COMMENDATORY TESTIMONIES.

THIS Discourse [AREOPAGITICA] was written at the time when the Parliament was passing an Ordonance, that no Book, Pamphlet, or Paper, should be printed, unless the same was first approv'd and licens'd by such as should be thereto appointed. Upon which MILTON argues with his usual strength and boldness; &c.-The Thoughts of a Tory Author concerning the Press; p. 8, 8vo. 1712*.

* I have a strong persuasion, that this anonymous piece was by Addison. The vein of easy irony which runs through it strikes me as much in his manner; though it carries palpable marks of a hasty performance, to answer a sudden call. Compare likewise what is said, in p. 2, with one of the arguments which he at the same time urged in the Spectator (No. 451) against the restrictions on the Press then recently moved in Parliament: added to which A. Baldwin, the Publisher of the Spectator, also published the Pamphlet in question. It was so very unusual for the Spectator to venture a stricture on the political occurrences of the passing day, that having deviated in this instance from his regular course is of itself a circum

Our divine Authour speaks like himself in his AREOPAGITICA. I shall with pleasure transcribe RICHARDSON; Life of

two or three passages.

MILTON.

His [MILTON'S] Apology for the Liberty of the Press is in all respects a Master-piece. WARBURTON; in a Letter to Birch; M.S. Brit. Mus.

In 1644, he [MILTON] published his AREOPAGITICA, or Speech for the Liberty of unlicensed Printing to the Parliament of England. It was written at the desire of several learned Men, and is, perhaps, the best vindication, that has been published at any time or in any language, of that Liberty which is the basis and support of all other Liberties, the Liberty of the Press. Bishop NEWTON; in the Life prefixed to his Editions of MILTON'S Poetical Works.

This piece, as well as that upon Education, is written with greater purity and less affectation of style, than his first works in Prose, and it is the

stance sufficient to indicate that Addison was not slow to oppose every infringement on the Freedom of the Press.

strongest vindication, that ever appeared in [any] age or language, of the Liberty of the Press, which is the basis of all other. BIRCH; in his revised Life of MILTON, prefixed to the Quarto Edition of the Prose-Works.

This matchless Speech composed of noblest Learning, Wit, and Argument, was republished in 1738, with an excellent Preface by Thomson, Authour of Liberty, a Poem, and other Works. Thomas HOLLIS; M. S. Note to the AREOPA

GITICA.

All Governments have an aversion to Libels. This Parliament, therefore, did by Ordinance restore the Star-Chamber practice; they recalled the Licensers, and sent forth again the Messenger. It was against the Ordinance, that MILTON wrote that famous Pamphlet called AREOPAGITICA. Lord CAMDEN; in giving Judgement in Entick v. Carrington.

In November 1644, MILTON published his famous Speech, for the Liberty of unlicensed Printing, against this Ordinance: And among the

glosses, which he says were used to colour this Ordinance, and make it pass, he mentions" the

just retaining of each Man his several Copy; "which God forbid should be gain-said." Mr. Justice WILLES; in delivering his Opinion in Millar v. Taylor.

MILTON addressed his noble Tract, intitled AREOPAGITICA, to an antimonarchical Parliament, from which he expected the reformation of all the errors and encroachments of the late kingly and prelatical Government. He was above the little

dirty prejudices or pretences, that they might be trusted with power, only because he approved of the Men, or depended upon their favour to himself. He had his eye only on the Cause, and when the Presbyterians deserted that, he deserted them, not out of humour, as this rancorous Biographer [Samuel Johnson] would insinuate; but because they fainted in the progress of that work to the completion of which, their first avowed principles would have led them. Would Dr. Johnson have chosen to have submitted his works to the Licensers appointed by such a Parliament? or would he venture to expostulate with the powers

in being on any point of literary privilege, wherein he should think them essentially wrong, with that generous and honest Freedom, that MILTON exhibits in this incomparable Tract? No, he sneaks away from the question, and leaves it as he found it. Archdeacon BLACKBURNE; in his Remarks on Johnson's Life of MILTON.

The AREOPAGITICA Some tedious historical digressions, and some little sophistry excepted, is the most close, conclusive, comprehensive, and decisive vindication of the Liberty of the Press that has yet appeared, on a subject on which it is difficult to decide, between the licentiousness of Skepticism and Sedition, and the arbitrary exertions of Authority. Laureate WARTON; in his Edition of MILTON's Poems on several Occasions.

Had the Authour of the Paradise Lost left us no composition but his AREOPAGITICA, he would be still entitled to the affectionate veneration of every Englishman, who exults in that intellectual light, which is the noblest characteristic of his country, and for which England is chiefly indebted to the Liberty of the Press. Our constant advocate for