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A

MODEST INQUIRY

INTO THE

REASONS OF THE JOY OF THE JOY

EXPRESSED BY

A CERTAIN SET OF PEOPLE,

UPON THE

SPREADING OF A REPORT

OF

HER MAJESTY'S DEATH.

FIRST PUBLISHED, FEB. 4, 1713-14.

This tract was written by Mrs. Manley, with the assistance of Dr. Swift *.

* On the 24th of December, 1713, the queen was taken with an ague, of which her majesty had two fits. It was immediately reported "that "a dangerous illness had seized the queen at Windsor; and that, during "the consternation under it, the lord treasurer who had held no correspond"ence with Lambeth for above two years, wrote a letter to the archbishop, "giving an account of the dubious state of her majesty's health, and pro"mising farther information as occasion should require; and that his "grace returned an answer in writing, expressing his affection and duty to "the queen, and his prayers for her full and perfect recovery, and his hopes "that she might be soon able to return to London, for the better satisfac"tion of the minds of the people." See "The Wisdom of looking back"ward, 1715,” p. 326.—The Examiner, on the 8th of January following, took up the matter in a jocular manner, by way of laughing at the whigs; and heavily incensed that party, as appears by Abel Boyer's account of it in the Political State.

A MODERT

A

MODEST INQUIRY, ETC.

THAT this inquiry is made by a private person, and not by her majesty's attorney general; and that such notorious offenders have met only with an expostulation, instead of an indictment; will at once be an everlasting proof of the lenity of the government, and of the unprovoked and groundless barbarity of such a proceeding. Amid the pious intercessions of her majesty's dutiful subjects at the throne grace, for her health and recovery; that others of them should receive the news of her death with

of

joy, and spread it with industry, will hardly appear probable to any, except to those who have been witnesses of such vile practices, not only in her majesty's capital city, but in several other places of the kingdom; not only near Charing cross, but at some other market crosses: that their passion on such an occasion should prove too unruly even for the caution demanded in the belief of news still uncertain, for the severity of the laws, and for the common decency that is due to the fall even of the greatest enemy: that not only those who were sharers of the common blessings of her mild government, but such as had been warmed by its kinder influences; not only those

who owed their honour, their riches, and other superfluities, but even the necessaries of life to her bounty; such as ate her bread, wore her raiment, and were protected under the shelter of her roof; should not be able for a moment to stifle their eager and impatient ingratitude: that this behaviour should not only appear in those vile and detestable places which are dedicated to faction and disorder; but that it should infect her majesty's palaces and chapels (where the accustomed devotion for her health and prosperity was derided): these, I say, are facts that might demand a full proof, could I not appeal to their own consciences, and the uncontestable evidence of credible persons.

I will, for once, suppose some foreigner, unacquainted with our temper and affairs, to be disturbed in his walks by some of the revels at Charing cross upon this occasion, or by chance to stumble into a neighbouring coffeehouse: would not his curiosity prompt him to address himself to the company, after the following manner?

"Gentlemen, Though I am no Englishman, I "rejoice as much at the fall of a tyrant as any of 66 you. Surely this queen Anne exceeded both "Nero and Caligula in acts of cruelty. May I beg

66

you to relate to me some particulars? As for you, gentlemen, who express such unusual joy, no "doubt but there are at this time multitudes of "relations and friends in prison; who were to be "executed the next day, if this lucky accident had

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Give me leave to imagine some poor disconsolate honest gentleman, at the same time, accidentally among them, thus answering this foreigner: "Alas!

sir,

"sir, this good queen, whom they now report to "be dead, during a reign of twelve years, never "shed one drop of blood for any misdemeanours "against herself."

For. Well, sir, allowing what you have said to be true; may not the late administration have been rendered merciful by the indulgence of those entrusted with the execution of the laws; and yet, the queen, of whom we are speaking, have been in her own nature a wicked and cruel person?

Gent. Alas! sir, quite the contrary; this excellent queen was the greatest pattern of all princely and christian virtues that ever adorned a throne; just, patient, firm, devout, charitable, affable, compassionate, the sincerest friend, the kindest mistress, the best wife!

For. Perhaps she was of a different religion; inclined to popery, which has been for many years held in the utmost detestation in this country.

Gent. Sir, this pious princess, as she was early educated in the religion of her country; so, amid a court corrupted both in principles and manners, she gave constant proofs of her unshaken perseverance in it; and, by her unblemished life, proved as great an ornament to the church of which she was a member, as she was a steady professor of its doctrine, and constant frequenter of its devotions. To the protestant religion she sacrificed her most tender interests. Where is that boasted patriot, who acted a more generous part for the good of his country in the most perilous times? And, since Providence set the crown upon her head, in what single instance has she departed from those maxims ?

For. I confess, then, I am at a loss to find out the cause of so great an exultation for the death of

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