ESS A Y ON PARTY-WRITING, PUBLISHED IN ONE OF THE WEEKLY PAPERS, in 1763: An Era diftinguished by the Spirit with which this Species of Writing was conducted: a Spirit not unhappily cultivated at this present Time, and which it is hoped the following ESSAY may contribute to E S S A Y ON PARTY WRITING. HA Hæ tibi erunt Artes APPY are the times, fays an ancient Author, in which we may think what we please, and fpeak what we think-If fo, we may justly boaft that we live in an age in which political felicity hath been brought to its highest perfection. I know, that fome Critics confider the words above quoted as fubject to certain restrictions of decency and decorum; but, with fubmiffion, the defign here, is not, to propose a Rule of Prudence, but, a Test of Liberty; and I think it next to a demonstration, that the Virtue of this Test must rise in proportion to the force of its exertion when, therefore, our PartyWriters vindicate wickedness, defame worth, affert falfhoods, or deny truths, we must not look on these things in a moral, but, a political light we are not to confider thefe gentlemen as void of all ideas of right and wrong, but as generous Patriots, who facrifice every appearance of Virtue to the public happiness, and are contented to fit down with difgrace to themselves, that they may procure to their Countrymen the fulleft affurance of Freedom. Having thus far established the Theory of the art under confideration, I shall endeavour to forward and encourage the Practice: to this end, I fhall throw together fome general Rules, deduced from the nature of Polemic eloquence, and confirmed by the fuccefs of the greatest Masters in this Art. The method I propofe to obferve, is that of the celebrated Jean Jacques Rouffeau: I shall confider myself as the Tutor; the Publick as my Pupil; and having previously supposed fuppofed in my Emilius a reasonable provifion of that Barbarie Angloise, which the faid Rouffeau hath, with no less justice than politenefs, attributed to the whole nation, I fhall proceed without further preface to the explanation of my system. The first Rule, and that on which all the others depend, is this-You must not confider Right and Wrong, Truth and Falfhood, as things really and effentially differing in themselves, but embrace or reject them merely as they favour or obftruct your principal object. I am fenfible, that you may be a little aukward in this at firft; not, from any fcruples arifing from your own feelings, for I fuppofe you fuperior to fuch; but, from an apprehension of the disgrace which fometimes attends the detection of injustice, with regard to perfons; or, of falfhood with respect to things: but remember, that the great point in Party-writing is to gain time, and to serve the immediate purpose; if this be obtained, let the confequence fhift for itself; and take my word for it, that, fhould the worst happen, there will be more who will admire you for |