A letter to the Right Honourable Mr. Secretary Harley, by Dr. Browne : occasion'd by his late commitment to New-Gate. Together with his interpretation of that paper, called, the country parson's advice to my Lord keeper, laid to his charge. Answer'd paragraph by paragraph.

  • Philanglus
Date:
Printed in the year, 1706
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to the Right Honourable Mr. Secretary Harley, by Dr. Browne : occasion'd by his late commitment to New-Gate. Together with his interpretation of that paper, called, the country parson's advice to my Lord keeper, laid to his charge. Answer'd paragraph by paragraph. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    / (6) Eftablifhmenr, and Liberty and Property, when as you fay, iome Peo¬ ple may turn the Words upon us Ironically, and tell us that there is no¬ thing meant by it but French Slavery, and defpotick Power ! So Sir in your own Words I can allure you,that before as well as lince I read your Letter, I remember the Royal Advice, and not only read but practice it, and for the future not to let the Liberty of your Pen exceed that of your mind, if you do, I can further aflure, that not only, a Secretary of State, but the mcaneftjoflice of Peace, may juftly and legally confine your Body,for which I dare appeal to your (elf. This Sir was and may be done not out of an ignorant, and natural Zeal, but out of one according to knowledge, to fupprefs Scandal, and Abulive Reflexions, which tho’ they carry Wit in them, yet being alloy’d withlo much Vanity and Oftentation (as to be a- bove a Secretary’s Senle) makes them odious, and fo naucious, and not pardonable. Pardon me Sir, from a Thought like a Comparifon, fince you have made yours in an eminent manner known to all the World. *Tis a pitty indeed there are fo ma¬ ny well-wifhers to your Honour, fhould be fo blindly miftaken in your extenfive Defigns to reform a Race of Men who are fo far degenerated from what they pro- fefs of Wit and Literature, that they mifeonftrue your healing Prefcriptions for hard and unpreftdented linage, when like a skilful and learned Surgeon, you only would lop off the Gangreen’d Member, to fave the whole Body Politick. This I know you practice for the com¬ mon good, fince you find Companion only makes thofe ufeleis Weeds of Scriblers flourifh, while you perceive, that plucking them up by the Roots, entirely deftroys diem. An fa. I thought Sir,that a Pbyflciarfs Education might have made him in a civilised Nation, to have (hewed fomething of manners, thoJ he could not of Religion ; if he has neither, he is only a gangreen’d Member at to be cut ofif from the Body Politick, both Juftice, and the Common good requires it. This is certainly conformable to the Policy of this World, but not at all agreeable to that of the wife Huf- bandm&n, in the Gpfpef, whoadvifed us, not to weed the Tares from the Wheat, 'till theHarveft, left with the Tares, we fhould pluck up the good Seed too. Sir, you are too wife to need the Explanation of theParabie, and to juft to d&contrary to it. Anfiv« _ i