The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON, March 10.

To the PRINTER,

At a Time when the whole Kingdom is running mad with political disquisitions, it would be hard not to be allowed to say something upon the Subject.

Party distinctions are the most disgusting circumstances imaginable, and an intemperate zeal in the support of any faction, is not only the most ridiculous commotion in Society, but the most dangerous.

Sir Robert Walpole, who knew human Nature as well as most People, has been very open and very honest upon this Subject. I have a letter of his this moment before me, which has never yet appeared in print, and which will, I dare say, be no less a curiosity than an instruction to my readers---Sir Robert, I need not observe, had been for a long time the idol of the people, and was even committed to the Tower for too strenuous an assertion of their liberties. --After his interest had got the better of his Patriotism, and that the fondness of fame, had yielded to a passion for power, Sir Robert wrote the following letter to an intimate friend who had reproached him for deserting the welfare of the public.

My dear Friend,

I received your last with much satisfaction, though it contained some little acrimony on my conduct, and easily discovered the greatness of your esteem notwithstanding it was blended so frequently with reproof.

Indeed, my dear friend, whatever colour my change of principles may wear, or however it may be considered by the generality of people, I have done nothing which every other man in the world would not have done in my situation.

The very best of us are fond of greatness and power in our hearts; and however we may seem to despise either, the contempt never lasts a moment longer than the incapacity to obtain them. The friendship of a King, the command of his revenues, an opportunity of promoting our friends and triumphing over our enemies, let me tell you, are considerations of no very trifling nature; and the man, in my opinion, must be something more or less than human wherever they are resisted.

As I have not vanity sufficient to pretend to the first, I have sense enough to avoid the imputation of the latter; and am content with being nothing more than mortal, provided there be no malicious endeavours to make me any thing less.

Popularity, my dear friend, is nothing more than a step-ladder for ambition to reach the summit of place and preferment. We all have our prices, and if it is asked why I continued so long in an opposition to the court, my answer is this, they did not come up to mine. There is scarcely a member, whose price I do not know to a single six pence, and whose very soul I could almost purchase at the first offer. The reason former Ministers have been deceived in this matter is evident; they never considered the tempers of the people they had to deal with. I have known ministers so weak as to offer an avaricious rascal a star and garter; and to think of bribing a proud young rogue, who set no value upon money, with a lucrative employment. I pursue methods as opposite as the poles, and consequently my administration must be attended with very different effects.

The people of England are, in general a set of hot headed fools; a parcel of sensible coxcombs, who tho' perfectly able to examine the bottom of things, never judge farther than the surface. They know their Rights and privileges inviolably safe, and yet they are never easy unless they think them in danger. 'Tis no way difficult therefore, for an aspiring Commoner to take an advantage of this disposition, and to convert their ignorant solicitude for the public emolument, entirely to the promotion of his own. A staunch opposition on two or three questions, right or wrong, to the court, gets him a name. Half a dozen impudent unmeaning speeches, are the admiration, and treasonable pamphlets, the very souls of the people.