Addison.  Has not His Majesty then shewn the least appearance of grace in that generous forgiveness which he has already extended to such great numbers of his rebellious subjects, who must have died by the laws of their country, had not his mercy interposed in their behalf?—­Swift.  Prodigious clemency, not to hang all the common soldiers who followed their leaders!

Addison.  Those who are pardoned would not have known the value of grace, if none had felt the effects of justice.—­Swift. And only hanging the lords and gentlemen, and some of the rabble.

Addison.  Their [the last ministry’s] friends have ever since made use of the most base methods to infuse those groundless discontents into the minds of the common people, etc.—­Swift. Hath experience shown those discontents groundless?

Addison.  If the removal of these persons from their posts has produced such popular commotions, the continuance of them might have produced something much more fatal to their king and country.—­Swift.  Very false reasoning.

Addison.  No man would make such a parallel, [between the treatment of the rebels, and that of the Catalans under King Philip,] unless his mind be so blinded with passion and prejudice, as to assert, in the language of this pamphlet, “That no instances can be produced of the least lenity under the present administration from the first hour it commenced to this day.”—­Swift.  Nor to this, 1727.

Addison.  God be thanked we have a king who punishes with reluctancy.—­Swift.  A great comfort to the sufferers!

Addison.  It would be well if all those who ... are clamorous at the proceedings of His present Majesty, would remember, that notwithstanding that rebellion [the Duke of Monmouth’s] ... had no tendency ... to destroy the national religion, etc.—­Swift.  To introduce fanaticism, and destroy monarchy.

Addison.  No prince has ever given a greater instance of his inclinations to rule without a standing army.—­Swift.  We find this true by experience.

Addison.  What greater instances could His Majesty have given of his love to the Church of England, than those he has exhibited by his most solemn declarations; by his daily example; and by his promotions of the most eminent among the clergy to such vacancies as have happened in his reign.—­Swift. Most undeniable truth, as any in Rabelais.

No. 44. May 21, 1716.—­Tory Foxhunter’s Account of the Masquerade on the Birth of the Arch-Duke.

Addison.  What still gave him greater offence was a drunken bishop, who reeled from one side of the court to the other, and was very sweet upon an Indian Queen.—­Swift.  Then, that story is true?

No. 45. May 25, 1716.—­The Use and Advantage of Wit and Humour under proper Regulations.