London Journal, Jan. 9, No. 597.
Contains remarks upon a paper in the Craftsman, called, An extract of a letter from the Hague.
The author begins with observing, that tho’ the pretence of the Craftsman is liberty and patriotism, yet his real design is opposition to the court.
He then reflects on the Craftsman’s incoherent way of arguing, just as it serves to vent his spleen; for according to him the ministry are never right when they do what he counts wrong, and always wrong when they do what the Craftsman counts right.
When we were broken with the Emperor we were quite wrong, and now we are going to unite with the Emperor we are equally wrong.
This paper, or letter, the Journalist says, is made up of mere conjectures, and suppositions; or else insinuations, unsupported by facts or reason: justifies our ministry from the aspersion that we are undoing what we have been doing these five years; and insists that we have been continuing to do the same thing, that is, pursuing the peace and happiness of the nation by different means, as alterations happen’d, or circumstances varied.
He then answers the Craftsman’s charge of deserting one ally, by supposing that this ally may have views inconsistent with the two other allies, and so stand disposed to act contrary to the design of that treaty and our interest. England is not obliged to execute the treaty, unless the other allies will act their part.
The Craftsman charges the ministry with obstinate perseverance in bad measures, and now with a precipitate alteration of councils. This the author of this Journal denies, and says, it should be more justly called, a wise and prudent accommodating themselves to the late unfortunate juncture of affairs. Changing hands is not an alteration of councils, but a conduct which wise and honest men ought to observe.
London Journal, Jan. 16. No. 598.
Reflections on the present State of Affairs, occasion’d by the Craftsman, Jan. 9.