though some of them, I was told, were so vain as to promise themselves
some advantage in making their defence, by being versed in the practice
of our earthly courts. It is said, too, that some of the chief pleaders
were heard to express great satisfaction, that there had been but few
state trials of late years. Several attorneys demanded the return of
fees that had been given the lawyers; but it was answered, the fee was
undoubtedly charged to their client, and that they could not connive at
such injustice, as to suffer it to be sunk in the attorneys' pockets.
Our sage and learned judges had great consolation, insomuch as they had
not pleaded at the bar for several years; the barristers rejoiced in
that they were not attorneys, and the attorneys felt no less
satisfaction, that they were not pettifoggers, scriveners, and other
meaner officers of the law.
As to the army, far be it from me to conceal the truth. Every soldier's
behaviour was as undismayed, and undaunted, as if nothing was to happen;
I impute not this to their want of faith, but to their martial
disposition; though I cannot help thinking they commonly accompany their
commands with more oaths than are requisite, of which there was no
remarkable diminution this morning on the parade in St James's Park. But
possibly it was by choice, and on consideration, that they continued
this way of expression, not to intimidate the common soldiers, or give
occasion to suspect, that even the fear of damnation could make any
impression upon their superior officers. A duel was fought the same
morning between two colonels, not occasioned (as was reported) because
the one was put over the other's head; that being a point, which might,
at such a juncture, have been accommodated by the mediation of friends;
but as this was upon the account of a lady, it was judged it could not
be put off at this time, above all others, but demanded immediate
satisfaction. I am apt to believe, that a young officer, who desired his
surgeon to defer putting him into a salivation till Saturday, might make
this request out of some opinion he had of the truth of the prophecy;
for the apprehensions of any danger in the operation could not be his
motive, the surgeon himself having assured me, that he had before
undergone three severe operations of the like nature with great
resignation and fortitude.
There was an order issued, that the chaplains of the several regiments
should attend their duty; but as they were dispersed about in several
parts of England, it was believed, that most of them could not be found,
or so much as heard of, till the great day was over.
Most of the considerable physicians, by their outward demeanour, seemed
to be unbelievers; but at the same time, they everywhere insinuated,
that there might be a pestilential malignancy in the air, occasioned by
the comet, which might be armed against by proper and timely medicines.
This caution had but little effect; for as the time approached, the
Christian resignation of the people increased, and most of them (which
was never before known) had their souls more at heart than their bodies.
If the reverend clergy shewed more concern than others, I charitably
impute it to their great charge of souls; and what confirmed me in this
opinion was, that the degrees of apprehension and terror could be
distinguished to be greater or less, according to their ranks and
degrees in the church.
The like might be observed in all sorts of ministers, though not of the
Church of England; the higher their rank, the more was their fear.
I speak not of the Court for fear of offence; and I forbear inserting
the names of particular persons, to avoid the imputation of slander; so
that the reader will allow the narrative must be deficient, and is
therefore desired to accept hereof rather as a sketch, than a regular
circumstantial history.
I was not informed of any persons, who shewed the least joy; except
three malefactors, who were to be executed on the Monday following, and
one old man, a constant church-goer, who being at the point of death,
expressed some satisfaction at the news.
On Thursday morning there was little or nothing transacted in
'Change-alley; there were a multitude of sellers, but so few buyers,
that one cannot affirm the stocks bore any certain price except among
the Jews; who this day reaped great profit by their infidelity. There
were many who called themselves Christians, who offered to buy for time;
but as these were people of great distinction, I choose not to mention
them, because in effect it would seem to accuse them both of avarice and
infidelity.
The run upon the Bank is too well known to need a particular relation:
for it never can be forgotten, that no one person whatever (except the
directors themselves, and some of their particular friends and
associates) could convert a bill all that day into specie; all hands
being employed to serve them.
In the several churches of the city and suburbs, there were seven
thousand two hundred and forty-five, who publicly and solemnly declared
before the congregation, that they took to wife their several
kept-mistresses, which was allowed as valid marriage, the priest not
having time to pronounce the ceremony in form.
At St Bride's church in Fleet-street, Mr. Woolston,[2] (who writ against
the miracles of our Saviour,) in the utmost terrors of conscience, made
a public recantation. Dr. Mandeville[3] (who had been groundlessly
reported formerly to have done the same,) did it now in good earnest at
St James's gate; as did also at the Temple Church several gentlemen, who
frequent coffeehouses near the bar. So great was the faith and fear of
two of them, that they dropped dead on the spot; but I will not record
their names, lest I should be thought invidiously to lay an odium on
their families and posterity.
[Footnote 2: Thomas Woolston (1669-1733), a deistical writer, born at
Northampton; became a Fellow of Sidney College, Cambridge. For his work,
"Six Discourses on the Miracles of Christ," he was sentenced to
imprisonment for one year and fined one hundred pounds. [T.S.]]
[Footnote 3: Bernard de Mandeville, M.D., author of the "Fable of the
Bees," a deistical work, the scope of which was to prove, that private
vices are public benefits. The work was attacked by Bishop Berkeley in
his "Alciphron." De Mandeville was born in Holland about 1670, but came
over to England and settled there about the middle of the eighteenth
century. He also wrote "The Virgin Unmasked," "The Grumbling Hive," and
"Free Thoughts on Religion." He died in 1733. [T.S.]]
Most of the players, who had very little faith before, were now desirous
of having as much as they could, and therefore embraced the Roman
Catholic religion: the same thing was observed of some bawds, and ladies
of pleasure.
An Irish gentleman out of pure friendship came to make me a visit, and
advised me to hire a boat for the ensuing day, and told me, that unless
I gave earnest for one immediately, he feared it might be too late; for
his countrymen had secured almost every boat upon the river, as judging,
that, in the general conflagration, to be upon the water would be the
safest place.
There were two lords, and three commoners, who, out of scruple of
conscience, very hastily threw up their pensions, as imagining a pension
was only an annual retaining bribe. All the other great pensioners, I
was told, had their scruples quieted by a clergyman or two of
distinction, whom they happily consulted.
It was remarkable, that several of our very richest tradesmen of the
city, in common charity, gave away shillings and sixpences to the
beggars who plied about the church doors; and at a particular church in
the city, a wealthy church-warden with his own hands distributed fifty
twelve-penny loaves to the poor, by way of restitution for the many
great and costly feasts, which he had eaten of at their expense.
Three great ladies, a valet-de-chambre, two lords, a
customhouse-officer, five half-pay captains, and a baronet, (all noted
gamesters,) came publicly into a church at Westminster, and deposited a
very considerable sum of money in the minister's hands; the parties,
whom they had defrauded, being either out of town, or not to be found.
But so great is the hardness of heart of this fraternity, that among
either the noble or vulgar gamesters, (though the profession is so
general,) I did not hear of any other restitution of this sort. At the
same time I must observe, that (in comparison of these) through all
parts of the town, the justice and penitence of the highwaymen,
housebreakers, and common pickpockets, was very remarkable.
The directors of our public companies were in such dreadful
apprehensions, that one would have thought a parliamentary inquiry was
at hand; yet so great was their presence of mind, that all the Thursday
morning was taken up in private transfers, which by malicious people was
thought to be done with design to conceal their effects.
I forbear mentioning the private confessions of particular ladies to
their husbands; for as their children were born in wedlock, and of
consequence are legitimate, it would be an invidious task to record them
as bastards; and particularly after their several husbands have so
charitably forgiven them.
The evening and night through the whole town were spent in devotions
both public and private; the churches for this one day were so crowded
by the nobility and gentry, that thousands of common people were seen
praying in the public streets. In short, one would have thought the
whole town had been really and seriously religious. But what was very
remarkable, all the different persuasions kept by themselves, for as
each thought the other would be damned, not one would join in prayer
with the other.
At length Friday came, and the people covered all the streets;
expecting, watching, and praying. But as the day wore away, their fears
first began to abate, then lessened every hour, at night they were
almost extinct, till the total darkness, that hitherto used to terrify,
now comforted every freethinker and atheist. Great numbers went together
to the taverns, bespoke suppers, and broke up whole hogsheads for joy.
The subject of all wit and conversation was to ridicule the prophecy,
and rally each other. All the quality and gentry were perfectly ashamed,
nay, some utterly disowned that they had manifested any signs of
religion.
But the next day even the common people, as well as their betters,
appeared in their usual state of indifference. They drank, they whored,
they swore, they lied, they cheated, they quarrelled, they murdered. In
short, the world went on in the old channel.
I need not give any instances of what will so easily be credited; but I
cannot omit relating, that Mr. Woolston advertised in that very
Saturday's Evening Post, a new Treatise against the Miracles of our
Saviour; and that the few who had given up their pensions the day
before, solicited to have them continued: which as they had not been
thrown up upon any ministerial point, I am informed was readily granted.
INDEX.
Abjuration oath.
Accusation, false, a means for injuring a community.
Action, motives for, often interested.
Administration and Legislature.
Agriculture, encouraged by the clergy.
Alberoni, Cardinal.
Ale-houses, should be closed at midnight.
Alsatia.
Ammianus Marcellinus.
Anabaptists.
Anne, Queen, her good qualities,
"Bounty" of.
Arber, Mr. Edward.
Arians.
Arius.
Army, English, its bad discipline.
Aristotle, his dictum about happiness and wisdom.
Asgill, John, biographical sketch of.
Athanasian creed.
Atheism, not worse than superstition or enthusiasm,
rise of, due to the Rebellion and murder of King Charles I.
Atheist, a perfect, is a perfectly moral man.
Atheology.
Atterbury, Bishop.
Austin.
Bacon, Lord.
Basilovitz, John.
Baumgarten's "Travels".
Beggars, often intercept charity intended for the poor,
distinct from the poor,
in Ireland,
methods for dealing with them,
should wear badges.
Belief, want of, a defect.
Benefices, value of dividing them.
Berkeley, Earl of,
his letter to Swift.
Berkeley, Lady,
Swift's character of.
Bettesworth, Sergeant, his rencontre with Swift,
Dr. Dunkin on,
and Dr. Theophilus Bolton.
Bible, the, difficult to understand.
Biblical terminology.
Bill for a Modus,
its hardships on the clergy.
Bill of Division,
its injustice.
Bill of Residence,
its injustice.
Bindon, F., portrait of Swift.
Bishoprics, value of,
manner of filling Irish,
necessity for increasing their revenues.
Bishops, their tyranny,
their power derived from the people
comparison between English and French,
Swift's description of the Irish,
arguments against their power to let leases,
their action at the Reformation,
reduction of their revenues,
evil of giving them power to let leases for lives,
their power over church lands,
two kinds lately promoted.
Blasphemy, "breaking" for.
Bolingbroke, Lord.
Bolton, Dr. Theophilus, Archbishop of Cashel,
and Bettesworth.
Bouffiers, Mons.
"Bounty," Queen Anne's,
Charles the Second's.
Bowen, Zachery.
Boyce, S.
Boyle, Dean.
Boyse, J.
Brodrick, Allen.
Brown, Rev. Mr.
Budgell, Eustace, his appropriation of Tindal's effects.
Bull, Dr. George.
Burke, Edmund, on Swift's sermon on "Doing Good."
Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury,
on occasional conformity,
Swift's satire on,
Dartmouth on,
biographical sketch of,
"History of the Reformation,"
"Vindication of the Church and State of Scotland,"
his criticisms on the Tories,
Swift's rejoinder,
his argument against Popery,
Swift's rejoinder,
his opinion of the clergy,
reference to the Tory clergy,
Swift's criticism on his methods,
Swift's criticism on his style,
on Presbyterians,
the oracle of the hypocritical zealots.
Business, corruptions in.
Campegi, Cardinal.
Carr, Charles, Bishop of Killaloe.
Catholic Church, the necessity for a head.
Catholics, Roman, their persecutions of Protestants,
their favour with King James II.,
reasons for repeals of Test Act in their favour,
first conquerors of Ireland,
their rebellions were purely defensive measures,
always defenders of the monarch,
are true Whigs,
their loyalty to the Hanoverian House,
have as fair a title to be called Protestants as Dissenters,
the bulk of them loyal to King Charles I.,
lost their estates in Ireland for fighting for the king,
merits of, and Dissenters, contrasted,
arguments for repeal of Test Act affecting the equally with
Dissenters, the heavy accusation they lie under,
Catholicism and Protestantism, differences between.
Catholicism, Roman, its condition in England.
Cato, the wisest Roman,
a stoic by manners not by conviction.
Censor, the office of, suggestion for its establishment in England.
Charity, the outcome of self-knowledge.
Charles I., Act of, concerning the bishops and the church lands,
his trial,
sermon on the martyrdom of,
his ill-treatment by the Puritans
ingratitude to him by the House of Commons
history of the events which led to his death
Charles the Second's Bounty
Cheerfulness, a blessing of the poor
Chesterfield, Earl of
Children, a blessing and assistance to the poor
Chinuchii, Cardinal de
Chocolate Houses
Christianity, Real or Primitive,
inconveniences attending its abolition
advantages proposed by its abolition
has no share in the opposition to sectaries
abolition of, would mean loss of occupation to freethinkers
no necessity for extirpating it
evils attending its abolition
its organization
its truth denied by freethinking
usefulness of preaching on its mysteries
early
its want of truth a source of joy to the wicked
suffered by being blended with Gentile philosophy
Church and Dissent, their mutual attitudes
Church, sleeping in, sermon on
Church, the, not answerable for the depravity of human nature
its total exclusion of Dissent from its emoluments
the necessity for it being a corporation
duty to, of the members of
condition of, in Ireland
Church of Christianity, its inconsistencies
Church of England Man, his religious attitude
his attitude to the various forms and ceremonies
his toleration for worship
his passion for the Church
his abhorrence of flinging scandals upon the clergy
his opinion that publications against religion should not be
unlimited his sentiments with respect to government
his idea of the freedom of a nation
he is not bound to opinions of either party
independent of the civil power
Churches, necessity for their increase
their destruction due to the Rebellion
Church lands,
reasons for the rise in the value of
bad effects if sold to the laity
Church of Ireland, the National Church
Church revenues, expedients for increasing
Church thermometer
Cicero
Clarendon, Edward Hyde, Earl of,
"History of the Great Rebellion"
Clendon, John
Clergy, the, their ignorance and servility
mistaken in not mixing more with the laity
care to be taken by them because of the distinct habit they wear
better if they appeared dressed like ordinary men
unreasonableness of the charge of their persecuting spirit
their antagonism to Dissent springs from a worthy motive
have they any power independent of the civil
their relation to Divine Right
their love of power not a peculiar characteristic
their claim to judicial power
the allegation that it is their interest to corrupt religion,
combated excellent as a body
what they pretend to
their power in choosing bishops
Burnet's opinion of the
the Tory, Burnet's reference to
presumption on their part to teach matters of speculation
the bill for their residence
English _versus_ Irish
English, their poverty
concerning the hatred against
not popular in Christian countries
their writings against popery
consequences to them of the repeal of the Test Act
their attitude to the Test Act
Clergy, Irish, James I.'s dealings with
condition of
their maintenance precarious
their resort to flattery for preferment
plan for a parliamentary taxation of
their impoverished state
want in them of concerted action
attitude of landlords to
their right to self-taxation,
their interests allied with the interests of the country
Clergyman, Swift's position as a
Young, letter to
Clergymen, handicapped by small means
the fates of
Climate, its influence on Government
Cokayne, Sir Thomas
Collins, Anthony
biographical sketch of
Swift's attitude to
his "Discourse of Freethinking" put into plain English by Swift
Collins, J. Churton, his opinion of Swift's motive in writing the
"Project" his opinion on Steele and "The Guardian"
on Swift's criticism of Burnet
Commissioners, Itinerary, for inspection of official conduct
Common-place books, use of
Commons, Irish House of, its alacrity in supporting the king against
the Pretender
Commonwealth, our duty to
corruptions in
Community, influence of private people on
injured by false accusations
injured by false rumours
Commutation, its purpose
Compton, Dr. Henry, Bishop of London
Concordate of the Gallican church
Connill, J.
Conscience, liberty of
defined,
testimony of, sermon on
its definition
our director and guide
its limitations
no higher than knowledge
liberty of
a due regard to its dictates conducive to general happiness
well founded, if guided by religion
moral honesty in place of
a good guide to motives
fear and hope the offsprings of
directs us to the love of God
the laws appeal to
Constantine the Great
Constitution, English, a growth
Contentment, the poor man's, sermon on
Conversation
Convocation, Lower House of
Convocation, should be abolished among Protestants
"Correspondent, The"
Corruption, in all departments of trading
Cotton, Sir John
Court Party
Coward, William, biographical sketch of
Coyne, Nicholas
Craik, Sir Henry, his opinion on Swift's tract on Collins
Cranmer, Archbishop
Creation, scripture system of
Creech, Thomas
Cromwell, Oliver, his notion of liberty of conscience
Cromwell, Richard
Cromwell, Thomas
Dartmouth, Lord, his opinion of Burnet
Deanery, income necessary for a
Death, its evil an impossibility
Debt, National, proposal for a fund for
Deceit, its practice detrimental to the well-being of a community
De Foe, D.
Demosthenes
Deposition, can a king of England be deposed?
Devil, the, his power
Diogenes, his saying, "that a poor old man was the most miserable
thing in life"
his opinion of Socrates
Discretion
Disobedience, breeds sedition in a state
Dissenters, their natural union with Whigs
their attitude to the Bills of Residence and Division
their enjoyment of toleration
Swift's attitude to
his description of them in "A Tale of a Tub"
tracts written by Swift against them
their expedient addresses of loyalty
representation of the House of Lords against
address of, against their representation
their encouragement to refuse the oath of abjuration
the disadvantages they lie under will be remedied by the repeal of
the Test Act
allied to the Puritans
Divine Right, the clergy's relation to
Dolben, Bishop of Rochester
Dorset, Earl of, Swift's letter to
Doubts, not answerable for
Downing, Sir George
Drogheda, persecution at
siege of
Dudley and Empson
Dunkin, Dr. William, on Serjeant Bettesworth
his copy of Dr. Gibbs's "Paraphrase of the Psalms"
Dunkirk
Duns Scotus
Dunton, John
Dutch, the, their recognition of liberty of conscience in religious
matters
their Commonwealth
though they have liberty of conscience they yet enforce tests for
office
Duties, of each to the other in a state
Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, should be vested in the hands of catholic
archbishops and bishops
Education, value of, to a young clergyman
university
Election,
Elisha and Hazael
Employments, battle for
Empson and Dudley
English language, value of its study
"Englishman, The"
Epicurus
Epiphonema
Episcopacy
Erasmus
Establishment, enquiry into its nature
Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli
Evans, Dr., Bishop of Meath
Executive Power, the care it should take
Faction, detrimental to brotherly love
Fagel, Mons
Fairfax, General
Faith, its great power
Falkiner, Sir F.
Falkland, Viscount, biographical sketch of
his method in writing
False witness, sermon on,
Fanatics, their insolence
Filmer, Sir Robert, biographical sketch of
First fruits and tenths
First fruits
Flattery, self-knowledge secures us against
its snares
Flax, bill for the encouragement of its growth
Forbes, Edward
Forster, Dr., Bishop of Raphoe
Forster, John, his "Life of Swift"
his suggested date for the writing of "The Project" and "The
Sentiments"
Fountaine, Sir A.
Freedom, of a nation, in what it consists
Freethinker, indispensable duty of
Freethinkers, their natural connection with Whigs
the most virtuous people in all ages
ignorance and vice their principal characteristics
Freethinking, its mischief
denies Christianity
and missionaries
enjoined by Christ
means free-speaking and free-writing
some thoughts on
Friendship, depends on brotherly love
Fuller, Dr. Thomas
Gallican Church, concordate of
Gaming, addiction to
how to stop it
Gardiner's "History of England"
Gay, John, "The Espousal"
Genevan system
Gibbs, Dr., Swift's Remarks on his Paraphrase of the Psalms
Gildon, Charles
Giving, more blessed than receiving
Godolphin
Good, doing, sermon on
Gospel, the, too difficult for freethinkers
want of faith in
value of its truth
Government, Hobbes's principles of, combated
if every species of, be equally lawful, they are not equally
expedient English, its advantage over all other forms
its nature least understood by lawyers
in the body of the people
how invested in England
what it cannot do
its relation to a state religion
from God
Grabe, Dr.
Grant, Col. F.
Greed, often results in ill to a state
"Grub Street Journal," on the Swift-Bettesworth Controversy
"Guardian, The"