inclination to popery. The instruments that meuage this part of the plot, are ejected ministers, booksellers, and printers: and, it is believed, by men of judgment, and experience, in the trade of the press, that since the late Act for Uniformity, there have been printed near thirty thousand copies of Fareweil Sermons (as they call them) in defiance of the law. All which, as they are now drawn together into one binding, (to the number of betwixt thirty and forty) and represented with figures, do certainly make up one of the most audacious, and dangerous libels, that hath been made publique under any government; and they are now printing it in Dutch too, for the greater honour of the scandal. By these arts and practices, the faction works upon the passions and humours of the common people; and, when they shall have put mischief into their hearts, their next business is to put swords in their hands, and to engage them in a direct rebellion which intent of theirs, together with the means whereby they hope to execute it, I shall humbly lay before your Majesty in a few words. That they propose and labour another change appears, first, from the recourse they have in almost all their schismatical papers to the obligation of the covenant; which is no other, than to conjure the people under the peyn of perjury, to treat your Majesty as the covenanters did your father; and (in a flat contradiction to the blessed Apostle) to pronounce, that bee that [obeyes] shall recerve to himself damnation. A second proof of their designe may be drawn from their still pleading the continuance of the long parliament; and the sove reignty of the people; which is but in plain terms, to disclayme your authority royal, and to declare to the world, that they want nothing but another oppor tunity for another rebellion. What may be the event of these libertyes, belongs not to mee to divine; but that such libertyes are taken, I do, with great reverence, presume to enform your Majesty and, further, that the visible boidness and malice of the faction, seems not to be the only danger; diverse of the very instruments, who are entrusted with the care of the press, being both privy and tacitly consenting to the corruptions of it; by virtue of which connivence, many hundred thousands of seditious papers, since your Majestyes return, have passed anpunished. And yet in this prodigious licence and security of libelling your sacred Majesty, and the government, let but any paper be printed that touches upon the private benefit of some concerned officer; the author of that paper is sure to be retriv'd, and handled with sufficient severity. Finally; to present your Majesty with some common observations: it is noted, first, as a very rare thing, for any pres byterian pamphlet to be seiz'd, and sup pressed, unless by order from above." Secondly, It is observed of those offenders that are discovered, that generally the rich have the fortune to come off, and the poor to suffer: and, thirdly, that scarce one of five, though under custody, is ever brought to either of your Ma jesties principal secretaryes of state. I have now discharg'd my soul both to God, and to your Majesty; in what I take to be an honest and a necessary office; and I have done it with this choice before me, either to suffer the worst that malice or calumny can cast upon me, or to forfeit my duty. I should not speak this but upon experience, nor dare to mention it upon this occasion,' but that I think it highly imports your Majesty to know how dangerous a matter it is to render you a publique service. To present your Majesty with a fresh instance:-I was lately engaged as a commissioner, in a publique debate ou the behalf of the loyal officers; and, for no other crime, or provocation, but for asserting the profess'd desires of the whole party; a certain gentleman took such a heat, and confidence, as openly to charge me with writing against your Mas jesty; affirming withal, that your Majesty had accused me for it to the parliament, and that my Lord Chancellor would justifie it: since which time, it appears, not only that hee himself was the first person that by a private tale had endeavoured to exasperate my Lord Chancellor against mee; but that, being called to account by my Lord's order, for so great, and so injurious a boldness, both towards your Majesty, and his lordship, he desired God to renounce him, if ever he spake the words, (although delivered in the face of a full committee.) If I were im pudent enough to trouble your Majesty with a personal character, his familiar discourses, both concerning your sacred Majesty and the honourable House or Commons, would afford matter for it; but let God witness for me, that I have no passion, but for your Majesties service, and for the general good of your loyal subjects: both which interests, I do de humbly conceive to be very much concern'd in some provision, that men may not suffer in their reputations for doing their duties; and that those persons who have chea fully and honourably passed through the utmost extremities of a long and barbarous warr, out of a sence of loyalty to your royal father, may not now at last be stung to death by the tongues of tale-bearers, and slanderers for being faithful to your Majesty. Which is the case of many, more considerable than myself, and among the rest in particular of Your Majesties Most loyal and obedient subject ROGER L'ESTRANGE. To the Right Honourable the Lords and to the Honourable the Commons as sembled in Parliament. Having been lately employ'd to draw up some proposals touching the reguJation of the press, and to scarch for certain seditious books, and papers: I think it agreeable both to my reason and duty that 1 dedicate to your honours some accompt of my proceeding; especially in this juncture, when both the danger and the remedy are the subject of your present care. The drift and argument of this little treatise is express'd in the title. One particular only was forgotten in the body of the discourse, which I must now crave leave to insert in my dedication; (i. e.) an additional expedient for the relief of necessitous and supernumerary printers; many of which would be well enough content to quit the trade, and betake themselves to other employments, upon condition to be re-imburst for their presses, letter, and printing-materials: and it is computed that 40001. or thereabouts, would buy off their stock; for the raising of which sum, and so to be employ'd, there occurs this expedient. It is credibly reported, that there have been printed at least ten or twelve impressions of a collection entituled, The First, Second, and Third, Volume of Fare wel-Sermons: (with the figures of the ejected ministers) which is no other, than an arraignment of the law, and charge of persecution against the King, and his Parliament. Upon a supposition of twelve impres sions, (at a thousand a piece, which is the lowest) the clear profit, beside the charge of paper and printing, comes to 300l. which sum, being impos'd as a fine upon their heads for whom the books were printed, will defray a con• siderable part of the aforesaid charge, and what is wanting may be abundantly made up by the like course upon the publishers of other seditious painphlets, keeping the same proportion betwixt the profit and the punishment. Of the Farewel-Sermons, I seiz'd the other day in quires, to the quantity of betwixt twenty and thirty ream of paper; and I discovered likewise the supposed author of another pamphlet, entituled [A Short Survey of the Grand Case of the Ministry, &c.] Wherein is maintain'd, in opposition to the declarations required by the Act of Uniformity, that in some cases it may be lawful to take arms against the King. To take arms by the King's authority against his person, or those commissioned by him. And that the obligation of the covenant is a knot cut by the sword of authority, whilst it cannot be loosed by religious reason. Concerning which, and many other desperate libels, if your honours shall think fit to descend into any particular enquiry, it may be made appear, at whereas not one of twenty is now taken, scarce one of a hundred could scape, if there were not connivence (at least, if not corruption) joyn'd to the craft and wariness of the faction. How the world will understand this freedome and confidence in a private person, I do not much concern my self; (provided that I offend not authority) but the question to me seems short and easy, Whether it be lawful, or not, for any man that sees his countrey in dan ger, to cry out Treason? And nothing else hath extorted this singularity of practice and address from Your honours' Most dutiful servant, Considerations and Proposals in Order to the Regulation of the Press. I think no man denyes the necessity of suppressing licentious and unlawful pamphlets, and of regulating the press; but in what manner and by what means this may be effected, that's the question. The two main-points are printing and publishing. The instruments of setting the work afoot are these. The adviser, author, compiler, writer, correcter, and the persons for whom, and by whom; that is, say, the stationer (commonly), and the printer. To which may be added, the letter founders, and the smiths, and joyners, that work upon presses. The usual agents for publishing are the printers themselves, stichers, binders, stationers, hawkers, mercury-women, pediers, ballad-singers, posts, carryers, hackney-coachmen, boat-men, and maFiners. Other instruments may be likewise employ'd, against whom a general provision may be sufficient. Hiding and concealing of unlawful books, is but in order to publishing, and may be brought ander the same rule. Touching the adviser, author, compiler, writer, and correcter, their prac sices are hard to be retriv'd, unless the one discover the other. This discovery may be procur'd partly by a penalty upon refusing to discover, and partly by a reward, to the discoverer; but let both the penalty and the reward be considerable and certain: and let the obligation of discovery run quite through, from the first mover of the mischief, to the last disperser of it. That is to say; if any unlawful book shall be found in the possession of any of the agents, or instruments aforesaid, let the person in whose possession it is found, be reputed and punish'd as the author of the said book, unless he produce the person, or persons, from whom he receiv'd it; or else acquit himself by oath, that he knows neither directly nor indirectly how it came into his possession. Concerning the confederacy of sta tioners and printers, we shall speak anon: but the thing we are now upon is singly printing, and what necessarily relates to it. One great evil is the multiplicity of private presses, and consequently of printers, who for want of publique and warrantable employment, are forc'd either to play the knaves in corners or to want bread. The remedy is, to reduce all printers and presses that are now in employment, to a limited number; and then to provide against private printing for the time to come, which may be done by the means following. First; The number of printers and presses being resolved upon, let the number of their journy-men, and apprentices be likewise limited: and in like manner, the number of master-founders, and of their journy men, and their apprentices; all which to be allow'd of, and approv'd by such person or persons, as shall be authoris'd for that purpose; neither let any joyner, carpenter, or smith, presume to work for or upon any printing press, without such allowance as aforesaid, according to the direction of the late Act for printing. Secondly, Let all such printers, letter founders, joyners, carpenters, and smiths, as shall hereafter be allow'd, as aforesaid, be respectively and severally interrogated before their admittance, in order to the discovery of supernumerary printers and presses. That is; 1. Let the printers be question'd what private presses they have at any time wrought upon for so many years last past, and the time when, and for, and with whom: and what other printers and presses they know of at present, beside those of the present establishment. 2. Let the founders be also examin'd, what etter they have furnish'd since such a time; when and for whom, and what other printers, &c.-Ut suprá. 3. Let the joyners, carpenters, and smiths, be question'd likewise what presses they have erected, or amended, &c. when, and for whom? and what other presses, printers, &c.-as before. And if after such examination it shall appear at any time within so many months, that any man has wilfully conceal'd or deny'd the truth, let him forfeit his employment as a person not fit to be trusted, and let the enformer be taken into his place if he be capable of it, and desire it; or else, let him be rewarded some other way. The same course may be taken also concerning English printers and presses beyond the seas. This may serve as to the discovery of private printers and presses already in employment: now to prevent underhand-dealing for the future, and to provide against certain other abuses in such as are allow'd. First; Let a special care be taken of card-makers, leather-guilders, flock-workers, and quoyf.drawers; either by expresly inhibiting their use of such presses, as may be apply'd to printing of books, or by tying them up to the same termes and conditions with printers; and let no other tradesman whatsoever presume to make use of a printing-press, but upon the same conditions, and under the same penalties with printers. 2dly. Let no presse or printing-house be erected or lett, and let no joyner, carpenter, smith, or letter-founder, work for for a printing-house, without notice (ac cording to the late Act.) Sly. Let no materialls belonging to printing, no letters ready founded or cast, be imported or bought without the like notice, and for whom (according to the late Act). 4ly. Let every master-printer be bound at least, if not sworn, not to print, cause or suffer to be printed in his house, or press, any book or books without lawful licence (according to the late Act). 5ly. Let no master-printer be allow'd to keep a press but in his own dwellinghouse, and let no printing-house be perinitted with a back-dore to it. 6ly. Let every master-printer certifie what warehouses he keeps, and not change them without giving notice. 7ly. Let every master printer set his name to whatsoever he prints, or causes to be printed, (according to the late Act.) 8ly. Let no printer presume to put upon any book the title, marque, or vinnet, of any other person who has the priviledge of sole printing the same, without the consent of the person so priviledg'd (according to the late Act), and let no man presume to print another man's copy. 9ly. Let no printer presume either to re-print or change the title of any book formerly printed, without licence; or to counterfeit a licence, or knowingly to put any man's name to a book as the author of it, that was not so. 10ly. Let it be penall to antedate any book; for, by so doing, new books will be shuffled among old ones to the encrease of the stock. 11ly. Let the price of books be re, gulated. 12ly. Let no journy-man be employ'd, 14ly. Let the persons employ'd be of known integrity; so near as may be; free of the sayd mysteries, and able i their trades (according to the late Ari). But it 60 presses must be reduc'a to 20, what shall all those people do tor a livelyhood that wrought at the other 40? It is provided by the late Act, that as many of them shall be employ'd as the printers can find honest work for, and a sufferance of more, is but a toleration of the rest to print sedition, so that the su pernumeraryes are in as ill a condition now, as they will be then; and yet something may be thought upon for their relief. There have been divers treasonous and seditious pamphlets printed since the Act of Indemnity; as, the speeches of the late King's Judges, Sir Henry Vaue's [Pretended] Tryal; the Prodigies 1 Part and 2; and the like. Let any of these necessitous persons make known at whose request and for whose behoofe these or the like, seditious libells have been printed, and they shall not only be pardon'd for having had a hand in it themselves, but the first enformer shall upon proof or confession be recommended to the first vacancy whereof he is capable in the new regulation, and the next to the second, and s› successively: and moreover a fine shall be set upon the heads of the delinquents, to be employ'd toward the maintenance of so many indigent printers as shall be interpreted to merit that regard, by such, discovery. Extracts from the Port-folio of a Man of Letters. LOUIS XIV. AND AN OLD COURTIER, myself to poetry, and bring me all manHE leading characteristic of Louis_ner of trash.” Your Majesty," replied THE was vanity, and so far did he carry the marshall "is an excellent judge; it it, that Monsieur de St. Agnan, and M. is the most execrable stuff I ever saw in Dangeau, found no difficulty in per- my life." You are right," said the suading him that he could write verses king," must not he be a very silly fellow as well as another. Louis made the ex- who composed it?" "It is not possible," periment, and composed a madrigal, replied Gramont," to call him any thing which he himself did not think very good, else." "I am delighted,” said the king, but gave it to Marshal de Gramont, as "to hear you speak so frankly, no one something which he had met with, and else will be so honest; I think with you requested the marshal would tell him if he exactly; I wrote it myself." ever saw any thing so bad; "but," added he, "hey find I have lately addicted PETER THE GREAT, When the Czar was in France, they presented presented to him every thing which he admired, and one day let fall at his feet a medai' with his own portraït engraved on it, with this inscription, “Vires acquirit eundo." When he was shewn the tomb of Cardinal Richelieu; as soon as he saw the statue of that great minister, he displayed one of those violent transports which none but great souls are capable of feeling. He mounted the tomb, and embracing the statue exclaimed, "Great statesman! why were not you born in my time, I would have given you one half of my empire, that you might have taught me how to govern the other!" A nobleman that was present, observed to the gentleman who stood next to him, that, “if the emperor had given the cardinal one half of his kingdom, it would not have been long before this enterprizing churchman would have been the Sovereign of the whole," SINGULAR SOLUTIONS, FROM THE SPANISH OF QUEVEDO. 8. That you may never grow grey of old.-Die when you are young. 9. To prevent a tator from stealing your cloth.-Let them make no cloaths for you; this is the only remedy. 10. To be in great esteem.—Get much money, live well, and treat all that come near you. 11. To prevent growing old.-Keep always in the sun in summer, and in the cold in winters never allow yourself rest; fret at every thing that happens; eat your meat cold, and drink water. 12. That you may be successful in all law-suits.-Never pay either counsellor or solicitor, nor fees of court, for all that money is certainly lost, and it is a daily charge upon you; and if you pay them and gain your cause, still your money is gone; and if you are cast, still worse. And take notice, that, before you go to law, the controversy is, whe ther the money is your's or another's? But when once the suit is begun, the contrivance is, that it be neither your's nor the other's, but their's who pretend to defend both. A Treatise of all Things whatsoever, and many more, by the most learned and most expert Dr. W. Dedicated to the 13. That you may never be long sick. Company of Busy Bodies, the Society of Bubblers, and the Tribe of Old Im-Send for your physician when you are pertinents, containing many wonderful, well, and give him money because you unaccountable, and prodigious, Secrets, are not sick; for if you give it him when which can never fail. you are ill, how can you expect he should restore you to health which he gets nothing by, and cure diseases by which he lives. Propositions and Solutions. 1. To oblige all handsome women to follow you, if you are a man; and the rich gallants to do the same, if you are a woman. Be sure always to keep before them, 2. To be sure of a good reception wherever you go, and it is infallible.-Give something in every place, and you will find so good a reception that you will have cause to repent. 3. To make the woman you love run after you wherever you go, though she bas never seen you before.Steal what she has, and she will pursue you to the end of the world. 4. That men and women may grant all you ask of them.-Desire the women to take all you have, and the men to give you nothing, and they will all grant it. 5. To be rich-If you have money, keep it; and if you have not, do not covet it; and you will be rich enough. 6. To come at any woman without ever failing-If she walks, put on; if she puts on, run; if she runs, fly; and you will soon come at her. 7. That no clothes you have may ever wear out.-Tear them to rags yourself, LAW AND LAWYERS. Sir Edward Coke in his Institutes, frequently takes occasion to blazon the learning and importance of the lawyers. He calls them the sages of Parliament, the very life and soul of the king's council! In a speech made upon a call of serjeants, he compares the coif to the helmet of Minerva, (who was the goddess of counsel), and likewise adds, that the four corners of their cap import, science, experience, observation, and recordation. Sir John Fortescue expresses himself in most magnificent terms, and displays, with much ostentation, the great advan tages of studying the law, as well as the awful dignity and pomp of its professors; and he thinks it a great and peculiar token of divine goodness, mugnu et quasi approbita benedictio Dei, that from amongst the judges and their offspring have sprung up more peers of the realm, than from any other order of men whatever; which, saith he, can never be ascribed to mere chance or fortune, that being nothing, but ought to be attributed เอ |