frequent Election, ceafe to be a true Reprefentative of the People, it would be come as ill a Form of Government as could fubfift; nay, could not fubfift for any long Period, but must be attended A with Convulfions, Revolutions, and would moft probably end in abfolute Monarchy.

It is impoffible to add to many Arguments that are in Speeches, Pamphlets, Journals, and Books already printed in Behalf of frequent Elections, all which IB fhould think were needlefs, because of the apparent felf-evident Reafon of the Thing; but as for fuch who love to read Proofs for plain Truths, it may not be amifs to recommend to their Perufal the Account of the Debates in the House of Lords on November 20, 1675, on the Motion then there made, that an Addrefs C might be made to his Majefty from that Houfe, that he would be graciously pleased to diffolve that Parliament. lowing is a thort Extract.

The fol

"It is according to the Conftitution of the Government, the antient Laws, and Statutes of this Realm, that there fhould be frequent and new Parliaments, and the Practice of all Ages, tili this last, hath been accordingly. Parliaments, both before and after the Conqueft, were held three Times a Year, viz. Eafter, Whitfontide, and Christmas, during the Space of eight Days for each Time, and fo continued with fome Variation as to the Times of calling, and Length of holding, but always very fhort, til the Reign of Ed ward the IIId, in the fourth Year of whofe Reign there was a Law made, that Parliament's fhould be holden every Year, once, or more often: And how this Law is to be understood, whether of a new Parliament every Year, or only calling the old one, is manifeft by the Practice, not only of all the Ages before, but ofF fome Hundreds of Years fince that Law: Prorogations, or long Adjournments, being a Thing never heard of till in latter Years.

who chufe and are chofen admitting of great Variations in Length of Time. There is no Queftion but 'tis the King's undifputed Prerogative to call and end Parliaments when he pleafes, but the greatest Prince cannot avoid the being li mited by the Nature of Things: The Representatives of the People are necefiary to the making Laws; and there is a Time when it is morally demonftrable that Men ceafe to be Representatives, there being Circumftances and Proprieties that diftin guith every Thing, as well as Perfon, in the World. So that, to conclude this Head, we owe the Prince the Obfervance of his Time and Place for the calling of Parliaments; and the Prince owes us, not only the Frequencies of Parliaments, but that our Reprefentatives fhould be preferv'd to us in them.

The long Continuance of any fuch as are entrusted for others, especially of such as have fo great a Power over the Purfe of the Nation, muft neceffarily produce Caballs and Parties, and the carrying on of private Interefts, and Court Factions, tather than the publick Good, or the true D Intereft either of the King, or Kingdom.

And it is most unreasonable, that any particular Number of Men fhould for many Years engrofs fo great a Truft, as to be the Representatives of the People G in the House of Commons, and that all o ther the Gentry, and the Members of Corporations, of the fame Degree and Quality with them, fhould be fo long excluded.

Neither is it agreeable with the Nature of Reprefentatives to be continued for fo long a Time, and thofe that chufe them not to be allowed frequent Opportunity of changing the Hands in which they are obliged to put fo great a Traft; the mu tual Correspondence and Interests of those,

H

- Parliaments began in Hen. 8th's Time to be longer than they ought, that Prince knowing that long Parliaments were fitted to make great Changes; the long Continuance of Reprefentatives rendering them liable to be corrupted, and to be wen off from the publick Intereft; it gives them Time to fettle their Caballs and Intereft at Court, and takes away the great Security the Nation has. — How great were the Apprehenfions of all fober and wife Men at every Mecting of this prefent Parliament during these late Tears! 1. e. the Parliament in 1675.] And how much is it to be afcribed to the Goodness of our Prince, and to the Virtue of the Members of this prefent House of Commons, that Honours, Offices, Penfions, Money, Employments, and Gifts had not been beltowed aud accepted, and the Govern ment made abfolute, and at the Will of the Prince, as in France, Denmark, and other Countries! How eafily this may be done in future Ages, under fuch Princes and fuch an Houfe of Commons as may happen, if long and continued Parlia ments be allowed for Law, may be made fome Measure of by this; where, tho the Prince had no Defign, and the Mem bers of the House have fhewn fo great Candour and Self-Denial, yet the beff Ob fervers are apt to think that we owe it to the ftrong and oppofite Factions at Court, that many Things of great Alterationi have not paffed."

Weekly ESSAYS in SEPTEMBER,

rom common Sense of Sept. 22. of fome Mal-Practices of Sea-Officers.

MY Military Friends must forgive

B

me (and fuch of them as I would with to be my Friends I am fure will) when I fay, that a numerous Standing A Army, in Time of Peace, is contrary to our Conftitution, and inconfiftent the Liberties of a Free People: However burthenfome to the Publick an expensive (I may fay useless) Navy has fometimes been, the fame Dangers are not to be apprehended from it, which may be expected from a modelled Army, which I prefume is the Reafon why the Money for that Service has always been paid by the People with the utmost Chearfulness; yet, I hope, before the Supplies for the Sea Service of next Year are granted, we fhall know to what good Ends aud Purposes the immenfe Sums expended this C Year have been employ'd, and I with this Confideration may produce an Enquiry into the Conduct of the Sea Officers, who were fent to Guinea, the West-Indies, &c. as well as upon the Coast of Ireland; nor will, I hope, the ridiculous Farce call'd a Court Martial, held upon the Offenders, D prevent a proper Enquiry elsewhere.

There is another Thing loudly com plained of in the Officers of the Navy, which is a very great Hardship upon chants trading to Africa in particular, of Merwhich I have received the following AcCount, and of which I should be very glad the Captains of our Ships of War could clear themselves.

1739.

489 are generally not a few) by which Means. the Captains get both Wages and Proviti ons for thofe Slaves, and are again enabled to underfell the fair Trader.

appearing in Print, fo you may make what I very well know how unequal I am to Ufe you please of thefe loofe Hints: If they will fufficiently answer the End of they may any Way tend to the Publick theReader's most humble Servant. A.2.

E

Mr Common Senfe's other Journals of this This the Gazetteer attributes to his not knowing Month, are either not on political Subjects, or do not touch the prefent Pofture of Affairs. what to fay, now, after trying all Peaceable Means, Hoftilities are begun against Spain.

A Man of War ortwo being fent yearly to the Coast of Guinea for the Protection of that Trade, the Captains (who are generally Favourites) not only load the. King's Ships with all Sorts of Goods fit for the Coast (directly contrary to their Inftructions) but fometimes likewife hire another Veffel for the fame Purpose, is vituall'd and mann'd out of the Mea of War: As thefe Navy Traders are neither at the Expence of Mens Wages, or Provifions, they are enabled to underfell all fair Traders who come upon the Coaft; nor can any Merchant fell an Oance of G Gods, unlefs to Lofs, till thofe Gentle men have firft difpofed of their Cargoes. Neither the Grievance to the Merchant, nor the Abuse to the Publick end here, for as the Ships of War are always or dered from the Coast of Guinea to fome of the Weft-India Inlands, the Captains conftantly carry from that Chaft a Number of Slaves, who have Names given them, by which they are enter'd upon the Ship's Books, in the P

From the Craftsman, Sept. 29. No. 690. A Correfpondent obferves to Mr D'anvers,

in

that on the Pretender's Invafion of Scotland

1708. we had not above 7000 Men in England, for Guards and Garrifons, in Scotland 1,500, or at moft 2,500, and but 30 Sail of T Ships. That 12 Battalions were indeed order'd from Flanders, which would not have made the ! Army in England and Scotland above $19,000 Men; and that this was voted by Parliament taking effectual Care to disappoint the Designs of our Enemies.

"Why

fuch rafh defperate Attempts now, as we were Hence he thinks it natural to afk do we not think ourselves as fecure against any then? If it be anfwer'd, that the Nation is more difaffected; I fay, that if by disaffected is meant affected to the Pretender, I do fincerely difaffected be meant only that they are more dif think it is not: But if by faying the Nation is contented, that may be admitted to be true; for Representative Body was unduely influenc'd by if the People should once get a Notion that their the Multitude of Place-men among them, and if they find the Frequency of Election, taken a way, or impaired, and made Septennial, instead lefs contented; for tho' frequent Elections cause of Triennial, they may very probably become Heats and Ferments, yet as without Heat and natural, would be dead and lifeless, or at Death's Ferment the Body politick, as well as the Body Door, the Apprehenfions and the Experience of fuch Ferments don't make them with to have away from them. Farther, if the People ob the Right and Ufage of frequent Elections taken ferves a very large Body of ftanding Forces kopt up in Time of full Peace, and very much enwell content as when the more natural Defence creas'd upon flight Alarms, they cannot be fo of a free People, viz. their Militia, is more rethese Causes, it is very easy to put a speedy End. lied on. But if any Difaffection arife from to it by fuch Laws as have been recommended in the fame Time eafe them of all Fear; fecure your Papers, and by fuch Methods as might fave the Nation near a Million per Ann. Expence; attheir Trade, and their Honour; and enable> them to give Terror and receive Submithan C

thais ining

Verfes left by Mr Pope, upon bis lying in the fame
Bed bich Wilmot, Earl of Rochefter, us'd at
Atterbury, a Seat of the Duke of Argyle's, in
Oxfordshire, July 9, 1739.

W

ITH no poetic ardor fir'd,

I prefs the bed where Wilmot lay;
That here he lov'd, or here expir'd,
-Begets no numbers grave or gay.
But in thy roof, ARGYLE, are bred
Such thoughts as prompt the brave to lie
Stretch'd out in honour's nobler bed,
Beneath a nobler roof, the sky.
Such flames as high in patriots burn,

Yet ftcop to blefs a child, or wife;
And fuch as wicked kings may mourn,
When freedom is more dear than life.

You

·To SYLVIA.

OU bid me write, and fain would I Confent, were but the subject nam'd: To praife your goodness I muft lye,

And you would fcold to be defam'd. To call you fairest of your fex,

And fee as handfome ev'ry day,
Instead of pleafing you, muft vex: →→→
You would not mind a word I fay.
For tho' an angel in my eyes,

I take your judgment to be better,
Than all your equals to defpife,
On the bare credit of a letter.
No- fpite of all you fly hiat,

Of poet's art, and flights of youth;
Whate'er for int'reft I may print,
In private rhime I write the truth.
Then teach me fafely to proceed:

My verfe depends upon your act:
You need but do one gen'rous deed,

And I fhall foon applaud the fact.
To let me live, from year to year,
Complaining, fighing, cringing, kneeling,
'Tis plain you ftrive to be fevere,
Or think a lover has no feeling.
I own, you fometimes can be feen,
And grant a kifs one day in ten:
But what this hanging on muft mean,
Sure women know as well as men.
That ancient fiege which Homer fings,
All but your heroes had forfaken:
Ten tedious years for fixty kings

Was long; but Troy at laft was taken.
Compare that fiège, my dear, with mine.---

Ten years the sturdy Greeks could hold:
I... let me fee 'tis more than nine;
And heroes are not -- as of old.
Woman or town whoever feeks,

Much fhorter ways they now proceed in ;
They feldom wait fo many weeks,-
Read Marlt'rough's Life, or Charles of Sweden!
Thofe few remaining months deduct,
DE WHITE TEEDS You may furrender 3

At thirty life approaches noon,
And things go downward thence apace.
Hafte! now the willing parley beat,
Ere all our ftores are quite exhaufted;
Left on the verge of death we treat,

Bereav'd, bewinter'd, and befrosted.
Then you fhall mourn the fong neglected,
Which told you time was onward creeping;
And I, the mighty prize expected,

Dwindled to one not worth the keeping!
TRIGINTARIUS

G

Verses to a Gentleman in H

1

Uard me, my, or teach me how to bear,
The front malignant, and the captious fneer;
The lewd who feel not, and the good who dread,
The fools who cenfure, and the fops who read;
The coxcomb's counfel, or the zealot's frown,
And all the prigs, and pedants of the town.
Oft would you fay, Leave this fatiric vein,
Be dull, write nothing, and you please again:
Talk nonfenfe boldly, if you talk at all;
Laugh when the coxcombs laugh and fing and
fquall.

·

Better to fleep in peaceful profe at night,
Than hazard enmity by what you write.
Obferve how MARCUS fooths the great ones
pride;

Like him, be wife, and throw your books afide.
Pursue the fafer fludy of the town,

And ev'ry art of pleafing is thy own.'

But fay, my friend, not blush to own it too,
The rules you give, why do you not purfue?
Who ever faw thee fmile at THRASO's talk,
Of laugh with NUT BRAIN when he crack'd his
joke?

When did you die at FARINELLI's fong;
Or bow to HUMDRUM as he pass'd along?
Say; are you pleas'd, when Bo Lus tells his lyes;
Convinc'd, when JANUS thinks to criticize?
Frighten'd, when UMBRA thunders round the

room,

And makes all tremble, but his wife, at home?
Corrupted, when you hear BALBUTIUS call
Mofes a villain, and a blockhead Paul?
With other things that wound the modeft ear;
And fuch as Woolston had difdain'd to hear.

With thefe, who can endure to live at peace?
Tho' lords admire, and ducheffes carefs:
With thefe, thy honeft heart no converse shares;
With thefe, my verfe fhall wage perpetual wars.

Is there a man whom heav'n has bleft with fenfe?
Diftinguifh'd more by worth, than affluence;
Whofe learning never lufts to mifapply;
Who can't impofe, nor knows to make a lye:
Whofe heart humane extends to all mankind,
Whom tears can foften, and whom oaths can bind
Who eyes, with pity, merit in diftrefs;
Nor fleeps a moment 'till he make it lefs:
Who melts to hear the helpless orphans cries;
And wipes the tears from their lamenting eyes!
Him, would my honeft verse diftinguish'd name;
Reveal his metit, and confign to fame.

Or fhould a nymph divinely bright appear;
Ulet lumila innocent and fair:

Who forms no wifh, but what the world might hear;
Tho' lively, grave; good-natur'd, when fevere.
Gay without pride, and without meannefs free;
The wifh and praife of every company:
Why should I bluth, where fuch perfections meet,
To throw a little incenfe at her feet?

Yet fome will fay, intend it as you will,
'Satire or praife will be indifferent ftill;
The fools you hit, return it with a fneer,
And praife affects not now a lady's ear;
For praife or fatire here has loft its power,
Nine days they read, and never think on't more."
Who can be filent long that knows the town?
Tho' coxcombs hate me, and the fair difown,
I must distinguish 'twixt my friends and foes;
These I can't praife, nor e'er abandon those.

Whilft thou the focial minutes wilt allow,
And honeft C will not be my foe;
If lovely S deign to hear my ftrain,
Nor by her conduct fhew I write in vain ;

In vain to you th' experienc'd would reveal
That peace the virtuous tafte, thofe joys they feel.
To you the joys of the regen'rate mind
Are founds to deafnefs, colours to the blind."
And as it enters not the minds of beafts,
What blifs, to theirs fuperior, reason tastes;
So you, who only fenfual pleafures know,
Can ne'er conceive the joys divine that flow
In the pure breaft that burns with heav'nly love,
Bleft with fweet longings for its blifs above.

But methodifts, entbufiafts you maintain;
Their zeal, their joy, is madnefs of the brain.
But whence fo confident to rail and fneer,
When reafon's not produc'd, nor facts appear?
Tho' eafy, things t'affirm, or things deny;
'Tis oft an arduous tafk to tell us, why.

Your fancy'd wit your real folly fhows;
Deriding others, you yourselves expose.
What! own your hearts ne'er feel th' indwelling

God!

While beauteous Bfhines with native cafe, Nor tafte the comforts of his sweet abode !

With every gift, and every art to please;
While the fmiles approbation on my lays,
Allows the fatire, and will join the praife;
(Tho' fome infift my lines are Grubftreet grown;
Or, more obliging, fwear they're not my own;)
The modeft mufe fhall touch the trembling lyre,
And fing what truth and innocence infpire:
By thefe protected, I feclude all fear;
Approv'd by thefe, no cenfures vex my ear:
By thefe efteem'd, tho' foes or fortune frown,
If joys in life there be, they're all my own.

CLEOPHILUS.

Mr URBAN. Being invited lately to spend an Evening with a Friend in a Grotto of bis, to my great Surprize, I found a beautiful Lady ftanding on a Pedestal, which occafion'd the following Lines.

'Hen firft in Venus' I ventur'd,

Go, and let prudence check you, nor proclaim
What blafts your honour, and muft fix your shame
Think, deeply think, on dying beds when laid,
Who'll then be moft confiding, leaft difmay'd;
They, who ne'er feel the Spirit in their breaft;
Or they, who of the gift cœleftial tafte.
Malice, at laft, in thofe grave hours may fail,
'Gainft Wefley's, Ingham's, Roger's names to rail.

So mifcall'd and nick-nam'd by their Adverfaries.

Mr URBAN, As many Thousands of your Readers
bave never feen the City of London, it is bop'd the
following fhort Description of it may prove no dif-
agreeable Entertainment.
Yours, &c.

A Defcription of LONDON.
Ail London!
of cities crown'd,

WMy foul with fear and love was mov'&; H For freedom, Wealth, extent, and arts, re

Fear wou'd have check'd me ere I enter'd,
But Love the ftronger paffion prov'd.
The doubtful conflict hence proceeded :
A beauteous form the manfion grac'd ;
Love held that art fhe far exceeded,

Fear, that by art, not nature plac'd.
Fear, to defend his caufe, afferted,

Perhaps, Rome's doctrine here prevails;
Beauty in imagery's converted,

When all their flock of cunning fails.
Love laugh'd and faid, Thou'rt vanquish'd, Fear,
Thy fuppofition is not good;
Then gently whifper'd in my ear,
-I found her flesh and blood.
POLYPHIL.
On inward Feelings; or, the happy Experiences of
devout Souls.

Go tafte,

YE
E flaves to worldly joys! low fons of earth!
How vain your laughter, and how mad your

mirth!

All your enjoyments are fallacious fires;
The flame of crackling thorns, that foon expires:
Your pleafures faft in chains your reason bind,
And ftupify th' inebriated mind.

The Betblebem monarch, high on fancy's throne,
Enjoys as fober transports as your own.
Vain then to understanding your pretence,
As the mad Aater who la unid all

nown'd:

No need of fables to enhance thy praise,
No wandring demy-god thy walls to raile:
Let Rome imperial claim an elder date,
And boast her kindred to the Dardan state,
Thy ancient heroes palms as glorious grace;
Thy British founders, and thy Saxon race.

Our ancestors, in architecture rude,
Built their first towns of rough unchiffell'd wood;
No veiny marble yet, no Parian stone,

Nor fculptor's art, nor joyner's fkill was known;
Thefe by our Roman visitors were taught,
Which they from Greece, and Greece from Egypt
brought:

Soon Thames along her rifing fhores admires ́·
Her ftoney battlements, and lofty fpires;
Sublime Augufta rais'd her tow'ry head,
Her Albion's pride, and envying neighbour's dread.
Since founded firft, a thousand years twice told,
Perpetual growth has ftretch'd her ample bound,
Two thousand funs have annual circles roll'd;
'Till scarce fev'n leagues can mete her circuit round.
A hundred fteeples glitter in the fkies.
A hundred temples for devotion rife,

Lo! in the midft Wren's wondrous pile appears,
Which, like a mountain, its huge bulk uprears;
Such fure to failors on a diftant ftream,
The lofty pike of Tenerif must seem.

Woman or town whoever feeks,

Much fhorter ways they now proceed in;
They feldom wait fo many weeks,
Read Marlb'rough's Life, or Charles of Sweden!
Thofe few remaining months deduct,

On better terms you may furrender;
Our pleasure nothing can obstruct,
While I am young, and you are tender.
But feeble age and wrinkles foon

Shall youth and tenderness difplace: