Epistle IV. To Macrinus,
by
the Same. [Mr. Henley.]
[_]
On his Charge of Advocate for the Bætici.
THO' the Friends I have met, and the Talk of the World seem to approve my Action,
yet I reckon much upon your Sentiments about it. For as I desir'd your Advice in the Run of the Affair,
I should be very glad of your Judgment in the Close of it. When I made an excursion into
Tuscany, in order to see about a publick Building, at my own Expence;
and had received my private Charges as Lord of the Treasury, The Deputies of the Province of
Bætica, in forming their Complaint against the Proconsulate of
Cæcilius Classicus, petitioned the Senate, that I might be their Advocate.
My very worthy Friends, my Collegues, after a previous Speech upon the Exigences of that common Office,
try'd to excuse and exempt me from it. A
very honourable Decree pass'd the House, that I should be Advocate for the Provincial Party,
if they could obtain my own Consent. Then the Deputies were introduc'd again,
and as I was present, re-demanded me for their Advocate; imploring my Fidelity to them,
which they experienc'd in the Cause against
Bebius Massa, alledging a covenant of patronizing them.
This was follow'd by an Assent of the Senate, much to my Credit; such an one as usually precedes a Decree.
I reply'd, that I now forbore to think that my Pleas of Excuse were just.
They were pleas'd both with the Modesty of my Answer and the Reason of it.
I was reduc'd to take this Step, not only by the Consent of the Senate (tho' this was the leading Motive) but that of others;
of less Account indeed, but innumerable. I remind my self, that our Predecessors had prosecuted the Wrongs of particular Friends,
by voluntary Indictments; which gave it a more unhandsome Look, to neglect the Rights of the Publick.
Besides, when I reflected what Dangers I underwent in a former Advocation for the same People of
Bætica,
I thought it needful to keep up the Merit of an old good Turn, by a new Kindness.
For it is very much the Nature of Things, that you overthrow a past Favour,
if you do not renew it: If you deny one Thing, those you have obliged,
will remember only that Denial. I was the more induc'd to it, since
Classicus was not
living; and the Danger of a Senator was remov'd, which is commonly the most forbidding Circumstance in Causes of this Nature:
So that I found my Defence was liable to as fair an Acceptance, as if her were alive and to no Ill-will.
I short, I computed thus, That if I perform'd this Function now a third Time,
my Excuse would be easier, if I happen'd after to light upon one whom I ought not to accuse.
For since there is a Boundary sometime to all Duties, a Compliance is the best Preparation to have an Indulgence of future Liberty.
You have not view'd the Motives of my Design; it remains that you give my your Opinion,
on either Hand of the Question; in which I shall be equally delighted with the plain Freedom of your Dissent,
as with the Authority of your Approbation.
