P.S.  I received a letter relating to Mr. Greenshields; the person who sent it may know, that I will say something to it in the next paper.

[Footnote 1:  No. 29 in the reprint. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 2:  “Tractanda in laudationibus etiam haec sunt naturae et fortunae bona, in quibus est summa laus:  non extulisse,” etc.—­CICERO, De Oratore ii. 84.

“These blessings of nature and fortune fall within the province of panegyric, the highest strain of which is, that a man possessed power without pride, riches without insolence, and the fullness of fortune without the arrogance of greatness.”—­W.  GUTHRIE. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 3:  Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, the favourite of Edward II. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 4:  Hugh le Despencer, Earl of Winchester, and his son of the same name, both favourites of Edward II., and both hanged in 1326. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 5:  Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford, favourite of Richard II. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 6:  See No. 17, ante, and note, p. 95. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 7:  The Bill of Security passed the Scottish Parliament in 1703, but was refused the Royal Assent.  It provided for the separation of the Crowns of England and Scotland unless security was given to the latter for full religious and commercial independence.  It was again passed in 1704. (See also note in vol. v., p. 336 of present edition.) [T.S.]]

[Footnote 8:  The writer of the “Letter” does not ascribe this result to the Act of Security, but to the Queen raising some of her servants to the highest degree of power who were unable “to associate with, men of honester principles than themselves,” which led to “subjection to the will of an arbitrary junto and to the caprice of an insolent woman.” [T.  S.]]

[Footnote 9:  The Duke of Marlborough and Lord Godolphin threatened to resign in February, 1707/8, unless Harley was dismissed. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 10:  Prince George died October 28th, 1708. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 11:  “The Medley,” No. 20 (February 12th) was largely taken up with remarks on this letter, which appeared in “The Examiner,” No. 28.  See passage there quoted in the note, p. 177. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 12:  Crassus was defeated by Orodes, King of Parthia, through the treachery of Ariamnes.  After Crassus was beheaded Orodes caused molten gold to be poured into his mouth. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 13:  Godolphin.  See No. 27, ante, p. 172. [T.S.]]

NUMB. 31.[1]

FROM THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22, TO THURSDAY MARCH 1, 1710-11.

Quae enim domus tam stabilis, quae tam firma civitas est, quae non odiis atque discidiis funditus possit everti?[2]