[200] The “Occasional Writer’s” Letters are printed in Lord Bolingbroke’s Works. [N.]

[201] Sir Robert Walpole was by no means negligent of his literary assistants.  But, unfortunately, like an unskilful general, he confided more in the number than the spirit or discipline of his forces.  Arnall, Concanen, and Henley, were wretched auxiliaries; yet they could not complain of indifferent pay, since Arnall used to brag, that, in the course of four years, he had received from the treasury, for his political writings, the sum of L10,997 6s. 8d. [S.]

[202] The authority for considering this “Account” to be the work of Swift is Mr. Deane Swift, the editor of the edition of 1765 of Swift’s works.  It is included in the eighth volume of the quarto edition issued that year.  Burke also seems to have had no doubt at all about the authorship.  Referring to the Dean’s disposition to defend Queen Anne and to ridicule her successor, he says, “it is probable that the pieces in which he does it (’Account of the Court of Japan,’ and ’Directions for making a Birth-day Song’) were the occasion of most of the other posthumous articles having been so long withheld from the publick.”  Undoubtedly, there is much in this piece that savours of Swift’s method of dealing with such a subject; but that could easily be imitated by a clever reader of “Gulliver.”  The style, however, in which it is written is not distinctly Swift’s.

At the time this tract was written (1728) the Tory party was anxiously hoping that the accession of George II. would see the downfall of Walpole.  But the party was doomed to a bitter disappointment.  Walpole not only maintained but added to the power he enjoyed under George I. By what means this was accomplished the writer of this piece attempts to hint.  Sir Walter Scott thinks the piece was probably left imperfect, “when the crisis to which the Tories so anxiously looked forward terminated so undesirably, in the confirmation of Walpole’s power.” [T.  S.]

[203] King George. [S.]

[204] Queen Anne. [S.]

[205] Whigs and Tories.  Anagrams of Huigse and Toryes. [T.  S.]

[206] Hanover.  Anagrams for Deuts = Deutsch = German. [T.  S.]

[207] Bremen and Lubeck. [S.]

[208] The quadruple alliance, usually accounted the most impolitic step in the reign of George I., had its rise in his anxiety for his continental dominions. [S.]

[209] Through all the reign of George I., the Whigs were in triumphant possession of the government. [S.]

[210] Sir Robert Walpole [S.]

[211] When secretary at war, Walpole received L500 from the contractors for forage; and although he alleged that it was a sum due to a third party in the contract, and only remitted through his hands, he was voted guilty of corruption, expelled the House, and sent to the Tower, by the Tory Parliament. [S.]

[212] King George II. [S.]