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mechanics； and experimental philosophy； and a good salary settled
upon an able professor； who should give regular lectures on these
subjects。
But this is all idle speculation； which will never be reduced to
practice Considering the temper of the times； it is a wonder to
see any institution whatsoever established for the benefit of the
Public。 The spirit of party is risen to a kind of phrenzy；
unknown to former ages； or rather degenerated to a total
extinction of honesty and candour You know I have observed； for
some time； that the public papers are become the infamous
vehicles of the most cruel and perfidious defamation： every
rancorous knave every desperate incendiary； that can afford to
spend half a crown or three shillings； may skulk behind the press
of a newsmonger； and have a stab at the first character in the
kingdom； without running the least hazard of detection or
punishment。
I have made acquaintance with a Mr Barton； whom Jery knew at
Oxford； a good sort of a man； though most ridiculously warped in
his political principles； but his partiality is the less
offensive； as it never appears in the stile of scurrility and
abuse。 He is a member of parliament； and a retainer to the court；
and his whole conversation turns upon the virtues and perfections
of the ministers； who are his patrons。 T'other day； when he was
bedaubing one of those worthies； with the most fulsome praise； I
told him I had seen the same nobleman characterised very
differently； in one of the daily…papers； indeed； so stigmatized；
that if one half of what was said of him was true； he must be not
only unfit to rule； but even unfit to live： that those
impeachments had been repeated again and again； with the addition
of fresh matter； and that as he had taken no steps towards his
own vindication； I began to think there was some foundation for
the charge。 'And pray； Sir （said Mr Barton）； what steps would you
have him take？ Suppose he should prosecute the publisher； who
screens the anonymous accuser； and bring him to the pillory for a
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