SIR, 241. TO MR. PULTENEY *. [1713.] THE greatest honour of human life, is to live well with men of merit; and I hope you will pardon me the vanity of publishing, by this means, my happiness in being able to name you among my friends. The conversation of a gentleman that has a refined taste of letters, and a disposition in which those letters found nothing to correct, but very much to exert, is a good fortune too uncom * William Pulteney, esq. born in 1682, had early a seat in the House of Commons, and distinguished himself in opposition to Queen Anne's last ministry. On the accession of King George, he was appointed Secretary at War, Sept. 27, 1714; and afterward Cofferer of the Household. He was at this time the intimate friend of Sir Robert Walpole; but in 1725, that Minister being suspected of a desire to extend the bounds of Prerogative, Mr. Pulteney entered steadily into Opposition; and at last became so obnoxious to the Crown, that, July 1, 1731, King George II. with his own hand, struck him out of the list of Privy Counsellors, and ordered him to be put out of the list of all commissions of the peace. A proceeding so violent in the Ministry served only to inflame his resentment, and increase his popularity. Sir Robert resigning his employments in 1741, Mr. Pulteney was again sworn of the Privy Council; and created Baron of Heydon, Viscount Pulteney, and Earl of Bath. From that moment his favour with the people was at an end; and the rest of his life was spent in contemning that applause which he no longer could secure. William Viscount Pulteney, his only son, who was a Lord of the Bedchamber, Aid-de-camp to the King, and Colonel of the Royal Volunteers, going over with his regiment in the defence of Portugal, died Feb. 16, 1763; and the Earl dying July 7, 1764, the titles became extinct. + Prefixed to the second volume of "The Guardian.” mon mon to be enjoyed in silence. In others, the greatest business of Learning is to weed the soil; in you, it had nothing else to do but to bring forth fruit. Affability, complacency, and generosity of heart, which are natural to you, wanted nothing from Literature, but to refine and direct the application of them. After I have boasted I had some share in your familiarity, I know not how to do you the justice of celebrating you for the choice of an elegant and worthy acquaintance, with whom you live in the happy communication of generous sentiments, which contribute, not only to your own mutual entertainment and improvement, but to the honour and service of your country. Zeal for the public good is the characteristick of a man of honour and a gentleman; and must take place of pleasures, profits, and all other private gratifications. Whoever wants this motive, is an open enemy, or an inglorious neuter, to mankind, in proportion to the misapplied advantages with which Nature and Fortune have blessed him. But you have a soul animated with nobler views; and know that the distinction of wealth and plenteous circumstances is a tax upon an honest mind, to endeavour, as much as the occurrences of life will give him leave, to guard the properties of others, and be vigilant for the good of his fellow-subjects. This generous inclination no man possesses in a warmer degree than yourself; which that Heaven would reward with long possession of that reputation into which you have made so early an entrance, the reputation of a man of sense, a good citizen, and agreeable companion, a disinterested friend, and an unbiassed patriot, is the hearty prayer of, Sir, your most obliged, and most obedient, humble servant, THE GUARDIAN. 242. TO MR. ADDISON *. [1713.] WHILE you the fierce divided Britons awe, And Cato with an equal virtue draw, And factions strive who shall applaud you mosť; Who hopes himself, not you, to recommend, Soon will that die which adds thy name to mine; RICH. STEELE. * Prefixed to the Tragedy of "Cato." t "The Tender Husband." See P. 88. 243. TO 243. TO MRS. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, BLOOMSBURY-SQUARE, DEC. 24, 1713. I DINE with Lord Halifax ; and shall be at home half-hour after six. For thee I die, for thee I languish. RICH. STEELE. 244. TO THE CLERGY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND *. GENTLEMEN, JAN. 19, 1713-14. IT is with a just deference to your great power and influence in this kingdom, that I lay before you the following comment upon the laws which regard the settlement of the Imperial Crown of Great Britain. My purpose in addressing these matters to you is, to conjure you, as Heaven has blessed you with proper talents and opportunities, to recommend them, in your writings and discourses, to your fellow-subjects. In the character of pastors and teachers, you have an almost irresistible power over us of your congregations; and, by the admirable institution of our Prefixed to the celebrated pamphlet called "The Crisis." See pp. 296. 316, 317. laws, laws, the tenths of our lands, now in your possession, are destined to become the property of such others as shall, by learning and virtue, qualify themselves to succeed you. These circumstances of education and -fortune place the minds of the people, from age to age, under your direction. As, therefore, it would be the highest indiscretion in Ministers of State of this kingdom to neglect the care of being acceptable to you in their administration; so it would be the greatest impiety in you, to inflame the people committed to your charge, with apprehensions of danger to you and your constitution, from men innocent of any such designs. Give me leave, who have in all my words and actions, from my youth upwards *, maintained an inviolable respect to you and your order, to observe to you, that all the dissatisfactions which have been raised in the minds of the people, owe their rise to the cunning of artful men, who have introduced the mention of you and your interest (which are sacred to all good men) to cover and sanctify their own practices upon the affections of the people, for ends very different from the promotion of Religion and Virtue. Give me leave also to take notice, that these suggestions have been favoured by some few unwary men in holy orders, who have made the *See his declaration, already cited in p. 80, in respect to "The Christian Hero." He adds, however, that, "finding himself slighted, instead of being encouraged, for his declaration as to Religion, it became incumbent on him to enliven his character; for which reason he wrote The Funeral,' in which, though full of incidents that move laughter, Virtue and Vice appear just as they ought to do." Constitution |