mirably conftituted, the feveral Parts fo artiftly forted, and fo closely cemented, that, like a choice Piece of Mofaick, it prefents you all together with the perfect Images of Popularity and Dignity; and I hope it may be faid, without the leaft Sufpicion of Adulation, that our PRESENT is a Miniftry without a PRECEDENT. C.

I am, SIR, &t.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

A

REVIEW

OF THE

EXCISE-SCHEME;

In Anfwer to a Pamphlet, intitled, The Rife and Fall of the late projected ExCISE, impartially confider'd.

With fome PROPER HINTS to the

ELECTORS of GREAT BRITAIN.

W

E have been often told in publick, that every Body hath done with the ExCISE, except the CRAFTSMAN; whereas it appears by Accounts from all Parts of the Kingdom, that the People are very far from having done with it, and feem to be in no fuch Difpofition, till They have fecured Themfelves and their Pofterity, as far as lies in their Power, against the Revival of it. Nay, it is manifeft that even the Projector himself hath not yet done with his Scheme; for though fuch a national Rebuff as He lately met with

from

from all Parties was fufficient, one would think, to induce any Man in his right Senfes to drop a Project s。 univerfally odious, and to bury it, if poffible, in eternal Oblivion; yet it is very plain from his Conduct, that either the natural Fondness of a Parent for his Offfpring, however deform'd, the Vanity of Power, and Impatience of a Defeat, or the terrible Exigency of his Affairs, and fome fecret Engagements, not fit to be reveal'd, have got the better of his Reason, and are predominant in his Mind above all other Confiderations. I do not fpeak This without good Grounds; for, not to infift on the Converfation of his Agents and Emiffaries, in Coffee-houses and other publick Places, or even the Language of much higher Perfons, He hath taken effectual Care to convince us that the fame Defign is ftill in being, and that He only waits a more convenient Opportunity for putting it in Execution. Ever fince his memorable Overthrow last Spring, the whole Poffe of his Advocates have been taught to tune their mercenary Quills in Praife of the Attempt, and to mourn over the Lofs of it. A Multitude of select Hands, in minifterial Pay, have been employ'd to frame Apologies for Him, of various Kinds; and the poor, Hackney Beafts of the Poft-Office have couch'd under their Burthen. Circular Letters have been sent, in the Name of Mr. Jos. BELL, to all the Poft-mafters in the Kingdom, with Orders to make thefe Papers as publick as They can; to fend up the Names of all Perfons within their Delivery, who keep Coffee-boufes, where Gentlemen refort to read the NEws, that They likewife may be furnid with them GRATIS; and even most private Families of any Note have had them crouded in upon Them by the fame Hands.

Though the Post-Office was never before proftituted in fuch a Manner, this Method of difperfing Pamphlets. is not new in itself, but only a dull Imitation of Doctor Anodyne, and other Quacks of the Town; who are obliged to write Books in their own Praife, and order

them

them to be given away gratis to all Perfons, that will be fo kind as to read them. But Doctor Anodyne, like moft Originals, hath vaftly the Advantage of his Imitator; for nobody ever charged the Yoke, which He puts about Children's Necks, with doing any Mischief; whereas the Projector's Packets contain nothing but Infection, and, like Pandora's Box, are defign'd to spread Mifchief, wherever they are open'd.

It would be end lefs to enumerate, and much more to anfwer, all the Productions of this Kind, which have been spread through the Kingdom within a few Months paft; but one of them having been difperfed in uncommon Quantities, and with more than ordinary Industry, I am induced to bestow some Pains upon it; and from this Specimen of their Reasoning I shall leave my Countrymen to judge of the rest.

We were given to understand, feveral Months ago, that a notable Treatife was coming forth, which would intirely fatisfy the People, as to the true Intention of the late Excife-Scheme; nay, it was confidently affirm'd that the Projector had employ'd one of his Prelatical Advocates to draw it up; but by feveral characteristical Strokes continued in it, I am apt to think that my Friend Carus was the Penman of this Piece, in Conjunction with that confummate Statefman, whole Blunders in foreign Affairs are now come to their full Maturity, and who feems ambitious, at prefent, to diftin. guish his Genius as conspicuously, in Points of domestick Government.

Before I enter into the Matter of this favourite Treatife, I cannot forbear stopping a little at the TitlePage; in which our Author condefcends to imitate thofe fad Dogs, the Vintners and Wine-Brewers, who frequently hang out a fine, gilded Bush, in order to put off bad Liquors.-It runs in the following Words.

The Rife and Fall of the late projected Ex CIS-E impartially confider'd. By a Friend to the ENGLISH CONSTITUTION.

It

It is impoffible for any Pamphlet to bear an honester Title; but as foon as I open'd it, the Marks of a minifterial Hack difcover'd themfelves in every Page; for inftead of finding this Affair impartially confider'd, as one might reasonably expect from a Friend to the English Conftitution, the whole Piece appear'd to be a fordid Juftification of the Measures, on one Side, and the fillieft Mifreprefentation of the Oppofition, on the other.But I have not yet done with the Title; for even the Motto deferves a little Confideration. It ftands thus, both in the Pamphlet itself, and all the Advertisements.

Remember, O my Friends, the LAWS,

The LIBERTY, the generous Plan of Power,
Deliver'd down by your renown'd Forefathers,
The Price of fo much Blood, and never fuffer
IT to perish in your Hands.

CATO

Upon reading thefe Lines, I remember'd fomething like them; but was furprized to fee the Tragedy of CATO quoted for them, and was fure that Mr. ADDISON could not be guilty of cloathing fo noble a Sentiment in fuch low, flat, inharmonious Verfification. I therefore immediately took down his Works, and, turning to the Paffage, found it thus, viz,

Remember, O my Friends, the Laws, the Rights,
The generous Plan of Power deliver'd down,
From Age to Age, by your renown'd Forefathers,
So dearly bought, the Price of fo much Blood!
O, let it never perish in your Hands.
But piously tranfmit it to your Children!

The Reader will obferve, upon comparing thefe Verfes together, that there is not fo much as one Line alike; and that the Confiderer, by tranfufing them into his Title-Page, hath loft all the Spirit, all the Musick, all the Cadence, and all the Pathos, which are fo beautiful