life we have already given a sketch, as a contributor to the Spectator, was powerfully aided in the prosecution of the Freethinker by some of the most respectable characters in the kingdom; by Boulter, Archbishop of Armagh; by Pearce, Bishop of Rochester; and by the Right Hon. Richard West, Lord Chancellor of Ireland. To these may be added the Rev. George Stubbs, the Rev. Gilbert Burnet, and the Rev. Henry Steevens.

Of these contributors by far the most consider able was Mr. Stubbs, many of the best papers in the collection being of his composition. Hle was Rector of Granville in Dorsetshire, and published, in the London Journal of 1724, and afterwards separately in octavo, an interesting little work under the title of "A new Adventure of Telemachus," intended as an illustration of the principles of genuine liberty and free government. He was the author also of "A Dialogue on Beauty," in imitation of the style and manner of Socrates, and of a translation of Madame Sevigne's Letters. He was gifted with taste and genius, but secluded and reserved in his life and

manners.

The Freethinker began its career on Monday, March 24th, 1718; was published twice a week, and terminated with the one hundred and

fifty-ninth paper, on Monday, September 28th, 1719, forming three volumes duodecimo, the second edition of which appeared in 1733.

The great object of these essays is, to correct the prejudices and mistakes which exist in religion, general politics, and literature; and, consequently, a large portion of the work is of a serious and argumentative kind. The observations on knowledge and learning, which occupy Nos. 85, 87, 89, 91, 111, 113, 115, and 117, are peculiarly worthy of attention. The essay in N° 114, on the shortness and vanity of life, is from the pen of Dr. Pearce, and is highly estimable for its invention and morality.

To mitigate the severity, however, attendant on such topics, and to superadd the charm of variety, the authors of the Freethinker have occasionally interspersed several pieces of wit, humour, and imagination; nor are the interests, the manners, and conduct of the fair sex, by any means forgotten; indeed, the work is dedicated to the ladies of Great Britain, and they will find in its pages many pertinent and useful remarks. Of the papers which are devoted to fiction, the "Winter Evening Tales" in Nos. 80, 84, 92, 109, and 110, display a happy combination of fancy and precept; and the story of Cha-Abbas, King of Persia, in Nos. 128 and 129, is, in a high

The

degree, pleasing, pathetic, and instructive. diction usually employed by the Freethinker is easy and perspicuous; and I am persuaded that a very interesting selection might be made from his volumes.

13. THE PATRICIAN. The first number of this political paper was printed on March 21st, 1719; it was written as an answer to the Plebeian of Sir Richard Steele, and was intended to have been continued weekly. It reached, however, but four numbers, and expired on April 11th, 1719. The first number was republished by Mr. Nichols in 1790, in an cctavo edition of the Town Talk, &c. &c. of Steele.

14. THE MODERATOR. In the volume just mentioned, Mr. Nichols has given the only number of this work which was printed. It was meant to steer between the contending parties on the celebrated Peerage Bill; it appeared on April 4th, 1719, and went through a second edition on November 28th of the same year.

15. THE MANUFACTURER.

16. THE BRITISH MERCHANT.

17. THE WEAVER. These three periodical papers owe their origin to a dispute between the dealers in the woollen and calico manufactures. The first appeared on October 30th, 1719, under the title of "The Manufacturer, or British

Trade truly stated;" wherein the case of the weavers, and the wearing of calicoes, are considered; to be continued every Wednesday and Friday. The second began to be published on November 10th, 1719, in answer to the Manufacturer, and was printed every Tuesday; and the third, which professed to consider the state of our home-manufactures, followed on November 23d, 1719, and likewise issued from the press weekly. The subject seemed strongly to have arrested the public attention, and was at length noticed by the patriotic pen of Sir Richard Steele, who, as we have already recorded in his life, presented the world with a paper in support of the woollen trade, under the appellation of the Spinster. The British Merchant was, it is probable, continued for nearly two years, as it appears to have attained in 1721 to the bulk of three volumes duodecimo.

Of this

18. THE BRITISH HARLEQUIN. insignificant paper the first number was published on January 5th or 6th, 1719-20; the second came out on January 12th, wherein, says the title-page, Masquerades are defended against the Free-thinker, and Free-thinker Extraordinary, and every other sour old fellow. It was printed weekly for a short period, and then deservedly: dropped into oblivion.

19. THE INDEPENDENT WHIG. A political paper conducted by Gordon and Trenchard, of whom we shall shortly have occasion to speak, in order to oppose the High-Church party. It was continued by Gordon after Trenchard's death, commenced on January 20th, 1719-20, and terminated on January 4th, 1720-1, having extended to fifty-three numbers. It has passed through a second edition, and is written with a considerable degree of spirit.

20. THE ANTI-THEATRE. The purport of this publication, which consists of fifteen numbers, was, to invalidate the sentiments and opinions of Sir Richard Steele, in his popular paper entitled The Theatre,' written, as he expresses it, for the preservation and improvement of the English Theatre.* The first number, of which all but one paragraph has perished, was published on February 15th, 1719-20, and the last on April 4th, 1720. The author, who assumes the name of Sir John Falstaffe, has conducted the controversy, as he promised in his introductory essay, with civility and good manners; a mode of treatment which to Steele, who, had been grossly abused on this very subject by the implacable Dennis, was a pleasing novelty. In argument and composition, however, the Theatre, No. 1.