Rival, and get partridge and hares when I can, and my venifon where I can; and leave all great matters to those that like them better than myself. Commend me to your Ladie and all other Ladies that ever heard of me. Your books are safe, and I am in liking to get Erasmus for your entertainmente.

From Keliton,

Oct. 9. 1601.

JOHN HARINGTON.

* I coud not move in any fuit to ferve your neighbour B. fuch was the state of things, and so disorderd is all order, that her Highness hathe worne but one change of raiment for many days, and swears much at those that cause her griefs in fuch wife, to the no small discomfiture of all about her, more especially our sweete Lady Arundel, that Venus plus quam venusta.

When James Harington published his Oceana, the partizans of non-resistance moved heaven and earth to bring the work, and its author, into contempt. The following letter addressed to Harington, and written by a creature called Lesley, will shew that rage of bigotry which prevailed amongst the court-flaves. The title of the letter is curious; " A Slap on the Snout of the Republican Swine that rooteth up Monarchy."

SIR,

،

J. LESLEY TO JAMES HARINGTON, Esq;

It much griveth me to see the wickedness of man, in overturning the works of God; albeit such iniquity doth not for ever prosper. Shall the anointed of the Highest, the Rulers of the land, the Powers ordained, find trouble and annoyance from the pens of fedition; or can the vile labours of dust confound the stately pillars of heaven? Must Kings be deposed at every blast of human fufficiency, and the gates of government be shouldered by every Samson that boasteth in his mightiness? Verily this is to tempt the Lord, and, though Oceana be the offspring of much learning, long study, and abundant of ingenuity, yet must it fall again on your own pate, for the wickedness it containeth, and the evil it imagineth. Good man; what movethe James Harington to provoke the wrath of Kings? His own lineage is derived from the blood of the Anointed, as will truely appear in the following account, which I have much laboured to obtain from Sir Andrew Markham, and be it now marked with the eye of shame and forrow. The marriage of your ancestor with a defcendant from Matilda, neice to William the Conqueror, is the first derivation of royalty; another was granted lardge rewards by state acts, for valiantly making prisoner Henry the Sixth, in obeyance to the Powers that where then ruleing: The great King Henry the VIIIth matched his darling daughter to John Harington, and, though a bastard, dowered her with the rich lands of Baths priory; and Queen Elizabeth affected these faithful fervants so much, as to become godmother to their fon, and made him a knyght for his wit and his valour. Our blessed Kirg James did ennoble your great uncle the Lord Harington of Exton, and entrusted to his care and wifdom the renowned Princess Elizabeth for tuition. Yourself was careffd by the blessed martyr Charles, and honourd with his wordes, and even his princelie favours from his own hands on the scaffold. And And shall then any one branch of such noble stock, endowed with fuch rare gifts and graces, as all have been for the most part, and so many of you countenanced by Kings, shall any espouse such evil principles as you have now fet forth in your book? If this be learning, give me to know only righteousness, and feek the Lord by obeying those whom he hath appointed. Why do you thus stirr up the people to imagine a vain thing, and fet themselves againft the Anointed, to whom you claim such glorious affinity, nay consanguinity? Had Prince Henry had presage of your boldness, he would not have chosen young Lord Harington, your cosin, to tennis withal, and write Latin epistles to in Germany. His virtue and godliness, his endowments and learning woud not have purchasd fuch favours, if your future doings had been foreseen. The whole is to disturb the peace again, and fill the people with notions of Kings doing wrong, which all earthly wisdom and divine information prove they cannot do; for whatever is of God is pure and perfect. God anointed Solomon King, and Solomon judged wifely Mr. Ferne is about to make nought your doctrines, and cover you with dishonour. You cannot be a good man, for, Fear God, and Honour the King, are both in one place, and support each other as the corner ftones of religion and royalty. But you have dishonoured both, and blasted a long line of ancestors renowned for both, and stirred up the ill affections of all the noble families to whom you stand in alliance. I coud not hold from speaking thus much, and, if I may say more, you cannot do a better deed than burn the work, which will continue to fin when you are no more able to fin, and for ever prevent the shadow of mercy from approaching you; for to him that fighteth against Kings there can be no peace or quarter from the King of Kings.

Whitehall,

June 24.

I am Your Well-adviser,

but in much wrath, as the cause requireth,
J. LESLEY, Dep. C.'

In this collection there are several curious pieces of ancient poetry. The following poems, in particular, are remarkable for a beautiful fimplicity :

The HOSPITABLE OAKE.

Erst in Arcadia's londe much prais'd was found
A luftie tree far rearing t'ward the skie,
Sacred to Jove, and placed on high ground,
Beneath whose shade did gladsome thepherds hie,
Met plenteous good, and oft were wont to shunne
Bleak winters drizzle, fummers parching sunne.
Outstretch'd in all the luxurie of cafe,

They pluck'd rich mifletoe of virtue rare;
Their lippe was temptede by each kindlie breeze,
That wav'd the branch to proffer acorns fair;
While out the hollowd root, with sweets inlaide,
The murm'ring bee her daintic hoard betrayde.

The

The fearless bird safe bosom'd here its neste,

Its sturdie fide did brave the nipping winde,
Where many a creeping ewe mought gladlie reste;
Warme comforte here to all and ev'ry kinde;
Where hunge the leaf well sprint with honey dew,
Whence dropt their cups, the gamboling fairie knew.

But ah! in luckless day what mischief 'gan
'Midst fell debate, and madd'ning revelrie,
When tipfie Bacchus had bewitched Pan,

For fober swains so thankless neer mought be;
Tho' passinge strange-'twas bruited all arounde,
This goodlie tree did shadowe too much grounde.
With much despight they aim its overthrow,

And forrie jestes its wonted giftes deride,
How 'snaring birdlimes made of misletoe;
Nor truft their flocks to shelter 'neath its fide;
It drops chill venom on qur ewes, they cry,
And fubtle ferpent at its root doth lie,

Eftfoons the axe doth rear its deadlie blowe,

Arounde dothe eccho bear each labouringe stroke;
Now to the grounde its loftie head doth bowe,
Then angry Jove aloud in thunder spoke,
On high Olympus next mine tree I'll place,
Heav'n's still unscann'd by fich ungrateful race.'

A SONNET made on ISABELIA MARKHAME, when I firste thought her fayer as she stood at the Princess's Windowe in goodlye Attyre, and talkede to dyvers in the Courte-Yard.

From a MS. of JOHN HARINGTON, dated 1564.
• Whence comes my love, O hearte, disclose,
'Twas from cheeks that shamed the rose;
From lips that spoyle the rubies prayse;
From eyes that mock the diamond's blaze.
Whence comes my woe, as freely owne,
Ah me! 'twas from a hearte lyke ftone.
The blushynge cheek speakes modest mynde,
The lipps befitting wordes moste kynde;
'The eye does tempte to love's defyre,
And feems to say, 'tis Cupid's fire;
Yet all fo faire, but speake my moane,
Syth noughte dothe saye the hearte of stone.

Why thus, my love, so kynde bespeake,
Sweet lyppe, sweet eye, sweet blushynge cheeke,
Yet not a hearte to fave my paine,
O Venus, take thy giftes again;

Make not fo faire to cause our moane,
*Or make a hearte that's lyke our owne."

The letters annexed, faid to be written by a Georgian, are very indifferent imitations of the productions of eastern genius, and make but an aukward figure in this collection.

MONTHLY

:

[59]

For JANUARY, 1770.
POLITICAL and COMMERCIAL.

Art. 12. A few scattered Thoughts on Political Moderation. 8vo. 6 d. Wilkie.

TH

HE thoughts that are scattered thro' this unimportant pamphlet, are chiefly culled out of Locke, Montesquieu, and Blackitone. What the Scatterer has added of his own, is scarce worth mentioning. The general design of the whole seems to be (but it is difficult to speak with precision of such an out-of the way-jumble) to explode that moderation, with regard to public affairs, which, to use his own language, excludes vigilance and a due attention to the welfare of the community. In respect to our present political contests, he leans to the popular fide; but he is such an advocate as no party will be much the better for.

6

Art. 13. A Defence of the Proceedings of the House of Commons in the Middlesex Election. In which are confidered Two late pатphlets, viz. The Sentiments of an English Freeholder,' and An Effay + on the Middlesex Election.' By the Author of the Answer to the Question stated. 4to. 2 s. 6d. Wilkie.

the limits of our plan, and the multiplicity of new publications at this juncture, both concur to prevent our entering into a particular difcuffion of the content and merit of the capital piece now before us. We shall, therefore, only remark, in general terms, that this ftrenuous defence of the proceedings of the lower house of parliament, in regard to the expulfion of Mr. Wilkes, and the reelection of that gentleman, by the Freeholders of Middlesex, is well worthy the ferious attention of the public. - We do not say that the Author's arguments have made us converts to his principles; but they have given us a very high opinion of his abilities; and glad we are to fee the great, leading questions in our present political debates, fo deeply and thoroughly canvassed, by men of such respectable qualifications, on each side of the controversy.

Art. 14. A Poflfcript to an Essay on the Middlesex Election. [See our Review for November latt, p. 397.] 8vo. 6 d. White. The Author has here brought fome farther, and, we apprehend, very forcible arguments against the expulsive power; in order to shew that fuch power as claimed and exercised by the House of Commons, is unconftitutional in itself, as well as dangerous, in its consequences, to the legal rights and liberties of the people. In a fupplement to this polticript, he takes notice of what is advanced against his effay, in the foregoing defence of the proceedings, &c.

Art. 15. An Eighth Letter to the People of England; on the Power of Disqualification in the Commons. in which is shewn. that the fubject is not fufficiently understood by those who have written on either fide of the Question. Svo. 2 s. Robinion and Co. This well known letter-writer, who appears to have beflowed great

See Rey. Dec. 1769, p. 462.

+ Rev. Aug. p. 158.

† Rev. Nov. p. 397.

attention on his prefent subject, undertakes to refute the principles and arguments laid down by the Author of the Fair-Trial, and other advocates for the popular fide of the question; but he has passed, without notice, the capital and fundamental point maintained by the ingenious Effayist just mentioned. Admitting the expulfive and difqualifying powers, he reasons very well on that foundation; but if that foundation be sapped, all the superstructure must, of course, fall to the ground.

Of the complexion, spirit, and temper of this zealous champion for the miniftry (for the ministry are certainly the principles, as they were unquestionably the Authors of all this political turmoil) a tolerable judgment may be formed from his concluding paragraph • What,' he demands, ' is the cause of this atrocious clamour and riots in the streets, in support of such unconstitutional demands ? It is that spirit of rebellion again broken loose, which incited Cromwell and his fanatics to take arms against their king, and bring not only him, but the conftitution itself to the block. It now rages in hearts envenomed with the poison of fimilar passions. It maddens in the brain of those who by principle are equally malignant and destructive. But by a perfeverance of that vigorous spirit with which it is now oppofed, it will be seen expiring by the hands of the public executioner. In the same strain, did Strafford, and other hot-headed affertors of HIGH CLAIMS and ARBITRARY POWER, buoy up and miflead the unfortunate and infatuated Charles!

Art. 16. The Question (whether the Right of the Elector hath been violated by the Rejection of Mr. W. Kes, and the admission of Mr. Lutterell, or not?) Examined. In a Letter to John Brown, Esq; and its negative proved, from the Nature of the Constitution. 8νο. 18. Bladon.

This lively skirmisher, who signs his Letter Thomas Stephens, is one of the light-armed cavalry of the court-party; -a mere hussar, who attacks, and flies, and is in and out of fight in the fame moment: but, for a close engagement with the heavy-armed troops of the oppofition †, a stronger arm, and weightier weapons, would be required. Art. 17. A Letter to Dr. Blackstone. By the Author of the Queftion fiated. To which is prefixed Dr. Blackstone's Letter to Sir William Meredith. 8vo. Is. 6d. Woodfall, &c.

From the words of the foregoing title-page, Sir William Meredith feems now to be the acknowledged Author of the Question Stated That popular performance was commended to our Readers in the Review for July 1769, p. 77: of Dr. B's letter, here reprinted, we also gave fome account in the fame number.

As we cannot now enter into the particulars of this controverfy, which is in some degree personal to the two gentlemen here named ; we shall, therefore, only inform our Readers, in brief, that Sir William here returns to the attack on the learned commentator, with great spirit and acuteness of argument, in order to support the charge of inconfiftency which hath been brought by our Author, (and by

*

See our laft month's Review, p. 460.

+ The Fair Trial, Sentiments of a Frecholder, Effay on the Middlesex Election, &c.

others)