the Exercises of Devotion, and taking Minutes of the Sublime Affairs of Her Government.

Befides which, Her Majefty has manifested Her felf the most affectionate Wife, the most conftant Friend, the most tender Mother, and has filled every Duty with a Virtue as Superiour to the rest of the World, as is Her High Condition: But I fhall leave what I have to fay on this Topick, to the Time when the Confequence of it will be Infignificant to me, but which I hope will do Her Honour, that is, Juftice, when I am no more, and the Remains of Her Sacred Perfon are as common Duft as mine.

But as this bright Example is in the Perfon of a Lady, it cannot be fuppofed that the general Senfe of a People, the Sub divifions of Affetion and Intereft among Great Men (to be learn'd only by Converfation with them, even in their unguarded Leifure) can appear to Her but from the Information of fuch as have the Happiness and Honour to lay them before Her. Her Majefty is therefore more particularly neceffitated to rely upon the Intelligence of Her Miniftry, and from that very Reafon their Fellow Subjects may be the more Sollicitous for what paffes beyond the ordinary Rules of Government. Thus all which they offer for our Security and implicite Reliance upon what is tranfacted by the Court of England, to wit, Her Majefty's Care and Goodness, are Arguments for exerting both our Zeal and our Gratitude; that at any time Artful Men may not take Advantage of the Security we have in Her Virtue, to indulge too much the Power of any Foreign Prince whatsoever, efpecially that of the moft Warlike Potentate in Europe.

I

I cannot leave this Subject, without being ftill anxious, with relation to the Disrespect they accuse me of to my Royal Miftrefs. All that can be wrested to my Disadvantage, is, That the Queen is concern'd when any thing is to be imputed to Her Servants; but I deny that, and perfift in it, that it is no manner of Diminution of the Wisdom of a Prince, that he is obliged to act by the Information of others.

If I might make an abrupt Digreffion from great Things to small, I fhould on this Occafion mention a little Circumftance which happen'd to the late King William. He had a French Man who took care of the Gun-Dogs, whofe Bufinefs it was alfo to charge and deliver the Piece to the King. This Minister forgot to bring out Shot into the Field, but did not think fit to let fo paffionate a Man and eager a Sportfman as the King know his Offence, but gave his Majefty the Gun loaded only with Powder. When the King miffed his Aim, this impudent Cur ftood Chattering, Admiring, Commending the King's Skill in fhooting, and holding up his Hands, he had never feen Sa Majesté mifs before in his whole Life. This Circumftance was no manner of Argument to those (who afterwards found out the Fellow's Iniquity) against the King's Reputation for a Quick Eye, and Shooting very finely. I am, with Refpe& to the Borough, and Your felf,

SIR,

Your most Humble

and moft Obedient Servant,

E 3

Richard Steele.

THE

FRENCH FAITH

Represented in the

Prefent State of DUNKIRK.

A

LETTER to the EXAMINER,

In Defence of Mr. Sle.

Summam vim effe in omnibus iis arbitriis, in quibus adderetur, ex fide bona.

Tull.

Printed in the YEAR MDCCXV.

ccxv.