Page images
PDF
EPUB

ment, than merely the expence of morarchy. But let the Biographer have his

way.

It is furely a very narrow policy that "fuppofes money to be the chief good." But it is as furely afferted by us, that no modeft man can find any fuch pofition in all Milton's works. The political maxim, that money is not the chiefeft good, would stand with a much fairer face in the tract intituled, "Taxation no Ty"ranny," in order to prevail with the people to bleed freely, and fubmit chearfully to the pecuniary demands of the miniftry; for that the expence of a court is for the most part only a particular "kind of traffick, by which money is "circulated without any national impo"verifhment."

Tritical

Tritical aphorifms fhould be univerfally and unequivocally true, unlimited by fuch infertions, as, for the most part. The expence of a court is an expreffion relative to a thoufand articles beyond what Milton called the trappings of monarchy. Admit that a traffic, not detrimental to the nation, might be carried on with those who furnish the articles comprehended in what is called the civil lift, yet are thofe articles all the traffic which comes within the description of the 6.6 expence of a court?" Have we not heard, fome centuries ago, of trafficking -with court-money and court-honey, for courtly votes, and courtly effays, to countenance and abet courtly encroachments; wherein a reciprocation of profit I 3

is

*is ftipulated upon the evangelical terms of Give, and it shall be given unto you?

In the common eftimation of the world individuals are impoverished by their debts; and it would be strange if national debt should have no tendency to national poverty; and it would be ftill ftranger, if, when the account of our own debts come to be audited, no part of them fhould appear to have been contracted by the expence of a court.

Dr. Johnson is afraid that Milton's republicanism was founded in an envious. "hatred of greatness, and a fullen defire "of independence; in petulance, im"patient of controul; and pride, dif ❝dainful of fuperiority. He hated mo

narchs in the ftate, and prelates in the "church;

** church; for he hated all whom he was t required to obey. It is to be fufpected,. that his predominant defire was to deftroy, rather than to eftablish, and that he felt not fo much the love of liberty, as repugnance to authority." Great is the witchcraft of words, and it prevaileth! How many readers will be impofed upon by this unmanly abuse of Milton, who will never confider that the following character is at least equally true of his calumniator!

[merged small][ocr errors]

It is to be feated that's loyalty was founded on an idolatrous veneration of greatnefs, and an abject fondnefs for dependence; in fycophantry,

impatient of hunger and philofophy,

and in a meannefs difdainful of no lu

[blocks in formation]

"crative drudgery. He loved Kings "in the ftate, because he loved all who ་ 'paid him for his fervices; and Bifhops "in the church, from a consciousness of "wanting abfolution. It is to be fuf

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

pected, that his predominant defire

was, to deftroy public liberty, rather "than to establish legal authority, and "that he felt not fo much anxiety for "the real honour of princes, as delight "in the flavish humiliation of their fub

[ocr errors][merged small]

Of all the writers upon political fubjects, Milton left the leaft room for fears and fufpicions. He is open and explicit in all his reproofs of lawless power and oppreffion, civil and ecclefiaftical. Envy at greatnefs and fuperiority in Milton's

fituation,

« PreviousContinue »