bought it, but it is a great secret." The public, however, found out an author for it; for the " Person of Honour" in the title page, was construed to be Lord Harcourt. On 1st February, Swift's Journal informs us, the pamphlet of Advice to the October Club,' begins now to sell; but I believe its fame will hardly reach Ireland; 'tis finely written, I assure you."

The Letter is indeed finely written, and well calculated to answer the purpose of the author. The secrets of state, which could not be spoken out, are decently insinuated: he hints the queen's affection for the Duchess of Somerset, by means of which, many belonging to the routed party found support or protection; threatens them with the increasing power of the Whigs, the common enemy to them and the ministry; and cajoles them with the prospect of a gradual dismissal of the obnoxious office-holders, when their places should be filled up with the true friends of church and queen. In fine, the tract threw upon the state of parties and politics a sort of dubious twilight, particularly calculated for exercising the intellects of country gentlemen over their October ale; for, although these worthy members of the community cannot exist without news, the politics which are most clear and intelligible by no means afford them the greatest satisfaction.

THE

PUBLISHER'S PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

ABOUT the year, when her late majesty, of blessed memory, thought proper to change her ministry, and brought in Mr Harley, Mr St John, Sir Simon Harcourt, and some others; the first of these being made an earl and lord treasurer, he was soon after blamed by the friends for not making a general sweep of all the Whigs, as the latter did of their adversaries upon her majesty's death, when they came into power. At that time a great number of parliament men, amounting to above two hundred, grew so warm upon the slowness of the treasurer in this part, that they formed themselves into a body under the name of the October Club, and had many meetings, to consult upon some methods that might spur on those in power, so that they might make a quicker dispatch in removing all of the Whig leaven from the employments they still possessed. To prevent the ill consequences of this discontent among so many worthy members, the rest of the ministry joined with the treasurer, partly to pacify, and partly divide those, who were in greater haste than moderate men thought convenient. It was

well known, that the supposed author met a considerable number of this club in a public house, where he convinced them, very plainly, of the treasurer's sincerity, with many of those very reasons which are urged in the following Discourse, beside some others which were not so proper to appear at that time in print.

The treasurer alleged, in his defence, that such a treatment would not consist with prudence, because there were many employments to be bestowed, which required skill and practice; that several gentlemen, who possessed them, had been long versed, very loyal to her majesty, had never been violent party men, and were ready to fall into all honest measures for the service of their queen and country. But however, as offices became vacant, he would humbly recommend to her majesty such gentlemen, whose principles, with regard both to church and state, his friends would approve of, and he would be ready to accept their recommendations. Thus the earl proceeded in procuring employments for those who deserved them by their honesty, and abilities to execute them; which, I confess, to have been a singula rity not very likely to be imitated. However, the gentlemen of this club still continued uneasy that no quicker progress was made in removals, until those who were least violent began to soften a little, or, by dividing them, the whole affair dropped. During this difficulty, we have been assured, that the following Discourse was very seasonably published with great success; showing the difficulties that the Earl of Oxford lay under, and his real desire, that all persons in employment should be true loyal churchmen, zealous for her majesty's honour and safety, as well as for the succession in the House of Hanover, if the queen

should happen to die without issue. This Discourse having been published about the year 1711, and many of the facts forgotten, would not have been generally understood without some explanation, which we have now endeavoured to give, because it seems a point of history too material to be lost. We owe this piece of intelligence to an intimate of the supposed author.

SOME

ADVICE

HUMBLY OFFERED TO

THE MEMBERS

OF THE

OCTOBER CLUB.

GENTLEMEN,

SINCE the first institution of your society, I have always thought you capable of the greatest things. Such a number of persons, members of parliament, true lovers of our constitution in church and state, meeting at certain times, and mixing business and conversation together, without the forms and constraint necessary to be observed in public assemblies, must very much improve each other's understanding, correct and fix your judgment, and prepare yourselves against any designs of the opposite party. Upon the opening of this session an incident has happened, to provide against the consequences whereof, will require your utmost vigilance and application. All this last summer, the enemy was working under ground, and laying their train; they gradually became more frequent and bold in their pamphlets and papers, while