not proposed in his honour, yet his demise must in some other way have been known. I am not only puzzled about the matter, but I am seriously anxious for the fate of a person whose life is so important to the state, and particularly to every one interested in India Stock; and I beg you will communicate whatever information you have on the subject.

Yours,

A COUNTRY PROPRIETOR.

25th July 1807.

We sincerely condole with our Correspondent on his reasonable uneasiness; and cannot but think Mr. George Johnstone has not acted kindly to his friends in causing them so much pain, which he might have prevented by stating the simple fact; and that we are now about to do.

On receiving the above letter, we immediately set on foot the most careful inquiry. We soon discovered, and, indeed, from ocular observation, that Mr. George Johnstone was not only alive, but apparently in robust health, the purpureum lumen juvent. Not considering these, however, as decisive symptoms in a political case, we proceeded to inquire whether Mr. Johnstone was reported to be in political existence; and sorry are we to state, that we ascertained beyond doubt, that he is to all political intents and purposes defunct; and as much liable to interment as Partridge, the Almanackmaker, whose case is held a decisive precedent in similar circumstances. On inquiry at all the political shops and circles in this town, the answer was uniform, that Mr. George Johnstone was dead and gone some months ago; and we were referred to a number of the London Gazette, where his death is duly regis tered; and as he has never been heard of since, not a shadow of hope remained.

It turns out that this unfortunate gentleman, now no more, had a passion for official consequence, but

M 2

being

being of a truly independent mind, and entirely regardless of money, he was determined to take no place that should expose him to the inconvenience of receiving salary. After some disappointment in his expectations from the late Ministers (which he manfully resented), he at last, under the auspices of Lord Castlereagh, succeeded in becoming a Member of the Board of Control, without pay. But, alas! how shortsighted is man! Mr. Johnstone never joyed after that fatal day, and it is certain that he never spoke after his luckless preferment. Had he lived he might have been an ornament to any opposition, and on India questions an oracle to all. But perverse ambi tion drew him aside from this glorious path. He looked forward to patronage and power, to cadetships and writerships; but he soon found that these privileges do not belong to those who despise pay. He thought to have reformed the India House and the Board of Control: but he soon discovered that the Board of Control is an empty name; that as to the puisne and unpaid Commissioners, it is, as Mr. Burke pleasantly observed of another Board, in a state of perpetual virtual adjournment, and unbroken sitting vacation." All his visions of greatness were dissipated.

His untimely fate should be a lesson to all ambitious young men. He wished to be great: he was snatched away, and came to nothing; and the "Place (in the House of Commons) that knew him, knoweth him no more." Poor gentleman! he, indeed, as Dr. Franklin observes," paid too dear for his whistle."

July 31.

INSCRIPTION

INSCRIPTION

ON THE SIGN-BOARD of an ascending ARTIST AT MARGATE, WHO POSSESSES various Talents, BUT not all.

[From the Morning Post.]

AMES Cooper living here,

JA

His willing to serve you far and near,
Chimney-sweeper and chair-bottomer,
Smoak-jack cleaner and fire-defender.

A COMPARISON

BETWEEN THE ABOVE-NAMED ARTIST, AND AN EX-
CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.

COOPER, like Petty, mounts to heights sublime,
To gain both fame and fortune, for a time;
One sat" broad-bottom'd" on the Statesman's throne,
And t'other mends the "bottoms" we sit on.
Of "All the Talents," one 's an integral:
T'other assumes not that he has them all."
One rul'd financial roasts, and had a knack
At cooking taxes: t'other cleans our jack !
One swept a tenth from every poor man's guinea;
T'other but sweeps away our soot-poor ninny!
One sent but little British fire abroad,

Tother defends from fire each one's abode ;
(And, "far and near," we find him always. “ willing"
To do a great deal, for a little shilling.)

Suppose us at comparisons non-pluss'd,

And have but one to add, let that be just.

While "All the Talents" still keep up a rout,
Cooper is yet in place, but Petty's out..

July 31.

AN IMPROMPTU.

[From the same.]

BEHOLD, the storm begins to lower.
From Opposition's mighty power 3–

And All the Talents" are array'd,
To hurl destruction on the head

M3.

Of those good men who rule the State,
Because they were dismiss'd of late :
But let them foam with all their guile,
They, like the viper, lick the file.

A PANEGYRIC ON MINISTERS, WITH A DIGRESSION ON UNANIMITY, AND THE SAINTS. [From the Morning Chronicle.]

14

SIR,

"For so we find all ancient sages
Decree, that, ad exemplum Regis,
Through all the realm his virtues run,
Rip'ning and kindling like the sun.
If this be true, then how much more
When you have nam'd at least a score
Of Courtiers, each in his degree,
If possible, as good as he."

SWIFT.

AM well satisfied that till now we have been entertaining very wrong notions about the proper formation of a Ministry. We have been always looking for great abilities, instead of that golden mediocrity which the Poets themselves recommend in every thing but their own art. Happily we now perceive, that a set of Ministers (with reverence be it spoken) resembles a set of coach-horses, where great powers are not so necessary as equality of powers.

Nothing, for example, could be seen more ludicrous, than Pitt, in his last Administration, dragging at his tail, through thick and thin, the miserable little animals he was yoked with. And when the machine stopped by his death, you remember how the poor creatures shrunk into their holes, out of fear and shame. But only look at them now, when they are matched with their like, and you will confess that nothing can run in harness better. Six powerful horses perhaps might, upon the whole, be preferable to as many jack-asses, however well assorted; but there is danger

danger that the driver might not have the same command over them. At any rate he would not look so burly and pre-eminent, which is a very great consideration. The jockey is here entitled to every praise, who has selected "safe" beasts, that will be sure to bear with the curb and the lash, and drive to the Devil if you like, sɔ you but give them their corn.

I know there are some persons who, looking only at the outside of things, see some degree of disparity between Camden and Castlereagh, or Perceval and Portland. And so there is a difference between a black horse and a white. But we are not speaking of colour, shape, or gait, but of the bottom, strength, and speed of the animal; and I am well convinced there is no real difference in the Ministry in this respect, from the lively Canning to the dull. Eldon, and that Huskisson and Sturges are, to pursue my metaphor, as good cattle as any of them all.

But it is time to drop the figure, and to consider the cavils of the factions. They tell us that the times are awful, and require an Administration of extraor→ dinary vigour. This would be very just, Sir, if Ministers, as in old fashioned times, retained the direc tion and responsibility of public business; but when the Mch has assumed the task, with a private adviser of his own stock, it is enough that the public men he employs are obedient. His is all the management; and it is very satisfactory to know, upon the authority of Mr. Secretary Canning, that his master has more sense than any body would suppose.

The times are, indeed, to outward appearance, very fearful, and may seem to require the aid of the best abilities in the country. But, as the Addresses say, is not the King the best judge of the men he ought to employ? And if he finds his present servants adequate to the times, is this not a proof of his gracious and pacific views? For, if he intended to prosecute a