What the People but a herd confus'd,

A miscellaneous rabble, who extol

Things vulgar, and, well weigh'd, scarce worth the praise?

They praise and they admire they know not what,

And know not whom, but as one leads the other;
And what delight to be by such extoll❜d,

To live upon their tongues, and be their talk,
Of whom to be disprais'd were no small praise?

MILTON.

The greater, far the greater, number of those who rave and rail, and inquire and accuse, neither suspect, nor fear, nor care for the Publick; but hope to force their way to riches by virulence and invective; and are vehement and clamorous, only that they may be sooner hired to be silent. A man sometimes starts up a Patriot, merely by disseminating discontent, and propagating reports of secret influence, of dangerous counsels, of violated rights, and encroaching usurpation. ***** He is no lover of his country, that unnecessarily disturbs its

peace. Few errors, and few faults of Government can justify an appeal to the rabble; who ought not to judge of what they cannot understand, and whose opinions are not propagated by reason, but caught by contagion.

DR. JOHNSON.

I WOULD whisper, dear Colonel, some words in your ear; Tho' you'll call me officious and meddling, I fear:

But remember, the man who eternally uses

The specious pretext of " detecting abuses,"

To pry into every action and place,

Will call others officious with very bad grace.

To begin then, and, ere the Muse further proceeds, Do not think she withholds her applause of your deeds; Far be it from her to deny you the fame

Which your "spirited conduct" so justly must claim:
Full well she remembers, full loud will she sing,

How you enter'd the lists 'gainst the Son of your K-;

How, nobly despising all conscience, all shame,
All honour, all truth, you pursued your bright aim;
How, scorning the feelings of K-gs and of Q-ns,

You employ'd knaves and strumpets-no matter what

means,

And, spite of the ministry, justice and laws,

Stood unblushing, undaunted, and gain'd the great cause.

Nor ceas'd your exertions, your vigilance here;

They still unremitting as ever appear:

In quest of abuses, heroick and wise,

All paltry distinctions of rank

you despise;

And can skip-presto! pass !—(honest zeal so alert is)

From Field Marshal YK down to Corporal C-T-s!

Boast all ye Reformers! Ye Patriots boast!

For W, the watchman, is still at his post:

Still with zeal unabated to England he shews

Her manifold wrongs, and her manifold woes;

And with true patriot warmth thinks the Land of our

birth

The most worthless, degraded, most wretched on earth.

Yes W! with joy does the Muse in her lays
Award thee this nobly-earn'd tribute of praise:
'Tis true there are some,-(ev'rywhere there are asses)
Who think their own country all others surpasses;
Who, content to have things in the old-fashion'd way,
Revolution don't wish; for Reform do not bray:
Some loyal old prigs too-(I've heard such a thing)→
Who love and revere, nay would die for their King!

Poor idiots!--but let's quit the subject, I pray,

I have something of far more importance to say;

I admire, my dear Colonel, the course which you've

run,

I acknowledge most readily all you have done;

But still I would ask-(should my freedom offend,
You'll impute it, I trust, to the zeal of a friend)
What it was, which first bade you kick up such a riot;
What it is, which, e'en now, will ne'er let you be quiet;
Come, at once as a friend (and I'm sure you've few
warmer)

Let me know the grand cause which made you a Reformer.

Eh, what's that you whisper? oh-" Int'rest !"—I hear;

Hush, hush, not so loud pray;"-Why what should you fear?

"Oh nothing; no, nothing;-but should it get known,
"It might not be so well: 'twas my Int'rest, I own.
"As to what in the ears of the People I ring,

"Of justice and laws, and that there sort of thing,

2

"It may do very well just to take in a flat;

"But Patriots, dear sir, know much better than that.