libel； this is so far from being counted a punishment； in
terrorem； that it will probably make his fortune。 The multitude
immediately take him into their protection； as a martyr to the
cause of defamation； which they have always espoused。 They pay his
fine； they contribute to the increase of his stock； his shop is
crowded with customers； and the sale of his paper rises in
proportion to the scandal it contains。 All this time the
prosecutor is inveighed against as a tyrant and oppressor； for
having chosen to proceed by the way of information； which is
deemed a grievance； but if he lays an action for damages； he must
prove the damage； and I leave you to judge； whether a gentleman's
character may not be brought into contempt； and all his views in
life blasted by calumny； without his being able to specify the
particulars of the damage he has sustained。
'This spirit of defamation is a kind of heresy； that thrives
under persecution。 The liberty of the press is a term of great
efficacy； and like that of the Protestant religion； has often
served the purposes of sedition A minister； therefore； must arm
himself with patience； and bear those attacks without repining
Whatever mischief they may do in other respects； they certainly
contribute； in one particular； to the advantages of government；
for those defamatory articles have multiplied papers in such a
manner； and augmented their sale to such a degree； that the duty
upon stamps and advertisements has made a very considerable
addition to the revenue。' Certain it is； a gentleman's honour is
a very delicate subject to be handled by a jury； composed of men；
who cannot be supposed remarkable either for sentiment or
impartiality In such a case； indeed； the defendant is tried； not
only by his peers； but also by his party； and I really think；
that of all patriots； he is the most resolute who exposes himself
to such detraction； for the sake of his country If； from the
ignorance or partiality of juries； a gentleman can have no
redress from law； for being defamed in a pamphlet or newspaper； I
know but one other method of proceeding against the publisher；
which is attended with some risque； but has been practised
successfully； more than once； in my remembrance A regiment of
horse was represented； in one of the newspapers； as having
misbehaved at Dettingen； a captain of that regiment broke the
publisher's bones； telling him； at the same time； if he went to
law； he should certainly have the like salutation from every
officer of the corps。 Governor took the same satisfaction on the
ribs of an author； who traduced him by name in a periodical
paper I know a low fellow of the same class； who； being turned
out of Venice for his impudence and scurrility； retired to
Lugano； a town of the Grisons （a free people； God wot） where he
found a printing press； from whence he squirted his filth at some
respectable characters in the republic； which he had been obliged
to abandon。 Some of these； finding him out of the reach of legal
chastisement； employed certain useful instruments； such as may be
found in all countries； to give him the bastinado； which； being
repeated more than once； effectually stopt the current of his
abuse。
As for the liberty of the press； like every other privilege； it
must be restrained within certain bounds； for if it is carried to
a branch of law； religion； and charity； it becomes one of the
greatest evils that ever annoyed the community。 If the lowest
ruffian may stab your good name with impunity in England； will
you be so uncandid as to exclaim against Italy for the practice
of common assassination？ To what purpose is our property secured；
if our moral character is left defenceless？ People thus baited；
grow desperate； and the despair of being able to preserve one's
character； untainted by such vermin； produces a total neglect of
fame； so that one of the chief incitements to the practice of
virtue is effectually destroyed。
Mr Barton's last consideration； respecting the stamp…duty； is
equally wise and laudable with another maxim which has been long
adopted by our financiers； namely； to connive at drunkenness；
riot； and dissipation； because they inhance the receipt of the
excise； not reflecting； that in providing this temporary
convenience； they are destroying the morals； health； and industry
of the people Notwithstanding my contempt for those who flatter
a minister； I think there is something still more despicable in
flattering a mob。 When I see a man of birth； education； and
fortune； put himself on a level with the dregs of the people；
mingle with low mechanics； feed with them at the same board； and
drink with them in the same cup； flatter their prejudices；
harangue in praise of their virtues； expose themselves to the
belchings of their beer； the fumes of their tobacco； the
grossness of their familiarity； and the impertinence of their
conversation； I cannot help despising him； as a man guilty of the
vilest prostitution； in order to effect a purpose equally selfish
and illiberal。
I should renounce politics the more willingly； if I could find
other topics of conversation discussed with more modesty and
candour； but the daemon of party seems to have usurped every
department of life。 Even the world of literature and taste is
divided into the most virulent factions； which revile； decry； and
traduce the works of one another。 Yesterday； I went to return an
afternoon's visit to a gentleman of my acquaintance； at whose
house I found one of the authors of the present age； who has
written with some success As I had read one or two of his
performances； which gave me pleasure； I was glad of this
opportunity to know his person； but his discourse and deportment
destroyed all the impressions which his writings had made in his
favour。 He took upon him to decide dogmatically upon every
subject； without deigning to shew the least cause for his
differing from the general opinions of mankind； as if it had been
our duty to acquiesce in the ipse dixit of this new Pythagoras。
He rejudged the characters of all the principal authors； who had
died within a century of the present time； and； in this revision；
paid no sort of regard to the reputation they had acquired
Milton was harsh and prosaic； Dryden； languid and verbose； Butler
and Swift without humour； Congreve； without wit； and Pope
destitute of any sort of poetical merit As for his
contemporaries； he could not bear to hear one of them mentioned
with any degree of applause They were all dunces； pedants；
plagiaries； quacks； and impostors； and you could not name a
single performance； but what was tame； stupid； and insipid。 It
must be owned； that this writer had nothing to charge his
conscience with； on the side of flattery； for I understand； he
was never known to praise one line that was written； even by
those with whom he lived on terms of good fellowship。 This
arrogance and presumption； in depreciating authors； for whose
reputation the company may be interested； is such an insult upon
the understanding； as I could not bear without wincing。
I desired to know his reasons for decrying some works； which had
afforded me uncommon pleasure； and； as demonstration did not seem
to be his talent； I dissented from his opinion with great
freedom。 Having been spoiled by the deference and humility of his
hearers； he did not bear contradiction with much temper； and the
dispute might have grown warm； had it not been interrupted by the
entrance of a rival bard； at whose appearance he always quits the
place They are of different cabals； and have been at open war
these twenty years If the other was dogmatical； this genius was
declamatory： he did not discourse； but harangue； and his orations
were equally tedious and turgid。 He too pronounces ex cathedra
upon the characters of his contemporaries； and though he scruples
not to deal out praise； even lavishly； to the lowest reptile in
Grubstreet who will either flatter him in private； or mount the
public rostrum as his panegyrist； he damns all the other writers
of the age； with the utmost insolence and rancour One is a
blunderbuss； as being a native of Ireland； another； a half…starved
louse of literature； from the banks of the Tweed； a
third； an ass； because he enjoys a pension from the government； a
fourth； the very angel of
dulness； because he succeeded in a species of writing in which
this Aristarchus had failed； a fifth； who presumed to make
strictures upon one of his performances； he holds as a bug in
criticism； whose stench is more offensive than his sting In
short； except himself and his myrmidons； there is not a man of
genius or learning in the three kingdoms。 As for the success of
those； who have written without the pale of this confederacy； he
imputes it entirely to want of taste in the public； not
considering； that to the approbation of that very tasteless
public； he himself owes all the consequence he has in life。
Those originals are not fit for conversation。 If they would
maintain the advantage they have gained by their writing； they
should never appear but upon paper For my part； I am shocked to
find a man have sublime ideas in his head； and nothing but
illiberal sentiments in his heart The human soul will be
generally found most defective in the article of candour I am
inclined to think； no mind was ever wholly exempt from envy；
which； perhaps； may have been implanted； as an instinct essential
to our nature。 I am afraid we sometimes palliate this vice； under
the spacious name of emulation。 I have known a person remarkably
generous； humane； moderate； and apparently self…denying； who
could not hear even a friend commended； without betraying marks
of uneasiness； as if that commendation had implied an odious
comparison to his prejudice； and every wreath of praise added to
the other's character； was a garland plucked from his own
temples。 This is a malignant species of jealousy； of which I
stand acquitted in my own conscience。
Whether it is a vice； or an infirmity； I leave you to inquire。
There is another point； which I would much rather see determined；
whether the world was always as contemptible； as it appears to me
at present？ If the morals of man