;  and   either  ruin  their 
Bodies  and  Underftandings  with  their  Concu- 
bines, or  abandon  themfelves  to  the  Pleafure  of 
Hunting,  like  fome  carnivorous  Animals,  and 
prefer  a  Pack  of  Dogs  before  fb  many  poor  Peo- 
ple, whom   they  force  to   follow  them   in  the 
Purfuit  of  their  Game,  and  fuffer  to  perifli  with 
Hunger,  Heat,  Cold,  and  Mifery. 

In  a  Word,  they  always   run  into  one  Ex- 
treme or  another,  and  are  entirely  Irrational  or 

Extra- 


's  LETTERS. 

Extravagant,  according  as  they  are  carried  away 
by  their  Temper,  or  by  the  firft  Impreifions 
made  upon  them.  And  thus  remaining,  almoft 
all,  in  utter  Ignorance  of  their  Duty,  and  of 
the  State  of  their  Country,  and  of  all  publick 
Concernments,  they  abandon  the  Reins  of  the 
Government  to  fbme  Vizier  (in  Englifk,  a  firft 
Minifter)  who  entertains  them  in  their  Igno- 
rance, and  encourages  them  in  their  PaiTions 
and  Follies ;  and  their  Ignorance,  Paillons,  and 
Follies,  are  the  ft  rongeft  Supports  thefe  Viziers 
can  have  to  maintain  their  Dominion  over  their 
M  afters. 

Thefe  Kings  are  alfb  frequently  given  up 
entirely  to  thefe  Slaves,  their  Mothers,  and  to 
their  own  Eunuchs,  who  often  know  nothing 
but  to  contrive  Plots  of  Cruelty  to  ftrangle 
and  banifh  one  another,  and  fbmetimes  they 
murder  the  King  himfelf :  Nor  is  any  one  elfe 
lafe  in  Life  or  Property.  Thus  far  Bemier. 

Thus  do  thefe  Princes  live  fhut  up  in  Brothels, 
Strangers  and  Enemies  to  their  People  ;  and 
when  an  Appetite  for  War  is  added  to  their 
Spirit  of  Cruelty  and  Qppreffion,  all  the  Ad- 
vantage from  it  to  their  Subjects  is,  that  in  the 
warlike  Havock,  a  quicker  End  is  put  to  their 
Miferies,  by  ending  their  Lives  with  a  Gun  or 
a  Scimitar  inftead  of  Famine. 

As  to  the  Redrefs  of  their  Grievances,  and 
the  doing  Juftice  upon  the  Authors  of  them,  it 
is  abfblutely  impracticable  in  any  Country 
which  has  no  States  and  Reprefentatives  ;  and 
certain  and  irretrievable  Mifery,  as  abfolute  as 
its  Government,  is  entailed  upon  it  to  all  Gene- 
rations, till  there  be  an  utter  End  either  of  the 

Govern- 


ai6     Giro's   LETTERS. 

Government   or  of  the  People.     The  Cover* 
nor  of  Scbtras  pays  for  his.  Government  to  the 
King   of  Perfia,  vaft   Sums  of  ready  Money, 
with  fine  Hor/es,  and  all  the   fine  Things  and 
Rarines  to  be  found  within  his  Province  :  And 
befides  thefe  exceiiive  Prefents  to  the  King,  he 
is  obliged  to  make  the  like  to  all  the  great  Lords 
and  Favourites  at  Court,  who  are  never  to  be 
gained  but  by  continual  Bribes  ;  fb  that  to  de- 
fray this  great  and  endlefs  Expence,  the  wretched 
People  mud  fuffer  great  and  end  Ids  Burdens 
and  Exactions,  and  the  Governor  muft  be   a 
Tyrant  to  preferve  his  Government.     Nor  can 
they  have  any  poilible  Relief,  tho'  they  have 
fometimes  attempted  to  find  it  :  But  when  two 
or  three  Villages  at  a  Time  have  come  to  com- 
plain to  the  King,  they  have,  after  long  wait- 
ing, been -forced   away  without  any  Redrefs, 
with  empty  Purles  and  hungry  Bellies,  becaufe 
they  who  fhould  have  given  them  Admifiion, 
were  bribed  to  debar  them  :  So  that  they  moll: 
flupidly  fubmit  to  the  barbarous  Extortions   of 
a  ravenous  Vizier.     This,  fays  Bernirr,   is  the 
Policy  praftifed  by  all  the  Governors  and  Kens 
in  the  Pe--fim  Dominions  :  And  he  tells  us,  that 
one  Day,  when  Shafefl  was  hunting,  (a  Prince, 
whofe  Juftice  and  Punifliments  were  only  A6is 
of  Cruelty)  a  poor  Man,  deputed  by  a  neigh- 
bouring Village,  to  make  fome  Complaint  to 
the  King,    appeared    behind   a  Rock  with   a 
Paper  in  his  Hand  :  But  while  the  poor  Wretch 
was   declaring  his  Errand,    and    praying    for 
Jurtire,    his  mo  ft  gracious    Majefty,    without 
making  any  Anfwer,  drew  his  Bow,  and  (hoot- 
ing two  Arrows  into  his  Body,  inftantly  'flew 
him.  Nor 


's   LETTERS.    417 

Nor  was  this  execrable  Royal  Aft  of  his  any 
more  agreeable  to  the  Genius  of  that  Prince  than 
to  the  Genius  of  that  fort  of  Government,  which 
is  naturally  barbarous  and  favage.  An  Arbitrary 
Prince  is  only  the  moft  exalted  and  fuccefsful 
Beaftof  Prey  in  his  own  Dominions,  and  all  the 
many  Officers  under  him  are  but  (b  many  fubor- 
dinate  Beads  of  Prey,  who  hunt  and  rob  and 
devour  his  People  for  him  and  themfelves;  and 
he  a-nd  his  Officers  do  but  conilitute  a  long  Link 
of  armed  Tygers  terrible  to  behold,  who  leap 
furioufly  upon  every  Man  and  every  Thing  that 
tempts  their  Eye  or  their  Appetite. 
^So  that  under  a  Tyrant,  there  is  no  End  of 
Tyrants :  From  him  that  fways  the  Scepter  to 
him  that  carries  a^  Musket,  all  are  Tyrants, 
and  every  one  for  himfeif  as  far  as  he  dares. 

If  any  Thing  concerning  thefe  unintermitdng 
Pefts  of  humane  Race,  could  po/fibly  raife  in  a 
humane  Soul  any  other  Paiiion  but  Grief  and 
Horror,  it  would  create  Mirth  to  hear  mention 
made,  as  fbmetimes  in  Books  of  Hiilory  and 
Travels  there  is  mention  made,  of  a  Tyrant's 
fitting  in  his  Seat  of  Juftice,  once  in  fo  many 
Days,  to  hear  equally  all  Caufes  and  Perfbn?. 
What  Mockery  1  It  is  really  a  Farce,  but  a 
melancholly  one,  to  hear  the  Word  Juftice  come 
out  of  the  Mouth  of  a  Tyrant ;  who,  by  being 
fo^is  a  fettled  Enemy  to  the  common  Laws  cf 
Juftice  and  Mercy,  and  common  Senfe,  and  to 
all  that  is  good  or  lovely,  or  defirable  amongft 
Men.  As  well  may  he  fet  apart  one  Day  in  fix 
to  cure  all  the  Difeafts  of  his  Subjects,  or  to 
make  their  Cloths,  and  cook  their  Victuals,  if 
he  leaves  them  any  to  make  and  cook.  As 

V  O  L.  II,  K  every 


Giro's  LETTERS. 

every  Subject  in  his  Dominions  is  oppreffed, 
and  he  and  his  Inftruments  are  the  Oppreffors,  I 
know  no  Way  upon  Earth  for  him  to  do  them 
any  general  Juftice,  but  to  deftroy  himfeif  and 
all  his  Deputy  Tyrants. 

I  am,  5cc. 


S  7 

I  Intend  to  finifh  in  this  Paper,  what  I  have 
fo  largely  handled  in  fb  many  others,  the 
.Subjecl  of  Liberty  and  Tyranny  ;  a  noble  Sub- 
ject, fuperior  to  all  others,  and  to  the  greateft 
Genius,  but  fit  for  the  Confideration  of  every 
Genius,  and  of  every  Rank  of  Men.  It  con- 
cerns the  whole  Earth,  and  Children  ought  to 
be  inftru6ted  in  it  as  ibon  as  they  are  capable  of 
Inftruclion.  Why  fhould  not  the  Knowledge 
and  Love  of  God  be  joined  to  the  Knowledge 
and  Love  of  Liberty,  his  beft  Gift,  which  is 
the  certain  Source  of  all  the  civil  Rlefiings  of 
this  Life  ;  and  I  have  (hewn  that  Religion  can- 
not fubfift  without  it  ?  And  why  fhould  not  the 
Dread  and  Hatred  of  Satan  be  accompanied 
with  the  Dread  and  Hatred  of  Tyrants,  who 
are  his  Inftruments,  and  the  Inftruments  of  all 
the  civil  Miferies  in  this  Life?  I  have  often 
thought  that  the  Barbarians,  who  worfhip  the 
Devil,  have  borrowed  their  Idea  of  him  from 
the  Character  and  Behaviour  of  their  own  ' 
Princes.  One  might  indeed  defy  any  Thing 
out  of  Hellj  or  even  in  it,  and  all  that  are  in  it, 

to 


LETTERS.     * 

to  do  half  the  Mifchief  upon   this  Earth  that 
Tyrants  do. 

They  reduce  Mankind  to  the  Condition  of 
Brutes,  and  make  that  Reafon,  which  God 
gave  them,  ufelefs  to  them :  They  deprive  them 
even  of  the  Bleffings  of  Nature,  and  flarve 
them  in  the  midft  of  Plenty,  and  fruftrate  the 
natural^Bounty  of  the  Earth  to  Men  ;  and  Na- 
ture fmiies  in  vain  where  Tyranny  frowns :  The 
very  Hands  of  Men,  given  them  by  Nature 
for  their  Support,  are  turned  by  Tyrants  into 
the  Inftrumer.ts  of  their  Mifery,  by  being  em- 
pi  oyed^  in  vile  Drudgeries  or  deftru6rive  Wars, 
to  gratify  the  Luft  and  Vanity  of  their  execra- 
ble Lords,  who  fufFer  neither  Religion,  not 
Virtue,  nor  Knowledge,  nor  Plenty,  nor  any 
kind  of  Happinefs,  to  dwell  within  the  Extent 
of  their  Power. 

Nothing  that  is  good  or  dcfirable  can  fubfifl 
under  Tyrants,  nor  within  their  Reach  ;  and 
they  themfelves  fubfift  upon  nothing  but  what 
is  dereRable  and  wicked,  They  are  fupported 
by  general  Ruin,  and  live  by  the  Deftiu&ion 
of  Mankind;  and  as  Fraud  and  Villainy,  and 
every  Species  of  ^Violence  and  Cruelty,  are  the 
Props  of  their  Throne  \  fo  they  meafure  their  • 
own-  Happmefs  and  Security,  and  Strength,  by 
the  Mifery  and  Weaknefs  of  their  People  ;  and 
continued  Oppreliion  and  Rapine  are  their  flu- 
died  and  necerfary  Arts  of  Reigning,,  as  is  every 
Art  by  which  they  can  render  their  People  poor, 
nbjecTt  and  wretched  ;  tho5  by  fuch  Methods 
they  do  in  effect  render  themfelves  fb,  and 
consequently  become  eafy  Preys  to  the  next  In- 
vader. That  Wealth,  which  difpcrfedamongft 

K  7,  their 


a ib    C^rO's   LETTERS. 

their  Subjects,  and  circulated  in  Trade  and 
Commerce,  would  employ,  encreafe,  and  en- 
rich them,  and  return  often  again  with  Interefl 
into  their  own  Coffers,  is  barbaroufly  robbed 
from  the  People,  and  engrofied  by  themfelves, 
and  generally  laid  out  by  them  to  adorn  their 
Palaces,  to  cover  their  Horfes  or  Elephants,  or 
to  embellifh  their  own  Perfons,  and  thofe  of 
their  Concubines  and  Attendants,  or  lock'd  up 
in  dark  Caverns  far  from  humane  Sight  and 
life. 

Whilft  it  is  yet  in  the  Mine,  it  is  within  the 
Reach  of  Pickaxes  and  Shovels,  and  by  the 
Labour  and  Induflry  of  Men,  may  be  made 
iifeful  and  beneficial  to  Men  :  But  in  the  Den 
of  a  Tyrant,  it  is  more  fecurely  and  more  irre- 
trievably buried  and  guarded  from  the  ufe  of 
Men.  Here  are  literally  Pluto's  Brafs  Walls 
and  Adamantine  Gates  ,  and  here  are  Thou- 
fands  of  real  Cerbernss,  who  never  deep  ;  and 
all  to  encompafs  and  fectire  this  dead  Treafure, 
and  to  reftrain  a  general  Gift  of  God  from  the 
life  of  his  Creatures :  From  thence  it  is  rarely 
fetched,  even  upon  the  greateit  Emergences, 
or  for  any  Purpofes  but  ill  ones,  till  at  laft  it 
becomes  the  Prize  and  Booty  of  a  conquering 
Enemy.  Alexander  found  more  Riches  in  the 
'Perfmn  Treafures,  than  in  the  Hands  of  Free- 
men would  have  conquered  the  World ;  and 
5tis  thought  there  are  more  at  this  Day  in  that 
of  the  great  Mogul,  than  would  ptrfchafe  the 
greatefl  and  wealthieft  Kingdom  in  Europe-,  and 
it  h?is  been  computed  that  there  are  thirty  Mil- 
lions Sterling  buried  in  the  fecret  Vaults  of  the 
Seraglio,  the  Plunder  of  the  People,  or 

of 


LETTERS,     nr 

of  tbofe  who  plundered  them  ;.  and  yet  they 
are^  ftill  plundered  and  miferabiy]  opprefled, 
to  increafe  this  dead,  ufelefs,  ana1  pernicious 
Store. 

By  thefe  and  the  like  inhumane  Means,  the 
Countries  of  Tyrants  are  come  to  be  in  the 
Condition  which  !  have  elfewhere  defcribed, 
defolate  and  uncultivated,  and  proper  Recepta- 
cles for  fuch  favnge  Monfters  and  ravening 
Beads  of  Prey,  \vho  rather  chu(e  to  live  iii 
barren  Fields,  unhofpitable  Defarts,  and  ia 
difpeopled^  and  empty  Towns,  than  amongfl 
Freemen  in  happy  Climates,  filled  with  rick 
and  numerous  Cities,  abounding  in  Inhabitants.,. 
who  are  pofTeiTed  of  Liberty,  and  will  be  bold 
to  dei'end  it, 

Now  where  can  all  tms  d'frnal  Ruin,  th:; 
rro.win^  Pepopyjatipn  end  ?  If  a  continued; 
Decay^n  the  natural  Body  certainly  end^Iri  the. 
Extinction  of  Life  ;  in  what  can  a  con|].n.ued 
and  hafty  Decay  of  Mankind  end,  but  in  the 
Extinaion  of  Men  ?  So  that  if  the  World  lads 
many  Centuries  more  in  its  prefent  wafting  and 
rpournful  Situation,  there  mufc  be  a  Diffolu- 
tipn  ^of  humane  Race,  before  the  World  is 
difiolved. 

Several  new  Tyrannic?  have  fprutig  up,  like 
fo  many  new  Plagues,  within  the  iVJemory  of 
Man,  and  like  them  have  kid  waite,  but  with, 
a  more  regular  and  continued  Ruin,  Countries 
once  ftrong  m  Liberty  and  People:  And  as> 
Tyranny,  like  every  other  full-grown  Mill 
chief,  becomes  more  and  more  infuppor table' 
every  Day,  the  Condition  of  Mankind  under 
it  muft  necelfarily,  and  does  actually  grow 

K  3  every/ 


aiz     Giro's  LETTERS. 

every  Day  worfe  and  worfe,  and  they  them-' 
/elves  fewer.  And  even  when  their  Numbers 
and  their  Subdance  are  leffened,  or  rather  ex- 
panded, the  Demands  of  the  Tyrant  upon 
them  are  not  lefftned,  nor  his  Rapine  abated, 
nor  his  Expences  and  Exactions  retrained. 

When  a  Tyrant  has  reduced  a  Million  of 
People  to  half  that  Number  by  his  Cruelty  and 
Extortions,  he  madly  expe&s  from  the  re- 
maining Half  the  fame  Revenue  and  Aflift- 
2nce  of  Men,  which  he  had  from  the  Whole, 
and  like  the  red,  they  mud  perifh  to  make 
good  his  Expectations  ;  and  he  often  encreafes 
his  Troops  as  fail  as  his  People  decreafes  ;  fa 
that  his  Expence  is  enlarged  as  there  becomes 
lefs  to  fapport  it  \  but  he  will  be  fupported,  and 
his  poor  perifhing  People  mud  do  it,  tho'  they 
dellroy  thernfelves. 

Such  is  the  pcdilent,  favage,  and  unfatiable 
Nature  of  this  fort  of  Monfter,  whofe  Figure, 
Throne,  and  Authority  is  edablifhed  upon  the 
Ruins  of  Reafbn,  Humanity,  and  Nature  :  He 
takes  all  his  Subjects  have,  and  deilroys  them 
to  get  more. 

A  late  great  Prince,  when  he  had  loft  and 
dedroyed  Two  Millions  of  his  People  out  of 
Twelve,  and  reduced  the  Whole  to  a  Degree  of 
Poverty  and  Servitude  fcarce  to  be  exprclfed, 
what  Impofitions  did  he  recall,  what  Taxes 
abolifh,  what  Troops  disband  for  their  Relief? 
Not  One  On  the  contrary,  the  Swellings  of 
his  mfblent  Hean  continued,  as  did  his  mer- 
cilefs  Extortions  upon  his  People,  and  h:s  per- 
fidious  Defigns  and  Encroachments  upon  his 
Neighbours-  and  he  lived  and  died  the  Plague 

and 


CATO's  LETTERS.     2,13 

and  Curfe  of  CJmflendom.  Nor  can  it  be 
fhewn,  that  other  Princes  who  govern  by  the 
fame  Authority,  that  is,  according  to  their  own 
Whims  and  Caprice,  leave  their  Subjects  more 
Plenty  or  Happineis,  or  cheat  or  harrafs  their 
Neighbours  lefs,  according  to  the  Meafure  o£ 
their  Power;  In  truth,  the  whole  Tribe  are 
perpetually  taking  Advantages,  and  ufurping 
upon  one  another,  and  are  conftant  Goads  and 
Thorns  in  one  another's  Sides,  and  in  the  Sides 
of  their  People  :  Nor  can  the  Subjects  of  a 
Prince  of  this  Caft  have  one  tolerable  l\ea- 
.  ion  under  the  Sun  to  defend  him  againd  an- 
other, but  that  he  lives  amongil  them,  and 
fpends  with  them  Part  of  their  own  Plunder, 
and  probably  the  other  would  not :  As  his 
whole  Reliance  muft  be  upon  his  Soldiers, 
he  muft  encreafe  them  in  Proportion  to  his 
Diilruil  of  his  People,  which  is  a  Confdficn 
of  a  mutual  Enmity  :  Neither  is  it  enough 
that  his  Soldiers  opprefs  and  famifh  his  Peo- 
ple, for  his  Sake  and  their  own,  (for  both  he 
and  they  are  fupported  by  tbe  Spoils  of  the 
People)  but  he  muPc  keep  them  as  conftamly 
employed  as  he  can  ;  becaufe,  if  they  are  not 
employed  in  plundering,  invading,  and  (bed- 
ding of  Blood,  they  will  grow  unbt  for  fuch 
beneficent  and  necedary  Work,  and  may  pro- 
bably degenerate  into  Humanity  and  Mer- 
cy ,  than  which  a  more  terrible  Change  could 
not  befal  their  Royal  iVlailer  ;  fb  that  in 
meer  Duty  they  mud  be  conflantly  pra&U 
(ing  Mifchief  and  Rapine  at  Home  or  A- 
b-road, 

K  4  Thus 


22,4     C^ro's   LETTERS. 

Thus  do  thefe  general  Deftroyers  proceed  to 
lay  wafte  the  World  :  The  beft  and  moil  Coun- 
iries  in  it  are  already,  many  of  them,  almoft 
defolate,  and  fbme  of  them  altogether,  as  I 
have  fhewn  in  many  Inftances  ;  and  the  Defo- 
laricn  gains  Ground  daily  :  Nor,  when  fome 
Cciforries  are  dlfpeopled,  are  there  fufficient 
Recruits,  or  indeed  any,  to  be  had  from  others 
as  formerly.  The  North,  formerly  the  Hive 
of  Nations,  is  now  as  much  dispeopled  as  any 
of  the  Southern  Countries,  which,  fome  Cen- 
turies ago,  were  peopled  from  it  ;  and  both 
North  and  South  have  been  difpcopjed  by 
Tyranny.  ^  tibia^  which  once  overrun  the 
Y'/orld  with  Multitudes,  is  now  ss  defolare  as 
the  reft  of  the  World  which  they  over-  run-. 
The  Country  of  the  Ckotyri,  which  was  a  vaft 
Empire,  within  thefe  Four  Hundred  Years,  is 
iv  ,-w  quite  uninhabited,  tho'  great  Part  of  it  is 
ft  fertile  and  beautiful  Country;  and  in  its  laft 
Struggle  with  T.imerlane,  brought  Five  Hundred 
Thouiand  Men  into  the  Field  :  Such  a  Force 
of  People  were  there  fo  lately  in  a  Country 
where  now  then?  are  none  .'  1  think 


fays,  ^  he  travelled  Two  Months  through  Sr, 
and  in  all  the  Time  faw  neither  Man  nor 
Be.ift,  but  many  great  ruinous  Towns  and  Ci- 
ties, particularly  one  which  had  Eight  Hun- 
dred Churches  in  it  lefs  than  Four  Hundred 
Years  ago,  but  now  has  not  one  Inhabitant. 

What  can  be  more  affe6iing  than  this  In- 
fiance  ?  Not  a  fmgle  Soul  to  be  met  with  in  a 
vail  and  noble  Country,  which  a  few  Centu- 
ries ngo  was  a  potent  Empire,  and  contained 
Millions  1  In  all  probability,  Countries  and 

Empires, 


CAT'ffs  LETTERS.    * 

Empires,  which  now  rocke  a  great  Noite  and' 
Buttle  in  the  World,    will   be  lying,  two  or 
three  Centuries  hence,  in  the  fame  woful  and 
filent  Solitude,  if  they  laft  fo  long  ;  for  Depo- 
pulation makes  every  where,  except  in  a  few 
remaining  free  States,  a  prodigious  and  flying 
Progrefs  ;   even  in  Europe,   as  I  have  before 
proved  in  many  Inftances;     And  in  fome  ot 
thole  free  States,  the  Seeds  of  Servitude,  the-- 
true  Guife  of  Depopulation,  and  of  every  Mi- 
'"fery,  feem  to-be  fewn  deep,     Alas  !  Power  en- 
croaches daily  upon  Liberty,  with  a  Succefs  top- 
evident  ;   and  the  Ballance  between   them    is- 
aim  oft  loft.    Tyranny  has  engrofled  almoft  the 
whole  Earth,    ?nd  {hiking  at  Mankind  Rope 
and  Branch,  makes  the  World  a  Slaughter-houfe;; 
and  will  certainly  go  on  to  deftroy,  till  it  is  ei- 
ther deftroyed  itfelf,  or,  which  rs  moft  likely,, 
has  left  nothing  elfe  to  deftroy. 

The  Bulk  of  the  Earth  being  evidently  at- 
moft  a  Defart  already,  made  fo  by  Tyrants  ; 
it  is  Demonftration  that  the  Whole  muft  be 
fo,  and  muft  foon  be  entirely  fo,  jf  the  Growth* 
of  Tyranny  is  not  reftrairred  ;  elfe  if  the  gene- 
ral and  wide  Wafte  gees  on,  Men  will  become 
too  few  for -the  Management  of  Societies,  and 
for  Cultivation  and  Commerce ;  all  which 
are  fupported  by  Numbers  ;  and  then  degene- 
rating into  abf'hte  S;,vages,  they  v/ill  live 
"ftragllng  and  rdccd  in  Woods-  and  Wilder- 
neife,  like  wild  Beafts,  and  be  devoured  by 
th-m  ;  c  r:  like  rlv-m,  devour  one  another,  or 
perifn'wic:  -  er  And  thus  there  will  be 

an  End  of  M  n     unlefs  thofe  States  that  are 
yet  free,  rcrelerve,  in  the  mid  ft  of  this  general 

Jl  $  Wad 


CATO*s  LETTERS. 

Wafte,  their  own  Liberties  and  People,  and, 
like  the  ancient  /Egyptians  and  Greeks,  fill  the 
World  again,  in  Procefs  of  Time,  with  Colo^ 
nies  of  Freemen. 

That  there  is  fuch  a  terrible  Wafte  of  Peo- 
ple in  the  World,  cannot  be  denied  ;  and  it 
is  as  evident,  that  Tyrants  are  the  conftant, 
regular,  and  necefiary  Caufe  of  it.  They  are 
indeed  fb  manifeftly  the  Authors  of  all  that  is 
ruinous  and  wicked,  that  if  God  Almighty 
had  left  it  to  Satan  to  invent  an  Engine  for 
the  deftroying  of  the  World,  and  for  defacing 
every  Thing  beautiful,  good,  or  defirable  in 
it,  that  Minifter  of  Vengeance,  and  Enemy  to 
God  and  Man,  would  doubtlefs  have  invented 
Tyrants,  who  by  their  wonderful  Succefs  in 
fuch  Miniftration  have  ever  fhewn,  and  do  frill 
mew,  their  eminent  Fitnefs  for  it.  They  fhew 
every  where  fuch  a  conftant  and  ftrong  Anti- 
pathy to  the  Happinefs  of  Mankind,  that  if 
there  be  but  one  free  City  within  their  Ken, 
they  are  reftlefs  in  their  Defigns  and  Snares 
againft  it,  and  never  defend  it  but  againft  one 
another,  and  pracYife  the  vileft  and  themeanell 
Rogueries  to  become  Mafters  of  it.  There  are 
Inftances  in  this  Age  of  free  Cities  falling  into 
the  Claws  of  Tyrants,  and  of  the  miferable 
Difference  between  their  former  Opulency,  and 
their  prefent  Poornefs :  They  have  never  fmcc 
put  oft  their  Mourning,  which  grows  daily 
more  black  and  difmal. 

The  Breath  of  a  Tyrant  blafts  and  poi/bns 
every  Thing,  and  changes  Blefllngs  and  Plenty 
into  Curfes  and  Mifery,  great  Cities  into 
gloomy  Solitudes,  and  their  rich  Citizens  into 

Beggars 


CATCT's  LETTERS,     it? 

Beggars  and  Vagabond's  :  I  could  name  Cities 
which,  while  they  governed  themfelves,  could 
maintain  Armies,  and  now  enflaved  can  fcarce 
maintain  the  poor  proud  Rogues  who  govern 
them.  It  is  certain,  that  whatever  Country 
or  Place  is  fubdued  by  a  Prince  who  governs 
by  his  Will,  is  ruined  by  his  Government. 

It  is  confeffed,  that  the  Arbitrary  Princes  i*n 
Europe  have  not  yet,  like  thofe  in  Afia^  declared 
themselves  Matters  of  the  Soil ;  and  their  Peo- 
ple have  a  fort  of  Property.  How  longjhis 
will  continue,  I  know  not  preci/elv.  This  is 
certain,  that  the  Condition  of  their  Subjects-, 
which  was  always  bad,  grows  hourly  worfe  ;.. 
and  their  Nobility,  which  were  once  rich  and 
powerful,  are  now  reduced  very  low,  and 
greatly  impoverifiied ;  and  they  who  were  the 
Supports  of  Royalty,  having  created  Jealoufy 
as  if  they  had  eciipfed  it,  have  felt  the  terrible 
Effects  of  Arbitrary  Power  as  well  as  others, 
tho'  not  fb  much  :  Befides,  when  the  common 
People,  already  wholly  exhaufted,  and  ftarving 
under  OppreJiion,  can  fupply  the  exorbitant 
Demands  of  their  Prince  no  longer,  the  Eftatt-* 
of  the  Nobility  will  be  the  next  Refource  ; 
and  like  the  Maftiff  Dog  at  the  Bee-hive,  when, 
he  has  fueled  up  all  the  Honey,  he  will  fw al- 
low the  Comb  :  And  then  moil  of  Europe  will 
be  in  the  Condition,  of  Twr^,  as  many  Parra 
of  it  are  at  prefent  not  much  better  ;  and  }  ike 
the  Great  Turk.,  molt  of  its  Princes  will  be  fole 
Proprietors  of  the  Land,  as  they  now  make 
themfelves  of  irs  PrcdiK)  which  very  near 
anfwers  the  fame  End,  When  Tenants,  ex- 
hauiled  by  Taxes,,  sure  unable  to  pay  Rent,,  the 

Land 


*i3     Giro's  LETTERS. 

Land  yielding  no  Profit,  is  as  bad  as  none ; 
and  m  fome  Inftances  worfe  than  none,  as  we 
are  particularly  told  by  the  noble  Author  of 
the  Account  of  Denmark,  where  fome  Landlords 
have  begged  the  King  upon  their  Knees  to  eafe 
them  of  their  Land,  by  taking  it  from  them 
for  good  and  all ;  for  that  it  was  taxed  more 
tnan  it  was  worth. 

Moft  of  the  Princes  of  Europe  have  been 
long  introducing  the  Tur^/h  Government  into 
Europe  ;   and  have  fucceeded  fo  well,  that   I 
ould   rather  live  under  the  Turk  than  under 
Wof  them.     They  pradife  the  Cruelties 
Sppreffipns  of  the  Turks,  and   want  the 
tolerating  Spirit  of  the  Ti/rjt;  and  if  feme  un. 
•een  Check  is  not  thrown  in   their  Way, 
he  whole  Polity  of  favage  T«rfc  will  be  eftk! 
bliflied by  them  in  all.  its  Parts  and  Barbarity  • 
as  tf  the  Depopulation,  which  is  already  fa 
quick,  and  taking  fuch  dreadful  Strides,  were 
11  too  flow.    It  is  not  enough  for  Tyrants 
to  have  confumed  Mankind  fo  fail,  that  our 
on  wenty  Parts,  they  have  within  thefe  Two 
Jhoufand  Years  deftroyed  perhaps  Nineteen, 
(For  fo  much  at  Jeaft  I  take  to  be  the  Difpro- 
portionj    but  Frefli  Machines  of  Cruelty  are 
it  hi  lought  afrcr,  be/id  es  never  laying  afide  any 
Dt  the^Qld,  till  the  Dcftruaion   is  fully  corn- 
pleated,      fhey  feem  to  think,  that  they  (hall 
have  Enemies  as  long  as  any  Men  remain  ;"which- 
indeed  is  a  reasonable  Apprehension  :  But  it  is 
a.ronifhing  at  firft  View,  that  Mankind  fhould 
have  Jo  long  born  thcfe  unrelenting  Slaughter- 
ers  of  Mankind.  —  But,  alas  !  who  knows 
not  the  Force  of  Corruption,   Ddufion,   and 
itanding  Armies  j  r>h 


LETTERS. 

Oh  Liberty,  oh  Servitude  !  how  amiable, 
how  deteftable,  are  the  different  Sounds  !  Li- 
berty is  Salvation  in  Politicks,  as  Slavery  is  Re- 
probation ;  nor  is  there  any  other  Diftindnon 
but  that  of  Saint  and  Devil,  between  the 
Champions  of  the  one  and  of  the  other. 

And  here  I  conclude  this  noble  Subject  of 
Libtrty,  having  made  fbme  weak  Attempts  to 
(hew  its  glorious  Advantages,  and  to  fet  off  the 
oppofite  Mifchiefs  of  raging,  relentleU,  and 
confuming  Tyranny,  <  a  Task  to  which 

no  humane  Mind  is  equal.  For  neither  the 
fublimeft  Wits  of  Antiquity,  nor  the  brighteft 
Genius's  of  late  or  modern  Time,  ailided  with 
all  the  Powers  of  Rhetorick,  and  all  the  Sti- 
mulations of  poetick  Fire,  and  with  the  warm- 
eft  and  boldeft  Figures  in  Language,  ever  did, 
or  ever  could,  or  ever  can  defcribe  and  heigh- 
ten fufficiently  the  Beauty  of  the  one,  or  the 
Deformity  of  the  other  \  Language  fails  in  it, 
and  Words  are  too  weak, 

Thofe  who  do  not  groan  under  the  Yoke  of 
heavy  and  pointed  Vaifalage,  cannot  poffibly 
have  Images  equal  to  a  Calamity  which  they 
.  do  not  feel :  And  thofe  who  feel  it  are  ftupi- 
fied  by  it,  and  their  Minds  depreffed  ;  nor  can 
they  have  Conceptions  large,  bright,  and  com- 
prehenfive  enough,  to  be  fully  fenlible  of  their 
own  wretched  Condition  :  and  much  lefs  can 
they  paint  it  in  proper  Colours  to  others.  W7e, 
who- enjoy  the  precious,  lovely,  and  invaluable 
Bleilsng  of  Liberty,  know  that  nothing  can 
be  paid  too  dear  to  purchafe  and  preferve  it. 
Without  it  the  World  is  a  WMderaefr,  and 
Life  precarious  and  a  Burden  :  Death  is  a 

Tribune 


130   C  A  TO's  LETTERS. 

Tribute  which  we  all  owe  to  Nature,  and 
muft  pay  j  and  it  is  infinitely  preferable,  in 
any  Shape,  to  an  ignominious  Life  :  ,.Nor  can 
we  reftore  our  Beings  back  again  into  the 
Hands  of  our  great  Creator,  with  more  Glory 
to  him,  more  Honour  to  our  felves,  or  more 
Advantages  to  Mankind,  than  in  Defence  of 
all  that  is  valuable,  religious,  and  praife-wor- 
thy  upon  Earth,  or  include  all  that  is  fb. 

How  execrable  then  and  infamous  are  the 
Wretches,  who,  for  a  few  precarious,  momen- 
tary, and  perhaps  imaginary  Advantages, 
would  rob  their^Country,  their  happy  Coun- 
try, for  ever,  of  every  Thing  that  can  render 
humane  Life  defirable  ;  and,  for  a  little  Tinf el- 
Pageantry,  and  falfe  and  fervile  Homage,  un- 
worthy of  honeft  Men,  and  hated  by  wife 
Men,  would  involve  Millions  of  their  Fellow- 
Creatures  in  lafting  Mifery,  Bondage,  and 
Woe,  and  charge  themfelves  with  their  juft 
Hatred  and  bitter  Curfes !  Such  unnatural  Par- 
ricides, unworthy  of  the  humane  Shape  and 
Name,  would  fill  up  the-  Meafure  of  their 
Barbarity,  by  entailing  Poverty,  Chains,  and 
Sorrow  upon  their  own  Pofterity.  And  often 
it  happened,  that  fuch  Men  have,  unpitied, 
fuftert-d  in  their  own  Perfons,  the  fad  Effects 
of  thofe  cruel  Counfels  and  Schemes  which, 
they  intended  for  the  Ruin  of  all  but  them- 
felves, and  have  juftly  fallen  into  that  Pit 
which  they  had  traiteroully  digged  for  others, 

i\Vc  lex  eft  jtijiior 


Quam  ticcis  Artifices  arts  per  Ire  fun. 

I  am, 


LETTERS.     131 


5  i 

»Othing  is  more  provoking  than  to  hear 
Men  talk  magi{lerially,and  with  an  Aire 
of  Teaching,  about  Things  which  they  do  not 
underftand,  or  which  they  have  an  Interefl  to 
have  underftood  wrong.  We  have,  all  of  us, 
heard  much  of  the  Duty  of  fubduing  our  Ap- 
petites, and  extinguifhing  our  Paflions,  from 
Men,  who  by  thefe  Phrafes  (hewed  at  once 
their  Ignorance  of  humane  Nature,  and  yet 
that  they  aimed  at  an  Abfblute  Dominion  over 
it. 

Wrong  Heads  and  knavifh  Defigns  are 
frequently  found  together ;  and  Creatures 
that  you  would  not  trui't  with  laying  out 
Ten  Shillings  for  you  in  an  Inftance  where 
you  truft  to  your  own  Underftanding,  fhall 
fometimes,  by  the  meer  Sound  of  their 
Voice,  and  an  unmeaning  Diftinciion,  make 
themfelves  Matters  of  your  Mind  and  your 
Fortune.  It  is  by  trufting  to  thefe  that  Men 
come  to  know  fb  little  of  themfelves,  and  to 
be  fb  much  the  Prey  of  others  as  ignorant  and 
more  diffionett.  I  know  no  Man  fb  fit  as  him- 
feif  to  rule  himfelf,  in  Things  which  purely 
concern  himfelf.  How  happy  would  this  plain 
Rule  make  the  World,  if  they  could  be  brought 
to.cbferve  it,  and  to  remember  that  Brown  is 
as  virtuous  a  Colour  as  Black  ;  that  the  Al- 
mighty poffefles  alike  every  Quarter  of  the 

World  r 


Giro's   LETTERS. 

World  ;  and  that  in  his  fight  Fifh  and  Flefh  it? 
point  of  Merit  and  Innocence  are  the  fame-! 
Thefe  Things  are  felf-evident,  and  yet  the  Mi- 
fery  of  Mankind  is  in  a  great  Meafiire  owing 
to  their  Ignorance  of  them. 

The  ancient  Stoicks  had  many  admirable  and 
virtuous  Precepts,  but  their  Philofbphy  was 
too  ngid  to  be  very  popular  ;  they  taught  Men 
an  abfolute  Indifference  for  fenfual  Pain  and 
Pleafure;  but  in  this,  their  Do&rine  was  neither 
ufeful  nor  practicable.  Men  were  not  to  be 
thus  dealt  with  \  they  could  not  ceafe  to  be 
Men,  nor  change  Nature  for  Philofbphy.  Be* 
fides,  thefe  Teachers  being  Pagans,  and  argu- 
ing only  from  theTopicks  of  Wifdom  trained 
roo  high,  had  no  Equivalent  to  offer  to  their 
Difciples  for  parting  with  their  Appetites  and 
their  Senfes.  But  when  fome  of  their  Soph  ills 
came  into  Chriftianity,  and  brought  along  with 
them  the  fevere  Notions  of  their  Seel,  they 
fpread  and  recommended  the  lame  with  more 
Succefs,  by  tacking  to  thefe  their  Opinions  the 
Rewards  and  Terrors  of  the  World  to  come, 
which  had  nothing  to  do  with  them  :  However, 
they  faid  it  had,  and  quickly  foundCredit  enough 
to  make  it  dangerous  to  contradict  them. 

Thefe  favourite  Dreams  of  theirs,  added  to 
fome  Sayings  and  Pa'flages  of  the  Gofpel,  ill 
unaerdood,  were  vehemently  urged,  as  if  they 
had  been  fo  many  certain  PaiTports  to  Paradife; 
and  fbon  turned  Mens  Brains,  and  made  them 
really  fond  of  Poverty,  Hardfhips,  and  Mifery, 
and  even  of  Death  itfelf :  Emhufiafrn  conquer'd 
Reafbn,  and  inflamed  Nature,  and  Men  to.be 
devour  grew  diitradted. 

This 


's   LETTERS, 

This  came  of  ftifling  the  Paflions  and  fub- 
!  duing  Nature,   as  the  Phrafe  was.     But    the 
Folly  and  Mifchief  of  this  Do&iine  thus  ex- 
travagantly pufhed,  were  not  greater  than  its 
Falfhood  :  For,  as  there  is  no  fuch  Thing  as 
departing  from  Nature,  without  departing  from 
Life,  it  is  certain  that  they  who  were  remark- 
able for  retraining  fome  of  their  Appetites, 
were  as  remarkable  for   indulging  others  ;  fo 
that  their  boafted  Mortification  was  no  more 
than  the  Exchange  oi7  one  Pailion.  for  another, 
and  often  of  a  better  for  a  worfe.     Thus  there 
are  many  Saints  in  the  Romiflo  Calendar,  who 
pra&ifed  a  religious  Abftinence  from  all  forts 
of  Fltfh  living  or  dead,  and  yet  made  it^the 
Duty  of  their  Profeilion,  and   the  Bufinels  of 
their  Lives,  to  ftir  up  DifTention  and  War  a- 
mongft  Men,  and  to  promote  Slaughter  and 
Defolatlon  :    They   abftained  Jrom   Women, 
and  yet  v/ere  the  Authors  01  inhnite  Rapes  and 
Adulteries:  Their  gentle  "and  falsified  Souls 
would  not  allow  them  to  kill,  much  lefs  to  eat 
any  Part,  of  an  Animal  made  to  be  killed  and 
eaten  ;  but  they  avowedly  and  pioufly  preacn  4 
up  humane  and  Chriftian  Butcheries,  and  have 
frniled  over  the  Carcafles  of  a  Nation  maffacred 
at  their  Infttgation. 

It  is  the  Weaknefs  and  Misfortune  of  hu- 
mane R.ace,  that  a  Man,  by  the  Means  of  one 
Virtue,  or  the  Appearance  of  it,  is  often  able 
to  do  a  Thoufand  Mifchiefs  \  and  it  is  the 
Quality  of  humane  Nature,  that  when  any  one 
of  its  Appetites  is  violently  retrained,  others 
break  out  into  proportionable  Excciles.  Thus 
Men  grow  raflh  and  precipitate  by  trampling 

upon 


134     CATO's  LETTERS.         ' 

upon  Caution  and  Fear ;  and  thus  they  become 
Cowards,  by  QSflbg  the  Love  of  Glory  z 
Whereas,  if  the  Appetite  for  ^Danger  were 
checked  by  the  Appetite  of  Self-prefervation  ; 
and  the  lazy  Love  of  Safety  by  the  Love  of 
Fame,  RaQineis  and  Cowardice  would  be  no 
more. 

It  is  the  highefl:  Stupidity  to  talk  of  fubduing 
the  Paiiions,  in  the  common  Acceptation  of 
that  Phraie  ;  and  to  rail  at  them  in  grols,  is 
as  fooliih.  The  greateir.  Evils  often  proceed 
from  the  bell  Things  abufcd,  or  ill  applied  , 
and  this  is  particularly  true  of  the  Paflions, 
which  are  the  conftituent  Parts  of  a  Man,  and 
are  good  or  ill  as  they  are  managed. 

The  Exercife  therefore  of  Reafbn  is  nothing 
elfe  but  the?  indulging  or  controlling  of  the 
Paiiions,  with  an  impartial  Hand,  and  giving 
them  all  fair  Play  :  It  is  an  equal  Adminiftra- 
tion  of  the  Appetites,  by  which  they  are  re- 
ftrained  from  outrunning  one  another :  Thus 
for  Example,  if  Mens  Fears  were  always  as 
powerful  as  their  Hopes,  they  would  rarely  run 
into  Danger;  or,  if  iheir  Hopes  ballanced  their 
Fears,  they  never  would  defpair. 

Every  one  of  the  leading  PaiTions  is  as  ne- 
cefifary  as  another  ;  all  the  Difficulty  is  to  keep 
them  well  marfhalled  :  They  are  only  terrible 
by  breaking  out  of  their  Ranks  ;  and  when 
they  do,  they  are  all  alike  terrible,  though  the 
World  generally  thinks  otherwife.  But  it  is 
certain,  that  thole  Patiions  to  which  the  kind- 
eft  Ideas  are  annexed,  do  as  much  Mifchief, 
when  they  get  out  of  their  Bounds,  as  do  thoie 
to  which  we  annex  the  harfhell  Ideas ;  and 

Love 


C  A  ro's  LETTERS.   235* 

Love  and   Hope,    which  bear  foft  and   mild 

Names,  are  in  Exccfies  as  s&ive  and  a?  formi- 
dable Pail  ons,  as  are  Anger  and  Revenge,  the 
Names  of  which  are  apt  to  (hock  us ;  and  An- 
ger and  Revenge  are,  In  their  proper  Limits, 
more  defirable  Pafiions  than  are  Love  and  Hope 
out  of  their  proper  Limits  ;  that  is,  they  are 
all  equally  good,  or  all  equally  evil,  juft  as 
they  are  let  loofe  or  retrained.  A  Man  who 
cuts  another's  Throat  out  of  Love  to  his  Wife, 
commits  the  fame  Wickednefs  r.s  if  he  did  it 
cut  of  Revenge.  Extravagant  Joy  for  the  He- 
Jloratj'tn  (which  was  doubtlefs  a  great  and  ex- 
traordinary Rieilifig)  had  well  nigh  coil  Eng- 
land its  Religion  and  Liberty;  and  afterwards 
the  awakening  Fears  of  Popery  faved  both. 
No  Nation  has  been  more  flefh'd  in  Blood  than 
the  Turk  :;  principally,  becaufe  the  faife  Hopes 
6f  Mabornefs  hifcivious  Paradife  animated  them 
in  their  Butcheries. 

The  only  Way  therefore  of  dealing  with 
Mankind,  is  to  deal  with  their  PalFions  ;^  and 
the  Founders  of  all  States,  and  of  all  Religions, 
have  ever  done  fo  :  The  fSrft  Elements,  or 
Knowledge  of  Politicks,  is  the  Knowledge  cf 
the  Paflions  ;  and  the  Art  of  Governing,  is 
chiefly  the  Art  of  applying  to  the  Pailions. 
When  the  publick  Pailions  (by  which  I  mean 
every  Man's  particular  Warmth,  and  Concern 
about  publick  Tran factions  and  Events)  $are 
well  regulated  and  honeftly  employed,  this  is 
called  Government,  or  the  Art  of  Governing  ; 
and  when  they  are  knavifhly  raifed  and  ill  em- 
ployed, it  is  called  Fa6Uon,  which  is  the  gra- 
tifying of  private-Pailicn  by  publick  Means. 

And 


Giro's   LETTERS. 

And  becaufe   Paffion  and  Opinion  are   fb. 
nearly  related,  and  have  fuch  Force  upon  each 
:her,  Arbitrary  Courts  and  Crafty  Church- 
have    ever    endeavoured    to    force,    or 
nghten*  or  deceive  the  People  into  a  Unifor- 
mity  of   Thoughts,    efpecially   of  Religious 

^U,ghts~~ ""  A  Thing  tyrannical  and  im- 

rffcble  !  And  yet  a  whole  People   do   often,. 
thr.ou/h    ]gnorance,    or    Fear,    feem    of   one 
Mind;  and  but  feem,  for  if  they  came  to  ex- 
plain, they  would  find  their  Ideas  differ  widely,, 
tiio  their  Words  agree.     Whereas  in   a   well- 
governed  free  State,  diverfify  of  Speculations. 
lojar/rpm   clogging  the    publick  Good, 
it  evidently  promotes  the  fame,  all  Men 
being  equally  engaged  in  the  Defence  of  that, 
rhich    all    Men  are  indifferently  protected. 
So  that   to  attempt    to  reduce  all  Men  to  one 
Standard  or  Thinking,  is  abfurd  in  Phllofoplw 
3f  PIOUS  mlleligion,  and  Fa6Hon  in  the  State. 
And  tho  the  mortifying  of  the  Appetites,  is  a 
veryplaufcblePhrafe,  and,  in  a  retrained  Senfe, 
a  laudable  Thing  ;  yet  he  who  recommends  it 
you,  docs  often   mean    nothing    but    this, 
Mtktyeur  Pajfynt.  tame,  that  I  mny  ride  them. 
There  is  fcarce  any  one  of  the  Paffions  but 
is  truly  laudable,  when  it  centers  in  the 
1  ublick,  and  makes  that  its  Obje6t.     Ambiiion. 
Avarice,  Revenge,    are  all   fo  many  Virtues, 
when  they  aim  at  the  general  Welfare.     I  know 
it  is  exceeding   hard  and  rare,  for  any  Man  to 
leparate  his  Pailjons  from  his  own  Perfon  and 
Intereft  ;  but  it  is  certain  there  have  been  fiich 
Men.     Brutus,    Cato,    I{egulus,    Timoleon,  Dlonr 
and  Eprtminondas,    were  fuch,   as  were  many 


more 


3  LETTERS.    137 

-mote  ancient  Greskj  and  Romans  ;  and,  I  hope, 
England  has  ftill  fbme  fuch.  And  tho'  in  pur- 
fuing  publick  Views,  Men  regard  themfelves 
and  their  own  Advantages  ;  yet  if  they  regard 
the  Publick  more,  or  their  own  in  Subferviency 
to  the  Publick,  they  may  juftly  be  efteemed 
virtuous  and  good. 

No  Man  can  be  too  ambitious  of  the  Glory 
and  Seciiriry  of  his  Country,  nor  too  angry  a't 
its  Misfortunes  and  illlifage;  nor  too  revenge- 
ful againft  thofe  that  abufe  and  betray  it ;  nor 
too  avaricious  to  enrich  it,  provided  that  in 
doing  it,  he  violates  not  the  Rights  of  o- 
thers, 

Tacitus  giving  the  Character  of  the  Emperor 
G.i!ba9  who  doubtlefs  was  an  honeft  Man,  and 
had  many  Virtues,  after  faying  that  he  coveted 
no  Man's  Money,  and  was  fparing  of  his  own, 
-adds,  that  he  was  greedy  of  publick  Money 
- — -  Pecuni<e  aliens  ncn  fippetens,  fu.e  parcus^ 
publics  Avar u 5 ;  which  publick  Avarice  in  him 
was  a  publick  Vertue,  and  coft  him  his  Life  : 
He  was  not  fuffered  to  reign,  becaufe  he  would 
not  lavifh  away  the  publick  Money  in  Bribes ; 
Milites  (t  fe  ellgi  ncn  emi.  So  dangerous  and 
-even  fatal  was  perfonal  Virtue  in  that  corrupt: 
State!  And  fb  hard  and  impoflible  is  it  in  any 
State,  to  ftay  the  Progrefs  of  Corruption  ! 
Galbn  would  have  reformed  the  Roman  State  ; 
but  the  Vices  of  his  Predecefibrs,  and  long  ufe, 
made  it  impracticable,  and  he  loft  his  Life  in 
the  Attempt.  The  Paliions  of  Men  were  de- 
tached from  the  Commonwealth,  and  placed 
upon  their  own  perfonal  Security  or  Gain,  and 
they  had  no  Senle  of  the  Publick,  and  as  little 

Know. 


C^TO's  LETTERS. 

Knowledge  of  its  Affairs ;  For  that  great  Peo- 
ple, and  aim  oil  :hewholeWorld,had  been  long 
the  fole  Property^of  a  fingle  Man,  who  took 
Couniel  only  of  his  Lull. 

I  am.  &c. 


SIR, 

IT  is  melancholly  to  confider  how  every 
Thing  in  the  World  is  abufed  :  The  Rea- 
fon  is,  that^Men   having  themfelves  chiefly  in 
view,   confider  all  Things  with   an    Eye    to 
themfelves  only;  and   thus    ir  is  th-at  general 
eflmgs  ceafe  to  be  fb  by  being  converted  into 
private  Property,  as  is  always  done  where  'tis 
fafe  or  poflible  to  be  done, 

^Inquiring  how  it  comes  to  pafs  that  the  beft 
Things  in  the  World,  fuch  as  Religion,  Pro- 
perry,  and  Power,  are  made  to  do  fo  much 
hurt ;  I  find 'it  to  proceed  principally  from 
hence,  that  Men  are  never  fatisfied  with  their 
prefent  Condition,  which  is  never  perfectly 
happy  i  and  perfe-ft  Happinefs  being  their  chief 
Aim,  and  always  out  of  their  Reach,  they 
are  relUeily  grafping  at  what  they  never  can 
attain 

So  chimerical  is  the  Nature  of  Man  !  his 
greateft  Pieafures  are  always  to  come,  and 
therefore  never  come.  His  Content  cannot 
poffibly  be  perfect,  becaufe  its  higheft  Objects 
arc  conflantly  future  ;  and  yet  it  is  the  more 
perfect;  for  their  being  future.  Our  higheft 

En- 


LETTERS.     2,39 

Enjoyment  is  of  that  which  is  not ;  our  Pleafure 
is  Deceit,  and  the  only  real  Happinefs  we  have 
is  derived  from  Non-Entities.  We  are  never 
fatisfied  with  being  juft  what  we  are  ;  and 
therefore,  tho'you  give  us  all  we  defire,  or  can 
conceive,  yet  we  (hall  not  have  done  defiring. 
The  prefent  PolTeiiions  give  but  little  Joy,  let 
them  be  ever^fb  great  •,  even  as  great  as  can  be 
grafped  :  It  is  the  Enjoyment  to  come  that  is 
only  or  mod  valued.  When  we  fay,  that  if 
fuch  a  Thing  happened,  we  would  be  eafie ; 
we  can  only  mean,  or  ought  onlv  to  mean,  that 
we  would  be  more  eafie  than  we  are  :  And  in 
that  too  we  are  often  miftaken  :,  for  new  Acqui- 
fitions  bring  new  Wants,  and  imaginary  Wants 
are  as  pungent  as  real  ones.  So  that  there  is  the 
fame  End  of  Wifhing  as  of  Living,  and  Death 
only  can  llill  the  Appetites. 

Publick  Bieiiings  would  really  be  fo  to  every 
Man,  if  every  Man  would  be  content  with 
his  Share  :  But  every  Man  would  have  more  ; 
nor  would  more  fatisfy  him,  whatever  he  may 
think  ;  but  his  Defires  would  rife  with  his  Po£ 
feilions  or  his  Power,  and  his  lad  Wifh  would 
be  to  have  All  :  Nor  would  the  Pofleiiicn  of 
All  quiet  the  Mind  of  Man,  which  the  whole 
W7orld  cannot  fill.  Indeed,  he  who  has  moft, 
wants  moft  ;  and  Care,  anxious  Care,  as  it  is 
the  clofe  Companion  of  Greatnefs,  fb  it  is  fur* 
theft  from  him  who  has  leaft  to  care  for. 

I  own,  that  many  have  Teemed  to  dcfpife 
Riches  and  Power,  and  really  decline  the  Means 
of  acquiring  them  :  But  they  deceived  them- 
felves,  if  they  thought  that  this  Conduct  of 
theirs  was  owing  to  a  real  Contempt  for  the 

Things 


140     Giro's   LETTERS.        j 

Things  themfelves ;  when  in  truth,  it  was  only 
a  Diflike  of  the  Terms  upon  which  they  were 
to  be  had,  Difintereftednefs  is  often  created  by 
Lazinefs,  Pride,  or  Fear  ;  and  then  it  is  ^no 
Virtue.  There  is  not,  perhaps,  a  Man  living 
but  would  be  glad  of  Wealth  and  Grandeur, 
if  he  could  acquire  them  with  Speed,  and 
poffels  them  with  Eafe  ;  and  almoft  all  Men 
would  risk,  and  do  daily  risk,  Eafe,  Reputa- 
tion, Life  and  all,  to  come  at  them.  Do  we 
not  fee  that  Men  venture  being  Beggars  to  be 
rich,,  lofe  their  Reft  for  the  Sake  of  Quiet, 
and  acquire  Infamy  to  earn  Honour  ?  We  live 
in  a  Hurry,  in  order  to  come  at  a  refting 
Place,  and  in  Crowds  to  purchafe  Solitude. 
Nor  are  we  the  nearer  to  our  End,  tho'  the 
Means  fucceed  :  Humane  Life  is  a  Life  of  Ex- 
pectation and  Care,  and  he  who  rejects  the 
Conditions  mult  quit  it. 

Every  Paflion,  every  View  that  Men  have, 
is  fcliifn  in  fbme  "Degree  ;  but  when  it  does 
Good  to  the  Publick  in  its  Operation  and  Con- 
fequence,  it  may  be  juftly  called  difmterefted 
in  the  uiual  Meaning  of  that  Word :  So  that 
when  we  call  any  Man  difmtcreiled,  we  mould 
intend  no  more  by  it,  than  that  the  Turn  of 
his  Mind  is  towards  the  Publick,  and  that  he 
has  placed  his  own  perfbnal  Glory  and  Pleafure 
in  ferving  it.  To  ferve  his  Country  is  his  pri- 
vate Pleafure,  the  Welfare  of  Mankind  is  his 
Miftrefs,  and  he  does  good  to  them  by  gratify- 
ing hlmfelf. 

Difintereftednefs  in  any  other  Senfe  than  this, 
there  is  none.  For  Men  to  a£t  independently 
on  their  Paflions,  is  a  Contradiction,  fince 

their 


's  LETTERS. 

their  Paflions  enter  into  all  they  do,  and  are  the 
Source  of  it:   And  the  belt  A&ions  iVkn  per- 
form, do  often  arife  from  Fear,  Vanity,  Shame, 
and   the  like  Caufes.     When  the   Paiiions  of 
Men^do  good  to  others,    it  is  called  Virtue  and 
Publick  Spirit ;    and   when   thev  do   hurt  to 
others,  it  is  called  Selfifhnefs,  Difhonefty,  Luft, 
and   other  Names  of  Infamy.     The  Motive  of 
every  Man's  Conduct  is  fetched  from   within, 
and  has  a  good  or  an  ill  Name,   according  to 
its  Effect  upon  others  •   and  fometimes  the  great 
Difference    between     an    honeft    Man    and    a 
Knave,  is  no  other  than  a  piece  of  Humour,  or 
a  piece  of  Chance.     As  the  Patfions  of  Men, 
which  are  only  the  Motions  raffed  within  us  by 
the  Motion  of  Things  without  us,  are  fbothed 
or  animated  by  external  Caufes  •  it  is  hard  to 
determine,  whether  there  is  a  Man  in  theWorld 
who  might   not  be  corrupted  by  fome   Means 
and  Applications;  the  Nicety  is,  to  chufe  thofe 
that  are  proper. 

^  All  thefe  Difcoveries  and  Complaints  of  the 
Crookedness  and  Corruption   of  humane  Na- 
ture, are  made  with  no  malignant  Intention  to 
break  the  Bonds  of  Society  ;  but  they  are  made 
to  (hew,  that  as  Selfifhnefs  is  the  itrongeft  Biafs 
of  Men,  every  Man  ought  to  be  upon  his  Guard 
againft  another,  that  he  become  not  the  Prey  of 
another.      The   too  great  Confidence    which 
many  Men  have  placed  in  One,  has  often  ruined 
Millions.     How  many  fbrrowful  Experiences 
have  we,   that  Men  will  be  Rogues  where  they 
dare  ;  and  that   the  greateft  Opportunities  al- 
ways make  the  greateft  !   Give  them  what  you 
can,  they  will  (till  want  more  than  you  give  • 
VO  L.  IL  L  3 


Giro's  LETTERS. 

.and  therefore  the  highefl  Trulls  are  the  mod 
apt  to  be  broken. 

Thofe  who  have  talked  moft  of  the  Dignity 
of  humane  Nature,  feem  to  have  underftood 
it  but  little.  Men  are  fb  far  from  having  any 
Views  purely  publick  and  difmterefted,  that 
Government  hVfl:  arofe  from  every  Man's  taking 
Care  of  himlelf  j  and  Government  is  never 
abufed  and  perverted,  but  from  the  fame 
Caufe.  Do  we  not  know  that  one  Man  has 
flaughtered  a  Million,  and  overturned  Nations, 
for  the  gaining  of  one  Point  to  himfelf;  and 
that  almoft  all  Men  would  follow  Evil,  if  they 

found  their  greateft  Advantage  or  Pleafore  in 

"  •> 

it? 

Here  therefore  lies  the  Source  of  all  the  Evil 
which  Men  fuffer  from  Men,  that  every  Man 
loves  himfelf  better  than  he  loves  his  whole 
Species,  and  more  or  lefs  confults  himfelf  in 
all  he  does.  He  naturally  purfiies-  what  is  plea- 
fant  or  profitable  in  his  own  Eyes,  tho5  in  doing 
it  he  entails  Mifery  upon  Multitudes.  So  that 
we  have  no  other  Security  againft  tfie  Malice 
and  Rapine  of  each  other,  but  the  Security  of 
Laws,  or  our  own  Force.  By  Lav/s,  Societies 
fubfift  within  themfelves,  and  by  Force  they 
defend  themfelves  againft  each  other.  And  as 
in  the  BuGnefs  of  Faith  and  Leagues  between 
Nation  and  Nation,  Treaties  are  made  by 
Confenr,  but  kept  by  Fear  and  Power,  and 
obferved  or  violated  juft  as  Intereft,  Advantage, 
and  Opportunities  invite,  without  Regard  to 
Faith  and  good  Conscience,  which  are  only 
Words  of  Good-Breeding,  with  which  Courrs 
complement:  one  another  and  themfeives ;  fo 


>etween 


's   LETTERS. 

Between  Subject  and  Subject,  and  between 
Magiftrates  and  Subje&s,  Concord  and  Security 
are  preferved  by  the  Terror  of  Laws,  and  the 
Ties  of  mutual  Intereft  ;  and  both  Intereft  and 
Terror  derive  their  Strength  from  the  Impulfes 
of  Self-Love. 

Thus  one  Man  is  only  fafe,  while  'tis  the  In- 
tereft  of  another  to  let  him  alone ;  and  Men  are 
Knaves  or  honeft  Men,  according  to  the  Judg- 
ment they  make  of  their  own  Intereft  and  Eafe, 
.snd  of  the  Terms  upon  which  they  chufe  to 
live  in  the  World.  Many  Men  are  honeft, 
without  any  Virtue,  or  indeed  a  Thought  of 
Honefty ;  as  many  others  are  Rogues,  without 
any  Malice;  and  both  Sorts  mean  only  their 
own  perlbnal  Advantage,  but  take  different 
Roads  to  arrive  at  it.  This  is  their  great  Aim  ; 
and  that  Conftirution  which  trufts  more  than  it 
needs  to  any  Man,  or  Body  of  Men,  has  a 
terrible  Flaw  in  it,  and  is  big  with  the  Seeds  of 
its  own  Deftru&ion.  Hence  arofe  Tyrants  and 
Tyranny,  and  Standing  Armies ;  Marius  and 
dcfar9  and  Oliver  Cromwell.  How  prepofleroufly 
do  Men  a£r.  !  By  too  great  Confidence  in  one 
Man,  or  a  few  Men,  they  become  Slaves ;  and 
by  a  general  Diftruft  of  each  other,  they  con* 
tinue  fb  1 

It  may  be  obje&ed,  that  fince  Men  are  fuch 
a  wretched  Race,  made  fo  by  the  Apoftacy  of 
Adam^  they  are  not  worth  ferving ;  that  "the 
moft  unhappy  of  them,  are  but  what  they 
themfelves  would  make  others,  and  therefore 
their  Fate  is  juftupon  them. 

In  anfwer  to  this,  I  readily  own  what  I  have 
proving,  that  Men  are   very  bad  where 

L  x  thej; 


2.44    euro's   LETTERS. 

they  dare,  and  that  all  Men  would  be  Tyrants, 
and  do  whar  they  pleafe  But  ftill  let  us  pre- 
ferve  juilice  and  Equality  in  the  World.  Why 
fhould  he,  who  is  bad  himfeif,  opprefs  others 
who  are  no  worfe  than  him  ?  Befides,  the  Lot 
of  Humanity^  being  an  unhappy  one,  it  is  an 
honeft  Ambition,  that  of  endeavouring  to  mend 
it,  and  to  improve  Nature  by  Virtue,  and  to 
mend  Mankind  by  obliging  them  to  obferve 
Rules  that  are  good.  We  do  not  expect  phi- 
lofophical  Virtue  from  them,  but  only  that  they- 
follow  Virtue,  as  their  Intereft,  and  find  it 
penal  and  dangerous  to  depart  from  it.  And 
this  is  the  only  Virtue  the  World  wants,  and 
the  only  Virtue  it  can  trull  to. 

J  am   6cc. 


SIR, 

I  Send  you  a  Translation  of  the  Speech  of  the 
Emperor  Galbn  to  Pife,  when  he  adopted 
him  his  Partner  and  Succefibr  in  the  Emp;re  ; 
a  Speech  full  of  great  Senfe,  great  Honefty, 
and  noble  Sentiments.  Indeed,  Galba.  feems  to 
have  come  to  the  Government  with  worthy  In- 
tentions to  mend  it.  To  reftore  the  ancient 
Liberty  was  impoJlible.  Things  had  run  long  in 
another  Channel  •  People  were  accuftcmed  to 
the  Largefles  and  falfe  Bounty  of  their  Princes, 
to  the  awful  and  founding  Names  of  the  Cr/V.r, 
and  to  the  Luxury,  Pomp,  and  Tinfel  of  a 
Court.  The  Soldiers  would  have  an  Emperor, 

nor 


CATffs  LETTERS. 

nor  could  the  Senate  withftand  the  Soldiers:, 
The  venerable  Orders  of  the  Commonwealth 
had  been  long  abolifhed,  her  ancient  Virtues 
extinct,  Nihil  iifqueim  prifci  G)  inte^ri  moris^  and 
the  Commonwealth  itfelf  was  forgot :  Qnotus 
quifque  reliquw  qui  rem  -publicam  vidiffet !  fays 
(peaking  of  the  End  of  the  Reign  of 
.  In  fhort,  the  Emperor  was  all  in  all 
Illtic  cunfta  vergere.  The  State  was  over- 
turned mangled,  and  changed:  The  old  Laws 
of  Equality  were  utterly  loft  in  the  Imperial 
Power,  and  that  was  fu; •  ported  by  the  Sword. 
There-  was  no  Safety  but  in  Servitude,  Juff* 
principis  ajpeftare- — All  the  other  Magistrates 
were  but  Shadows  with  fine  old  Names. 

The  chief  Aim,  therefore,  of  Gall^  fince 
he  coulti  not  reftore,  was  to  reform  :  a  worthy 
Attempt,  but  he  failed  in  it:  So  irrefiftible was 
the  Tide  of  Corruption  !  Two  Things  princi- 
pally obftru&ed  his  Dtfign,  and  fhortened  his 
Life  and  Reign,  the  Avarice  of  the  Soldiery, 
and  the  vile  Conduct  of  his  Servants. 

As  to  the  Soldiers,  he  had  honefrly,  but  un- 
fortunately-faid,  that  he  would  chv.fi  them,  but 
not  buy  them  :  a  Saying  which  they  never  for- 
gave him.  Befides,  as  he  praciifed  himfelf  the 
rigid  old  fyman  Difcipline,  he  would  oblige  his 
Army  to  pra6tife  it  ;  a  Thing  new  to  them, 
and  intolerable.  They  had  been  long  tifed  to 
Luxury  and  Sloth,  and  were  grown  as  fond  of 
the  Vilenefs  and  Vices  of  their  Princes,  as  the 
old  Republican  Armies  had  been  of  the  Tem- 
perance, Modefty,  and  other  Virtues  of  their 
C  ommanders :  They,  therefore,  could  not  bear 
-the.  Severity  and  Frugality  of  Gnlbn^  nor  would 

L 


Giro's  LETTERS. 

Gafba  depart  from  his  Temper  and  hisPurpofes. 
Money  would  have  made  them  his  Friends,  but 
he  would  part  with  none.  The  Refle&ion  of 
the  Hiftorian  upon  this  Conduct  of  his,  is  fine, 
but  melancholy,1  Nccuit  antihunt  Rjgor,  & 

•nimia  feverifaS)  ctti  jam  pares  nonfumw.  'He 
4i  was  ruined  by  reviving  unreasonably  the 
4t  fevere  Virtue  of  our  Anceftors  :  Alas  we  are 
no  longer  equal  to  it."  To  conclude  this 
Head,  the  Soldiers  butchered  an  Emperor  that 
would  not  bribe  them. 

As  to  the  part  of  Galbas  Servants,  in  the 
Tragedy  of  their  Mailer,  it  was  no  fin  all  one  : 
They  made  him  odious  by  their  own  Crimes  j 
and  in  his  Name  committed  Cruelties  and  Ra- 
pine, which  blackened  his  Character  ;  and 
when  they  had  brought  him  under  a  general 
Diilike,  none  of  his  own  good  Qualities  could 
recover  him  his  good  Name  ,  Invifo  fernel  prin- 
cipc,  feu  ber.e  feu  male  faRa  premunt.  Their 
Avarice  was  imputed  to  him,  and  called  his, 

Jatn   rffciebant  -venalia  cunRa  prjpctenfes   Li- 

iertl.  They  were  refblved  to  make  the  moft 
of  his  (hort  Reign,  and  by  doing  fo  made  it 

fhorter, Servorum  mantts  Juhitis  fividtf,  &  tan- 

qufim   apud  fenem  feftlnantes.     He  paid  dear  for 

their  Wicked  nefs,^ Odlo  flagitiorum  oner  a  turn 

deftruebant.  His  Character,  in  relation  to  his 
Friends  and  Servants,  was,  That  he  was  indul- 
gent to  them,  if  they  were  good  ;s and  blind  to 
their  Faults,  if  they  were  bad.  Vbl  in  bcnos 
inddiffet,  fine  rep*  ehevfione  patient  :  Si  mail  fs- 
rent*  ufqus  ad  cu/pam  ignarus. 

The  rell  of  his  Character,  taken  from  Ta- 
cttw.  from  whom  I  have  taken  the  Whole,  is, 

That 


LETTERS.     2,47; 

t 

That  being  Seventy  Years  old,  he  had  lived  in 
Profperity  during  five  Reigns,  more  happy  in 
them  than  in  his  own  :  That  he  was  of  a 
Family  Ancient,  Great,  and  Noble,  and  Matter 
of  great  Wealth  :  That  he  had  a  moderate 
Capacity,  and  more  Innocence  than  Abilities  : 
That  he  neither  courted  Fame,  nor  defpifedk  : 
That  he  coveted  no  Man's  Money^  was  fparing 
of  his  own,  and  greedy  of  publick  Money  • 
That  a  Nobleman  of  his  great  Birth  and  Qua- 
lity, having  lived  fo  fecurely  in  fuch  dangerous 
Times,  was  a  Thing  fo  furpri zing  and  rare, 
|  that  his  good  Fortune  paffed  for  Wifdom,  and 
his  real  Indolence  for  real  Art  :  That  in  the 
Vigour  of  his  Years,  he  acquired  great  Renown 
in  the  German  Wars  :  That  being  Proeonful  in 
Africa,  he  governed  that  Province,  and  after- 
wards Spain,  with  great^  Equity  :  That  he 
Teemed  greater  than  a  Subject  while  he  was  but 
a  Subject,  and  that  in  the  Opinion  of  all  Men, 
he  was  equal  to  the  Empire,  if  he  had  never 
been  Emperor. 

So  much  for  the  Character  of  Galba-,  which 
1  thought  neceffary  to  introduce  his  Speech  to 
Pifo,  who  was  every  Way  worthy  of  the  A 
doption,  and  of  a  better  Fortune,  which,  how- 
ever  was  of  a  piece :  He  was  long  an  Exile 
under  Nero,  who  had  murdered  his  Brother 
Cr<i]fus,2S  had  LlaudliK  his  Brother  Magnus :  He 
himfelf  was  but  Four  Days  Ctfnr,  and  then 
butchered,  as  was  his  eldeft  Brother  prefently 
after  him  :  He  was  of  a  noble  Race,  both  by 
Father  and  Mother,  and  had  arsarniable  and  po- 
pular Character  for  the  Severity  of  his  Man- 
ners, and  his  many  Virtues  \  and  during  the 

L  4 


2,48    CA  rO's  LETTERS, 

few  Days  of  his  highefl  Power  and  Adverfiry, 
he  behaved  himfelf  with  great  Modefty  and 
Firmnefs,  and  feemed  to  make  good  every  Hope 

concerning   him But  Virtue  and  Goodnefs 

were  then  pernicious,  and  we  fee  what  he  got 
1'V  having  them.  The  whole  Story,  and  par- 
ticularly his  Fate  in  ir,  affects  me.  " 


The  Speech  cf  Galba  to  Pifb. 

yy  Hile  I  was  yet  a  private  Man,  I  had  a 
"  Right  by  the  Law  to  adopt  you  for 
my  Son,  to  the  Credit  and  Glory  of  us  both  : 
M 7  Family  would  have  been  enriched  with  a 
Delcent  of  the  great  Pcmpey  and  .'Marcus 
Crajfus  ;  and  the  Nobility  of  your  Houle 
would  have  derived  new  Splendor  from  the 
Fame  and  Quality  of  the  Sulfinj  and  Lutatif. 
But  being  no  longer  a  private  Man,  thefe 
Confiderations  are  no  more.  I  am  now,  by 
the  united  Content  of  God  and  Man,  called 
to  the  Empire  ;  a  Power  for  which  our  An- 
"  cefrors  contended  by  Arms,  and  a  Power 
"  which  I  by  Arms  have  acquired  •  I  got  it  by 

But  you  receive  it  not  from  me  upon  thofe 

Terms ;  you  have  it  without  demanding  it : 

"  It  is  the  Reward  of  your  Worth  ;  nor  do  any 

"  other  Regards  fway  me  in  this  Gift,  than  the 

Love  of  my  Country,  and  your  own   great 

"  Qualifications. 

*"  I  have,  befides  the  Example  of  Auguftw  for 
ic  what  I  do:  That  great  Prince  took  fucce/uve- 
"  ly  for  his  Partners  in  Power,  firft,  his  Sifter's 

"  Son 


CATffs  LETTERS.  245) 


" 


"  Son   Marcellus  ;  next  his  Son-in-Law, 

"  fa  ;  afterwards  his  Grandfons  ;  and  laftly,  his 

"   Wife's  Son  Tiberius. 

"  But  AuguftiiSi  who  would  entail  the  Em- 
"  pire  upon  his  own  Houfe,  in  his  own  Houfe 
"  fought  a  SuccefTor.  I  am  guided  by  another 
"  Spirit  :  I  chufe  out  of  the  Commonwealth, 
"  an  Heir  for  the  Commonwealth.  Nor  am  I 
reduced  to  this  Choice  by  the  want  of  Re- 
lations to  my  Blood,  or  of  "Fellow  Com- 
"  manders  in  War  :  I  have  both.  But  having 
"  arrived  to  the  fupreme  Power,  neither  by 
"  Ambition  nor  Defcent,  1  am  biafs'd  by  nei- 
*£  ther  in  conferring  it;  and  my  thus  overlook- 
"  ing  your  Relations  as  well  as  my  own,  is  ^ 
"  Proof  of  the  Sincerity  of  my  Judgment  in 
*'  preferring  you  to  both.  You  have  a  Bro- 
*'  ther,  your  Equal  in  point  of  Nobility,  and 
cc  your  Superior  in  point  of  Years  ;  a  Man 
"  worthy  of  this  Fortune,  had  I  not  in  you 
"  found  one  flill  more  worthy, 

"  You  are  of  an  Age  now  paft  the  Giddinefs 
"  and  Impetuofity  of  Youth  ;  and  your  paft 
"  Life  is  unblameable.  But  hitherto,  you  have 
*''  had  only  an  adyerie  Fortune  to  contend  with: 
"  One  more  dangerous  abides  you.  Grandeur 
"  and  Profperity  do  much  more  powerfully  try 
"  the  Temper  of  the  Soul,  and  call  forth  all 
"  Irs  Weaknefle?.  We  can  bear  the  Blows  of 
"  Fortune,  but  her  Gifts  and  Smiles  betray  us 
into  Error  and  Comjption, 
t4  You  propofe  no  doubt  to  retain,  and  cul- 
tivare  with  your  ufjal  Firmnefs,  that  Faiib 
and  Integrity,  that  Candour  and  Magnani- 
miry,  and  all  other  noble  Endowments  c 


c 

6 


cc 

C( 

It 


ajo     Giro's  LETTERS. 

the  humane  Soul,  for  which  you  are  con- 
fpicuous.  But  the  Flattery  of  others  will^.. 
in  fpight  of  your  felf,  be  breaking  in  upon 
you,  and  unfettling  your  bed  Refolutions, 
and  flaming  your  Virtue  :  Flattery,  the  moft 
pernicious  Poifbn  to  an  honeft  Mind  !  Every 
Man  who  has  your  Confidence  will  be  ma- 
king you  his  Property  and  Prey. 

You  and  1  indeed  converfe  together  upon 
this  Occafion,  with  Sincerity  and  Upright- 
nefs  :  But  we  muft  not  expect  the  fame  ho- 
nefl  Treatment  from  others.  They  make 
their  AddrefTes  to  our  Fortune  and  Power, 
and  not  to  us :  Nor  can  we  expect  any  other. 
To  deal  freely  and  openly  with  Princes,  to.' 
fhew  them  their  Duty,  and  prefs  them  to 
perform  it,  is  a  daring,  a  difficult,  and  a 
dangerous  Office;  but  to  fboth  and  deceive 
any  Prince  whatfbever,  is  an  eafy  Task,. 
and  performed  without  Difficulty,  as  it  is 

"  meant  without  Regard  or  Affection. 

"  If  this  mighty  Empire  could  fabfift,  and 
be  governed  without  a  fmgle  Ruler,  as  it;  • 
once  was,  1  fhould  glory  in  rtfigning,  and 
being  the  ftrft  Emperor  that  refigned,  the 
Power  of  the  Republick  into  her  own, 
Hands.  But  this  is  impracticable  ;  her  Af- 
fairs are  long  fince  come  to  fuch  a  fatal  State 
of  Neceffiry  and  Corruption,  that  all  the 
Good  my  old  Age  renders  me  capable  of  do- 
ing to  the  Rinnan  People,  is  to  leave  them  a 
good  Succelfor ;  nor  can  you  with  all  your 
Youth,  do  more  for  them  than  to  afford. 

"  them  in  your  ieif  a  beneficent  Prince. 

"  Under 


LETTERS,     25 r 


"  Under  Tiberius,  Caligula,  and  Claudius,  we 
were  all  of  us  no  more,  and  the  whole  I(oma» 
M  World  was  no  more,  than  as  the  Property 
"  and  Inheritance  of  one  Family  ;  and  that  the 
Empire  has  begun  in  me  to  be  Elective,  is  a, 
46  Sign  of  our  ancient  Liberty,  and  Tome  Equi- 
valent for  it •  it  is§the  only  Liberty  we 

are  now  capable  of  enjoying.     The  Julian 
"  and  Ctaudian  Houfes  being  now  extin&^the 
bed  Men  have  a  fair  Chance  to  be  the  high- 
44  eft-.     To  be  born  of  a  Royal  Race,    is  a 
"  Thing  of  Chance,  and  void  of  Merit  ;  bur 
"  Adoption  is  rhe  \Vork  and  Effect  of  Deli- 
beration, and  in  a  free  Choice  general  Con- 
"  fent  (Lews  the  Merit  of  the  Chofen, 

44  Remember  Kero,  and  the  Circumdances  or 
his  Life  and  Fall Kero,  who  blown  up- 
as he  was  with  a  long  Genealogy  of  the  O- 
fars9  his  Anceftors,  and -(ecu-re  in  the  Splen- 
dor and  Terror  of  their  Names,  could  never 
have  been  depofed  by  Julius  Vindex,  the  Go- 
vernour  of  a    Province,    unprovided   with 
Arms  ^  nor  by  me  abided  by  a  fmgle  Le- 
gion-.: No,  his  own  .Madnefs,  Tyranny,  and 
"  Debauchery,  Bung  down  the  Tyrant  from 
riding  on  the  Necks  of  Mankind  :  Nor  was 
there  till  then,  any  Indance  of-  aa  Emperor 
"  fentenced  and -. depofed.- 

61  We  who  fucceed  him  by  a  different  Title9 , 
'the  vSword  and  common  Confent,  (hall  reap 
*'  Glory  in  fpight  of  Envy.     Nor  ought  you 
"  to  be  alarmed,  though   in  this  general  Up- 
**  roar  of  the   World,    a  Couple   of  Legions 
"  continue  dill  turbulent ;  it  was  my  own  Lot-: 
"  to  be  called  to  an  unsettled  State ,  and  as  to, 


»yi   CATO's  LETTERS.      - 

my  old  Age,  the  only  Objection  to  my  Go- 
vernment, 'tis  now  no  longer  one,  fmce  I 
am,  by  adopting  you,  become  young  in  my 
SuccefTor. 

Nero  will  always  be  lamented  by  the  Bad  : 
Let  it  be  our  Care  and  Concern  that  he  be 
not  alfo  lamented  by  the  Good. 

To  fay  more  in  this  Way  of  Advice  and 
Infr.ru6t.ion,  the  prefent  Conjuncture  fiiffers 
not  ;  nor  is  it  neceffary  :  If  I  have  chofen 
well,  I  have  fulfilled  every  Purpofe,  and  an- 
fwered  every  End.  Your  belt  and  fhorteft 
Rule  will  be  to  behave  yourfelf  fo  towards 
your  Subjects,  as,  were  you  a  Subject,  you 
would  wifh  your  Prince  to  a£t  towards 
you  -  —  Let  this  be  your  Standard  of 
Good  and  Evil,  this  your  Art  of  Reigning. 
You  muft  particularly  remember  that  it  is 
not  with  us  as  with  barbarous  and  tyrannized 
Nations,  who,  hardened  by  the  Yoke  of 
Servitude,  feel  not  its  Weight,  but  live  all 
blind  Slaves  to  one  Lordly  Houfe.  —  --  - 
You  have  the  Romans  to  govern  ;  a  People, 
who  having  now  too  little  Virtue  to  bear 
Abfoluie  Liberty,  have  Hill  too  much  Spirit 


(C 


*c 
a 
tt 
tc 

Cf 


(( 


to  bear  Abfolute  Dominion. 


S  I  /I, 

*"T^  HE  MUchiefs  that  are  daily  done,  and 
JL      the  Evils  th?t   a-re  daily  fullered  in   the 
World,  are  fad  Proofs  how  much  humane  Ma- 
lice 


's  LETTERS. 

lice  exceeds  humane  Wifdom.  Law  only  pro- 
vides againft  the  Evils  which  it  knows  or  fore- 
fees  ;  but  when  Laws  fail,  we  rnuft  have  Re- 
courfe  to  Reafbn  and  Nature,  which  are  the 
only  Guides  in  the  making  of  Laws.  Stir  f  em 
Juris  A  Natura  repertam,  fays  Cicero  ;  There 
never  would  have  been  any  Law  againft  any 
Crime,  if  Crimes  might  have  been  fafely  com- 
mitted, againft  which  there  was  no  Law  :  For 
every  Law  fuppofes  fome  Evil,  and  can  only 
punifti  or  reftrain  the  Evils  which  already 
exift.  ^  7 

But  as  pofinve  Laws,  let  them  be  ever  fb 
full  and  perfpicuous,  can  never  intirely  prevent 
the  Arts  of  crafty  Men  to  evade  them,  or  the 
Power  of  great  ones  to  violate  them  ;  hence 
new  Laws  are  daily  making,  and  new  Occa- 
iions  for  more  are  daily  arifing  :  So  that  the 
utmoft  that  Wifdom,  Virtue,  and  Law  can 
do,  is  tojeflen  or  qualify,  but  never  totally 
a.boli(h  Vice  and  Enormity.  Law  is  therefore  a 
Sign  of  the  Corruption  of  Man  j  and  many 
Laws  are  Signs  of  the  Corruption  of  a  State. 

Poiitive  Laws  deriving  their  Force  from  the 
Law  of  Nature,  by  which  we  are  directed  to 
make  occafio'nal  Rules,  which  we  call  Laws, 
according  to  the  Exigences  of  Times,  Places, 
and  Pcrfons,  grow  obfblete  or  ceafe  to  be,  as 
fbon  as  they  ceafe  to  be  neceflary  :  And  it  is  as 
much  againft  the  Law  of  Nature  to  execute 
Laws,  when  the  firft  Caufe  of  them  ceafes,  as 
it  is  to  make  Laws,  for  which  there  is  no 
Caufe,  or  a  bad  Caufe.  This  would  be  to 
fubjecl:  Reafbn  to  Force,  and  to  apply  a  Pe- 
nalty where  there  is  no  Crime.  Law  is  right 

Reafbna 


TO's  LETTERS. 

Reafon,  commanding  Things  that  are  good, 
and  forbidding  Things  that  are  bad  ;  it  is  a 
D5flin6Hon  and  Declaration  of  Things  juft  and 
unjuir.,  and  of  the  Penalties  ^or  Advantages  an- 
nexed to  them. 

The  Violation  therefore  of  Lav;  does  not 
conftitute  a  Grime  where  the  Law  is  bad ;  but 
the  Violation  of  what  ought  to  be  Law,  is  a 
Crime  even  where  there  is  no  Law.  The  Ef- 
fence  of  Right  and  Wrong,  does  not  depend  up- 
on Words  and  Claufes  Jnferted  in  a  Code,  or  a 
Statute-Book,  much  lefs  upon  the  Conclufions 
and  Explications  of  Lawyers ;  but  upon  Reafon 
and  theNature  of  Things,  antecedent  to  all  Laws* 
In  all  Countries,  Reafon  is  or  ought  to  be  con- 
fulted,  before  Laws  are  ena£led  ;  and  they  arc 
always  worfe  than  none,  where  it  is  not  con- 
fulted.  Reafon  is  in  fbme  Degree  given  to  all 
Men  ;  and  Cicero  fays,  that  whoever  has  Rea- 
fon, has  right  Reafon  ;  that  Virtue  is  but  per- 
fect Reafon  ;  and  that  all  Nations  having  Rea- 
fon for  their  Guide,  all  Nations  are  capable  of 
arriving  at  Virtue. 

From  this  Reafbning  of  his,  it  would  follow,, 
that  every  People  are  capable  of  making  Laws, 
and  good  Laws  ;  and  that  Laws,  where  they 
are  bad,  are  gained  by  Corruption,  Faction, 
Fear,  or  Surprize ;  and  are  rather  their  Mif- 
fortune,  than  the  Effe6h  of  their  Folly.  The- 
A6h  of  Cdfar  were  confirmed  by  the  Senate  and 
the  People,  but  the  Senate  was  aw'd,  arid  the 
Tribunes  and  People  were  bribed  :  Arms  and 
Money  procured  him  a  Law  to  declare  him 
lawlefs.  But,  as  the  moft  pompous  Power  can 
never  unfettle  the  everlafting  Land- marks  be- 
tween 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

tween  Good  and  Evil,  no  more  than  thoie  be- 
tween Pleafure  and  Pain  ;  Cafnr  remained  ftill 
a  Rebel  to  his  Country,  and  his  Ads  remained 
wicked  and  tyrannical. 

Let  this  ftand  for  an  Inflance,  that  Laws  are 
not  always  the  Meafure  of  Right  and  Wrong, 
And  as  pofitive  Laws  often  fpeak  when  the 
Law  of  Nature  is  fiient,  the  Law  of  Nature 
fornetimes  fpeaks  when  poikive  Laws  fay  no- 

thing neque  Ofinione^  fed  natura  conftitutnm 

e/fe  Juf.  That  brave  Reman,  Horatius  Codes,  was 
bound  by  no  written  Law  to  defend  the  Wood- 
en  Bridge,  over  the  Tiber ,  againft  a  whole  Ar- 
my of  Tufcans ;  nor  was  there  any  Law,  that  I: 
know  of,  in  Uprne,  againft  Adultery,  when  the 
younger  Tarquin  ravifh'd  Lucretia  :  And  yet  the 
Virtue  of  Horathis  was  juftly  rewarded,  and 
the  Vilenefs  of  Targuin  juftly  punilhed,  by  the 
Romans. 

It  is  impolTible  to  devife  Laws  fufficient  to 
regulate  and  manage  every  Occurrence  and 
Circumdance  of  Life,  becaufe  they  are  often 
produced  and  diverfified  by  Caufes  that  do  not 
appear  ;  and  in  every  Condition  of  Life,  Men 
mull  have,  and  will  have,  great  Allowances 
made  to  their  own  natural  Liberty  and  Difcre- 
rion  :  But  every  Man  who  confents  to  the  ne- 
ceffary  Terms  of  Society,  will  alfb  confent  to 
this  Propoiition,  that  every  Manjhould  do  all  the 
Good,  and  prevent  nil  the  Evil  be  can.  This  is 
the  Voice  of  the  Law  of  Nature,  and  all  Men 
would  be  happy  by  it,  if  all  Men  would  prac- 
tife  it.  This  Law  leads  us  to  fee,  that  the 
Eftablifhment  of  Falfhood  and  Tyranny  (by 
Which  I  mean  the  Privilege  of  One  or  a  Few 

to 


C  A  T  O's  LETTERS. 

to  miflead  and  opprefs  Ail)  cannot  be  jufily 
called  Law,  which  is  the  impartial  Rule  of 
Good  and  Evil,  and  can  never  be  the  Sanction 
of  Evil  alone. 

It  has  been  often  faid,  that  Virtue  is  its  own 
Reward  ;  and  it  is  very  true,  not  only  from 
the  Pleafure  that  attends  the  Confcioufhefs  of 
doing  well,  and  the  Fame  that  follows  it,  but 
in  a  more  extenlive  Senfe,  from  the  Felicity 
which  would  accrue  to  every  Man,  if  all  Men 
would  purfue  Virtue  :  But  as  this  Truth  may 
appear  too  general  to  allure  and  engage  parti- 
cular Men,  who  will  have  always  their  own 
fmgle  (elves  moft  at  Heart,  abftracled  from  all 
the  reft  :,  therefore  in  the  making  of  Laws,  the 
Pleafures  and  Fears  of  particular  Men,  being 
the  great  Engines  by  which  they  are  to  be  go* 
verned,  mult  be  confulted  :  Vice  muft  be  ren- 
dered deteftable  and  dangerous,  arid  Virtue  a- 
miabls  and  advantageous  Their  Shame  and 
Emulation  muft  be  raifed,  and  their  private 
Profit  and  Glory,  Peril  and  Infamy  laid  before 
them.  This  is  the  Meaning  of  T/J/y,  when  he 
lays,  Vitiorum  emendfltrlcem  legem  cjfe  oportef9 
commendatricemque  virtntum. 

Rewards  and  Puni(hments_do  therefore  con- 
ilitute  the  whole  Strength  of  Laws  ;  and  the 
Promulgation  of  Laws,  without  which  they 
are  none,  is  an  Appeal  to  the  Senfe  and  intereft 
of  Men,  which  of  the  two  they  will  chufe. 

The  two  great  Laws  of  humane  Society, 
from  whence  all  the  reft  derive  their  Courfe 
and  Obligation,  are  thofe  of  Equity  and  Self- 
prefervation :  By  the  Firft,  all  Men  are  bound 
alike  not  to  hurt  one  another  ,  and  by  the  Se- 
cond,, 


LETTERS.   2,57 

cond,  all  Men  have  a  Right  alike  to  defend 
themfelves  :  Nam  jure  hoc  evenit  tit  quod  fjuifque 
cb  tuteUm  comports  fui  fecerit,  jure  feciffe  exifli- 
metur,  fays  the  Civil  Law  ;  that  is,  "  it  is  a 
Maxim  of  the  Lav/,  that  whatever  we  do  in 
the  Way,  and  for  the  Ends  of  Self  defence, 
we  lawfully  do ;  *'  all  the  Laws  of  Society 
are  entirely  reciprocal,  and  no  Man  ought  to 
be  exempt  from  their  Force  ;  and  whoever  vi- 
olates this  primary  Law  of  Nature,  ought  by 
the  Law  of  Nature  to  be  deftroyed.  He  who 
obferves  no  Law,  forfeits  all  Title  to  the  Pro- 
te&ion  of  Lav/.  It  is  Wickednefs  not  to  de- 
ftroy  a  Deflroyer;  and  all  the  ill  Confluences 
of  Self  defence  are  chargeable  upon  him  who 
occafioned  them. 

Many  Mifchiefs  are  prevented,  by  deflroying 
One  who  fhews  a  certain  Difppfition  to  com- 
mit many.  To  allow  a  Licence  to  any  Man 
to  do  Evil  with  Impunity,  is  to  make  Vice 
triumph  over  Virtue,  and  -Innocence  the  Prey 
of  the  Guilty.  If  Men  are  obliged  to  bear 
great  and  publick  Evils,  when  they  can  upon 
better  Terms  oppofe  and  remove  them  ;  they 
are  obliged  by  the  fame  Logick,  to  bear  the 
total  Deftruclion  of  Mankind.  If  any  Man 
may  deftroy  whom  he  pleafes  without  Refift- 
ance,  hejmay  extinguifh  humane  Race  with- 
out Refinance,  For,  if  you  fettle  the  Bounds 
of  Refiftance,  you  allow  it  ;  and  if  you  do 
not  fix  its  Bounds,  you  leave  Property  at  the 
Mercy  of  Rapine,  and  Life  in  the  Hands  of 
Cruelty. 

It  is  faid,  that  the  Do&rine  of  Refiftance 
would  deftroy  the  Peace  of  the  World  ;  But  it 

may 


Cafe's  LETTERS.         ' 

may  be  more  truly  faid,  that  the  contrary 
Doctrine  would  deftroy  the  World  it  felf,  as  ft 
has  already  fbme  of  the  beft  Countries  in  it. 
I  muft  indeed  own,  that  if  one  Man  may  de- 
ilroy  all,  there  would  be  great  and  lading 
Peace,  when  No-body  was  left  to  break  it. 

The  Law  of  Nature  does  not  only  allow  us, 
but  oblige  us  to  defend  our  felves.  It  is  our 
Duty,  not  only  to  our  felves,  but  to  the  So- 
ciety;  Vitam  till  ipfifi  negas,  multis  negas,  fays 
Seneca  :  If  we  fuffer  tamely  a  lawlefs  Attack 
upon  our  Property  and  Fortunes,  we  encourage 
it,  and  involve  others  in  our  Doom.  And  Ci- 
cero fays,  "  He  who  does  not  refift  Mifchief 

when  he  may,  is  guilty  of  the  fame  Crime 

as  if  he  deierted  his  Parents,  his  Friends, 
"  and  his  Country. 

So  that  the  Conduct  of  Men,  who  when- 
they  are  ill  treated,  ufe  Words  rather  than 
Arms,  and  praclife  Submijlion  rather  than  Re- 
fiftance,  is  owing  to  a  prudential  Caufe,  be- 
cauie  there  is  Hazard  in  Quarrels  and  War^ 
and  their  Cafe  may  be  made  worfe  by  an  En- 
deavour to  mend  it ;  and  not  to  any  Confeflion- 
of  Right  in  thofe  that  do  them  Wrong.  When 
Men  begin  to  be  wicked,  we  cannot  tell  where 
that  Wickednefs  will  end ;  and  we  have  Reafcn* 
to  fear  the  worft,  and  provide  againft  it. 

Such  is  the  Provifion  made  by  Laws  :  They 
are  Checks  upon  the  unruly  and  partial  Appe- 
tites of  Men,  and  intended  for  Terror  and 
Prote&ion.  But  as  there  are  already  Laws  fuf- 
ficient,  every  where,  to  preferve  Peace  between 
private  Particulars,  the  great  Difficulty  has  hi- 
therto been  to  find  proper  Checks  for  thofe 

who 


's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S. 

who  were  to  check  and  adminifter  the  Laws. 
To  fettle  therefore  a  thorough  Impartiality  in 
the  Laws,  both  as  to  their  End  and  Execution, 
is  a  Task  worthy  of  humane  Wifdom,  as  it 
would  be  the  Caufe  and  Standard  of  Civil  Fe- 
licity. In  the  Theory,  nothing,  is  more  eafy 
than  this  Task ;  and  yet  who  is  able  perform 
it,  if  they  who  can  will  not  ? 

No  Man  in  Society  ought  to  have  any  Pri- 
vilege above  the  reft,  without  giving  the  So- 
ciety fbme  Equivalent  for  fuch  his  Privilege. 
Thus  LegiflarorSj  who  compile  good  Laws, 
and  g©od  Magiftrates  who  execute  them,  ^do, 
by  their  honeft  Attendance  upon  the  Publick, 
deferve  the  Privileges  and  Pay  which  the  Pub- 
lick  allows  them  ;  and  Place  and  Pov/er  are 
the  Wages  paid  by  the  People  to  their  own 
Deputies  and  Agents.  Hence  it  has  been  well 
faid,  that  a  Chief  Magiftrate  is  major  fingulis, 
omnibus  minor  — -  "  He  is  above  the  private 
"  Members  of  the  Community,  but  the  Con> 
u  munity  itfelf  is  above  him. 

Wherever,  therefore,  the  Laws  are  honeftly! 
intended  and  equally  executed,  fo  as  to  com- 
prehend in  their  Penalties  and  Operation  the 
Great  as  well  and  as  much  as  the  Small,  and 
hold  in  awe  the  Magiftrate  as  much  as  the 
Subject,  that  Government  is  good,  and  that 
People  are  happy. 

1  am. 


S.I/1, 


C  A  T  O's  L  E  T  T  E  R  S. 


ALL  Men  have  an  Ambition  to  be  confi- 
derable,  and  take  fuch  Ways  as  their 
Judgments  fugged  to  become  fb.  Hence  pro- 
ceeds the  Appetite  of  all  Men  to  rife  above 
their  Fellows,  and  the  conftant  Emulation  that 
always  has  been,  and  always  will  be  in  the 
World,  arnongft  all  forts  of  Men,  Nature 
has  made  them  all  equal,  and  moft  Men  feem 
well  content  with  the  Lot  of  Parts  which  Na> 
tu  e  has  giv^n  them  ;  but  the  Lot  of  Fortune- 
never  thoroughly  fatisfies  thole  who  have  the 

beft. 

The  fir  ft  ^p^n.2  therefore  of  Inequality  is  m 
hu-nsne  Nature,  and  the  next  in  the  Nature  of 
Society  In  order  that  many  may  live  toge- 
ther in  perfect  Fqtiality,  it  is  neceflary  that 
fome  fhould  be  above  the  many,  who  other- 
wife  will  be  ufing  Frauds  and  Violence  to  get 
above  one  another.  Some  Inequality  there 
muft  be  ;  the  Danger  is,  that  it  be  not  too 
great  :  Where  there  is  abfolute  Equality,  all 
Reverence  and  Awe,  two  Checks  Jndifpenfible 
in  Society,  would  be  loft ;  and  where  Inequa- 
lity is  too  great,  all  Intercourfe  and  Communi- 
cation is  loft. 

Thus  in  Turl^y,  where  there  are  no  natural 
Links,  nor  proper  Degrees  of  Subordination  in 
the  Chain  of  their  Government,  there  is  a 
monftrous  Gap  between  the  Subject  and  the 

Throne, 


CATffs  LETTERS.    ^6I 

Throne.  The  Grand  Signior  preferves  no  Un- 
jjerftanding  with  his  People  :  Nothing  is  to  be 
leen  but  the  Terrors  of  Abfolute  Monarchy 
and  the  abject  Poftures  of  crouching  Slaves. 
Power  does  not  glide  there,  as  it  ought  every 
where,  down  an  even  and  eafy  Channel  with 
a  gentle  and  regular  Defcent,  but  pours  from 
a  Precipice  with  dreadful  Din,  Rapidity,  and 
Violence,  upon  the  poor  and  paffive  Vallies 
below,  breaking  down  all  beforc-ir,  and  laying 
waite  wherever  it  comes. 

it  All  Men  in  the  World  are  fond  of  making  a 
I  igure  in  it.  This  being  the  great  End  of  all 
Men,  they  take  different  Roads  to  come  at  it 
according  to  their  different  Capacities,  Opi- 
nions, Tempers,  and  Opportunities.  No  Man 
would  chufe  to  have  any  Man  his  Equal,  if  he 
could  place  himfelf  above  all  Men.  All  would 
be  Pampas.  But  tho  it  has  fallen  to  the  Share 
but  of  few  Men  to  be  above  all  Men  ;  yet  as 
every  Man  may,  or  thinks  he  may,  excel  fome 
Men,  there  is  a  perpetual  Spur  in  every  De- 
icendantof  Adam  to  be  afpiring.  Every  Man 

has  Self-love,  and  Self-love  is  never  defertedby 
Hope. 

But  this  Spirit  in  every  Man  of  rifing  above 
other  Men,  as  it  confutes  the  Happinefs  of 
private  Individuals,  who  take  great  Compla- 
cency in  their  favourable  Opinion  of  themfelves 
and  their  own  Abilities ,  fo  is  it  the  great  Catife 
ot  pubhck  and  private  Evils,  Wars,  Frauds 
Cruelty,  and  Oppreilion  The  Ambition  of 
excelling  in  every  Station  by  honeft  Means,  is 
not  only  lawful  but  laudable,  and  produces  great 
Good  to  Society  :  But  as  nothing  produces 

Good 


CJTO's  LETTERS. 

Good  in  this  World  but  what  may  and  general- 
ly does  produce  Evil  ;  and  as  Fame,  Riches, 
and  Power  may  be  honeilly  got,  but  wickedly 
ufed,  it  ought  to  be  the  Care  of  Society  to  pro- 
vide that  fuch  Emulation  amongft  its  Members 
be  fb  directed  and  controuPd,  as  to  be  always 
beneficial,  but  never  dangerous.  But  this  is  a 
Felicity  at  which  few  Nations  have  arrived* 
and  thofe  that  had  it  rarely  preserved  it  long. 

It  is  a  nice  Point  of  Wifdom,  perhaps  too 
nice  for  humane  Judgment,  to  fix  certain  and 
lafting  Bounds  to  this  Spirit  of  Ambition  and 
Emulation  amongfr  Men.  To  flop  it  too  fbon, 
fruftrates  its  life  ;  and  not  to  flop  it  at  all,  in- 
vites its  Mifchief.  The  Venetians ,  by  dilcou- 
raging  it,  have  never,  OF  very  rarely,  felt  its 
Advantages  ;  and  the  Athenians  found  their 
OftrAcifm,  an  Expedient  invented  for  this  very 
Purpofe,  ineffectual  to  prevent  their  great  Men, 
who  had  done  great  Good  to  the  State,  from 
growing  terrible  to  the  State  it  felf :  Pericles 
in  particular,  by  his  Arts,  Eloquence,  and  Po* 
pularity,  made  himfelf  Mailer  of  it,  and  did 
almoft  what  he  pleafed  in  it  all  his  Life ;  That 
fingle  Man  was  fb  potent  in  that  free  City,  that 
he  broke  the  Power  of  the  Areopagus,  the  Senate 
Q$  Athens^  a  Court  of  Magiftrates  that  ballanced 
the  Power  of  the  Populace,  who  being  fet  free 
from  that  Reftrainr,  ran  into  all  manner  of 
Licentioufnefs  and  Corruption. 

The  People  of  Athens  became  the  Subjects  of 
Pericles :  By  having  done  them  much  good,  he 
found  Credit  enough  to  deftroy  their  Govern- 
ment and  their  Virtue.  From  the  Character  of 
a  Benefactor,  he  ftoie  into  that  of  a  Mailer : 

So 


3  LETTERS.     163 

So  narrow  and  invifible  are  the  Bounds  between 
the  Benefactor  and  the  Betrayer  J  Valerius  Maxi- 
mus  obferves  very  finely,  that  the  "  only  Dif- 
ference between  Pififtratus  and   Pericles  was, 
that  the   latter  rexercifed   by  Art  the  fame 
Tyranny  that   the  other  had  exercifed  by 

**      A  rr»-,o  "  J 


Good  and  Evil  thus  often  flowing  from  the 
fame  Root,  and  Mifchief  being  frequently  in- 
troduced by  Merit,  (hews  great  Difcernment 
and  Virtue  in  a  People,  and  a  happy  Spirit  in 
their  Laws,  if  they  can  encourage  and  employ 
the  Capacity  and  Genius  of  their  principal  Men, 
fo  as  to  reap  only  the  good  Fruits  of  their 
Services. 

This  was  the  Practice  and  good  Fortune  of 
the  old  fymans  for  feveral  Ages  :  Virtue  was 
the  only  Road  to  Glory  ;  it  was  admired,  Tup- 
ported,  applauded,  and  recompenced;  but  they 
who  had  fhewn  the  greateft,  found  no  Sanftu- 
ary  from  it,  when  they  committed  Crimes  that 
deferved  none.  This  is  particularly  verified  in 
the  Cafes  of  Coriolanus  and  Manlius  Capitoliniis. 
They  were  both  brave  Men,  and  had  deferved 
well  of  their  Country;  and  were  both,  in  Re- 
compence,  diftinguifhed  with  great  Honours  ; 
and  yet  were  both  afterwards  condemned  by 
their  Country,  the  one  for  a  Confpiracy  againft 
it,  and  the  other  for  defpifing  its  Laws.  Their 
Services  and  Crimes  were  properly  Separated 
and  rewarded. 

Emulation  therefore,  or  the  Paflion  of  one 
Man  to  equal  or  excel  another,  ought  to  be  en- 
couraged, with  thefe  two  Reflriftions  :  Firft, 
That  no  Man,  let  his  Merit  be  what  it  will, 

(hould 


164    Giro's   LETTERS. 

fliould  take  his  own  Reward  ;  Secondly,  That 
he  fhould  have  no  more  than  comes  to  his  Share. 
Scipio,  afterwards  called  Africanus,  was  chofen 
as  the  greateft  and  beft  Man  in  I{ome,  to  invade 
the  Territories  of  Carthage  ;  and  he  performed 
it  with  great  Glory  to  himfelf  and  great  Emo- 
lument to  his  Country.  He  defeated  Hannibal, 
and  conquered  Carthage.  The  like  Praife  is  alfb 
due  to  Metellus,  Lucullus,  to  T.  Flaminius,  Pnulus 
Emilius,  and,  many  other  fyman  Commanders, 
who  all  conquered  for  their  Country,  and  were 
rewarded  by  their  Country  with  its  Laurels, 
and  its  Dignities. 

But  Julius  C<efar,  being  alfo  employed  by  the 
Commonwealth  to  conquer  for  it,  fucceeded 
in  his  Commiilion  ;  but,  as  a  Reward,  took  the 
Commonwealth  for  his  Pains :  He  paid  himfelf 
with  the  whole  fyman  World,  for  having  con- 
quered Part  of  it.  Alexander  the  Great^  and 
mo  ft  other  Conquerors,  had  the  fame  Modefty 
and  the  fame  Wages  ;  they  took  All  to  them- , 
felves. 

When  Men  are  left  to  meafure  their  own 
Merit,  and  the  Reward  due  to  it,  they  rarely 
flint  themfelves ;  all  they  can  get  is  the  leatt 
they  expect :  And  to  defcend  to  lefler  Inftances, 
the  World  has  always  abounded  in  Men,  who, 
tho'  they  deferved  Contempt  or  a  Prifon,  yet 
could  never  be  fatiated  with  Places  and  Power. - 
And  all  Men  who  have  obfcrved  the  Affairs  of 
the  World,  will  remember  and  acknowledge, 
thai:  feme-times  one  Man  has  poileffed  many 
Pods,  to  whom  the  pubiick  Suffrage  and  Con- 
(cat  never  gave  one. 

In 


CATO's   LETTERS.    165- 

In  my  Refleaions  upon  this  Subject,  I  have 
often  amufed,  and  even  diverted  my  felf  with 
thus  Imagination  ;   namely    what   a  wonderful 
and  epidemical  Ceflation  of  Power  and  Place 
would  enfue  a  fucMen  and  univerfa]  Removal 
from  thence  of  every  Man   who  defer v,-d   nci- 
1  handed  [  faw  the  whole  Inhabitants  of 
everal  Countries,    towards  every  Quarter  of 
.he  Sky,  gaping  round  them  for  Magistrates    at 
leaft  for  one  lingle  MagiftW,  and  finding  none 
•  and  yet  even  in  this  State  of  Anarchy,  con- 
gratulatiog  one  another  and  thenifelves  upon 
the  wonderful  Amendment  of  their  Govern 
mentJ  I  law  all  ^«,   the  whole  amde  Dom". 
nions  or  the  Tin*,,  and  many  potent  Kingdoms 
nearer  home,  all  in  an  abfolute  State  of  Ni 
ture  :  In  the  large  Bofom  of  the  r^mifh  Church 
notaPneft  was  tobefeen;  and  in  feme  Po! 
telrant  Countries,  the  good  People  were  erea  'v 
ft,  where  to  get  a  Man  in  a  proper  Ho- 
bit  to  lay  pubiick  Prayers.     Mere   *n 
indeed,  I  found  a  different  Face  of  Thi'naf 
more  Comfort  :   For,  tho'  at  prefent   wl  have 
no  1  arnarnent  (imng,   and  tho' in  other  Places 
Maw  difmal  Solitude,   and  numberTds  Vacan- 
cies ;  yet  I  perceived  many  worthy  Perfons'in 
Church  and  Stare,  doing   their  fiffi     and 
counting  their  Gains,  with  great  Atten tbn  and 
Alacrity,   but  greatly  diitreffed   how   to  find 
new  Perfons  for  old  Places. 

conclude  in    the 


that^Con^d^^^^^"^'     1C   IS  rrue 
^  mane  Frailty  -"and  Come*  ^  '  &    ^  °'    hu" 

i    extended  to  thofe  who  c 


Vui..  a.  VI 

having 


9.66    Giro's  LETTERS. 

*'  having  dopr-  :rnp^mnt  Services:  But  a  State 
<c  caj.o^t  f  iilr.  ill,  which,  compenfating  evil 
*'  Actions  wiih  good,  gives  Impunity  to  dan- 
*"  gerous  Crimes,  in  remembrance  or  any  Ser- 
*'  vices  whatever.  He  that  does  well,  performs 
"  his  Duty,  and  ought  always  to  do  Jo ;  Ju- 
"  ftice  and  Prudence  concur  in  this;  and  it  is 
44  no  lefs  juft  than  profitable,  that  every  A&i- 
*'  on  be  confidered  by  it  felf,  and  fuch  a  Re- 
6C  ward  allotted  to  it,  as  in  Nature  and  Pro- 
"  portion  it  belt  deferves." 

I  am,  &C. 


S  I  R, 

R.  Bayle,  in  the  Article  of  Epicurus, 

<c  That  Multitudes  of  Chriftians  believe 
*'  well,  and  live  ill :  But  Epicurus  and  his  Fel- 
*c  lowers  had,  on  the  contrary,  very  ill  Opi- 
nions, and  yet  lived  well."  The  Truth  i?, 
the  worft  Opinions  that  are  can  do  but  little 
harm,  when  they  are  impracticable,  or  when 
no  Advantages  are  gained  by  reducing  them 
into  Practice;  and  the  bell  can  do  but  little 
good,  when  they  contradict  the  darling  Plea- 
lures  and  prevailing  Interejls  of  iVSen. 

Dry  Reafoning  has  no  Force  :  If  you  would 
have  your  Doctrine  fuccefTful,  you  mud  prove 
it  gainful.  And  as  in  order  to  lay  down  good 
Rules  for  well  governing  the  Commonwealth, 
you  muftfirft  know  the  Common  wealth;  fb  in 
order  to  perfwade  and  govern  Men,  you  mud 

know 


5   LETTERS.     - 

know  what  will  pleafe  or  frighten  them.  The 
Good  they  do  to  one  another,  they  do  not  be- 
caufe  it  is  juft  or  commanded  ;  "nor  do  they 
forbear  mutual  Evil,  becaufe  it  is  unjufr.  or  for- 
bid :  But  thefe  Things  they  do  out  of  Choice 
or  Fear,  and  both  thefe  center  in  themfeives : 
tor  Choice  is  Pleafure,  and  Fear  is  the  Appre- 
nenfion  of  Pain  :  So  that  the  heft  Things  Men 
do,  as  well  as  the  worft,  are  felfim  .  and  Self  love 
is  the  Parent  of  Moral  Good  and  Evil 

What  Mr.  SeUen  fays   of  Humility,'  mav  be 
faid  of  every  other  Virtue.     "  Humility,  fays 
that  wife  Man,  is  a  Virtue  that  all  preach, 
none  pradtife,  and  yet  every  Body  is  cement 
to  hear  :  The  Mafkr  thinks  it  good  Doctrine 
his  Servants,  the  Laity  for   the  Clergy 
and   the  Clergy  for   the  Laity,"     Thus  we* 
deal  wirh  all  the  Virtues     we  leave  and  recom- 
mend rhe  Practice  of  them  to  others,  and  re- 
lerve  the  Advantage  and  Praife  of  them  to  our 
lelves. 

All  this,  and  the  reft  of  this  Letter,  is  meant 
to  fhew  that  this  Wrorld  is  governed  by  Paffion, 
and  not  by  Principle  ;  and  it  ever  will  be  fo  as 
long  as  Men  are  Men. 

There   are  rarely  any  Men,  and  never  any 

Body  of  Men  but   what  profefs  fome   fort  of 

Religion  ;  and  every  Religion  profefTes  to  pro- 

Peace  of  Mankind,  and  the  Happi- 

nets  of  humane  Society,  and   the  Security  of 

the  World  ;  and  for  Proof  of  this,  refers  to  its 

Principles,    Jo^rines  and  Decifions.     And  it  is 

very  true  that  all  Parties  in   Religion  contend 

mbmdfion  to  the  State,  as  long  as  the  State 

humours  them,  or  iubmits  to  them3  but  their 

M  %  Obedi, 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

Obedience  and  good  Humour  never  hold  longer. 
All  their  Principles  ply  in  the  Day  ofTryal,  and 
are  either  thrown  away,  or  diftinguifned  away  ; 
which  is  tlic  fame  Thing,  rho'  not  fo  honed:. 
Nature  Is  then  the  bell  Guide,  and  Paillon  the 
rr.oft  popular  Preacher. 

Men  fiiit  their  Tenets  to  the  Circumilances 
they  are  In,  or  would  be  in ;  and  when  they 
'have  gained  their  Point,  they  forget  their  Te- 
rets.  I  could  give  In  (lances  of  this  from  all 
Sorts  of  Men,  and  even  from  many  whofe 
Names  are  great  and  venerable. 

Gregory  Na$ian%en9  that  eloquent  and  eminent 
Greel^  Father,  being  himfelf  Orthodox,  con- 
tended for  Toleration  to  the  Arinns^  while 
the  An  An  s  were  uppermoft,  and  had  the  Em- 
peror on  their  Side  :  But  as  foon  as  Things  took 
a  contrary  Turn,  and  his  own  Party  had  the 
Imperial  Power  on  their  Side,  he  changed  his 
Stile,  and  then  it  was  unpardonable  Boldnefs 
and  a  horrible  Attempt,  for  the  An  tins  and 
Macedonians  fo  much  as  to  meet  together  to 
worfhlp  God  their  own  Way. 

St.  Auftin  had  the  fame  Spirit  and  Inconfift- 
ency  :  He  was  once  in  the  Sentiments  of  Cha-, 
riry  and  Toleration  towards  Hereticks;  but  his 
Difpute  afterwards  with  the  Donatifis  fo  inflam'd 
him,  that  he  changed  without  any  Ceremony 
from  White  to  Black,  and  maintained  with 
Violence,  that  Hereticks  ought  to  be  compelled, 
perircuted  and  exterminated. 

Thus  it  is  that  Men  bear  witnefs  againfl 
themftrlves,  and  pra&ife  the  Evils  which  they 
condemn.  "  The  Pirnf/ins,  fays  Mr  Se/Jen9 
"  who  will  allow  no  Free- Will  at  all,  but  God 

does 


U 

I'. 
it 
U 


*s   LETTERS. 

"  does  all,  yet  will  allow  the  Sub  jeer,  his  Li- 
berty to  do,  or  nor  to   do,  notwithftanding 
ct  the  King,  who   is  God  upon   Earth  :    The- 
^  ArrninianS)    who    hold    that   we   have  Free- 
^  ill,  do  yet  fay,  when  we  come  to  the  King, 
we  mull;  be  all  Obedience;  and  no  Liberty  is 
to  be  flood  for. 

V,  hiie  Spain  was  the  moil  renowned  Power 
in  Europe,  the  Jefutts,  feys  Mr.  tiaylc,  were 
all  Spaniards',  as  well  thofe  born  at  Paris  or 
tyme,  as  thofe  born  in  OldCaftile.  Ever  iince 
the  Decay  of  the  Houfe  of  Auflrf^  and  the 
Eicvation  of  Lewis  te  Grwd^  the  Jcfuits  are- 
all  F'eiicb)  at  ^me^  at  Vienna^  at  'Madrid^. 

•  as   well  as   in   the  College  of  Clermont.     In- 
thofe  Days    the   Liberties    of   the  GnUicfin 
Church  appeared  to  them  not  well  grounded:- 
They  never  ceafed  writing   for  the   Rights 

'  of  the  Pope  againft  thofe  of  our  Kings.'  One 

•  might    fill    a    Library   with    the    Defences- 
corn  pofed  by  the  Society,  and  condemned  by 

the  Parliament  and  the  Sorbcv. At  prefent 

his  Majefty  has  not  truftier  Pens  than  theirs 
in  his  Differences  with  the  Pope.    It  is  now 
the  Turn  of  the  Court  of  fyme  to  cenfure 
the  Books  of  the  Reverend  Fathers.     It  feems- 
the    King's    Profperity   and   Succeffes  have 
attorded  them  new  Lights." 

It  is  with  Laymen  and  Civil  Societies  as  with 
Religious  :  They  have  one  Set  of  Principles 
when  they  are  in  Power ;  and  another,  and  a 
contrary,  when  they  are  out  of  it.  They 
that  command,  and  they  that  obey,  have  feldomv 
or  never  the  fame  Motives.  Men  change  with 
tfeeir  Condition,  and  Opinions  change  with: 

M    2 


a7o     Giro's  LETTERS. 

Men.  And  thus  js  verified  that  Maxim  of 
f(6ckefoitcau-lt\  that  the  Underftanding  is  the 
Dupe  or  Tool  of  the  Heart ;  that  is,  our  Sen- 
timents follow  our  Pafilons. 

Nor  has  Religion  been  fuffered  to  mend  Na- 
ture :  On  the  contrary,  being  inftituted  as  a 
Rettraint,  and  an  Antidote  againft  Sin,  it  has 
been  and  is  frequently  perverted  into  a  Reafon 
for  finning  :  Yes,  to  the  Shame  and  Misfortune 
of  the  World,  Men  often  make  War  upon 
Truth,  Confcience,  and  Honefty,  in  behalf  of 
their  Religion  ;  and  there  are  others,  who, 
\vhen  "they  have  wantonly  wounded  Virtue,- 
have  recourfe  to  Religion  for  aBalfam. 

All  Men  (peak  well  of  Religion,  either  na- 
tural or  revealed,  and  readily  pra&ife  every 
Thing  in  Religion  that  Js  eafy,  indifferent,  or 
advantageous  to  them  :  But  in  aim  oft  every 
OcnremL-n  between  Religion  and  the  Appetites, 
the  Victory  remains  to  Nature ;  that  i?,  JVfcw 
are  never  dijkoneft  without  Temptation,  and  rarefy 
hone  ft  figair.ft  it. 

Thus  their  Principle  is  Interest  or  Plcafure  ; 
and  when  they  fay  they  a&  from  Principle, 
how  can  we  believe  them,  unlefs  we  fee  they 
do  it  againft  Intereft  ?  A  Proof  which  they 
rarely  give  us !  Had  the  feveral  Contracts  and 
Treaties  between  Nation  and  Nation  been 
observed,  there  would  never  have  been  War 
above  once  between  any  \  or  had  every  free 
Nation  oblerved  its  own  Laws,  every  free  Na- 
tion would  have  continued  free;  or  had  private 
Men  obferved  the  common  Laws  of  Equity, 
and  thofe  of  mutual  Compact  between  each 
other,  evesy  private  Man  would  have  lived  in 

Peace 


LETTERS,     271 


Peace  and  Security.     But  Treaties, 

and  Laws.,  are  only  fb  far  ftrong  as  no  Body 

dares  break  them. 

I  think  it  is  ^uvsna!,  who  fbmewhere  brings 
in  a  (  ouple  of  falfe  WitneiTes  perjuring  them- 
felves  for  Hire  ;  one  is  a  religious  Rogue,  and 
believes  in  the  Gods  ;  the  other  is  an  Infidel,, 
who  disbelieves  or  delpiles  them.  But  tho'  they 
difagree  in  their  Sentiments,  they  agree  in  the 
Thing,  with  this  very  fmall  Difference  ;  the 
Atheift  forfwears  himfelf  boldly  without  Re- 
morfe;  the  Believer  forfwears  himfelf  too,  but 
does  it  with  a  Ihiall  Qualm,  which  is  presently 
over. 


-VcndeP  feffvri'a  fiimma 


Exigna,  Cereris  tangent  aramque  pedemque; 


very  humoroufly  engages  a  "Mandarin 
of  China,  of  the  Se6t  of  the  Literati,  in  a  Di- 
alogue with  the  Jefuits,  and  with  a  Dutch  Em- 
feamdor  :  The  Jefuits  tell  the  Mandarin,  that: 
the  Emperor  had  no  Subjects  in  his  Dominions,, 
whofe  Obedience  was  fo  lee  tire  to  him,  as  that 
of  their  Converts,  the  Chriftians  ;  and  none 
whole  Allegiance  was  fo  precarious  as  that  of 
the  Literati,  who  were  Arheids. 

Hold,  cries  the  Mandarin  ;  let  us  not  afTert 

too  much  without  proving  it:  What  Reafbn 

have  you  to  fay  that  the  Submiiiion  of  the 

Chriftians  to  the  Orders  of  the  Emperor,  is 

more  certain  than  that  of  all  his  other  Sub- 

"  je&s  ?"     That  Boot  hjpired  by   God,  anfwers 

the  Jefuits  ;  That  Boct^  which   is  the  I{ti'e  of   cur 

Faith,  commands  us  .exfrefiy  to  iubmif  our  .'£el.vcs. 

*  M  4  EO 


's  LETTERS. 


to  the  higher   Powers  :    Tak?  the  Trouble, 
j..crd,  to  redd  in  it  fitch  and  fitch  Pajfages  :  Nothing 
is  more  dear,   nothing  fo  psecife'y  determined. 

But,  fays  the  Mandarin,  turning  to  the 
"  Embafiador,  are  not  you  in  Europe  divided 
44  about  the  Meaning  of  thefe  Paifages  ? 

44  So  divided,  replies  the  Dutchman,  that  one 
44  Room  would  not  contain  the  Volumes  writ- 
44  ten  for  and  againft  the  Right  of  Subjects  to 
44  reiiil  and  depofe  their  Prince  :    And  both 
44  Sides  take  particular  Care  in  all  their  Wric- 
44  ings,   to  examine  accurately  every  Text  of 
*J  Scripture,  which  the  reverend  Fathers   refer 
44  yoiMo.     This  Difcuilion  of  Texts  has  there- 
"  fore  begot  two  Proportions,  flatly  contradicl- 
"  ing  each  other.     One  Party  aliens,   that  in 
44  departing  from  your  Obedience,  you  depart 
44  from  the  Bible  :    The  other  fays,   they  refill 
44  with,   the  Bible  on  thejir  Side.     We  have  in 
44  Chriftendom'tnany   Inftances  of    Princes   at- 
"  tacked  by  Parties  of  their  Subjects,  bereft  of 
"  their  Sovereignty,    banifhed,    beheaded,  af- 
44  fallmated,    and  generally  for  the  Interefl  of 
4C  Religion.     Nor  is  there  any  End  of  the  Books 
publifhed  on  this  Occalion  ;  we  have  every 
Day   printed  Accufations,    and    every   Day 
printed  Apologies  ;  and  both  they  who  ac- 
cufe,  and  they  who  defend,  appeal  to  God, 
and  refer  to  his  Word.     As  to  the  Jefuits  in 
particular,   it  becomes  them  the  leaft  of  all 
Men  to  talk  in  this  Manner ;   no  Society  of 
44  Men  have  ever  writ  fo  much   in   behalf  of 
44  popular  Infurreclions  •  they  have  openly  con- 
44  tended  for  Rebellion,  and  praclifed  it;  they 
44  have  been  the  Authors  of  Royal  Aflaflina- 

44  tions, 


(.1. 

(C 

i. 
u 
II 

C( 

a 


u 
u 

fij 


s   LETTERS,    z;; 

'  rions,  and  have  been  turned  out  of  States  for 

.    diiturbing  them. 

cc       If    thefe  Things   are  fo,    concludes-   the 

^  Mandarin^  you  Gentlemen  of  the  Order  o? 
Jefii*  have  no  Reafon  to  boaPr  in  behalf" 
of  your  felves  -and  your  Followers,  as  if 
you  were  better  Subjects  than  other  Men, 
This  your  pretended  Article  of  Faith  a- 
bout  the  ubmiilion  of  the  cuHe6r,  is 
couched  fo  obfcurely  in  your  Book  of  fa- 

^  cred    Laws,     that    you   will   never  find   iir 
there,  when  you  have  Occafion    for  a  Re^ 

^  beliion,    or  a  Revolution;    Events,    which 
I  find   are  frequent  enough  in  your  Coun- 

•* 


"  try/' 


ihe  fame   Bay/e  obferves,  That  the   fame 
Party   of  Chriftians,  namely,    the  French  Ca* 
tholicks,  who  had   maintained,    under   Charles 
the^Ninth  and  Henry  the  Third,  That  it  was 
agamft    all    Law,     humane    and    divine,    for 
Subjects  to  take   Arms  againft   their  Prince  ; 
did   alfb  maintain,   even  before   the  Death   c? 
Henry  the   Third,    that    it   was   agreeable    to 
Laws,   humane  and  divine,  to  take  up  Arms 
agamft'    one's   Prince.      The  other    Parry   of 
Chrifiians,   namely,   the  Proreftants.  were  not 
more    confident.      They    maintained,    during 
the    Reigns   of   Charles  the    Ninth    and  HCWV 
the  Third,  That  Laws,  humane   and  divine 
allowed    the  fmaller   Part   of  the  Subiefts   to 
arm  thernfelves    againft   the   greater  Part     e- 
ven   with   the   King    at  their  Hesd  :    But  -f-' 
rcr   the    Death    of    Henry    the  Third,     when 
tney    had  got   a    King    ot  their   own   Rcligi- 
on,    they   maintained,    That   both  the  Law 


^74     Giro's  LETTERS. 

of  God,  and  the  Law  of  Man,  forbid  even 
the  greater  Part  of  the  Subjects  to  arm  them- 
felves  againft  the  fmaller  Part,  with  the  King 
at  their  Head. 

It  were  needlefs  to  give  more  Proofs,  and 
endlefs  to  give  all  that  might  be  given,  Al- 
moft  every  Thing  that  Men  do,  is  an  Evi- 
dence that  their  Friendmip  for  themfelves 
does  efte&ually  extinguifh  their  Regard  for 
all  the  reft  of  their  Species  •  and  that  they 
adopt  or  re]e6t  Principles,  juft  as  theie  Prin- 
ciples promote  or  contradict  their  intereft  and 
Paffions. 

Nor  are  religious  or  moral  Principles  the 
worfe  for  being  thus  ufed  ;  but  Men  (hew 
their  own  unconquerable  Malignity  and  Selfifh- 
nefs  in  uling  them  thus. 

Upon  the  whole,  I  think  it  is  very  plain, 
that  if  you  feparate  from  the  Principles  of 
Men,  the  Penalties  and  Advantages  which 
are  annexed  to  them  by  Laws  humane  and 
divine,  or  which  every  Man  has  annexed 
to  them  in  his  own  Mind,  you  will  hardly 
leave  fuch  a  Thing  as  Principle  in  the  World  , 
the  World  is  not  therefore  governed  by  Prin- 
ciple. 


, 
"\.t  ' 


sift, 


LETTERS;    27$ 


/JEN  are  naturally  equal,  and  none  ever 
1  rofe  above  the* reft  but  by  Force  or  Con- 
tent :  No  Man  was  ever  born  above  all  the 
reft,  nor-  below  them  all  ;  and  therefore  there 
never  was  any  Man  in  the  World  fo  good  or 
fb  bad,  fo  high  or  fo  low,  but  he  had  his  Fel- 
low. Nature  is  a  kind  and  benevolent  Parent; 
fhe  conftitutes  no  particular  Favourites  with 
Endowments  and  Privileges  above  the  reft^but 
for  the  molt  part  fends  all  her  Offspring  into* 
the  World  furnidaed  with  the  Elements  of  tin- 
derftanding  and  Strength  to  provide  for  them- 
felves  :  She  gives  them  Heads  to  confult  their 
own  Security,  and  Hands  to  execute  their  own; 
Counfels  ;  and  according  to  the  life  that  they 
make  of  their  Faculties,  and  of  the  Opportu- 
nities that  they  find,  Degrees  of  Power  arid 
Names  of  DiftincHon  grow  amongft  thenv 
and  their  natural  Equality  is  loft. 

Thus  Nature,    who  is    their   Parent,    deals 
with  Men  :  But  Fortune,  who  is  their  Nurfe, 
is  not  fo  benevolent  and  impartial  ;  fhe   acls-; 
wantonly  and  capriciously,  and  otten  cruelly  ^ 
and  counterplotting  Juftice  as  well  as  Nature,. 
fhe  frequently  fers  the  Fooi   above   the  wife 
Ivlan,  arid  the  beft  bebw  fhe  wo  ft. 

And  ;-rom  hence  it  is.   that  the  nioft  Part  of 
the  World,  attending  mu  'i  more  to  the 
Condudt  and  glaring  Effects  of  Fortune, 

LGte 


-Lj6    CATO's  LETTERS. 

to  the  quiet  and  regular  Proceedings  of  Na- 
ture, -are  mifled  in  their  Judgment  upon  this 
Subject:  They  confound  Fortune  with  Nature, 
and  too  often  afcribe  to  Natural  Merit  and 
Excellency  the  Works  of  Contrivance  or 
Chance.  This,  however,  (hews  that  Reafbn 
snd  Equity  run  in  our  Heads,  while  we  en- 
deavour to  find  a  jiift  Caufe  for  Things  that 
are  not  juft  •  and  this  is  the  Source  of  the  Re- 
verence we  pay  to  Men  whom  Fortune  forne- 
times  lifts  on  high,  though  Nature  had  placed 
them  below.  The  Populace  rarely  fee  any 
Creature  rife,  but  they  find  a  Reafon  for  it  in 
his  Parts ;  when  probably  the  true  one  will  be 
found  in  his  own  Bafenefs,  or  another  Man's 
Folly. 

From  the  fame  Reafbning  may  be  feen  why 
it  is,  that  let  who  will  be  at  the  Head  of  a 
Party,  he  is  always  extolled  by  his  Party  as  fu- 
perior  to  the  reft  of  Mankind  >  and  let  who 
will  be  the  firft  Man  of  his  Country,  he  will 
never  fail  being  complimented  by  many  as  the 
firft  of  his  Species.  But  the  Iffue  and  their 
own  Behaviour  do  conftantly  (hew  that  the 
higheft  are  upon  a  level  with  the  reft,  and  of- 
ten with  the  loweft.  Men  that  are  high  are 
almoft  ever  feen  in  a  falfe  Light  ;  the  moft 
Part  fee  them  at  a  great  Diitance,  and  through 
ji  magnifying  Medium  ;  fbme  are  dazled  with 
their  Splendor,  and  many  are  awed  by  their 
Power.  Whatever  appears  (Lining  or  terrible 
appears  great,  and  is  magnified  by  the  Eye  and 
the  Imagination. 

That  Nature  has  made  Men  equal,  we  know 
and  [eel  j  and  when  People  come  to  think  other- 
wife, 


LETTERS.    177 

wife,  there  is  no  Excels  of  Folly  and  Su perdi- 
tion v/hich  they  may  not  be  brought  to  prac- 
tife.  Thus  they  have  made  Gods  of  dead 
Men,  and  paid  divine  Honours  to  many  while 
they  were  yet  living  :  They  faw  them  to  be 
but  Men,  yet  they  worshipped  them  as  Gods. 
And  even  they  who  have  not  gone  quite  fb  far,, 
have  yet,  by  their  wild  Notions  of  Inequality, 
done  as  much  Mifchief ;  they  have  made  Men, 
and  often  wicked  Men,  Vice-Gods  ;  and  then- 
made  God's  Power  (falfly  fb  called)  as  irre- 
filHble  in  the  Hands  of  Men  as  in  his  own, 
and  more  frightful, 

It  is  evident  to  common  Senfe,  that  there 
ought  to  be  no  Inequality  in  Society,  but  for 
the  Sake  of  Society  ;  but  thefe  Men  have  made 
one  Man's  Power  and  Will  tl*e  Caufe  of  all 
Mens  Mifery.  They  gave  him  as  far  as  they 
could  the  Power  of  God,  without  obliging 
him  to  pra£H(e  the  Mercy  and  Goodnefs  o£ 
God. 

Thofe  that  think  themfelves  furtheft  above 
the  reft,  are  generally  by  their  Education  be- 
low them  all,  They  are  debafed  by  a  Conceit 
of  their  Grearnefs  :  They  truft-  to  their  Blood, 
which  fpeaking  naturally  gives  them  no  Ad- 
vantage;  and  negle6l  their  Mind,  which  alone, 
by  proper  Improvements,  fets  one  Man  above 
another.  It  is  not  Blood  or  Nature,  but  Art 
or  Accident,  which  makes  one  Man  excel  o- 
thers.  Arifiotls,  therefore,  mud  either  have 
been  in  Jefl,  when  he  faid,  that  he,  who  na- 
turally excelled  all  others,  ought  to  govern  all; 
or  he  faid  it  to  flatter  his  Pupil  and  Prince, 
Alexander  the  Great,  It  is  certain  that  luch  a 

Man 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

Man  never  yet  was  found  in  the  World,  and 
never  will  be  found  rill  the  End  of  it.  Alex- 
dnder  himfelf,  notwirhftanding  the  GreatmTs  of 
his  Spirit,  and  his  Conquefh,  had  in  his  own 
Army,  and  perhaps  among  the  common  Sol- 
diers, Men  naturally  as  great  and  brave  as  him- 
felf, and  many  more  wife. 

Whoever  pretends  to  be  naturally  fuperior 
to  other  Men,  claims  from  Mature  what  (he 
never  gave  to  any  Man.  He  frts'up  for  being 
more  than  a  Man  :  a  Characler  with  which 
Nature  has  nothing  to  do.  She  has  thrown' 
her  Gifts  in  common  amongft  us  ;  and  as  the 
higheft  Offices  of  Nature  foil  to  the  Share  of 
the  Mean  as  well  as  of  the  Great,  her  vileft 
Offices  are  performed  by  the  Great  as  well  as- 
by  the  Mean  •:  Death  and  Difcafes  are  the 
Portion  of  King?  as  well  as  of  Clowns  ;  and 
the  Corps  of  a  Monarch  is  no  more  exempted 
from  Stench  and  Putrefaction,  than  the  CorpSr 
of  a  Slave. 

Mors  (cquo  fulfot  fede. 


All  the  Arts  and  Endeavours  of  Men  to  a<> 
quire  Prehetnlnenfce  and  Advantages  over  one 
another,  are  fb  many  Proofs  and  Confeflions- 
that  they  have  nor  fuch  Preherninence  and  Ad- 
vantages from  Nature  ;  and  all  their  Pompr 
Titles,  and  Wealth,  are  Means  and  Devices  to- 
make  the  World  think  that  they  who  poffMS 
them  are  fuperior  in  Merit  to  thole  that  want 
them.  But  it  is  not  much  to  the  Glory  of  the 
upper  Part  of  Mankind,  that  their  boafted  :«nd 
fuperior  Merit  is  often  the  Work  of  Heralds, 

Artificers^ 


CATO's  LETTERS.    2.79 

tf 

Artificers,  and  Money  ;  and  thit  many  derive 
their  whole  Stock  of  Fame  from  Anceftors, 
who  lived  an  Age  or  many  Ages  ago 

The  firft  Founders  of  great  Families  were 
not  always  Men  of  Virtue  or  Parts  ;  and 
where  they  were  fb,  thofe  that  came  after  them, 
did  frequently,  and  almoft  generally,  by  truft- 
ing  to  their  Blood,  difgrace  their  Name.  Such 
is  the  Folly  of  the  World,  and  the  Inconve- 
nience to  Society,  to  allow  Men  to  be  great  by 
Proxy  !  An  Evil  that  can  fcarce  ever  be  cured. 
The  Race  of  French  Kings,  called  by  their 
Hiftorians  in  Contempt,  Les  t{oies  faineants, 
and  the  SuccelTion  of  the  Rgman  Cafars,  (in  both 
which,  for  one  good  Prince,  they  had  ten  that 
were  intolerable,  either  for  Folly  or  Cruelty, 
and  often  for  both)  might  be  mentionecf  as 
known  Proofs  of  the  above  Truth  ;  and  every 
Reader  will  find  in  his  own  Memory  many 
more. 

I  have  been  told  of  a  Prince,  who,  while  yet 
under  Age,  being  reproved  by  his  Governor 
for  doing  Things  ill  or  indecent,  ufed  to  an- 
fwer,  3*  juis  Roy,  I  dm  King  ;  as  if  his  Quality 
had  altered  the  Nature  of  Things,  and  he  him- 
felf  had  been  better  than  other  Men,  while  he 
afted  worfe  But  he  (poke  from  that  Spirit 
which  had  been  infti  lied  into  him  from  hisCradle. 
J  am  Kjnv  !  And  what  then,  Sir  ?  The  Office 
of  a  King  is  not  to  do  Evil,  but  to  prevent  it. 
You  have  Royal  Blood  in  your  Veins  ;  but  the 
Blood  of  your  Page  is,  without  being  Royal, 
as  good  as  yours  ;  ors  if  you  doubt,  try  the 
Difference  in  a  Couple  of  Porringers,  next  time 
you  are  ill  j  and  learn  from  this  Confide  rail  on 

and 


x8o     CATO's  LETTERS. 

and  Experiment,  that  by  Nature  you  are  ns 
better  than  your  People,  tho'  fuhjecl:  from  your 
Fortune  to  be  worfe,  as  many  of  your  Ancef- 
rors  have  been. 

If  my  Father-  got  ar.<Eftate  and  Title  by  Law 
or  the  Sword  ;  I  may  by  Virtue  of  his  Will  or 
his  Patent  enjoy  his  Acquifition  ;  but  if  1  under- 
iland  neither  Law  nor  the  Sword,  1  can  derive 
Honour  from  neither  :  My  Honour  therefore 
is,  in  the  Reafbn  of  Things,  purely  Nominal  ; 
and  I  am  ftill  by  Nature  a  Plebeian3.zs  all  Men 
are- 

There  is  nothing  moral  in  Blood,  or  in. 
Title,  or  in  Place  :  Actions  only,  and  the 
Caufes  that  produce  them,  are  moral.  He 
therefore  is  beft  that  does  beflr.  Noble  Blood 
prevents  neither  Folly,  nor  Lunacy,  norCrimes; 
but  frequently  begets  or  promotes  them-:  And 
Noblemen,  who  acl  infamously,  derive  no  Ho- 
nour from  virtuous  Anceflors,  whom  they  di£ 
honour.  A  Man  who  does  bafe  Things,  i?  not 
noble;  nor  great,  if  he  does  little  Things: 
A  fbber  Villager,  is  a  better  Man  than  a  de- 
bauched Lord  ;  and  an  honeft .Mechanick,  thaa 
a  knavifh  Courtier. 


Nobilitri*  fold  eft  atqtif  unlcn  Virtus. 


mibi  deles  finhni  lonn  ;  Sfivclus  babsri 
eque  ten  AX  faciis^  diciipjuc  merer  is  ? 

Juvenal,  Sat.  8". 

We  cannot  bring  more  natural  Advantages 
into  the  World,  than  other  Men  do  ;  but  v  e 
can  acquire  more  Virtue  in  it  than  we  generally 

acquire. 


CATCfs  LETTERS.     18 1 

acquire.  To  be  great,  is  not  in  every  Man's 
Power  ;  but  to  be  good,  is  in  the  Power  of  all : 
And  thus  far  every  Man  may  be  upon  a  Level 
with  another,  the  lowed  with  the  higheft  ; 
and  Men  might  thus  corne  to  be  morally  as 
well  as  naturally  equal. 

I  am 


S  1  /I,    - 

E  N  are  often  capable  of  doing  as  much, 
whether  it  be  Good  or  Evil,  by  the 
Appearance  of  Parts  as  by  poffeiling  them,  and 
become  really  confiderable  by  being  thought  To. 
Some  by  pretending  to  great  Intereft  with  the 
Gods,  have  gained  great  Intereft  amongft  Men, 
and  plagued  the  Earth  to  prove  themfelves  Fa- 
vourites of  Heaven  :  Others  grow  great  at 
Court,  by  being  thought  great  in  a  Party  ;  and 
grow  at  the  fame  Time  great  in  a  Party,  by 
being  thought  great  at  Court  :  Twice  Liars, 
they  meet  with  the  double  Wages  of  Lying. 

Thus  is  the  World  deceived  •  a  Thing  fb 
eafily  done,  that  rarely  any  Man  lets  about  it 
but  he  fucceeds  in  it,  let  his  Parts  be  ever  ib 
fcanty  or  ftarved.  Munherers  have  pafied  for 
Saints,  Buffoons  for  Wits,  and  folemn  Dunces 
for  wife  Men. 

I  have  been  often  provoked  to  fee  a  whole 
Aflembly,  fometimes  neither  contemptible  for 
Number,  nor  Figure,  nor  Senfe,  give  them- 
feives  up  to  the  Guidance  and  Management  <?f 

a 


z8z     CAfO's  LETTERS. 

a  filly  ignorant  Fellow,  important  only  in  Gri- 
mace and  Affurance  :  Nay,  Parties,  potent 
Parties,  do  generally  throw  them/elves  into  the 
Hands  and  Direction  of  Men,  who,  tho'  they 
chop  them  and  fell  them,  yet  want  every  Ta- 
lent for  this  fort  of  Negotiation,  but  the  Cre- 
duKty  of  rhofe  that  truft  them.  This  is  their 
bed  Qualification,  and  'tis  fufficient.  Thefe 
are  the  Sidropbils,  the  cunning  Men  in  Parties, 
and  as  ignorant  as  rhofe  m  Moorfields  •  they  only 
know  more  than  thole  they  deceive,  by  pre- 
tending to  more. 

The  Affectation  of  Wifdom  is  a  prevailing 
Folly  in  the  World  ;  Men  fall  naturally  into 
the  Practice  of  it;  nnd  it  would  be  pardonable, 
as  'tis  common,  if  it  went  no  further  than  the 
aiming  at  a  little  Notice  and  Reverence,  which 
every  Body  may  be  innocently  fond  of.  Bur 
when  Men  feek  Credit  this  Way,  in  order  to 
betray,  and  make  U.v  >f  their  Grimaces  as  a 
Trap  to  deceive  :  when  they  turn  their  Ad- 
min rs  into  Followers,,  and  their  Followers  into 
Money  then  appearing  Wifdom  becomes  real 
Villainy,  and  thefe  Pretenders  grow  dangerous 
ImpofWs. 

And  this  is  what  Men  frequently  get  by  tru fir- 
ing more  to  the  Underiranding  of  others  than 
to  their  own,  though  often  the  better  of  the 
two  ;  and  there-fore  we  find  in  many  Inftances, 
that  Fools  miflc'ad  and  govern  Men  of  Senfe. 
In  Things  where  Men  know  nothing,  they  are 
apt  to  think  that  others  know  more  than  they, 
and  fb  blindly  truft  to  bold  Pretenfions ;  and 
here  is  the  great  Caufe  and  firft  Rife  of 
Sharpers  and  Bubbles  of  all  Denominations, 

from 


's  LETTERS.  2 

from  Demagogues  and  their  Followers  down  to 
Mountebanks  and  their  Mobbs. 

I  think  there  is  not  a  more  foolifh  Figure  in, 
the  World  than  a  Man  affe&edly  wife,  but  it 
is  not  every  Body  that  ftes  it ;  and  fuch  a  one 
is  often  the  Admiration  of  one  fort  of  People, 
and  the  Jeft  of  another,  at  the  fame  Time. 
Where  we  fee  much  of  the  Outfide  of  Wif- 
dom,  it  Is  a  fhrewd  Sign  that  there  is  but  little 
within ;  tecaufe  they  who  have  the  leair.  often 
make  the  greateft  Show :  As  the  greateft  Hy- 
pocrites are  the  greateft,  at  lead  the  loudeft 
Prayers. 

The  Tnfide  of  fuch  a  Man  is  not  worth 
knowing  ;  and  every  Man  muft  have  obferved 
his  Outfide  :  His  Words  fall  from  him  with  an 
uncommon  Weight  and  Solemnity  ;  his  Gate 
is  (lately  and  flow,  and  his  Garb  has  a  Turn. 
in  it  of  Prudence  and  Gravity,  of  which  he 
that  made  it  is  the  Author,  and  by  that  Means 
becomes  a  confiderable  Inftrument  and  Artificer 
of  Wifdom. 

This  will  be  better  illuftrated  in  the  Cha- 
racter of  Lord  Plaiifible,  who  having  long  fet 
up  for  a  wife  Man,  arid  taking  Eloquence  to 
be  the  mod  effectual  Sign  of  Wifdom?  is  an 
Orator  and  a  wife  Man  in  every  Cicumftance 
of  his  Life,  and  to  every  Body;  he  is  eloquent 
to  his  Footman,  to  his  Children,  and  at  his 
Table.  Lord  Plfiufille  does  never  converfe  ; 
no,  talking  carelefly  as  other  People  do,  would 
not  be  wife  enough  ;  he  therefore  does  not  con- 
verfe in  Company,  but  make  Speeches  ;  he 
meditates  Speeches  in  his  Clofet,  and^  pro- 
nounces them  where  he  vifits,  Even^  while  he- 
drinks. 


CATO's   LETTERS. 

drinks  Tea,  or  plays  at  Cards,  his  Language 
is  lofty  and  founding  ;  and  in  his  Gate  you  fee 
the  fame  Sublime  as  in  his  Words.  Add  to 
all  this,  an  unrelenting  Gravity  in  his  Looks, 
only  now  and  then  fbftened  by  a  ftudied  Smile. 
He  never  laughs  without  checking  his  Mufcles : 
IVarth  would  be  a  Blot  upon  his  Wifdom ;  the 
good  Man  only  creates  Mirth  in  others. 

Thus  he  grows  important,  without  differing 
a  Bit  in  his  Character  for  his  natural  Shallow- 
nefs  and  acquired  Folly,  unfeen  by  the  Bulk 
of  his  Party,  who  being  for  Undemanding  and 
Bjeeding  pretty  much  in  the  lower  Clafs,  think 
him  an  Oracle,  and  believe  him  deep  in  the 
Counfels  and  Reverence  of  Great  Men,  who 
ufe  him  civilly  and  laugh  at  him, 

As  a  Man  can  hardly  be  feverely  jail  and 
conftant  to  the  Ways  which  he  approves, 
without  fume  Degree  of  Aufterenefs,  or  what 
the  World  calls  fb  ;  it  is  no  Wonder  if  this 
Character,  always  efteemed  and  often  beloved, 
becomes  mimicked  by  thofe  who  have  no  Pre- 
tence to  it.  But  I  am  at  a  Lofs  whether  it  ij, 
more  provoking  or  merry  to  fee  Creatures  let- 
ting up  for  Severity  of  Behaviour,  without  one 
Grain  of  Juftice  and  Honour  about  them  ;  pre- 
tending to  Wiftiom  with  great  Conceit  and  Stu- 
pidity ;  complaifant  to  the  Height  in  every 
Degree  of  Corruption,  and  yet  preferving  3 
Stiffnefs  in  their  Behaviour  as  if  they  were  fb 
many  rigid  Stoic !#. 

0//zW  ?  SI  vultu  torvo  &  feds  nude, 
Exiguaque  tog<ejimulet  textore  Catcnem  \ 
e  reprefentet  morefque  -Catonis. 

There 


LETTERS. 

There  are  Mimicks  of  Wifclom    and  Virtue 
in  all  Ages,   as  well  as  in  that  of  Horace. 

A  Man  may  be  a  Lord,  or  a  Minifter,  or  a 
confiderable  Man,  without  declaring  War  a- 
gainft  Gaiety  and  Eafinefs.  But  grave  Fellows, 
who  become  grave  to  gain  Importance,  are  by 
all  Men  of  Senfc  difappointed.  A  wile  Man 
may  be  a  merry  Fellow  •  and  a  very  (illy  Fel- 
low may  be  a  very  grave  Man.  The  wifeft 
Men  of  my  Acquaintance  are  the  merrieft  Men 
1  know  ;  nor  could  1  ever  find  what  Wifclom 
had  to  do  with  an  unpleafing  and  rebuking 
Statelinefs  that  contradicts  it.  Mirth,  and 
what  thefe  folemn  Drones  call  Folly,  is  a  Piece 
of  Wifclom  which  they  want  Senfe  to  know 
and  pra<5Hfe,  Befides,  there  is  a  wife  Way  of 
playing  the  Fool,  which  wife  Men  know  how 
to  pra&ife  without  lofmg  their  Characl-er.  But 
your  grave  Fellows  are  perhaps  afraid  of  play- 
ing the  Fool,  becaufe  they  would  do  it  too 
naturally  ;  and  yet  even  that  would  be  better 
than  being  thus  ridiculouily  wife  again  ft 
Nature. 

Some  Mens  natural  Heavinefs  pafles  for 
Wifdom,  and  they  are  admired  for  being 
Blockheads.  Sometimes  forced  Gravity  does 
the  fame  Thing.  Nor  is  it  any  Thing  new  to 
place  Wifdom  in  Grimace  ;  many  of  the  old 
Philofophers  did  the  fame,  and  made  their  long 
Beards,  in  particular,  an  eminent  Type  of  it. 

— — 'Juffitfafientem  ftifcere  barbam. 

Doubtlefs,    like  others   who  have  lived  fince, 
.they  often  poffcfied    the    Sign    fingly.     The 

School- 


's  LETTERS. 

Schoolmen  were  reckoned  deep  and  wife  Men, 
for  talking  unintelligibly,  and  tneir  WifHom  was 
Jargon  and  Obfcuriry< 

They  rh..t  are  really  wife,  need  not  take 
much  Pains  to  Se  thought  fb;  and  they  that  do, 
are  not  really  wife  We  cannot  live  always 
upon  the  Stretch' either  of  Silence,  or  of  Elo- 
quence, or  of  Gaiety  and  whoever  endeavours 
it,  (hews  his  Folly  while  he  feeks  Renown. 

A  Man  of  great  Quality  and  Age,  and  of 
great  Reputation  for  W  ifdom,  being  once  fur- 
prized  by  a  foreign  Minifter,  while  he  was  at 
play  with  his  little  Children,  was  fb  far  from 
confelimg  any  Shame  for  being  thus  caught  in- 
dulging the  Fancy  and  Fondnefs  of  a  Father, 
that  he  told  the  Ambaffador,  who  feemed  to 
have  found  what  he  did  not  expect :  "  Sir,  be 
'  in  no  Pain  for  me  ;  he  who  is  accounted  a 

wife  Man  in  the  Morning,  will  never  be 
"  reckoned  a  Fool  at  Night."  This  is,  no 
doubt,  true  of  a  Man  truly  wife.  But  it  is  as 
true,  that  many  Men  have  pafied  for  wife  Men 
in  the  Morning,  who  have  been  found  Fools 
before  Noon. 

Men  affectedly  wife,  need  only  be  examined 
to  be  defpifed  ;  and  we  find 'by  Experience, 
that  ftarched  Gravity  creates  more  Jed  and 
Laughter  amongft  Men  of  Senfe,  who  are  ge- 
nerally frank  and  pleafatit  Men,  than  the  moil 
remarkable  Levity  and  Giddinefs  can  do.  The 
Reverence  therefore  paid  tofuch  Men,  if  it  be 
real,  is  conftantly  the  Effect  of  Ignorance;  we 
admire  them  at  a  diilauce,  but  when  we  fee 
them  a  little  nearer,  we  begin  to  admire  at  our 
•own  Admiration. 

But 


LETTERS.     a87 

But  fuch  Examination  is  never  like  to  be  very 
popular,  and  confequently  fuch  Difcoveries  are 
not  like  to  be  very  formidable  ;  the  Multitude 
will  never  make  them.  There  will  be  always 
a  great  deal  in  refblving  to  be  great  and  wife, 
and  great  Succefs  will  be  ever  attending  it;  Si 
fcpulus  vult  dscipl  decipiatur,  is  at  all  Times  a 
fare  Way  of  Reafbning.  And  hence  Drones 
and  Coxcombs  will,  by  a  falfe  Shew  of  Wif- 
dom,  be  always  bidding  fair  for  the  Reputation 
of  Wifdom,  and  often  for  its  Rewards.  This 
is  more  eafily  {hewn  than  mended. 

I  eim^  &x. 


"Umane  Judgment  is  the  bed  and  fiireit 
.  Guide  we  have  to  follow  in  Affairs  that 
are  humane,  and  even  in  Spirituals,  where  the 
immediate  Word  of  God  interpofes  not.  But 
it  is  fo  liable  to  be  corrupted  and  weigh'd 
down  by  the  Biafs's  that  Paifion,  Delufion, 
and  Intereft  hang  upon  it,  that  we  ought  never 
to  truft  without  Caution  and  Examination,  ei- 
ther to  our  own  or  that  of  others. 

Men  are  hardly  ever  brought  to  think  them- 
felves  deceived  in  contending  for  Points  of  In- 
tereil  or  Pleafure.  But  as  ic  is  rare  that  one 
Man's  Purfiiits  do  not  crofs  and  interfere  with 
the  Purfuirs  of  others,  and  as  every  Man  con- 
tends for  the  Reafonablenefs  of  his  own  ;  tho' 


i8-S     CJTO's  LETTERS. 

it  mud  be  in  the  Nature  of  Things  that  they 
may  be  both  in  the  Wrong,  and  only  one  can 
be  in  the  Right ;  hence  it  proceeds  that  Men, 
who  are  fb  naturally  alike,  become  morally 
fb  unlike,  that  fometimes  there  is  more  Refem- 
blance  between  a  Man  and  a  Wolf,  than  be- 
tween one  Man  and  another,  and  that  one  and 
the  fame  Man  is  not  one  and  the  fame  Man 
in  two  different  Stations. 

The  Difference  therefore  between  one  Man's 
Judgment  and  another's,  arifes  not  fo  much 
from  the  natural  Difference  between  them ;  tho' 
that  too,  the  Structure  of  their  Organs  being 
different,  may  beget  different  Sentiments;  as 
from  the  Difference  of  iheir  Education,  their 
Situation  and  Views,  and  other  external  Caufes. 

Men,  v/ho  in  private  Life  were  Juft,  Mo- 
deft  and  Good,  have  been  obferv'd,  upon  their 
Elevation  into  high  Places,  to  have  left  all 
their  virtuous  and  beneficent  Qualities  behind 
them,  and  to  have  acted  afterwards  upon  a 
new  Spirit,  of  Arrogance,  Iniuftice  and  On- 
preilion."  And  yet,  perhaps,  their  latter  Acti- 
ons had  as  much  thex  Sanction  of  their  own 
Judgment  as  their  £r(l. 

England  could  not  hoaft  of  a  greater  Patri- 
ot than  the  great  Earl  of  Straff  or  d^  while  he 
was  yet  a  private  Commoner.  No  Man  ex- 
pos'd  better,  or  more  zealouily,  the  Encroach- 
ments and  Oppreilions  praclis'd  by  the  Court 
upon  the  Kingdom,  or  contended  more  loudly 
for  a  Redrefs  of  Grievances  :  But  he  was  no 
fboner  jnt  into  the  Court,  but  he  began  open- 
ly to  counteract  tb^  whole  Courfe  of  his  pa  ft 
Life:  He  devis'd  new  Ways  of  Terror  and 

Oppreffion, 


CATO's   LETTERS.  -189 

pppreflion,  and  heightened  all  rhofe  Grievances 
oF  which  he  had  complain'd  ;  and  as  the  ex- 
cellent Lord  Fafkjnnd  faid  of  him  in  the  Houfe 
of  Commons,  The  Oppreiiions  he  committed 
we  fo  Vnrious^  fo  Many^  and  Jo  Mighty^  as  were 
never  committed  by  fitly  Governor  in  any  Govern- 
ment fmce  Verres  left  Sicily.  But  tho1  the  two 
great  Parts  of  his  Life  were  thus  prodigioufly 
Inconfiftent,  1  do  not  remember  that  he  evef 
condemned  the  Worft,  tho'  he  FuflFer'd  for  ir, 
or  recanted  the  Bell.  It  is  probable  his  Judg- 
ment in  both  Cafes  approved  his  Conduct. 

Nor  is  the  Judgment  of  Men  varied  by  great: 
and  confiderable  Caufes  only  ;  to  the  Difgrace 
of  our  Reafbn  we  mud  own,  that  little  ones 
do  it  as  effectually.  A  wife  Man  ruffled  by 
an  Accident,  or  heated  by  Liquor,  fhall  talk 
and  a£t  like  a  Madman  or  a  Fool  ;  as  a  Mad- 
man, with  a  little  Soothing  and  Management, 
fhall  talk  like  a  wife  Man  :  And  there  are  In- 
flances  of  very  able  Men,  who,  having  done 
great  Service  to  their  Prince  and  Country, 
have  undone  it  all  from  Motives  that  are  fhame- 

ful  to  mention  —  Perhaps  they  mifs'd  a 

Smile  from  him  when  they  expelled  one,  or 
met  with  a  fatyrical  Jeft  when  they  expecled 
none ;  and  thus  piqu'd  by  a  little  real  Mirth 
or  fancy "d  Neglect,  they  have  run  into  all  the 
ExcelFes  of  Difloyalty  and  Rebellion,  and  ei- 
ther ruin'd  their  Country,  or  themfelves  and 
their  Families,  in  attempting  it:  Others,  mlfled 
by  a  gracious  Nod,  or  a  Squeeze  by  the  Hand, 
or  a  few  fair  Promifes  no  better  than  either, 
have,  by  running  all  the  contrary  Lengths  of 
Complaifance  and  Subferviency,  done  as  much 

VOL.  II.  N  Mifchirf 


Giro's    LETTERS. 

Mifchtef  to  their  Country,  without  intending 
it  any,  and  perhaps  thinking  they  did  it  none. 
There  r re  Examples  or  the  fume  Men  pracYi- 
iing  both  rh.O  Extremes. 

So  mechanical  a  Thing  is  humane  Judg- 
ment !  r,nd  fo  e<'ftly  is  the  humane  Machine 
d  i  {concerted  ard  put  cut  of  its  Tone  !  And  the 
Mind  fa'jfiiring  in  it,  and  ailing  by  it^  is  calm 
or  ruffled  as  its  Vehicle  is  fo.  But  rho'  the 
various  Occidents  and  Diforders  happening  to 
the  Pody,  are  the  certain  Caufes  of  Diforders 
and  Irregular  Operations  in  the  Mind  ;  yet 
Caufes  that  are  internal  affect  it  Hill  more;  I 
mean  the  Stimulations  of  Ambition,  Revenge, 
Luft  and  Avarice.  Thefe  are  the  great  Caufes 
of  the  feveral  irregular  and  vicious  Purfuits  of 
Men. 

Neither  is  it  to  be  expected  that  Men  difa- 
greeing  in  Intered,  will  ever  agree  in  Judg- 
ment. Wrung,  with  Advantages  attending  it, 
'will  be  turned  into  Right,  and  Falfhood  into 
'Truth  5  and,  /is  often  as  t^eafon  is  again  ft  a  Man, 
.#  Man  will  be  againf}  Rcsfcn  :  And  both  Truth 
and  Right,  when  they  thwart  the  Interefts  and 
pailions  of  Men,  will  be  ufed  like  Enemies,  and 
calTd  Names. 

It  is  remarkable  that  Men,  when  they  differ 
in  any  Thing  confiderable,  or  which  they 
think  confiderable,will  be  apt  to  differ  in  alniofi: 
every  Thing  elfe.  Their  Differences  beget 
Contradiction,  Contradiction  begets  Heat,  and 
"Meat  quickly  riies  into  Refentment,  Rage  and 
III  will.  Thus  they  differ  in  Affections  as  they 
filler  in  Judgment  :  and  the  Contention  which 
l?eean  in.  Pride,  ends  in  Anger. 

The 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

The  acquiefcing  finterely  in  the  Judgment 
of  another,  without  the  Concurrence  of  cut 
own,  and  without  any  Advantage  real  cr  fan- 
tried,  moving  us  to  fuch  Acquiefcence,  is  a 
Compliment  which  I  do  not  know  that  one 
Man  ever  paid  to  another :  An  unanfwerable 
Argument,  why  no  Man  (hould  be  provok'd  at 
thofe  whom  he  cannot  convince,  fince  they, 
having  Reafbns,  or  thinking  they  have  Reafbns, 
on  the  contrary  lide,  as  ftrong  as  his,  orftronger, 
have  as  much  Caufe  to  be  provok'd  with  him. 
for  not  acquiefcing  in  theirs.  And  yet  there 
are  but  few  Debates  of  Confequence  in  this 
World,  where  the  Arguments  are  not  feconded 
by  Wrath,  and  often  fupplied  by  it. 

But  this  is  not  the  Way  of  dealing  with  Men; 
nor  is  there  any  other  Way  of  perfwading  them 
into  your  Judgment,    but  by  (hewing  it  their 
Intereft.     Their  Minds   are   fo  corrupted   by 
rheir  Appetites,  that,  generally  fpeaking,  their 
Judgment  is  nothing  but  their  Intereft  in  Theo- 
ry ;    and  their  Intereft  is  their  Judgment  redu- 
ced into  Practice,     This  will  account  for  the 
contradictory  Parts  Men  play,    and  the  contra- 
ry Parties  they  occafionally  chule.    This  ferves 
them  with  Reafons  for  the  unreafonable  Things 
they  do,  and  turns  Roguery  into  Honefty,  and 
Madnefs  into  Merit. 

In  Truth,  when  ever  Men  leave  their  own 
Judgment  for  the  Judgment  of  others,  as  they 
fbmetimes  do  ;  they  either  do  it  for  Gain,  or 
Glory,  or  Pleafiire,  or  for  the  avoiding  of 
Shame,  or  fbrne  fuch  Caufe  ;  all  which  Motives 
are  Intereft,  as  is  every  Thing  elfe  that  they 
do  for  their  own  fakes.  Thus  Honefty  is  often 

N  a,  oa-lf 


-    Core's  LETTERS. 

only  the  Fear  of  Infamy,  and  Honour  the  Ap- 
petite of  Applaufe:  Thus  Men  ru(h  into  Dan* 
ger  and  Death,  to  gratify  Love  or  Anger,  or 
to  acquire  Fame  :  And  thus  they  are  faithful 
to  their  Word  and  Engagement,  to  avoid  the 
Reproach  of  Treachery 

Men  are  fb  apt  to  link  their  Approbation 
to  their  Profit  and  Pleafure,  that  their  Intereft, 
tho'  ever  fb  vile,  abfurd,  and  unju  (lib  able, 
becomes  really  their  Judgment.  I  do  not  think 
that  humane  Art  and  Imagination  could  have 
invented  Tenets  more  falfe  and  abominable, 
more  chimerical  or  mifchievou-,  than  are  thofe 
-of  the  Infallibility  of  the  Pope 4  and  the  Irrefifti- 
blenefs  of  Tyrants',  that  is,  That  one  Man, 
living  in  the  hourly  Practice  of  Error,  or  Vice, 
or  Folly,  and  often  of  them  all,  fhall  judge  for 
the  whole  Earth,  and  do  what  God  has  not 
done  ;  that  is,  fafhion  the  Minds  of  all  humane 
Race  like  his  own,  and  make  them  his  Sacrifices 
where  he  cannot  make  them  his  Slaves  :  And 
that  another  Man  fiiall  have  a  divine  Right  to 
reprefent  God  and  govern  Man,  by  acting  a- 
gainlT:  God  and  deftroying  Man. 

Thefe  are  fuch  mondrous  Abfurdities,  fiich 
terrible,  ridiculous,  and  inhumane  Inventions, 
as  could  arife  from  nothing  but  Pride  and  Ava- 
rice on  one  Side,  and  Fear  and  Flattery  on  the 
other  ,  and  could  be  defended  by  nothing  but 
the  mod  brutifh.  Force,  or  the  mod  abandoned 
Impudence.  And  yet  we  have  feen  them  de- 
fended, and  God  Almighty  declared  their  De- 
fender ;  even  him,  who  is  the  God  of  Mercy  and^ 
Truth,  made,  blafphemouily,  the  Author  of 
Cruelty  and  Lies. 

la 


LETTERS 


In  this  Light  do  thefe  Things  appear  to  ; 
who  confiders  them  without  embarking  in  t!  , 
and  receiving  any  Advantage  from  n  rn,  i-'ufc 
thofe  who  gain  or  fubfift  by  them,  Ue  them  in 
a  different  Lig!  t:  I  doubt  not  but  th<-ir  judg- 
rnent,  as  they  c^  it,  does  actually  bknd  with- 
their  Inrcrefl:,  or  or  the  molt  parr  dee"?  :  and 
therefore  they  are  '  in  earneft  in  maintain- 

ing it.  Folly,  Fa,  )d,  ami  Villainy,  are  no 
longer  called  b.y  their  Q--  Names,  nor  thought 
to  dcferve  them,  by  tl  it  reap  Advantages- 

from  them.     Even   thole,   v/ho  have   pracHfed 
the  greateft  of  all  Evils>  even  that  of  deftroy- 
ing  GodV People,  have  t.    :-i;ht  that  in  doing  it 
they  did   God    good  Servi.  -      Our  Rlefled  Sa- 
viour foretold  k,  and  his  Words  have  been  ful- 
filling ever  iiace,  and  perhaps  will,  be  till   he- 
returns, 

Oliver  Cromwell  fought  God  ih  all  his  Oppref- 
Pions  ;  and  tho'  I  am  fure  that  he  was  an  Ulur- 
per,  I  am  not  fure  that  he  was  a  Hypocrite,  at 
leaft  all  along  ;  tho'  it  is  moft  probable  he  was 
one  at  firft.     But  he  had   fb  long  perfonated   a, 
Sainr,  that  he  feems  at  laft  to  have  thought 
himfelf  one  ;  and  when  he  faw  his  latter  End- 
approaching,  he  was  fo   far   from  fiiewing  any 
Compunction  for  the  Part  he  had  acl'ed,  that: 
he,  on  the  contrary,  bpafted  he  had  been  the- 
Caufe  of  much  Good  to  this  Nation  :  and  add- 
ed fuch   Ejaculations   and    Prayjers,  as  (hewed 
that  he  poflefled   his  Mind  in  Peace,  and  was 
not  without  Confidence  in  God. 

The  Emperor  of  Morocco,  than  whom  a  more: 
inhumane  Butcher  never  lived,  makes  God  the 
Author  of  all  hisBarbarities;  and  when  he  murder 

N  & 


2,94    CA  rO's  LETTERS. 

a  Slave  (as  he  does  every  Day  fbme)  out  of 
Wantonnefs  or  Wrath,  he  lifts  up  his  Eyes  and 
fays,  'Tis  God  that  does  it  :  No  Man  talks  more 
of  God  and  Religion,  and  he  certainly  thinks 
himfelf  a  moft  religious  Man. 

Let  all  this  ferve  to  fhew,  how  little  Mens 
judgment  is  to  be  trufced  when  1  me  re  ft^  fol- 
lows ir,  and  is  probably  both  the  Caufe  and  the 
Effect.  Let  it  abate  our  Confidence  in  parti- 
cular Men,  who  may  make  our  T^uft  in  Them 
the  Means  of  their  mifleading  Us :  Let  us  learn 
to  believe  no  Man  the  more,  becaufe  he  believes 
Itimfelf;  fince  Men  are  as  obftinate  in  Error, 
especially  in  gainful  Error,  as  they  are  in  Truth; 
and  more  fo,  where  Truth  is  not  gainful :  And, 
Jaflly,  let  us  f wallow  no  Man's  Judgment, 
without  judging  of  it  and  him  ;  and  yield  up 
our  Reafon  to  no  Man's  Authority,  nor  our 
Jntereft  to  any  Man's  Direction,  any  farther 
than  Prudence  or  Necefiity  obliges  us.  Let  us 
remember  what  the  World  has  ever  got  by  im- 
plicit Faith  of  any  kind  wharfoever. 

lam,  &c. 


SIR, 

E  N  boaft  of  their  Reafon,  find  might 
judly,  if  they  ufed  it  freely  and  applied 
it  properly  j  but  confidering  that  generally  in 
their  moral  Conduct,  they  are  guided  by  fuch 
Rcafons  as  are  a  Shame  and  a  Contradiction 

to 


LETTERS.    195: 

to  Reafon,  it  feerns  to  be  thrown  away  upon: 
them  :  Indeed,  fo  little,  or'fi)  wrong,  is  the 
Ufe  the 7  in. ike  of  ir,  that  it  would  be  real!/, 
for  their  Reputation,  if  they  had  none. 

But  tW  the   Many  fcarce  ufe  it   at  all,  and 
none   fo  much  as  they  ought;  yet  every  Man 
thinks   he  does,    and  never  wants   iometning 
which  he  calls  Reafon,  for  the  Juffiification  ot 
his  Folly  or  Wickednefs;     Prejudice  or  Pallion 
fteps  into  its  Room,  takes  its  Name  ;  and  under 
the  Appearance  of  Reafon,  does  Filings  which 
Regf»n   abhors:    And  thus  Reafon,  as  well _ as 
RHU'un,  is  forced  to  furnifh  its  Enemies  with 
Arm?   againft   it  felf,  and   the   Abufe  of  it  is 
•w  >rfe  and  more   dangerous   than  the   ablolule 
Want  of  it  :  as  an  Idiot  is  lets  ternbie  and 
odious  than  a  Knave,  and  as  a  harmlefs  Pxgnn 
is  a  much  more  amiable  ChaVafter  tnan  an 
ri'gcous  perfecuring  Bigot.     So  thst  as  no  Re. 
Kgioa  at  all  is  better  than  a  mifchievous 
g'ion;  that  is  to  lay,  any  Religion  that  prompts 
Men  to  hurt  one  another  ;  fo    the  At 
Inactivity  of  the  Faculties,  is  better  than  uie 
Quicknefs  of  Faculties  wickedly  applied. 

Of  all  the  many   falfe  Lights  that  mil 
Men   from  their  Reafon,     Prejudice  is  cne  ot 
the  foremoft  and  moft   fuccefsful ;  and  tho  no 
two  Things  upon  Earth  are   more  oppoiite  iri 
their  Natures,    or  more   definitive   of    eacii 
other,    than  Reafon    and  Prejudice   are- :  yet 
they  are  often   made  to  pafs   for  each  other ; 
And  as   fame  Men   will  give   you  very  good 
Reafons  for  their   being  in  the  wrong 
felves  ;  there  are  thofetoo,  who  will  give  ] 
as  good,  why  others  (hould  nor  be  in  the  right ; 

N  4, 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

that  is,  the  Prejudices  of  fome  would  be  thought 
Wifdom,  and  the  Wifdom  of  others  is  mif- 
called  Prejudice.  The  worft  Things  that  Men 
do,  called  by  a  good  Name,  pafs  for  the  beft; 
rnd  the  bell,  blackened  by  an  ill  Kame,  pafs 
for  the  word.  Such  is  the  Force  of  Prejudice 
in  the  World  and  fb  fuccefsfully  does  this  Foe 
to  Reafbn  ape  Reafbn  ! 

Prejudice  is  an  obftinate  and  unreafonable 
Attachment  to  an  Opinion,  fupported  only  by 
a  WiLfulnefs  to  maintain  it,  whether  regarding 
Men  or  Things  ;  it  links  the  good  with  the 
bad,  and  the  bad  with  the  good,  and  hates  or 
loves  by  the  Lump.  Thus  if  a  Man  Is  called  a 
Saint,  his  word  Actions  are  fainted  with  him  ; 
and  his  very  ignorance  and  Cruelty,  and  even 
his  Dirtlnefs  and  his  Dreams,  are  made  facrcd 
..nd  mcricoricuj  j  as  may  be  fcen  at  large  in  the 
l{.m:Jh  Legends,  where  the  principal  Qualifica- 
tion fur  Sainrfhip  feems  to  have  confifted  in 
lurk  raving  Madnefs,  and  in  an  implacable 
and  bloody  Fury  towards  all  Senfe  and  Sobriety. 
And  thus,  even  with  us,  if  a  Man  paffes  fora 
good  Man,  his  bad  Deeds  are  often  thought 
good  ones,  by  thofe  that  think  him  fo,  and  only 
becaufe  they  think  him  fS. 

On  the  other  Side,  if  a  Man  is  called  an 
Atheifti  the  Odium  of  that  Name,  where  it  is 
believed  true,  is  made  a  Blot  upon  his  beft 
Actions  and  greatefl  Virtue,  and  to  defeat  them 
as  well  as  foil  them.  That  there  are  fuch  Men 
as  Atbeifts,  can  only  be  imagined  by  thofe,  who 
doubting  of  a  Deity  themfelves,  may  naturally 
enough  fuppofe  that  there  are  others  who  quite 
disbelieve  One  :  For  my  own  particular,  I  can- 
not 


's  LETTERS. 

'not  think  there  are  any  fuch  Men  ;  but  if  there- 
were,  I  cannot  think  that  Truth  and  Sobriety 
in  an  Atheift,   are  worfe  than  in  another  Man, 
That  Black  is  not  White,  and  that  i  wo  and 
Two  make  Four,  is  as  true  out  of  the  Mouth 
ofanAtheift,  as  out  of  the  Mouth  of  an  ApoMe: 
A  Penny  given  by  an  Atheift  to  a  Beggar,  is 
better  Alms  th an  a  Halfpenny  given  by  a  Be- 
liever ;  and1  the  good  Senfe  of  an  Aifotfl.  is  pre- 
ferable to  the  Miftakes  of  a  good  f  hriflian  :  In.' 
fhort,  'whatever  reputed  Athefjis  do    well,    or 
(peak  truly,  is  more  to  be  imitated  and  'credited,., 
than  what  the  greateft  Believers  do  wickedly,, 
or  fay  faMly  ;  and  even  in  the  Bufinefs  of  bear- 
ing Tefiimony,  or  making  a  P.eport,  in- which 
Cafes  the  Credit  and  Reputation  of  the  Wit- 
nefs   gives   fbme  Weight,  or  none,  to  what  he 
fays  ;  more  Regard  is  to  be  h:  d  to  the  Word  of 
an  Unbeliever  who  has  nc    Intereft  on   either 
Side,  than  to  the  Word    of  a   Believer  who- 
has. 

So  that  as  no  Man  is  to  be  believed  an  Atheilt, 
unlefs  he  be   evidently    proved    one :    vhich, 
where  he  himfeif  denies  it,  can  be  done  by  GocF 
only  \  fo  neither-are  the  good  or  bad  A<^iotisafi 
an  Afheift  worfe,  with  refpe<5t  to  the  World, ^  at 
leaft  for  his  being  one  :  tho'  the  Sin   of  a  Saint: 
is  more  finful  than  that  cr  a  Pagan.     As   it  \s 
therefore  the  blacked  and  molt  barbarous  ViU~ 
lainy  to  charge  any  Man  with  Albeifm,  ^yho  is 
no  Athift  ;  it  is  the  greateft  Folly  to  think  th^E: 
any  Man's  Crimes   are  the  lefs,  for   the  Kame- 
of  him  that  cc  mrnits  them  ;  or  that   Trnrn  is 
lefs  or  more  Truth,  for  the  ill  or  good  Name 
of  him  that  fpeaks  it 

N  ^ea 


298    euro's  LETTERS. 

Prejudice  has  long  taught  Men,  contrary  to 
all  Reafon,  to  think  otherwife  ;  and  tocontider, 
not  what  was  done  or  faid  ;  but  who  where  the 

Men  that  faid  or  did  it. A  happy  Expedient, 

I  mull  own,  to  acquire  Dominion,  and  toexer- 
cife  it  ;  and  to  keep,  for  that  End,  Mankind 
ignorant  and  bale,  as  their  Teachers  and  Go- 
vernors do  generally  keep  them  !  And  there- 
fore, in  moil:  Parts  of  the  World,  Truth  is  a 
capital  Crime  ;  and  the  Pope  and  Mahomet  ^  the 
Alcoran  and  the  Mafs-Eoo^  and  the  like  Sounds, 
with  a  competent  Ailiftance  of  Fire  and  Sword, 
are  fufficient  to  convince  and  govern  all  true 
C/ifholic^  and  Mitffelmen. 

But  we  live  in  a  Land  of  Liberty;  and  have, 
I  hope,    well-nigh  wiped  off  the  Scandal  of  be- 
ing led  or  animated  by  Noife   and   Names,  as 
were  many  of  our  Forefathers ;   whofe  Reafbn 
being    in  other  Mens  keeping,  v/as  generally 
turned  upon  them,  and  co-operated  with  other 
Caufes,'  towards  keeping    them    in  Bondage. 
They  were  decoy'd  or  frightened  into  Folly  and 
Chains;  fome   few  not  their  Condition,    and 
others  wanted  Courage  or  Power  to  mend  it. 
But  with  Liberty  Light  has  fprung  in,  and  we 
have  got  rid  of  the  Terrors  and  Delufion  oc- 
eafioned  by  folemn  and  ill-founding  Names ;  a 
fort  of    Bugbears    that  frighten    only   in   the 
dark  :  We  have  learned  that  we  are   as  fit  to 
life  our  own  Underitandings,  as  they  are  whofe- 
llnderftandings  are  no  better  than  ours ;  and 
that  there  is  no  Merit  in  Sounds,  nor  in    thole 
Actions  which   a  wicked  Man  may  practice  as 
well  as  a  good  Man,  without   departing  frcni 
his  Character* 

True 


CATffs  LETTERS. 

True 
together 

s~  edants,   un-iw  >~.i.~  *~  --  -- 
Bitternefs,  Ignorance,  and  111  breeding;  I 
amazed  to  hear,   that  Sn  Societies  i  ot  Gentl 
men,  formed  for  the  promoting  ot  Knowledge,. 
and  Liberty  of  Enquiry,  a  Province  utterly  n= 
confident  with  the  narrow  Spirit  of  Prejud  :e, 
there  are  yet  found  Inilances  of  the  greateiir. 
hope,    however,    it    is    not  true,  what 


,  , 

told,    That  the  /to*/  S?c^  refufed   adm 
Mr.  Whifkm  and  another  ingenious   Gentleman- 


that  natural  Compi.,..  . 

could  any  way  afect  rhe  Difcovery  of  Foflds 

and  Cocklefhek  or  the  1  mprovemcnt  of  Multarc^ 
and  Pickles  ?  But  I  dare  fiy,  this  is  only  a  .tory 
rasfed,  to  bring  that  learned  Body  into  Ridi- 
cule and  Contempt  :  If  it  were  true,  it  would, 
Uiftif  the  ell  made  upon  them,  by  aGent^.n, 


he  jell  , 

who  being   asked  by  fome  of  them,    Whethe? 
he  had   a  mind  to  be   a  Member  ?  foidUemr 
No,  Gentlemen,  'tis   Imfoffble  \    yen         ffofw   * 
Mole  on  my  Vffer  Lip  ',  and  lamfubjctt  to  ta 
my  Sleep.  ..    . 

It  is  fcarce  credible,  but  that  we  lee  it,  how 
violently  and  {hameF^lly  Prejudice  flies  m^the 
Face  of  'Reafon,  anti  ;>hen  get?  the  better  01  ity 
rn   Indances  too   where    leafbn 
frrongeil  and  mod  obvious.     Lftall 
remarkable  one. 

Alexander  and  Ctfar  are  never  mentioned  buC 
with  AppUulc,  or  thought  of  but  as  amiable 
Characlers3  and  the  true  Paiurns  d£  Prince^ 

anal 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

and  Heroes,  tho'  it  is  certain  there  never  lived 
more  wicked  Men  ;  they  turned  the  World  up- 
fide  down,  and  ulurped  its  Power;  they  paved 
their  Way  to  Dominion  with  dead  Bodies,  and 
were  the  Oppreflbrs  and  Butchers  of  humane 
Race.  Here  is  Faclr,  plain  undeniable  Fa6r, 
againft  Prejudice  and  Opinion. 

Oliver  Crcmwe!^  on  the  contrary,  is  fcarce  ever 
mentioned  but  with  Deteflation,  or  thought  of 
but  as  a  Monfter  ;  tho5  it  is  certain  ihat  he 
never  did  the  hundredth  Part  of  the  Mifchief 
that  was  done  by  either  of  the  other  Two.  He 
had  at  leaft  as  good  a  Right  to  Great  Britain  as 
they  had  to  the  Globe,  and  ruled  It  with  more 
Equity  and  lefs  Blood.  He  was,  doubtlefs,  an 
llfurper,  but  a  little  one  ;  and  tho'  wicked 
enough,  really  an  innocent  Man  compared  to 
them.  Nor  was  he  at  all  below  them  in  Parts 
and  Courage.  What  therefore  is  the  Caufe  of 
this  mighty  and  unjuffc  Difference,  where  the 
leffer  Wickedneft  is  moft  magnified,  and  leaft. 
excuied,  and  where  the  blacked  Criminals 
and  the  highefl  Ufurpers  are  admired  and 
extolled  ? 

There  is  yet  one  Effect  of  Prejudice  more 
impious  than  all  the  reft ;  I  mean,  the  daring 
Preemption  of  thofe  Men  who  wantonly  ap- 
ply the  Judgments  of  God  to  others,  and  of 
calling  thofe  Things  judgments,  which  are  not 
fo.  Probably  nothing  ever  yet  happened  to  one 
Man,  but  has  happened  to  another,  and  a 
different :  The  Wicked  live  in  as  much  Pro- 
fperity,  and  die  with  as  few  Agonifs  as  do  the 
Righteous,  who,  I  think,  are  allowed  to  be 
here  much  the  more  unhappy  of  the  Two. 

Who 


CATO's  LETTERS.     301 

Who  has  told  us,  what  God  can  only  tell,  that 
Misfortunes  are  Judgments,  or  that  Death  is 
one  j  That  Death  which  is  common  to  all 
Men  ?  And  as  to  the  different  and  difaftrous 
Manners  of  dying  ;  have  not  Fire  and  Sword, 
Famine  and  Peftilence,  Poifon  and  Torture, 
wild  Beafts  and  Accidents,  deftroyed  as  many 
good  Men  as  evil  Men  ? 

How  foolifh  and  infolent  are  we!  When  we 
are  angry,  unreafbnably  angry  with  one  ano- 
ther, we  prefumptuoufly  think  that  Gcd,  the 
good  and  all  wife  God,  is  fo  too  ;  by  which  we 
profanely  fuggeft,  that  he  is  a  Being  as  weak, 
ridiculous,  and  paflionate  as  our  (elves,  Where- 
as that  often  pleafes  God,  which  is  hated  by 
Man,  and  that  which  is  really  a  Bleffing  is 
often  thought  a  Curfe  ;  arid  therefore  (bme 
wickedly  think  the  Judgment  of  God  due  to 
others  for  Things  that  entitle  them  rather  to 
God's  Favour.  So  wickedly  do  Men  differ  in 
their  Sentiments  and  Affections .' 

They  who  call  the  Misfortunes  of  others 
Judgments  upon  them,  do  plainly  enough  own, 
tho'  not  in  Words,  that  they  wifh  for  Judg- 
ments upon  others,  or  are  glad  when  they 
happen.  What  can  we  fay  of  fuch  an  Anti- 
chrifHan  Spirit  as  this  ? 

When  the  Heathens  were  uppermost,,  they 
charged  the  Chriftians  with  being  the  Caufe  of 
all  the  Evils  and  Misfortunes  that  befel  the 
Romc.n  Empire,  fuch  as  Inundations,  Plaguesa 
Earthquakes,  and  the  like  ;  and  one  of  the 
Fathers  writ  a  Book  to  prove,  that  all  thofe 
Things  had  been  from  the  Beginning ;  and 
whoever  makes  the  like  Charge  nowagainft 

any 


302,   C  A  ro's  LETTERS. 

any  Man,  or  Body  of  Men,  may  be  filenced, 
If  he  has  Modefty,  Senfe,  or  Shame  in  him,  by 
the  fame  Anfwer. 


SIR  Paid  Pgcaufs  State  of  the  Ottoman  Empire? 
is  what  I  have  quoted  more  than  once  in 
thefe  Letters  :  It  is  written  with  Fidelity  and 
Judgment,  and  gives  us  a  good  Idea  of  that 
horrible  and  deflroying  Government  ;  a  Go- 
vernment tierce  and  inhumane,  founded  in 
Blood,  and  fupported  by  Barbarity;  and  a 
Government,  that  has  a  declared  Enmity  to  all 
that  is  good  and  lovely  in  the  Eyes  of  Man- 
kind. 

I  have  therefore  tranfcribed  the  following 
from  htm,  to  fhew  my  Countrymen  the  abjed^ 
the  deplorable  Condition  of  that  People,  and 
the  brutifh  and  deirrudlive  Genius  of  their  Go- 
vernment; and  I  do  it  with  a  benevolent  View, 
to  make  them  more  and  more  in  love  with 
their  own,  and  paillonate  for  its  Prefervation. 

No  Man's  Authority  is,  or  ought  to  be  of 
any  Weight  for  or  againil  Truth,  when  every 
Man  fees  it,  or  may  fee  it  :  But  fince  weak 
Men,  and  they  that  are  vvorie,  make  a  Diffi* 
eulty  of  crediting  the  Reafonings  and  Re'ations 
or  any  Men  about  any  Thing,  unlefs  they 
know  and  approve  his  Opinions  in  every  thing  ; 
J  think  it  not  amifs  to  acquaint  my  Readers 
that  Sir  Paul  was  a  ilncere  Monarchy-man,  and 


CAT Cis  LETTERS.    303 

an  unquestionable  Friend  to  our  civil  and  reli- 
gious Eftablifhment ;  but  having  long  feen  the 
difmal  Terrors  and  Deflations  of  Abfblute 
Monarchy,  he  could  not  help  observing  the 
infinite  Diftance  between  that  and  a  li- 
mited one  •,  as  may  be  feen  in  the  following 
Quotation. 

For  my  own  particular,  I  think  it  contrary 
to  common  Senfe  to  concern  my  felf  with  the 
Character  of  a  Writer,  in  thofe  Writings 
which  do  not  concern  his  Character  :  And 
therefore  in  Matters  of  Reafbn  or  Facl:,  Cicero 
is  as  much  regarded  by  me  as  Dr.  Tillotfon9 
and  I  credit  Livy  as  much  as  I  do  Dr.  Prfdeaux. 
For  this  Reafbn,  in  reading  Authors,  Chriftian 
or  Heathen,  Monarchical  or  Republican,  I  do 
not  confider  their  Syftem  but  their  Senfe  ; 
which  I  (hall  therefore,  as  often  as  I  lee  necefc 
fary,  give  in  their  own  Words,  where  I  can- 
not mend  them  :  And  as  often  as  they  fpeak 
my  Thoughts  as  well,  or  better  than  I  could 
fpeak  them  my  felf,  1  fhall  not  fcruple  being 
beholden  to  them. 

I  am, 


i . 


E  that  is  an  Eye-witnefs  and  flricl:  Ob- 
44  ferver  of  the  various  Changes  and 
Chances  in  the  Greatnefs,  Honours,  and 
Riches  of  the  TV/y,  hath  a  lively  Emblem 
<c  before  him  of  the  Unconftancy  and  Muta- 
6i  bility  of  humane  Aftairs.  Fortune  lo  ftrange- 
"  ly  (ports  with  this  People,  that  a  Comedy 
"  or  a  Tragedy  on  the  Stage,  with  all  its 
44  Scenes,  is  fcarce  fooner  opened  or  ended, 
"  than  the  Fate  of  divers  great  Men,  who  in 

"  the 


504  CA  TO's  LETTERS. 

"  the  Day-time  being  exhaled  into  high  Sub- 
44  limity  by  the  powerful  Rays  of  the  Sultans 
44  Favour,  fall  or  vanifh  in  the  Night,  like  a 
44  Meteor.  The  Reafbn  hereof,  if  duly  confi- 
44  dered,  may  be  of  great  life  as  Things  ftandr 
"  here  ;  that  is,  the  Power  of  the  Grand  Seig- 
44  nior  ;  for  in  this  ConfHrution  the  Benefit  of 
44  the  Emperor  is  confulted  before  the  Welfare 
"  of  the  People.  * 

"  And  this  Courfe  does  not  only  evidence 
"  the  Power  of  the  Grand  Seignior,  but  like- 
44  wife  encreafes  it  ;  for  none  are  advanced   in 
44  thefe  Times  to  Office,  but  pay  the  Grand' 
"  Seignior  vaft  Sums  of  Money  for  it,  accord- 
44  ing  to  the  Riches  and  Expectations  of  Profit' 
44  from  the  Charge  :  Some  pay,  as  the  3/Jhaws: 
44  of  Grand  Cairo  and   Babylon,  Three  or  Four 
44  Hundred  Thoufand  Dollars  upon  palling  the 
44  Commiilion  ;  others  One,  others  Two  Hun- 
44  dred  Thoufand  ,  fbine  Fifty  Thoufand,  as- 
44  their  Places  are  more  cr  lefs  confiderable  ; 
44  and  the  Money  is  moft  commonly  taken  up- 
4i  at  Intereft  at  40  or  50  per  Cent,  for  the  Year^ 
44  and   fometimes  at  double,   when   they   are 
44  conftrained  to  become  Debtors  to  the  cove- 
4i  tous  Eunuchs  of  the  Seragli?.    So  that  every 
44  one,  at  his  firfc  Entrance  into  Office,  looks 
44  upon   himfelf  (as-  indeed   he  is)  greatly  in- 
"•  debted  and  obliged  by  Juftice  or  Injuftice, 
44  right  or  wrong,  fpeedily  to  disburden  him- 
44  felf  of  the  Debts,    and   improve    his   own 
4t  Principal   in  the  World  ;    and   this   Defign 
44  muft  not  be  long  in  Performance,  left  the 

*c-  hafty  Editt  overtake  him  before  the  Work 

•* -         J  ii  • 


CATO's  LETTERS.   305 

44  is  done,  and  call  him  to  an  Account  for  the 
46  Improvement  of  his  Talent. 

44  Taking  then  airCrcumftances  together, 
44  the  covetous  Difpofition  of  a  TV/L,  the  Cru- 
"  elry  and  Narrownefs  of  Soul  in   thofe  Men 
44  commonly  that  are   born  and  educated  in 
"  Want  ;  think  what  OppreiTion,  what  Ra- 
"  pine  and  Violence  mu(V  be  exercifed,  to  fa- 
ct  tisfy  the  Appetite  of  thefe  Men,  who  come 
"  famifhed  with  immenfe  Defires  and  ftrange 
"  Considerations  to  fatisfy  !    Diu  for  did  us,  re- 
"  pente  dives  mtttationem  fortune  male  regit,  ac- 
"   cenfis  egcftate    longa    ctipidinibus   immoderatus. 
"  Tacit.  ^So  that  Judice  in  its  common  Courfe, 
46  is  fet  to  Sale  ;  and  it  is  very  rare,  when  any 
44  Law-Suit  is  in  Hand,  but  Bargains  are  made 
"  for  the  Sentence,  and   he  hath  mod  Right, 
"  who  hath  mod  Money  to  make  \\imrefins  in 
"  curia  and  advance  his  Caufe  ,  and  it  is^the 
"  common  Ccurfe  for  both  Parties   a^  Difte- 
46  rence.  before  they  appear  together  in  Pre- 
44  fence  of  the  Judge,  to  apply  rhemfelves  fingly 
44  to  him,  and  try  whofe  Donative  and  Prefent 
hath  the  moil:  in  it  of  Temptation  ^  and  it 
is  no  Wonder  if  corrupt  Men  exercife  this 
kind  of  Trafficking  wirh  Juftice,  for  haying 
46  before  bought  the   Office,  of  Confequence 
44  they  mud  fell  the  Fruit. 

"  Add  hereunto  a  ilrange  kind  of  Facility 
44  in  the  Turfa  for  a  Trifle  or  fmall  Hire,  to 
44  give  falfe  Witnefs  in  any  Cafe,  efpecially 
"  (and  that  with  a  Word)  when^the  Contro- 
44  verfy  happens  between  a  Chridian  and  a 
"  Turk,!  and  then  the  Pretence  is  forthe^Mw/- 
44  felmanlee^  as  they  call  it ;  the  Caufe  is  re- 

J*  ligious. 


" 


" 


Giro's  LETTERS. 


ligious,  and  hallows  all  Falfenefs  and  For- 

gery in  the  Teftimony 

" 


ony 
*       " 


This  Confederation  and  Practice  made  an 
Englifo  Ambaffador,  upon  ren.-\vir,g  the  Ca- 
pirulations,  to  infert  an  Article  of  Caution 
againfl  the  Teftimony  of  TV/y,  as  never  to 
be  admitted  or  pleaded  in  anv  Court  of 
Turkjflo  Juftice,  againil  the  Englljk  Intereft  * 

*t*  7?-  ?S-  »/f»  */t»  v(»  Vr  ^^~ 

u 

In  the  Times  of  the  bed  Emperors,  when 
Virtue  and  Deferts  were  confidered,  and  the 
Empire  flouriflied  and  encreafed,  Men  had 
Offices  conferred  upon  th  -in  for  their  Merits, 
and  good  Services  were  rewarded  f.eely  and 
with  Bounty,  without  Sums  of  Money  and 
Payments •  But  no-v  it  is  quite  contra- 
ry, and  all  Vlatters  run  out  of  Courfe  ;  a 
'  rnamfeft  Token,  in  my  Opinion,  of  the  De- 


clenfion  and  Decay  of  the  Empire  ! 
However,  this  lerves  in  part  the  great  End 
of  the  Empire  ;  for  "Bdjhaw  and  great  Men, 
having  a  kind  of  a  Neceilky  upon  them  to 
oporefs  their  Subjects,  the  People  thereby 
lofe  their  Courage  ;  and  by  continual  Taxes 
and  Seizures  upon  what  they  gain,  Poverty 
fubdues  their  Spirits,  and  makes  them  more 
patiently  fuffer  all  kind  of  Injuftice  and  Vi- 
olence that  can  be  offered  them,  without 
Thoughts  or  Motion  to  Rebellion  :  And  fb 
'  the  Lord  Verulam  fays  in  his  Effays,  That  it 
is  impoffible  for  a  People  overladen  with 
Taxes,  ever  to  become  martial  or  valiant ; 
for  no  Nation  can  be  the  Lion's  Whelp,  and 
"  the  Afs  between  two  Burthens. 


(C 


if 


C4 
4$ 

tc 


5  LETTERS.   307 

"  By  this  Means  the  Turk,  preserve?  fo  many 
"  different  forts  of  People,  as  he  hath  con- 
quered, in  due  Obedience,  ufmg  no  other 
Help  than  a  fevere  Hand,  joined  to  all  kind 
of  Oppreilion  :  But  fuch  as  are  Turkj,  and 
bear  any  Name  of  Office  or  Degree  in  the 
"  Service  of  the  Empire,  feel  but  part  of  this 
"  Oppreilion,  and  live  with  all  Freedom,  ha- 
"  ving  their  Spirits  railed  by  a  Licence  they 
"  attain  to  infult  over  others  that  dare  not 
"  refift  them. 

But  the  Hue  and  Conclufion  of  the  Spoils 
that  thefe  great  Men  make  on  Subjects,  is 
very  remarkable  ;  For  as  if  God  were  pleafed 
"  to  evidence  his  juft  Punifhment  mere  evi- 
"  dently  and  plainly  here  than  in  other  Sins, 
"  fcarce  any  of  all  thefe  E/ifh/ws  th»t  have 
"  made  hafte  to  be  rich,  have  efcaped  the 
<c  Grtivd  Seignior's  Hands,  but  he  eijhtT  wholly 
"  divefts  them  of  All,  or  will  (hare  the  beft 
Part  of  the  Prey  with  them.  Amongft  whom 
I  have  obferved  none  paffes  fo  hardly  as  the 
Btijkaws  of  G^and  Cairo,  becaufe  it  is  the 
richeft  and  moft  powerful  of  all  the  Gp- 
"  vernments  of  this  Empire  ;  and  fb,  either  in 
"  his  Journey  Home,  or  after  his  Return,  he 
"  lofes  his  Life  by  publick  Command,  or  at 
"  lead  is  rifled  of  his  Goods  as  ill  got,  which 
"  are  condemned  to  the  Grand  Seignior's  Trea- 
46  fury  :  And  it  is  ftrange  yet  to  fee  with  what 
"  Heat  thefe  Men  labour  to  amafs  Riches, 
which  they  know  by  often  Experiences  have 
"  proved  but  Collodions  for  their  Mailer  ; 
"  and  only  the  Odium  and  Curfes  which  the 
!!  oppreEed  Wretches  have  vented  againit  their 

"  Rapine, 


64 
Ct 
64 
Ct 


1C 

u 

6t 


fit 
u 


3o8     CAfO's  LETTERS. 

Rapine,  remain  to  themfelves.     I(ebus  fecun- 
dis  nvidl\  adverfa  autem  incauti.    Tac.  * 

The  Twr£  underftands  well  how  profitable 
it  is  for  the  Conftitution  ©f  his  Eftate,  to 

ufe  evil  Inilruments,  who  may  opprefs  and 
"  poll   his  People,   intending    afterwards    for 
"  himfelf  the   whole    Harveft   of    their   La- 
bours ;  they  remaining   with  their  Hatred, 
while  the  Prince,  under  Colour  of  perform* 
ing  Juflice,  procures  both  Riches  and  Fame 
"  together. 

"  If  it  be  fafpe&ed  that  any  Great  Man  in- 
tends to  make  Combuftion  or  Mutiny  in  his 
Government,  or  that  his  Wealth  or  natural 
Abilities  render  him  Formidable,  without 
further  Inquifinon  or  Scrutiny,  all  Difcon- 
tent  of  the  Grand  Seignior  is  diff.-mbled,  and 
perhaps  a  Horfe,  or  Sword,  or  Sable  Veftv 
is  reported  to  be  prefented,  and  all  fair 
Treatment  is  counterfeited,  till  the  Execu- 
ti  'Her  gets  the  Bow-firing  about  his  Neck, 
and  then  they,  care  not  how  rudely  they  deal, 
with  him  J'.ift  like  the  Birds  in  Plutarch,, 
that  beat  the  Cuckow,  for  fear  that  in  Time 
he  fhould  become  a  Hawk. 

And  to  make  more  Room  for  the  Multi- 
tude of  Officers  that  crowd  for  Preferments, 
and  to  acl:  the  cruel  Edicls  of  the  Empire 
with  the  lean:  Noife  ;  often  times  when  a 
great  Perfbnage  is  removed  from  his  Place  of 
Truft,  and  (ent  with  a  new  Commi/IIon  to 
the  Charge,  perhaps,  of  a  greater  Govern- 
ment ;  and  though  he  depart  from  the  Regal 
''  Seat  with  all  fair  Demonftrations  of  Favour, 

(6 


cc 
cc 


Cfi 

cc 

Ci 

cc 

cc 


5  L  E  T  T  E  R  S.     309 

K  yet  before  he  hath  advanced  Three  Days  in 
"  his  Journey,  triumphing  in  the  Multitude  of 
"  his  Servants  and  his  -late   Hopes,  the  fatal 
"  Command  overtakes  him,  and,  without  any 
Accufation  or  Caufe,  oiher  than  rhe  W7J11  of 
the  Sultan,  he  is  barbarously  put  to  Death, 
and  his  Body  thrown  into  the  Dirt  of  a  foreign 
"  and  unknown  Country,  without  Solemnity 
of  Funeral   or  Monument  ;    and  he  is   no 
fooner  in  his  Grave,  than  his  Memory  is  for- 
"  gotten. 

"  Hence  are  apparent  the  Caufe  of  the  De- 
cay of  Arts  amongft  the  Turkj  ;  and  of  the 
Neglect  and  Want  of  Care  in  manuring  and 
cultivating  their  Lands  ;  why  their  Houfes 
and  private  Buildings  are  made  flight,  and 
not  durable  for  more  than  Ten  or  Twenty 
u  Years  ;   why  you  find   there  no  delightful 
cs  Orchards,  and  pleafant  Gardens  and  Planta- 
1  tions  ;  and  why,  in  thole  Countries  where 
*'  Nature  hath  contributed   fb  much  on  her 
Part,   there  are  no  additional  Labours  of 
Art  to  compleat  all,  and  turn  it  into  a  Pa- 
radife  :  For  Men,  knowing  no  certain  Heir, 
nor  who  (hall  fucceed  them  in  their  Labours, 
"  contrive  only  for  a  few  Years  Enjoyment. 
And  moreover,  Men  are  afraid  of  mewing 
too  much   Oilentation   or  Magnificence   in 
"  their  Palaces,  or  Ingenuity  in  the  Pleafures 
of  their  Gardens,  left  they  fhould  bring  on 
them  the  fame  Fate  that  Nabottfs  Vineyard 
occaGoned    to    its   Mailer.     And    therefore 
Men  neglect  all  Applications  to  the  Studies 
of  Arts  and  Sciences,  but  only  fuch  as  are 
necefiary  to   the  meer  Courfe  of  Living  ; 

"  For 


Ci 


cc 
If, 


3io    CATffs  LETTERS. 

For  the  Fear  and  Crime  of  being  known  to 
be  rich,  makes  them  appear  outwardly  poor, 
and  fb  become  naturally  Stcicks  and  Philofb- 
phers  in  all  the  Points  of  a  referved  and 
"  cautious  Life. 

"  And  here  I  am  at  a  Rand,  and  cannot  con- 
'  elude,  without  contemplating  a  while,  and 
pleafing  myfelf  with  the  Thoughts  of  the 
Bleffednefs,  the  Happinefs9  the  Liberty  of 
my  own  Country  ;  where  Men,  under  the 
Protection  and  fafe  Influence  of  a  gracious 
and  the  bed  Prince  in  the  World  (He  might 
with  more  Propriety  have  faid,  the  beft  Con- 
(litution  in  the  World)  enjoy  and  eat  of  the 
Fruit  of  their  own  Labour;  and  purchafe  to 
themfelvesj  with  Security,  Fields  and  Ma- 
nors, and  dare  acknowledge  and  glory  in 
iheir  Wealrh  and  Pomp,  and  yet  leave  the 
Inheritance  to  their  Pofterity. 


CC 


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popularity  is  the  Fondnefs  and  Applaufe  of 
many,  following  the  Perfbn  of  one,  who 
does,  in  their  Opinion,  deforce  well  of  them  ; 
and  it  muCc  doubtlefs  be  a  fenfible  Pleafure  to 
him  who  enjoys  it,  if  he  enjoys  it  upon  good 
Terms,,  and  from  reputable  Caufes :  But  where 
it  is  only  to  be  acquired  by  deceiving  iVlen  with 
Words,  or  int  -\ letting  them  with  Liquors,  or 
purchaiing  their  Hf:.rts  with  Bribes,  a  virtuous 
Man  would  rather,  be  without  it ,  and  therefore 

virtuous 


LETTERS.    311 

virtuous  Men  have  been  rarely  popular,  except 
in  the  Beginning,  or  near  the  firll:  Rife  of  States, 
while  they  yet  preferved  their  Innocence. 

Where  Parties  prevail,  a  principal  Way  to 
gain  Popularity,  is  to  acl  foolifhly  for  one  Side, 
and  wickedly  againd:  the  other.-  And  therefore 
Ibme  publick  Talkers  have  grown  popular,  by 
calling  thoie  whom  they  difiiked  by  bitter  and 
ill-bred  Names  ;  or  by  rioting  and  making  a 
Noile  for  jfbme  Sounds,  which  they  had  taken 
a  liking  to  ;  or  by  inlulting  and  abufing  thole 
that  affronted  them,  by  being  more  fbber  and 
ienfible  than  themlelves  :  And  (bme  to  be  re- 
venged on  thole  that  never  hurt  them,  have 
given  themfelves  up  a  blind  Prey  to  certain 
Leaders,  who  deluded  them,  and  Ibid  them, 
and  yet  earned  popular  Applaule  of  them  for 
fo  ferving  them. 

So  that  Popularity  is  often  but  the  Price 
which  the  People  pay  to  their  Chiefs,  for  de- 
ceiving and  felling  them  :  And  this  Price  is  fb 
Implicitly  paid,  that  the  very  Vices  and  Foole- 
ries of  a  popular  Chief  become  popular  too, 
and  were  perhaps  amongft  the  firft  Caules  that 
made  him  Ib.  Some  Gentlemen  of  this  Cafr, 
o\ve  their  Figure  to  the  Weaknefs  of  their 
Heads,  or  the  Strength  of  their  Barrels ;  and 
.grow  confiderable  by  their  having  fmall  Parts, 
or  by  drinking  away  thofe  that  they  have. 

Thefe  are  the  Inftruments  that  cunning  Men 
work  with  ,  and  therefore  fometimes  a  Knave, 
\vho  is  not  popular,  fhali  get  a  weak  Man, 
who  is  fb,  to  do  thofe  Things  with  Applaufe, 
for  which  he  himlelf  would  be  hated  and  con- 
d. ained  :  And  the  Hand  that  executes  fhall  be 

bleffed, 


z   OTTO'S  LETTERS. 

blefled,  when  the  Head  that  contrives  would 
be  curled,  For  one  and  the  fame  Thing. 

This  {hews  that  Names  are  principal  Rea- 
fons  to  determine  the  Multitude  to  popular 
Love  and  Hatred  ;  and  it  proceeds  not  (b  much 
from  their  being  untaught  as  ill  taught  ;  when 
they  are  infiruclrd  not  to  reafon  but  to  rage, 
and  not  to  judge  but  to  miftake,  a  better  Di£ 
cernment  and  wifer  Behaviour  are  not  to  be 
hoped  from  them 

Demetrius^  and  the  other  Craftfmen,  Shrine- 
makers  to  Dian/i,  were,  at  Ephefus,  more  po- 
pular Men  than  St.  P/z«/,  and  railed  a  Mob  to 
confute  his  Arguments  forChrifHanity  :  For  it 
had  not  yet  entered  in  the  Heads  of  the  Peo- 
ple, that  Religion  and  Rage  were  contradictory 
Things,  and  that  Ant;quity  and  Reverence 
could  not  fanciify  Impiety,  Faldiood,  and 
Folly. 

In  like  Manner,  BarM<ts9  a  Rioter  and  a 
Murderer,  had  more  Votes  to  fave  him,  than 
our  BleiFed  Saviour  had  ;  who  was  thought,  by 
that  zealous,  deluded,  and  outragious  People, 
to  be  the  greater  Criminal  of  the  Two,  for 
having  told  them  fober  and  favlng  Truth  ; 
which  was  new  to  them,  tho'  everlafling  in 
itfelf,  and  therefore  condemned  becaufe  it  v/as 


Nov7,  in  neither  of  thefe  Inftances  were  the 
People,  though  they  a6led  thus  impioufiy  and 
madly,  originally  in  the  Fault  ;  but  thofe  who 
taught  them  ;  and  who,  having  for  Religion 
taught  rhem  Trifles,  Folly,  and  Fury,  were 
alarmed  by  the  rational  and  prevailing  Doc- 
trines of  Mercy,  Wifdom,  and  Trnth.  They 

therefore 


CATO's  LETTERS.    313 

therefore  blafpheme  agaijnft  the  Author  of 
Truth,  and  yet  charge  him  with  Blafphemy. 
As  to  the  Populace,  they  did  as  they  were 
taught,  and  uttered  the  Cry  which  was  put 
into  their  Mouths. 

The  People,  when  they  are  left  to  themfelves, 
and  their  own  Underft  and  ings  and  Obfervation, 
will  judge  of  Men  by  their  good  or  bad  Ac- 
tions, and  are  capable  of  feparating  Vice  from 
Virtue,  and  the  Juft  from  the  Unjuft  :  And 
therefore,  when  their  Government  is  not  cor- 
rupted, the  beft  and  moft  virtuous  Men  will 
always  be  the  moft  popular;  and  he  who  does 
beft  will  be  efteemed  bed :  But  when  ftrong 
Liquor,  or  Money5>  or  falfe  Terrors  intervene  ; 
when  Government  is  turned  into  Fa6Kon  ;  the 
Judgment  of  the  People  is  vitiated,  and  worfe 
than  none:  They  then  prefer  the  word  Men 
to  the  beft,  if  they  have  ftronger  Drink,  or 
more  Money,  or  are  covered  with  any  other 
falfe  Merit,  by  thofe  whofe  Word  they  take, 
and  whofe  Authority  they  fubmit  to  ;  and  the 
moft  popular  Man  is  he  who  bribes  higheft,  or 
impofes  upon  them  beft. 

That  thefe  Things  are  common  and  alrnoft 
univerfal,  is  not  ftrange  :  Generally  (peaking, 
wherever  there  is  Power,  there  will  be  Faction  ; 
and  wherever  there  is  Money,  there  will  be 
Corruption  ;  fb  that  the  Heads  of  Faction,  and 
the  Promoters  of  Corruption,  have  from  their 
very  Characters,  which  ought  to  render  them 
deteftable,  the  Means  of  Popularity. 

Who  was  better  beloved  at  Home  than  Spu- 
rius  Me!ius,  while  he  was  meditating  the  Slavery 
of  the  tymnn  People  ?  Who  could  ever  boait 

VOL.  IL  0  fuch 


314    Giro's   LETTERS, 

Hich  potent  Parties,  fuch  numerous  Followers, 
fuch  high  Applauleand  Regard,  fuch  Trophies 
.and  Statues,  as  Marius  and  S>///?,  Pcwpey  and 
Ciefar,  Augvflvs  and  Anthony  could  boaff.  ;  while 
they -were  overturning  the  State,  oppreffing 
Mankind,  and  butchering  one  Half  of  the 
World,  and  putting  Shackles  upon  the  other  ? 
And,  in  fine,  who  was  ever  a  greater  Importer, 
and  a  more  admir'd  Prophet,  than  Mahomet 
was  ?  All  thefe  Men  were  Enemies  to  Liberty, 
Truth,  and  Peace,  the  Plagues  and  Scourges 
-of  the  Earth ;  hut  they  deceived  and  deRroyed 
their  People  with  their  own  Confent,  and  by 
the  higheft  Wickednefs  gained  the  higheft  Po- 
pularity. 

The  two  Dukes  of  Gmfe,  Francis  and  Uenry'^ 
Father  and  Son,  were  the  two  molt  popular 
Men  that  ever  France  faw,  and  grew  fb  by  do- 
ing it  more  Mifchief  than  ever  two  Men  till 
then  had  done.  They  were  perpetually,  du- 
ring a  Courfe  of  many  Years,  deftroying  its 
peace,  violating  its  Laws,  usurping  its  Autho- 
rity, pufting  at  the  Crown,  railing  and  car- 
rying on  Rebellions,  committing  MaflaCres, 
and  failing  it  with  Blood  and  Defolation  :  They 
had  no  one  publick  End,  and  did  no  one  pub- 
lick  Thing  but  what  was  pernicious  to  France, 
and  yet  France  adored  them. 

Whoever  is  the  Author  of  a  Civil  War,  is 
'Author  of  all.  its  cruel  Confluences,  Plunders, 
Devailations,  Burnings,  Rapes,  Slaughters, 
Oppreiiion?  and  Famine  — — —  a  frightful  Ca- 
talogue of  Crimes  ro  lie  at  one  Man's  Door  S 
$nd  yet  both  thefe  Dukes  had  them  all  to  anfwer 
for  oyer  and  over,  and  yet  were  vaftly  belov'd; 

cvea 


LETTERS. 

even  when  they  were  dead,  they  continued 
the  Authors  of  long  publick  Miferies,  by  lea- 
ving their  deftru&ive  Schemes  and  their  Party 
behind  them  ;  a  fierce,  lawlefs,  and  powerful 
Party,  that  maintained  the  Civil  War  long  af- 
ter them,  and  having  deflroyed  Henry  the  Third, 
was  like  to  prove  too  hard  even  for  the  great 
Henry  the  Fourth  ;  nor  did  he  overcome  it  but 
by  infinite  Courage,  Induftry,  and  Patience, 
and  the  renouncing  of  his  Religion  :  Nay,  at 
lair.,  his  Murder  was  owing  to  the  Spirit  of  thf 
League,  firft  concerted,  and  afterwards  coi> 
ilantly  headed  and  animated,  by  thele  two 
Dukes  fucceilively. 

Had  ever  any  Country  two  greater  Foes,' 
and  yet  were  ever  two  Men  greater  Darlings 
of  any  Country  ?   For  Henry  Duke  of  Gulfs 
particularly,  he  had  fb  much  the  Hearts  of  the 
People,  that  their  Paflion  for  him  ran  not  on- 
ly  to  Dotage,   but    Idolatry  ;   and  they   bla'C 
phemed  God  to  do  the  Duke  Honour  :  They 
worfhipped  his  Image  •  they  invoked  him  in 
their    Prayers  ;    they  touched    reiigioufly   the 
Hem  of  his  Garment,  and  with  the  fame  Spi- 
rit and  Defigri    rubbed  their  Beads  upon  his 
Clothes ;  and  following  him  in  Multitudes   as 
he  pafled    their  Streets,  faluted  him  with  Ho- 
fannas  to  the  Son  of  David. 

Thus  they  treated  and  adored  this  Idol  ;  a 
lewd  Mans  a  publick  Incendiary  and  Deftroy- 
er,  but  reprefented  to  them  as  their  Saviour  - 
He  had  for  the  Ends  of  Ambition  put  himfelf 
at  the  Head  of  die  Cntholick.  Caufe,  the  fureft 
Warrant  in  the  World  for  Mifchief  and  tto- 

O  &  Our 


jr6    Card's  LETTERS. 

Our  good  Fortune,  or  our  better  Conftitu- 
*1on,  has  hitherto  reftrained  us  againft  our  Will 
from  running  into  all  thefe  Exceifes  of  Diflrac- 
tlon  and  Folly.  But  we  have  had  our  popu- 
lar Idols  too  ;  wretched  Idols,  who  could  not 
furniih  us  from  their  Parts  or  Reputation  with 
one  Reafbn  for  our  Stupidity  in  admiring  them. 
Sometimes  paltry  and  turbulent  Prieits,  de- 
Ititute  of  all  Virtue  and  Good-breeding,  weak 
and  immoral  Patricians,  or  loud  and  ignorant 
Plebeians  have  run  away  with  our  Reverence, 
without  being  able  to  merit  our  Efleem  ;  with- 
out Religion  they  have  beeen  popular  in  the 
Caufe  of  Religion,  and  contended  popularly 
for  Loyalty  by  Faction  and  Rebellion. 

To  every  Reader,  Inftances  of  this  Nature 
will  occur  within  his  own  Memory  and  Ob- 
fervation.  To  name  them  with  the  other  great 
Names  abovementioned,  would  be  an  Honour 
too  mighty  for  them,  who  were  but  frnall 
wicked  Men,  tho'  greatly  popular. 

I  have  often  remembered  with  Companion, 
an  unfortunate  Great  Man  dill  living,  but  ut- 
terly ruined  by  his  Popularity  and  falfe  Friends. 
His  Good-nature  has  been  often  mentioned, 
and  is  grown  almoll  proverbial  :  Nor  do  I 
deny  it ,  though  by  it  he  never  ferved  himfelf, 
his  Family,  or  the  Publick  On  the  contrary, 
it  has  proved  his  Failing  and  his  Crime  If 
one  was  to  enquire  for  the  Caufes  of  his  Popu- 
larity in  the  Probity  of  his  Life,  the  Piety  of  his 
Mind,  his  publick  Abilities,  private  Oecono- 
my,  or  conjugal  and  domeftick  Virtues,  they 
are  Topic ks  upon  which  his  Friends  do  not 
extol  him ;  And  for  his  Loyalty,  take  Loyalty 

In 


CATffs   LETTERS.     3x7 

in  what  Senfe  you  will,  he  will  be  found  to 
have  given  prepofterous  Proofs  of  it,  and  to 
have  been  engaged  in  all  the  Depths  of  Re- 
bellion and  Perjury,  and  is  ftill  engaged. 

From  what  has  been  faid,  it  will  not  feern 
ftrange  that  Tome  of  the  moil  popular  Men  ip 
the  World  have  been  moil  mifchievous  in  their 
Behaviour  and  Opinions.     What  fighting  ^ancl 
burning  has  there  been  for  Tranfubftantiation  I 
what  declaiming,  damning,  and  rebelling. ^ Fc* 
Pailive  Obedience  !    what   fierce  Contention, 
and  how  many  foolifh  Arguments  for  Perfect!- 
tion  !  All  which  Opinions  are  a  Contradiction 
to  Religion  and  Scripture,  an  Affront  to^ com- 
mon Senfe,  and  utterly  deffiru<5Kve  of  all  civj 
and  religious  Liberty,  and  all  humane  Happi- 
nefs  :  Ncr  would  any   of  them,   or  any  like- 
them,  have  ever  entred  into  the  Heart  c!   any 
Man,  unlefs  he  were  iirlt  deceived,  or  found' 
his  Account  in  deceiving.     But  even  Crimes,. 
Contradictions,  and  Folly  \vili  be  popular  in 
a  State,  when  they  bring  Gain  or  felfifh  Gra- 
tifications to  thofe,  who  are  in  Fofleffion  of  P, 
Power  to  render   Folly,    Contradiction,   and 
Crimes,  advantageous  to  the  pernrcious  Pur- 
fuits  they  are  engaged  in, 

I  /ini)  £cc> 


O  3  SI 


CA  TO's  LETTERS. 


SIR, 

I  Have  in  a  former  Letter  to  you,  not  long 
fmce,  fhewn  theRafhnefs  of  Men  in  applying 
to  one  another  the  judgments  of  God.  I  fhall 
in  this  confider  that  Subject  further,  and  endea- 
vour to  cure  that  prevailing  and  uncharitable 
Spirit. 

Almoft  all   forts  of  Men   pretend,  in  (bme 
Jnftances,  to  be  in  the  Secrets  of  the  Almighty, 
iind  will  be  finding  out   the  unfearchable  Pur- 
pofes  of  his   Providence  ;  they*  will  be  prying 
into  the  hidden  Things  of  God,  and  aligning 
fiich  Ends  and  Motives  for  his  all-wife  Difpen- 
fations,  as  are  only  fuitable  to  their  own  Weak- 
nefs,  or  Prejudices,  or  Malice  :  They  give  him 
i  he  famePailions  that  they  themfelves  poffefs, 
nnd  then  make  him  love  and  hate  what   and 
"whom  they  themfelves   love  and    hate:  They 
are  pleafed    with    Flattery  and   Sounds,    and 
provoked  by  Trifles  and   Names,  and  fo  they 
think  is  he.     And  as  they  thus  fan£Hfy  all  their 
own    Doings,  Affections,  and   Fancies  with  a 
Fiat  and  Approbation  from  Heaven,  and  belye 
and  provoke  God  to  make  him  their  Friend  ; 
fo  they  take  it  for  granted  that  he  is  an  Enemy 
to  all  their  Enemies,  and  that  therefore  every 
Evil,  or    Teeming    Evil,  that  befalls  their  Ene- 
mies, .or  thofe  they  diflike,  is  a  manifefl  Judg- 
ment from  God,  and   a  Ju unification  of  what- 
ever they  can  do  againft  them :   So  that  God  is. 

often 


CATffs  LETTERS,    319 

often  made  the  Author  of  every  Mifchief  which 
they  themfelvts  commit;  but  they  that  /eel  it* 
think  more  r.ir: .<nfC-i\ •  -;nt  they  are  animated 
by  a  contrary  Spirit 

God  made  Man  after1  ins  own  Likenefs,  per- 
Fe£,  amiable,  mere  pnght  ;  and  Men 

are  bold  and  fool::  ;fi  to  make  God 

theirs;  and  aim  ;ft  ery  one  has  his  own9 
faftitoned  accord!'  ,is  own  Temper,  Ima- 

ginations and  Prejudi  ies;  In  this  Senfe  they 
worfnip  as  many  Gods,  as  tney  have 

wrong  Notions  of  the  true  one  ;  and  fo  in  lome 
fort   folitheifm    does  yet  remain   even  m   me 
Chriftian  World.     They  only  agree  ^n  calling 
what    they  worfhip  by  she  fame  Name  ;  but 
they  conceive  him  in  fuch  a  different  Manner, 
they  differ  fo  widely  about  his  Nature  andWi  I, 
and  either   give  him  fuch  contradidory  Attri- 
butes, or   do  fo  contradicl:  one  another  in  ex- 
plaining thefe  Attributes,  that  it  is  plain  they  do- 
not  mean  one  and  the  fame  Being.     Some  mak 
God  hate  what  he  certainly  loves,  and  others 
make  him  love  what  he  certainly  hates;  and  al: 
take  it  amifs  if  you  think  they  own  and  adore 
any  God  but  the  true  God.     But  let  them  think 
what  they  will,  many  of  them  ftill  v/orihip  the 
old  Gods  of  the  Heathens,  Gods  that  were  de~ 
liehred  with   Baubles,   Shew,  and    Grimaces,., 
and   with    Cruelty,    Revenge,    and    humane 

Sacrifices.  _  .  .     . 

From  this  miftaken   and  impious  Spirit 
proceeds,  that  when  Calamities  ana'  Di!?,ttsr 
befal  others,  efpecially  thofe  that  differ  from 
us,  we  call  them  Judgments,  and  fay  that  the 
Hand  of  God  is  againft  them  :  But  when  th 

O  4. 


Giro's  LETTERS. 

»f 

fame  Evils  or  worfe  befal  our  (elves,  the  Stile  is 
changed,  and  then  whom  God  Icveth  he  cbaftneth; 
or  if  we  own  them  to  be  Judgments,  yet  ftill 
they  are  Judgments  upon  us  for  other  Peoples 
Sins. 

Thus  all  the  Misfortunes  that  happened  to 
Sfaln  for  many  hundred  Years,  whether  they 
came  from  the  Enemy  or  the  Elements,  were 
divine  Judgments  upon  them  for  fuffering  the 
idolatrous  Moors  to  inhabit  that  good  Catholick 
Country  ;  and  therefore,  like  true  Catholicks, 
they  brought  the  greateft  Judgment  of  all  upon 
it,  by  deftroying  and  banifhing  that  numerous 
and  induftrious  People  :  And  thus  the  bigorted 
Pagans i  when  /tf//ir/c/t  King  of  the  Huns  lacked 
'Rcine,  charged  the  Chriftians  with  being  the 
Caufe  of  that  and  of  every  other  Calamity  that 
befel  the  Empire:  The  Chriftians  defpifed  their 
Gods,  and  therefore  their  God?,  out  of  a  par- 
ticular (pi re  to  the  Chriftians,  affii&ed  the  whole 
"World  with  Miferies  ;  and  (b  Plagues,  Wars, 
Hurricanes,  and  Earthquakes,  which  were 
Evils  that  had  been  in  the  World  from  the  Be- 
ginning of  it,  and  will  be  till  the  End,  were, 
.notwithftanding,  all  (b  many  Judgments,  occa- 
fioned  by  the  poor  Chriftians  — Hence  the 
Beginning  of  Penalties,  Severities,  and  Perfe- 
cutions  againft  them  ;  and  thus  the  Chriftians 
came  in  Time  to  return  the  Charge  upon  the 
Heathens,  to  ufe  the  (ame  Way  of  Reafoning, 
and  make  the  like  Reprifals,  and  with  as  little 
Equity,  Truth,  or  Clemency  :  And  thus,  laft- 
ly,  all  Parties  in  Religion  have  ever  dealt  with 
one  another. 

We 


LETTERS.    J*E 


We   are  commanded  net  to  judge, 
fudged  ;  and  we  are  told  that   Vengeance-  is  tkf 
Lord's^  and  that  Judgments  are  in  his  Htnd;  all- 
which  are  to  convince  us,   that  we  have  no 
certain  or  probable  Rule  to  apply  God's  Judg- 
ments by  ;  and  that  the  fiireft  Rule  is  the  Rule- 
of  Chariirv,  which   wifketb  all  things^  bepeth  all 
things.    The  Good  and  Evil  that  happen  to- 
Men  in  this  World,  are  no  fare  Marks  of  the 
Approbation  and  Difpleaftire  of  Almighty  God, 
who  makes  his  Sun  to  (lime,  and  his  Rain  to 
fall  upon  the  Juft  and  the  Unjuft:  ^Good  For- 
tune and   Calamities  are  the  Portion   of   the 
Good  and  of  the  Bad  ;  and  if  there  is  any  In- 
equality, the  Wicked   feem    to  have  the  Ad- 
vantage.    The  World   had  more  People   and7 
Temporal  Profperity   in  the  Times  of  Hea- 
thenifm,  than  fince  its  Abolifhment;  Irtabome- 
tanifm  poflefles  much  more  of  the  Globe  than 
Christianity  pofielTes  :  and  thePapiftsare  more- 
numerous  than  the  Proteftants-  are,  and  have- 
greater  and   better   Countries.     The  Apoftles- 
and  Saints  were  the  pooreft  Men  in  the  World, 
and  debauch'd  Men  are  often  uppermoft,  and 
thrive  belt;  and  as  the  Righteous  are  at  leaft. 
as  fubjecl:  to  Diflempers  and  AfHi6lion   while 
they  live  ns  the  Wicked  are,  (b  the  Wicked  die- 
with   as  little  Pain  and  as  few  Pangs  as-  the' 
Righteous  die. 

That  there  is  a  Providence,  and  a  gracious; 
Providence-  prefiding  over  the  World,  is  mani- 
feft   and   urrdeniable  ;  but  how  jt  works,  j-ind' 
from  what  particular  Motive?,   in  a    thoufmd 
Infhnces,  none  but  the  Author  of  it  can   tell,, 
tho'  almoft  all  pretend  to  tell,  and  are  for  ever 

O  5, 


312,  euro's  LETTERS: 

diving  into  the  fecret  Councils  of  the   mofl 
High  with  as  much  Temerity  as  ill  Succefs. 

To  the  Difcredit  of  this  Practice,   it  is  ob- 
fervable,  that  none  but  the  fierce  and  uncha- 
ritable, the  ignorant  and  narrow-fpirited  Bigots 
and  Barbarians  come   into  it  or  encourage  it. 
Men   of    charitable    and    benevolent    Minds, 
enlarged  by  Reafon  and  Obfervation,  condemn 
it  as  irreligious  ;  they  know  'tis  often  malicious 
and  dimoneft,  and  always  ridiculous  and  dange- 
rous ;  they  know   the  Ways   of  God  are  paft 
finding  out  ;  they  fee  humane  Affairs  fb    per- 
plexed  and   unaccountable ;    Men  fbmetimes 
rifing  and  fometimes   falling,  both  by  Virtue 
and  Vice  ;  fuch  Viciifitudes   and  Revolutions 
in  the  Fortunes  of  Men  and  of  Nations,  often 
without  any  Change  in  thefe  Men  and  Nations 
from  Virtue  to  Vice,  or  from  Vice  to  Virtue  ; 
People  growing  greater  without  becoming  bet- 
ter, and  poorer  without  growing  worfe  :  They 
behold   Good   and   Evil  fo  promiicuoufly  di£ 
penfed  ;  fbmetimes  Thou  fends  of  Men,  Wo- 
men, and  Children  of  different  Spirits,  Merit, 
and  Morals,  fuffering  equally  under   the  fame 
publick  Calamity,  or  deriving  equally  the  like 
Advantages  from  publick  Profperity  ;  they  be- 
hold  the  Adverfity  of  fbme,  the  vifible  Caufe 
of  the  Profperity  of  others,  who  are  no  better 
than  them  ;   and  the  Profperity  of  fbme   the 
viiible  Caufe  of  the  Adveriity  of  others,  who 
are  no  worfe  than  rhem  :   and  one  and  the  fame 
Thing  producing  Good  and  Evil  to  thofe  who 
aljke  deferve  or  do  not  deferve  Good  and  Evil : 
They  fee  fo  little  Equity  or  Confiftency  in  the 
Proceedings  of  Men  j    fbmetimes  good  Men 

exalted. 


5  LETTERS. 

exalted,  without  any  Regard  had  to  their  Vir- 
tue ;  ibmetimes  wicked  Men  caft  down,  with- 
out any  Refentment  of  their  Crimes  ;  feme- 
rimes  good  Men  punifted  for  being  good,  and 
wicked  Men  raifed  and  rewarded  for  being 
wicked  ;  and  (bmetimes  both  Good  and  Bad 
fuffering  or  profpering  alike  ;  fbmetimes  good 
Fortune  following  the  Good,  and  ill  Fortune 
the  Bad,  and  often  taking  a  contrary  Freak 

Jfay,  wife  and  honed:  Men,  feeing  all  thefe 

Things  in  this  great  Confufion  and  Uncertainty^ 
find  fufficient  Reaibn    to  be  afraid  of  making 
bold  with  Heaven,  and   of  chriftning  by  the 
Name  of  its  judgments  any  of  thefe  Events  and 
Evils  that  affiidl:  any  part  of  Mankindv 

But  Bigots,  and  they,  who,  toferve  ill  Ends, 
ihtereft  Heaven  in  all  they  do,  deal  more  freelj 
and   profanely  with    their   great    Maker-  and 
Judge,  whofe  Councels    and  judgments  being:; 
incomprehenfible,  if  is  Impiety  and  a  Contra- 
di&icn  to  go  about  to  explain  and  apply .tnesi.. 
The  T^/make  God  the   Author  of 
Thing  they  do,  and  of  every  Evil  that  others - 
fuffer  from  them,     They  meafure  his  Will  by 
the  Event  ;  and,  with  them,  whatever  is  kio- 
cefsful,  is  lawful  and  juft:  The   Murder  or 
Prince,  or  his    murdering   of  others,  is- never 
finfulifitfucceeds:  God,  they  fay,  blel 
approves  the  Event,  die  he  v/ould  prevent  jr.. 
So  that,  upon  this  Principle,  there  can  be  no* 
fuch  Thing  as-Wickednefs  and  Villainy  among! 
them  .  for  who  knows  but  it  may  fucceed,  and 
then  it  is  good  ?  or  if  it  dots  not  fucceed,Who 
could    fo'-elee  but   it  wouid  ?     This  impious 
Tenet  or.  that  brutiih People,  arms  them  ;     :h« 


3x4    C^ro's  LETTERS. 

Fiercenefs  and  Outrage  againft  one  another^ 
and  all  the  World  ;  ir  animates  them  to  con> 
mir  Rapine  and  Butcheries,  and  then  fears 
their  Conferences,  and  prevents  all  Remorfe. 
Nay,  they  glory  in  executing  Cruelty,  becaufe 
it  is  the  Judgment  of  God,  and  they  are  his 
Agents. 

I  wifh  I  could  keep  this  dreadful  Principle 
out  of  Chriftendom  ;  but  I  am  forry  to  fay,  it  is 
common  amongft  us.  Whoever  applies  the 
Judgment  of  God  to  others,  has  this  Turkjfo 
Spirit  in  him :  And  all  Men  that  make  fuch 
Applications,  reafon  fo  foolifhly,  fb  falfly,  and 
often  fo  malicioufiy  in  their  Defence,  that  every 
Triftance  that  I  have  ever  yet  met  with  in  all  my 
Reading  and  Obfervation  (except  the  declared 
Inftances  in  facred  Writ)  does  expofe  them. 

Upon  the  Murder  of  Henry  the  Third  of 
Trance,  by  Jacques  Clement ,  a  Dominican  FrJar ; 
die  Deputy  of  the  famous  French  League,  then 
at  /^cw7?,  'tells  the  Pope,  in  an  Audience  given 
up?,n  that  Occafion,  That  the  A  (Tallin  was 
chofen  by  God,  and  divinely  infpired  to  mur- 
der his  Prince;  a»d  calls  it  a  glorious  Exploit  : 
And  tho'  that  execrable  and  bloody  Monk  ufed 
all  the  Methods  of  Falfhood,  Lies,  and  For- 
geries, to  get  Accefs  to  the  King,  in  order  to 
deftroy  him  ;  yet  the  Deputy  folemnly  tells  his 
Holinefs,  that  it  was  notorious  that  the  Thing: 
came  not  from  Men.  The  League  diftrefied, 
refitted,  and  at  lad  rrrurdered  their  Prince:  And- 
all  thefe  their  own  wicked  Doings,  were  for fbouh 
the  Judgments  of  God  upon  him,  for  foffering 
Hercfy  in  the.  Land, 

The 


's  LETTERS. 

The  Hugonots,  on  the  other  hand,  made  a 
Judgment  of  that  Murder  too  ;  but  a  Judgment 
on  their  Side,  for  his  frequent  Breach  of  Faith 
and  Edicts  with  them,  and  for  his  Barbarities 
towards  them.  They  faid,  it  was  a  remark- 
able Providence  of  God,  that  he  was  affaflina- 
ted  in  the  fame  Chamber,  where  he  had  con^ 
certed  the  furious  Maflacre  of  St.  Bartholomew 
• — -  in  the  Chamber,  nay,  on  the  fame  Day, 
the  fame  Hour,  and  on  the  fame  Spot !  Here 
are  Judgments  encountring  Judgments !  let  who 
will  reconcile  them.  I  think  ^both  Sides  were 
fiifficiently  rafhand  ridiculous  in  making  them, 
as  are  all  thole  that  do,  whatever  Side  they  are 

of. 

The  Conqueft  of  the  Greeks  by  'Mahomet  the 
Second,  and  their  flavifh  Subjection  to  theT/r^;, 
is    afcribed   by   the  Jefuit  Maimlourg    to    the 
Schifin,  which  he  fays  they  were  guilty  of  in 
withdrawing  their  Obedience  from  the  See  of 
Rome.     Here,  according  to  him,  was  the  Judg-* 
ment  and  the  Caufe  of  the  Judgment.     Bttyle 
observes  upon  this  Occasion,  that  Upme  being 
taken  by  Charles    the  Fifth,  in    15^7,    was  as 
barbaroufly  pillaged   by  his   Troops,   as   was 
Conftantin&ple  by  the'T//rJ^,  when  they  took  it : 
And  he  asks,  Whether  Jttaimbotirg  would  take 
it  well  to  be  told  by  the  Greeks*  that    that  De- 
fblation  of  Rjme  was   a  Judgment  upon  her  for 
her  Pride  and  Ambition,  in  demanding,  impe- 
rioufly,  of  the-  G>ee\  Church,-  an  abfolute  Uni- 
formity and  Obedience  to  her  Difcipline  and' 
Dictates  ?    He  fays,  that  Maimbourg^  fmce  he 
was  dealing  in  Judgments,  might  have  as  -well 
given  this-another  Turn,  with  which  Chnlccndylis 

would 


$z6  CATtfs  LETTERS. 

would  have  furnifhed  him.  That  Hillomn 
relates,  that  when  Mahomet  invaded  and  fub- 
dued  Greece,  the  then  Inhabitants  of  f(cme^  who 
thought  themfelves  the  Defendants  of  the  old 
Romans,  who  came  from  ALneas,  who  came  from 
Troy,  aflerted  pofitively,  that  all  the  Deftrucl:i- 
on  brought  upon  the  Greeks  by  the  Barbarians,.. 
was  but  a  Judgment  upon  them  for  all  the  Ra« 
vages  which  their  Gree^  Anceftors  had  com* 
mitted  againit  the  Subjects  of  -Priamus,  and  in 
the  Deftru&ion  of  Troy  fome  Thoufand  Years 
before. 

The  Death  of  Oliver  Cromwell  was,  it  feems, 
attended  or  followed  by  a  very  high  Wind, 
which  was  nothing  ftrange  :  But  as  Oliver  had 
been  a  Ufurper,  and  a  great  Deceiver,  and  was 
greatly  hated;  moft  of  the  Vulgar,  and  many 
that  would  be  thought  much  wifer,  took  it  in 
their  Heads,  that  that  lame  Storm  was  a  loud 
Judgment  and  Declaration  of  the  Wrath  of 
Heaven  againft  him,  and  that  Satan  was  fetch- 
ing away  his  Soul  in  a  Whirlwind.  But  his- 
Friends  turned  it  quite  another  way  ;  and  par- 
ticularly Mr.  Waller;  who  made  all  that  Tu- 
mult and  Bellowing  in  the  Elements,  to  be 
partly  the  Call  of  Heaven,  fummoning  away 
fb  great  a  Man,  and  partly  the  Sighs  and  Sym- 
pathy of  Nature  for  his  lafl  Agonies  and  De- 
parture. The  Copy  of  Verles  that  Waller  made 
on  that  Occafion,  is  one  of  the  nobleft  in  our 
Language  ;  I  (hall  conclude  with  a  few  Lines- 
out  of  it  -  - 


We  mufl  refign  ;  Heaven  his  great  Soul  does  cldlrr^ 
In  Storms  <ti  loud  as  his  immortal  Fame. 

m* 


LETTERS.   3*7 


'His  dying  Groans,  bis  lafl  Breath  foakes  our 
AndTrees  uncut,  fall  for  his  Funeral  Pile. 
Nfw  Rome  infuch  a  Tempeft  loft  her  Kjng9 
And  from  obeying,  fell  to  wor  (hipping. 
Nature  herfelf  took.  Notice  of  bis  Death+ 
Andfjghing,  faetfdthe  Sea  with  fuch  a  Breath} 
That  to  remotefl  Shores  her  Billows  rolfd, 
T/>'  approaching  Fate  of  their  great  f(uler  told, 

I  am, 


SIR, 

TH  E  Talent  of  writing  Hiflory  is  fb  rare 
on  this  Side  the  Alps,  and  more  on  this 
Side  the   Channel,  that  I  think  moft  of  our 
Southern  Neighhours  have  far  exceeded  us  in 
it ;  as  much,  perhaps,  as  forne  of  the  Ancients 
haVe  exceeded  them.     By  far  the  rnoft  part  of 
our  Englijh  Hiftories  are  pitiful  Performances, 
unworthy  of  a  free  polite  and  learned  Nation. 
But  tho'  many  of  our  Neighbours  excel  us  in  the 
Hiftories  of  their  own  Countries,  we  canboaft- 
of  two  univerfal  Hiftories,  which  do  Honour 
to  the  Authors,  and  their  Country.     The  firfl 
is  Sir  Walter  fywleigb,  one  of  the  worthieft  and. 
ableft  Men,  that  this  or  any  other  Country  ever 
produced.     He  had  a  Soul  as  vaft  as  the  Work 
he  undertook,  and  his  Work    refembles  him  ; 
£or  tho'  it  has  much  in  it  that  is  foreign  to  Hifto-- 
ry,  it   is  noble,  nervous,  and  inftru&ive  ;  it's 
Spirit,  Clearnei^  and  Stile,  are  admirable  j  and 
r  for 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

for  Narration,  Penetration,  Knowledge,  Sen- 
tences, and  Obfervation,  he  has  few  Competi- 
tors in  Antiquity. 

The  other  is  the  very  reverend,  learned,  and 
aged  Dr.  Prideaux,  Dean  of  Norwich,  who  has 
given  us  a  Body  of  univerfal  Hillory,  written 
with  fuch  Capacity,  Accuracy,  Induftry,  and 
Honefty,  as  make  it  one  of  the  beft  Books  that 
ever  came  into  the  World,  and  fhew  him  to  be 
one  of  the  greateft  Men  in  it.  No  Book  was 
ever  more  univerfally  read  and  approved.  It  is 
indeed  a  great  publick  Service  done  to  Man- 
kind, and  entitles  the  Author  to  the  higheft 
publick  Gratitude  and  Honour. 

But  tho'  I  never  faw  any  great  Work  to 
which   I  found  fewer  Objections ;    yet,  as  a 
memorable    Proof  how   infeparably  Miftakes 
and  Prejudices  cleave    to  the  Mind   of  Man, 
the  great  and  candid  Dr.  Pridcmtx  is  not  with- 
out them  ;  I  therefore  do  not  upbraid  him  with 
them,  but  rather  admire  him  for  having  fb  few. 
There  are  however  fbme  of  his  Theological ; 
Obfervations,  which  feem  to  me  not  only  Jll- 
grounded,  but  to  have  a  Tendency  to  create  in- 
his  Readers  wrong  Notions  of  the  Deiry,  and' 
to  encourage  them  to  miftake  the  common  Ac- 
cidents of  Life,    and  the   common  Events  of: 
Nature,  for   the  Judgments   of  God ;   and  to 
apply  them  fuperftitioufly  as  fuch 

Of  this  Kind,  is  the  Obfervation  he  makes - 
upon  the  Death  of  Camfafes,  the  Peyjian  Em- 
peror, who  had  (lain   the  Egyptian  Apis.     For 
the  better  Undemanding  of  this,  we  mull  know, 
that  the  chief  God  of  the  ^Egyptians  was  Ofiris  ; 
y  worfhip'd  in  the  Shape  vf  a  Bully  and  that- 

no*- 


LETTERS.    319 

not  only  in  Imagery,  but  alfo  in  Ideality ;  for  they 
kept  a  'Bull  in  the  Temple  of  Ofiris,  which  they 
worjhip'd  in  his  Stead.  The  Do6r.or  adds,  That 
in  Imitation  of  this  Idolatry,  was  it  that  Aaron 
made  the  Golden  Calf  in  the  H7ildernefs,  find 
Jeroboam  thofe-  in  Dan  and  Bethel,  and  did  fet 
them  up  there  to  be  mrjhif'-d  by  the  Children  of 
Ifrael,  <x  the  Gods  that  had  brought  them  out  of  the 
Land  of  ./Egypt. 

When  this  the  God  and  Bull  of  the  Mgyftians 
died,  they  look'd  out  for  another,  with  fuch 
proper  Marks  and  Spots  as  were  certain  Indi- 
cations of  his-  Divinity  ;  and  when  they  found 
one,  they  exprefied  their  Joy  in  great  and  pub- 
lick  Feilivity.  In  fuch  a  Fit  of  rejoicing,  Cam- 
byfes  found  the  City  of  Memphis,  when  he  re- 
turned to  it,  from  his  unprofperous  Expedition 
into  Ethiopia.  The  ^Egyptians  had  juft  then 
found  a  new  God  amongft  the  Cattle,  and  had 
lodged  him  at  his  Crib  in  his  Temple  with 
great  Solemnity.  Cambyfes  had  a  Mind  to  fee 
this  Deity  of  theirs ;  "  And,  fays  Dr.  Prideaux^ 
"  this  Apis  being  brought  to  him,  he  fell  into  a 
"  Rage,  as  well  he  might,  at  the  Sight  of 
"  fuch  a  God;  and,  drawing  out  his  Dagger, 
"  run  it  into  the  Thigh  of  the  Beaft;  and  then 
"  reproaching  the  Priefls  for  their  Stupidity 
"  and  Wretchednefs  in  worfhipping  a  Brute 
"  for  a  God,  ordered  them  feverely  to  be 
';  whip'd,  and  all  the  ^Egyptians  in  Memphis  to 
"  be  (lain,  v/ho  fhould  be  found  any  more 
"  rejoicing  there  on  this  Occaiion.  The  Apis 

being  carried  back  to  the  Temple,  languished 
"  of  his  VVoundj  and  died. 

As 


330    Giro's  LETTERS. 

As  to  the  Death  of  Camlyfcs,  and  the  Man- 
ner of  it,  take  it  alfo  in  the  Doctor's  Wor'ds  : 
*-'  As  he  mounted  his  Horfe,  his  Sword  falling 
out  of  the  Scabbard,   gave  him  a  Wound 
in  the  Thigh,  of  which  he  died  :  The  Egyp- 
'  tians  remarking,  that  it  was  in  the  fame  Part 
of  the  Body,  where  he  had  afore  wounded 
the  Apis)  reckoned  it  as  an  efpecial  Judg- 
ment from  Heaven  upon  him  for  that  Fa£r.; 
and.  perchance  they  were  not  much  out  in 
it  :  For  it  feldom  happening  in  an  Affront 
given  to  any  particular  Mode  of  XVorfhip, 
how  erroneous  ibcver  it  may  be,  but  that 
Religion  in  general  is  wounded  hereby;  there 
are  many  Inftances  in  Hiftory,  wherein  God 
hath  very  iignally  puniihed  the*  Profanations 
of  Religion  in  the  word  of  Times,  and  urv- 
"  der  the  worR  Modes  of  Heath:n  Idolatry." 

Without  inquiring  whether  this  be  any  Com- 
plement to  Truth  and  Religion ;  I  Freely  own, 
that  the  diftrefiing  or  difturbing  of  any  fort  of 
People  in  any  fort  of  WorSTiip,  however  falfe  and 
ridiculous,  where  the  fame  does  not  violate  Pro- 
perty or  humane  Society,  is  an  Invafion  of  the 
Rights  of  Nature  and  Conscience,  and  no  Man 
can  do  it  with  a  wife  and  honeft  Defign  :  And 
what  Men  do  of  this  Kind,  out  of  Bitternefs 
of  Spirit  or  Self-Ends,  no  one  will  juftiFy.  If 
People  will  play  the  Fool  in  their  Devotion,, 
they  only  expofe  thernfelves,  but  hurt  not 
others :  and  whoever  does  Hurt  to  them,  does 
but  warrant  them  to  return  it  :  And  hence  is 
the^fure  Beginning  of  Tyranny,  and  of  eternal 
civil  and  religious  War.  Every  Man  reckons 
every  Religion  falfe  or  foolifh,  which  he  does 

nofc 


C  A  ro's  LETTERS.   331 

hot  embrace ;  and  his  own  the  bed,  tho^It  be 
the  word.  And  if  in  this  univerfal  Obftinacy 
of  every  Man  to  every  religious  Opinion  which 
he  has  imbibed,  a  Difpute  by  the  Sword,  and 
Arguments  of  Authority  and  Force,  were  en- 
couraged, or  but  permitted,  Confuiion  and 
Slaughter  would  be  their  chief  Employment. 
Or  if  one  Man's  Will  were  to  be  a  Law  to 
other  Men's  Thoughts,  the  Effccls  would  be 
every  where  alike  ;  that  is,  the  Stupidity  and 
Slavery  of  Turly,  would  be  the  Portion  and 
Character  of  Englishmen. 

But  I  cannot  think  that  the  wounding  of  a 
Bull,  even  of  a  confecrated  Bull,  and  the  whip- 
ping of  his  Priefrs,  were  fuch  Crimes   as,  be- 
yond all  the  other  Crimes  of  C<imbyfes9  called 
for  the  avenging  judgments  of  God  upon  him. 
He  had  others  to  anfwer  for  of  a  far  more 
black,  malignant,  and  deteftable  Nature  :    He 
put  his  Brother  to  Death  for  his  Merit,  and 
for    a    Dream  that  he    had   concerning    him. 
He  killed,  by  a  Kick  in  the  Belly,  his  beloved 
Wife  Mew,  who  was  alfo  his  Sifter,  and  then 
with-child   by   him,  for  lamenting  the   Death 
of  her  muder'd  Brother.         He  caufed  feveral 
"  of  his  principal  Followers  to  be  buried  alive,. 
"  without  any  Caufe  deferving  of  it,  and  daily 
"  facrificed  Tome  or  other  of  them  to  his  wild 
"  Fury.     And  when  Crafus  (formerly  King  of 
"  Lydia,  the  old  and  faithful  Friend  and  Coun- 
"  fellor  of  his  Father  Cyrus)  advifed  him  againft 
"  thofe  Proceedings,  and  laid  before  him  the 
"  ill  Confequences  which  they  would  lead  to, 
"  he  ordered  him  to  be  put  to  Death  ;  and 
44  when  thofe  who  received  his  Orders,  know-. 

" 


CATO's  LETTERS. 

ing  he  would  repent  of  it  next  Day,  did 

therefore  defer  the  Execution,  he  caufed  them 

all  to  be  executed  for  it,  though  at  the  fame 

Time   he  expreflTed   great  Joy   that  Crccfus 

was  alive  :    And   out  of  a   meer  Humour, 

only  to  (hew  his  Skill  in  Archery,  he  (hot 

to  Death  the  Son  of  Prexafpes,  who  was  the 

"  Chief  of  his  Favourites."     He   caufed  the 

Magiflrates  of  Memphis  to  be  put  to  Death, 

for   anfwering   truly  to  a  Queftion  he  asked 

them.     In    his   mad   March    over   the  Lybitin 

Sand?j  to  invade  a  People  that  had  done  him 

no  Harm,  he  deftroyed  mod  of  his  vaft  Army, 

Fifty  Thoufand  in  one  Place,  and  the  reft  were 

reduced  by  Famine  to  feed  on  each  other. 

Which  now  is  moft  lik*ly,  and  moft  becom- 
ing the  divine  Wifdom  and  Goodnefs,  that 
the  great  God  of  Heaven  and  Earth  fhould  be 
more  offended  with  this  black  Catalogue  of 
Cruelties  and  Crimes,  than  with  a  hafty  Blow 
given  to  a  Brute  \vorfhipped  as  God  ;  which, 
the  Dodlor  owns  had  juftly  provoked  the  Rage 
of  Cfimbyfes  ?  And  is  the  Almighty  more  pro- 
voked at  an  Affront  put  upon  an  Idol,  and  upon 
the  Attendants  of  an  Idol,  which  falfly  and 
impudently  is  made  ro  reprefent  him,  than  at  a 
terrible  and  raging  Tyranny,  that  fpreads  Blood 
and  Defblation  over  the  Face  of  the  Earth  ? 

Ctfmhfes,  upon  his  invading  Egypt,  did  ano- 
ther Thing  as  bad  as  the  wounding  of  Apis  ; 
I  fhall  relate  it  in  the  Doctor's  own  Words  : 
Finding  that  the  Garrifbn  of  Pelufium,  a 
ftrong  Frontier  Town,  were  all  Egyptians, 
in  an  Affault  which  he  made  upon  the  Cityr 
"  he  placed  a  great  Number  of  Cats,  Dogs, 


cc 

it 


CMfO's  LETTERS.     333 

"  Sheep,   and  other  of  thofe  Animals  which 
a  the  Egyptians  reckoned  Tarred,  in  the  FronC 
"  of  the  Army  ;  and  therefore  the  Soldiers  not 
"  daring  to  throw  a  Dart,  or  (hoot  an  Arrow 
*'  that  Way,  for  fear  of  killing  Tome  of  thofe 
"  Animals,  Camhfes  made  himfelf ^Mailer  of 
*4  the    Place   without    any  Oppofition.     For 
"  thefe  being  the  Gods  which  the   Egyptians 
"  then  adored,    it  was  reckoned   the   higheft 
"  Impiety  to  kill  any  of  them  ;  ^and  when  they 
"  died  of  themfelves,  they  buried  them  with 
"  great  Solemnity. 

The  Do&or  makes  no  Reflexion  upon  this, 
though  upon  the  fame  Principle,  it  ^muft  have 
been  an  Affront  to  Religion  ;  and  if  none  or 
thefe  facred  Creatures  were  killed,  it  was  owe- 
ing  to  no  Tendernefs  in  Cambyfes,  who  expofed 
them  to  fo  much  Danger  :  But  if  true  Religion 
is  hurt  by  putting  an  Affront  upon  a  falfe  one, 
how  came  it  to  be  a  Merit  in  the  primitive 
Chriftians  to  pull  down  the  Heathen  Temples, 
and  deftroy  the  Idols  of  the  Heathens,  as  they 
almoft  every  where  did  where  they  had  Power, 
and  often  in  Oppofition  to  Power  ?  And  upon 
what  Foot  and  Motive  is  it  that  Penalties  and 
Incapacities  are  put  upon  any  Seel:  of  Religion 
in  any  Country  ?    And  how  came  the  Jem  to 
exercife  fuch  Fury  upon  the  Gods  and  Worfhip 
of  the  Gentiles,  as  many  of  the  Jewifh  Leaders, 
and  efpecially  the  Maccabees  did,  often  out  or 
their  own  Country,  and  often  without  Provo- 
r-qfjon  ? 

U  The  Primitive  Fathers  are  every  where  full 
of  Sarcafms  againft  the  Heathenim.  Worlhip, 
which  they  treat  conftantly  with  Ridicule  and 

Reproach, 


334    C^ro's   LETTERS. 

Reproach,  and  Contempt  and  Bitternefs :   Did 
Chriftianity  fuffer  by  this  Behaviour  of  theirs  ; 
or  did  not  rather  Chriftiunity  gain  Advantage 
and  new  Beauties,  by  comparing  it  with  the 
Abfurdities,  the  Fopperies,  Nonfenfe,  Corrup- 
tions, and  Vanities  of  the  Pagans  ?  Truth  can- 
not fuffer  by  expofing  Falfhoods,  which  can 
no  more  bear  the  Face  of  Truth,  than  Dark- 
nefs  can  the  Face  of  the  Sun.     No- two  Things 
are  more  unlike  than  true  and  falfe  Religion; 
and  the  lame  Treatment  can  never  affect  both 
In  any  RefpecT:,  as  the  fame  Arguments  cannot 
defend  Truth   and  Error.     Indeed,  true  Reli- 
gion is  defended  and  recommended  by  the  very 
Means  that  expofe  and  deftroy  a  falfe  one.     I 
have  therefore  often  wondered  at  a  Saying  of 
Mr.  Col!ier\  tho'  not  that  it  was  faid  by  him  ; 
namely,  That  the  Transition  is  eafy  from  ridi- 
culing a  falfe  Religion  to  the  ridiculing  a  true 
one  ;  or  Words  to  that  Effect.     Than  which 
nothing  could  be  more  unjuftly  faid  :  They  are 
as  oppolite  as  Law  and  the  Violation  of  Law  ; 
as  unlike   as  Jiiftice  and  Oppreilion  ;  and   as 
different  as  Cbrifl  and  Belial :  How  fhould  the 
Worfhip  of  Demons  referable  the  Worfhip  of 
the  true  God  ?  And  if  they  cannot  be  miftaken 
for  each  other,  how  can  they  be  annoyed  by 
the  fame   Weapons  ?    The  Fathers   were   fb 
far  from   fuch   an  Imagination,    that  in  their 
Railleries    and   Reafbriings    upon    the  devout 
Fooleries  of  the  Gentiles,    they  did   not  treat 
them  with  a-bit  the  more  Reverence  or  Regard 
for  their  being  eftabliflied  by  a  Law. 

So  much  may  ferve  to  fhew,  that  the  true 
Religion  can  have  no  Sympathy  with  the  Falfe, 

nor 


•s  LETTERS. 

nor  "fuffer  in  its  Sufferings.  As  to  the  Death  of 
Cnmbyfes,  I  do  not  fee  any  Sign  of  a  Judgment 
in  it,  unlefs  every  Death  occafioned  by  an  Ac- 
cident or  an  Inftrument,  is  a  Judgment.  Indeed 
every  Difafler,  before  it  can  be  called  a  Judgment 
in  thisSenfe  of  the  Word,  murr.  be  proved  a  Mi- 
racle j  and  common  Effects  from  vifible  and 
common  Caufes,  as  they  are  no  Miracles,  fb  nei- 
ther can  they  be  called  Judgments,  unlefs  God, 
the  Author  of  Judgments,  declares  them  fb,  as 
he  did  not  in  the  Cafe  before  us.  Many  a 
good  Man  has  been  killed  in  a  more  terrible 
Manner,  as  were  all  the  Saints  and  Martyrs. 

Now  where  is  the  Miracle  of  a  Sword  fal- 
ling out  of  the  Sheath,  when  a  Man  is  mount- 
ing his  Horle  ?  And  where  was  it  more  likely 
to  fall  than  on  his  Leg  or  his  Thigh  ?  If  in- 
deed it  had  got  out  of  the  Scabbard  of  its  own 
accord,  and  mounted  up  to  his  Head  and  cut 
it  oft,  it  might  have  looked  like  a  Judgment ; 
but  yet  1  (hould  have  looked  out  rather  for 
any  Caufe  of  it,  than  the  killing  of  a  deified 
Bull. 

I  am^  &C, 


T-be  End  of  the  Second  Politme* 


•  -"j-~       •' .f",    "   w 

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•  VJL  BBS