University of Virginia Library

POSTSCRIPT.

IT is well for men in office, that my pen has
taken this turn; and that I employ myself in
writing harmless nonsense, rather than strictures on
their conduct In the case of the famous Gordon,
who, with Trenchard, was an author of what were
stiled Cato's Letters, it is well known that the shrewd
minister of that day, Walpole, dreading the effects
of these writings, wisely laid a plan to free his administration
from them; by affecting to admire the
stile; and saying, that it were a pity so noble a genius
were not employed in giving a sample of good
language, where there would be no occasion to invent,
but merely to clothe ideas. For this reason,
he would consider it as a great happiness, could he
be induced to translate some work of merit; and
give it in the beautiful garb of his expression. By
this address, and the addition of a pension, the author
was induced to undertake the translation of
Tacitus.

Now, what government, with great art, got
Gordon to do, I have done of my own accord; that
is, to amuse myself in abstract composition; regarding
words only, and letting men of place alone.
Nevertheless, as the sale of these is not certain; and
if I should find it an expense, rather than a profit, to
proceed in the work, I may quit it, and fall foul of
the public measures, those who discharge the public
trust, at the present time, may not be altogether
safe. It were, therefore, wise policy in such, to
assist the sale as much as possible; and it might not
be amiss, in the first instance, to buy up, each of
them, a number of copies I do not know that I
have any thing to say of the president of the United

States; or that I would say it, if I had; nevertheless,
it might not be amiss for him, on the principle
of preservation, and, agreeably to that universal
prudence he has ever shewn, to take a few; perhaps
50 might suffice. The secretary of the treasury,
and the secretary at war, might take, between
them, about 500. As to the secretary of state, he
is such a skin-dried philosopher, that an author would
make as little out of him, as a fly would out of a
weather-beaten bone; and so, it is of little consequence
to him, whether he buys one at all; for I
believe I shall not trouble my head about him. As
to the Congress that have sat since the adoption of
the federal constitution, they need not put themselves
to the expence, individually or collectively,
of purchasing one pamphlet; as I am determined
not to be bought off by them; but in a work which I
shall by and by publish, will canvass, freely, the respective
demerit of their votes. I have not yet
written any of this work; but I have it all in my
mind; and if I had a ready amanuensis, to take it
down, could give a volume in a short time.

The whole gradation of officers and place-men,
under government, are a good deal in my power.
Not that I would descend to attack them; but I
might affect the system by which they are supported.
A pretty liberal purchase, therefore, on their
part, might be money not ill laid out.

The men that are upon the government of Pennsylvania,
would find their account, in making it
worth my while to let my fingers run in this way,
a while longer. Peream ne scribam; I must write;
and if I should break out upon them, I know not
where I might end.