made so very fine and nice, that it discovers the atoms, grains, and minutest particles, without ever comprehending the whole, comparing the parts, or seeing all at once the harmony. A king may be a tool, a thing of straw; but if he serves to frighten our enemies, and secure our property, it is well enough: a scarecrow is a thing of straw, but it protects the corn. Notwithstanding the common complaint of the knavery of men in power, I have known no great ministers, or men of parts and business, so wicked as their inferiors; their sense and knowledge preserve them from a hundred common rogueries; and when they become bad, it is generally more from the necessity of their situation, than from a natural bent to evil. Whatever may be said against a premier or sole minister, the evil of such a one, in an absolute government, may not be great: for it is possible, that almost any minister may be a better man than a king born and bred. A man coming to the water side is surrounded by all the crew every one is officious, every one makes applications, every one offering his services; the whole bustle of the place seems to be only for him. The same man going from the water side, no noise is made about him, no creature takes notice of him, all let him pass with utter neglect !-the picture of a minister when he comes into power, and when he goes out. A WONDERFUL PROPHECY. THIS piece seems to have been written in imitation and ridicule of the "Cry from the Desert," and other pretended prophecies, introduced by the fanatic refugees called Camisars. These French prophets, as they were called, had their affected inspirations, and acquired some few disciples. Their effusions consisted of a lamentable abuse of Scripture language, in which this satire has imitated them rather more closely than seems decorous, mixed with their own wild unintelligible fanaticism. Pope appears to have been the author. He was, at least in youth, too apt to parody Scripture phraseology. |