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make Friends with them in their other nameless Defigns against the Ministry.

What has been already faid to Monfieur Tuggbe, concerning the Advantages the Dutch may reap from the Demolition, is alfo an Anfwer to the Examiner: All reafonable Men know, that the Dutch can reap no Advantage, but what muft flow from their Industry, and our Negligence; but the Power of France cannot only rival us in Trade, but alfo when the King pleafes (which is mentioned as a thing poffible, not probable) invade us again with the Pretender, from the very fame Place whence he last fet out to vifit us, when we have no Troops to de. fend us, no Allies to fuccour us: When I think of these things with Horror, from the Love I bear my Sovereign and my Country, they fay, I offend the Prerogative. Authors who write for the Prerogative, if they acted like Men of Honour, fhould be alarm'd at the improper Application of it by a Ministry, as much as by any other A&s of their Fellow Subjects.

It is the Prerogative of the Crown to create Peers of England; but if in the midst of a Queftion in the Legiflature, half a dozen new ones hould march in, and by their Votes turn a Point, upon which our All might depend, would the Honour and Prerogative of the Crown be equally confulted at that Inftant?

It is the Prerogative of the Crown to make Peace and War; fhall the Crown therefore lay down its conquering Arms, and deliver it felf up to the Vanquish'd? A Man is born with Free will; does it therefore follow, that it is lawful to kill himself?

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It is the Prerogative of the Crown to make Alliances, and act in conjunction with their Allies; fhall therefore its Armies march with them, in Confidence and Friendship, till they come to Front the Enemy, and then Face about, and leave them in the Day, in the Moment of Diftrefs?

But it is a Folly to put Cafes, which I hope will never happen among us; for if they should, the Perfons who fhould tranfact any thing like any fuch things as I have now mentioned, would be fo far from confidering the Honour of the Prince, that they would diminish and blaft it; and be fo far from being a Support to, that they would be a Rent Charge upon the Prerogative.

The true Meaning and Ufe of the Prerogative, is to be interpreted and understood by the Rules of the joint Welfare and Happiness of Prince and People; and all great Genius's in Bufinefs, in all Nations and in all Ages, have apply'd it in this manner.

But from the Example of all Nations, who have loft their Liberty, we fee that when, for the Sins of a Nation, Men of poor and narrow Conceptions, Self-interested, and without Benevolence to Mankind, have had the use of their Princes Favour and Prerogative, they think only what they may do, not what they ought to do.

All that I have at prefent to complain of, is, that the Defence of my Queen and Country, and of the most valuable part of our Trade, is treated as an Offence againft the Honour and Prerogative of the Crown: I am heartily forry to hear the word Prerogative introduced with

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fo much Pomp against so inconfiderable a Man as my felf, or, in the Examiner's words, against fo contemptible a Wretch. If this word Prerogative comes to be used to frighten Men from fpeaking what they lawfully may upon publick Occurrences, it may come to pafs hereafter, that it may be a Refuge to indifcreet Minifters, and they may in time to come prote& their Mif carriages under that aweful Word.

It would follow, that whatever should be painful or disagreeable to the People, would be imputed to the Prince; whatever fhould be pleafing, would be attributed to the Ministry. Minifters would not fail to cover their Follies, or Iniquities, under the shelter of the Prerogative. What was urged concerning Dunkirk, in the Letter to the Guardian, was apparently and profeffedly laid before the Miniftry, that they might not be unmindful of what the British Nation expect from them. I fay again and again, if once Men are fo intimidated as not to dare to offer their Thoughts upon publick Affairs, without incurring the Imputation of offending against the Prerogative of their Prince; that Prince, whatever Advantage his Minifters might make of his Prerogative, would himself foon have no Prerogative, but that of being deceived, As for my part, I have that fincere and faithful Duty to Her Majefty, that I will never fear to attempt any thing that I am able for her Service, however her Favour may be intercepted from me. The Examinér accufes me of Ingratitude, as being actually under Salary, when I writ the Letter to the Guardian; but he is miftaken in that Particular, for I had refign'd, not only my Office in the Stampt Duties, but

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