H.

If true! Examine any languages you pleafe, and fee whether they alfo, as well as the English, have not afuppofed Conjunction which they employ as we do THAT; and which is also the fame word as their supposed Article, or Pronoun. Does not this look as if there was fome reafon for employing the Article in this manner? And as if there was fome connexion and fimilarity of fignification between it and this Conjunction?

B.

The appearances, I own, are strongly in favour of your opinion. But how shall we find out what that connexion is ?

H.

Suppose we examine some instances; and, ftill keeping the fame fignification of the fentences, try whether we cannot, by a refolution of their conftruction, difcover what

we want.

EXAMPLE.

I wish you to believe THAT I would not wilfully hurt a fly..

RESOLUTION.

I would not wilfully hurt a fly; I wish you to believe THAT [affertion].

EXAMPLE.

She knowing THAT Crooke had been indicted for forgery, did fo and fo.

RESOLUTION.

Crooke had been indicted for forgery; fhe, knowing THAT, [fact] did so and so *.

EXAMPLE.

You fay THAT the fame arm which, when contracted, can lift-; when extended to its utmost reach, will not be able to raise- You mean THAT we should never forget our situation, and THAT we should be prudently contented to do good within our own fphere, where it can have an effect and THAT we should not be mifled even by a virtuous benevolence and public spirit, to waste ourselves in fruitless efforts beyond our power of influence.

RESOLUTION.

The fame arm which, when contracted, can lift-; when extended to its 1 tmost reach, will not be able to raise-:

ι

King v. Lawley. Strange's Reports. Eafter T. 4 Geo. II.

you fay THAT. We should never forget our fituation; you mean THAT: and we should be contented to do good within our own sphere where it can have an effect; you mean THAT: and we should not be misled even by a virtuous benevolence and public spirit to waste ourselves in fruitless efforts beyond our power of influence; you mean

THAT.

EXAMPLE.

They who have well confidered THAT kingdoms rise or fall, and THAT their inhabitants are happy or miserable, not fo much from any local or accidental advantages or disadvantages; but accordingly as they are well or ill governed; may best determine how far a virtuous mind can be neutral in politics.

RESOLUTION.

Kingdoms rife or fall, not fo much from any local or accidental advantages or disadvantages, but accordingly as they are well or ill governed; they who have well confidered THAT (maxim), may best determine how far a virtuous mind can be neutral in politics. And the inhabitants of kingdoms are happy or miferable, not fo much from any local or accidental advantages or disadvantages, but accordingly as they are well or ill governed; they who

have confidered THAT, may best determine how far a virtuous mind can be neutral in politics

EXAM

*

"Le defpotifme ecrafe de fon fceptre de fer le plus beau pays du "monde: Il semble que les malheurs des hommes croiffent en proportion "des efforts que la nature fait pour les rendre heureux," SAVARY.

"Dans ce paradis terreftre, au milieu de tant de richeffes, qui croiroit que le Siamois eft peut-être le plus miferable des peuples? Le gouverne"ment de Siam eft defpotique: le fouverain jouit feul du droit de la liberté "naturelle à tous les hommes. Ses fujets font fes efclaves; chacun d'eux "lui doit fix mois de fervice perfonnel chaque année, fans aucun falaire et "même fans nourriture. Il leur accorde les fix autres pour fe procurer de "quoi vivre." [Happy, happy England, if ever thy miferable inhabitants fhall, in refpect of taxation, be elevated to the condition of the Siamois when thy Taskmafters fhall be contented with half the produce of thy induftry!] "Sous un tel gouvernement il n'y a point de loi qui protege les

σε

particuliers contre la violence, et qui leur affure aucune proprieté. Tout depend des fantaisies d'un prince abruti par toute forte d'excès, et surtout par ceux du pouvoir; qui paffe fes jours enfermé dans un ferrail, igno"rant tout ce qui fe fait hors de fon palais, et fur tout les malheurs de fes ἐσ peuples. Cependant ceux-ci font livrés à la cupidité des grands, qui "font les premiers efclaves, et approchent feuls à des jours marqués, mais "toujours en tremblant, de la perfonne du defpote, qu'ils adorent comme "une divinité-fujette à des caprices dangereux."

Voyages d'un Philofophe [Monf. Poivre] Londres, 1769.

The above heart-rending reflections which Savary makes at the fight of Egypt, and Monf. Poivre at the condition of Siam, might ferve as other examples for the Conjunction in question: but I give them for the fake of their matter. And I think myself at leaft as well juftified (I do not expect

T

EXAMPLE.

Thieves rife by night THAT they may cut men's throats.

to be as well rewarded) as our late Poet Laureat; who, upon the following paffage of Milton's Comus,

"And fits as fafe as in a Senate house,"

adds this flagitious note:

"Not many years after this was written, MILTON'S FRIENDS fhewed "that the fafety of a Senate house was not inviolable. But when the people "turn Legislators, what place is fafe against the tumults of innovation, and "the infults of difobedience."

I believe our late Laureat meant not fo much to cavil at Milton's expreffion, as to feize an impertinent opportunity of recommending himself to the powers which be, by a cowardly infult on the dead and perfecuted author's memory, and on the aged, defenceless conftitution of his country.

A critic who fhould really be difpleafed at Milton's expreffion, would rather fhew its impropriety by an event which had happened before it was used, than by an event which the poet could not at that time forefee. Such a critic adverting to the 5th of November, 1605, and to the 4th of January, 1641, might more truly fay-"Not many years both before and after "this was written, WHARTON'S FRIENDS fhewed that the safety of a Senate "houfe was not inviolable."

With equal impertinence and malignity (pages 496, 538.) has he raked up the afhes of Queen Caroline and Queen Elizabeth; whofe private characters and inoffenfive amufements were as little connected with Milton's poems, as this animadverfion on Wharton is with the subject I am now treating.

Perhaps, after all, the concluding line of Milton's epitaph,

"Rege fub augufto fas fit laudare Catonem,"

is artfully made by Mr. Wharton the concluding line alfo of his Notes; in order to account for his present virulence, and to foften the refentment of his readers, at the expence of his patron.

2

RESO