addreffed to him, was evidently a compliment founded on the expectation that he would lay the ground-work of a free toleration in matters of religion, without which he faw (what Dr. Johnfon never will fee) that civil liberty can never be cftablished upon its proper bafis. Milton's adherence to Cromwell, therefore, was founded on the moft liberal views; and while there was a prospect of realizing the idea, was certainly irreprehen

fible.

Dr. Johnson however, in fpite of every prefumption to the contrary, will have Milton's agency in political matters to have been confidered as of great impor

tance,

* When

"When a treaty," fays the Doctor, "with Sweden was artfully fufpended, "the delay was publicly imputed to Mr. "Milton's indifpofition; and the Swedish

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agent was provoked to exprefs his "wonder, that only one man in Eng“land could write Latin, and that man "blind."

But Whitelock, who was a principal hand in negotiating this treaty, inftead of pleading Milton's indifpofition for the delay, only fays, "the employment of "Mr. Milton" [to tranflate the treaty} "was excufed to him" [the Swedish ambaffador]" because several other fervants "of the council, fit for that employ66 ment, were then abfent." Here then

* Milton's Life, p. 68..

H

the

the narrative is abfolutely new, both with refpect to the importance of Milton's agency, and the reafon given of the delay.

It is remarkable, that, in depreciating fuch of Milton's writings as thwart Dr. Johnson's political notions, the cenfure is always accompanied with fome evil imputation upon the writer's head or his heart. He observes of his ferious tracts in general, that Hell grows darker at his frown; borrowing, to make his abuse more tafty, an expreffion from Milton himfelf. In his treatises of civil power in ecclefiaftical cafes, and of the means of removing hirelings out of the church," He "gratified his malevolence to the cler

86

gy." In writing his pamphlet called,

I

A ready

A ready and easy way to establish a free commonwealth," He was fantastical enough "to think, that the nation, agitated as "it was, might be fettled by it;" and his notes upon a fermon of Dr. Griffiths, "were foolish, and the effect of kicking “ when he could not frike.'

And

If controverfial fame were thus to be purchafed, Dr. Johnfon might be esteemed the firft of writers in that province, for no man ever expreffed his abufe in a more inimitable style of abufe. though he may fometimes create fufpicions that he has either never read, or does not understand the writings he fo peremptorily cenfures; yet the vehicle is pleafing, and the reputation he has gained by his labours of more general

utility precludes all examination, and he expects his fcandalous chronicle fhould

be licensed and received upon his own bare word.

"For Milton to complain of evil

tongues," fays the Doctor, "required "impudence at leaft equal to his other

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powers; Milton, whose warmest ad"vocates must allow, that he never

66

fpared any afperity of reproach, or bru"tality of infolence."

Milton wrote in a public conteft for public liberty and he generally in that conteft was upon the defenfive. The afperity of his reproaches feldom exceeded the afperity of the wickedness upon which thofe reproaches were beftowed. Brutality