The Virginia Gazette

An original letter from Sir Robert Walpole.

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 are no malicious endeavours to make me anything 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 sixpence, and whose every 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 profuse 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 though perfectly able to examine the bottom of things never judge farther than the surface. They know their rights and privileges are inviolably safe, and yet they are never easy unless they think them in danger. It is 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 to the Court, on two or three questions, right or wrong, gets him a name; half a dozen impudent unmeaning speeches the admiration, and a treasonable pamphlet the very souls, of the people: Patriotic barbers toast him in alehouses, public spirited shoemakers harangue for him in the streets, and free born chairmen and housebreakers sing forth his praises in every night cellar within the bills of mortality.

To quiet the minds of the mob, he gets a place; his own interest then obliges him to join the measures of the Court: Upon this the golden idol turns instantly to a calf, and leaves the field of preferment to somebody else, who is next to share the admiration, and in due time the curses, of the vulgar. I remember I never thought my point completely carried until they clapped me in the Tower; I looked upon myself then as a made man, and the event fully justified the warmth of my expectations. In reality: I know no better friends to the constitution of this country, was it any way in danger, than this set of imaginary patriots: They struggle very heartily while they are at it, and the moment they are bought off their preferment inspires others with a view of following their example, in order, by the same means, to attain the same ends; and thus we always find a succession of zealous patriots, who constantly advance the good of their country by being so very strenuous about their own. But, to drop this subject, know, my dear friend, that the constitution of this country is so critically founded that whatever affects the privileges of the people will in a little time endanger the prerogative of the Crown; there is no separate interest for either to consult, and in such a case no man of sense will dream that the Court can have the least notion of encroaching on the liberties of the subject. Whenever, therefore, you see any man endeavouring to be popular, raising dissension among his fellow subjects, and abusing the Administration, single him out from the rest, and cry, Hic niger est, hunc tu Romane caveto.

You see, my dear friend, how freely I deal with myself; but, with me, patriotism goes for nothing. There is not this moment one patriot in the House, nor indeed is there the least necessity that there should.

Don't deprive me of your good opinion for my candour, but go on to esteem me, and be assured I shall ever remain

Your most faithful friend,

R. WALPOLE.