muft own they have effectually compaffed it; fince nothing can well be more mortifying than to reflect, that I am of the fame fpecies with creatures, capable of uttering fo much fcurrility, dulnefs, falfhood, and impertinence, to the fcandal and difgrace of human nature.

SOME

SOME

ADVICE

Humbly offered to the

MEMBERS

OF THE

OCTOBER CLUB.

In a LETTER from a PERSON of HONOur.

Written in the Year MDCCXI.

THE PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.

A

BOUT the year, when her late majesty of bleffed memory thought proper to change her miniftry, and brought in Mr. Harley, Mr. St. John, Sir Simon Harcourt, and fome ohers; the first of these being made an earl and lord treafurer, he was foon after blamed by his friends for not making a general fweep of all the whigs, as the latter did of their adverfaries upon her majesty's death, when they came into power. At that time a great number of parliament men, amounting to above two hundred, grew fo warm upon the flownefs of the treasurer in this part, that they formed themselves into a body under the name of the October Club, and had many meetings, to confult upon fome methods that might fpur on thofe in power, fo that they might make a quicker dispatch in removing all of the whig leaven from the employments they still poffeffed. To prevent the ill confequences of this difcontent among fo many worthy members, the reft of the miniftry joined with the treasurer, partly to pacify, and partly to divide thofe, who were in greater haste than moderate men thought convenient. It was well known, that the fuppofed author met a confiderable number of this club in a public-houfe, where he convinced them very plainly of the treafurer's fincerity, with many of thofe very reasons which are urged in the following

dif

difcourfe, befide fome others which were not fo proper to appear at that time in print.

The treasurer alledged in his defence, that fuch a treatment would not confift with prudence, because there were many employments to be beftowed, which required fkill and practice; that feveral gentlemen, who poffeffed them, had been long verfed, very loyal to her majefty, had never been violent party men, and were ready to fall into all honeft measures for the fervice of their queen and country. But however, as offices became vacant, he would humbly recommend to her ma jesty fuch gentlemen, whofe principles with regard both to church and ftate, his friends would approve of, and he would be ready to accept their recommendations. Thus the earl proceeded in procuring employments for thofe, who deferved them by their honefty and abilities to execute them; which I confefs to have been a fingularity not very likely to be imitated. However the gentlemen of this club ftill continued uneafy that no quicker progrefs was made in removals, until those who were leaft violent began to foften a little, or, by dividing them, the whole affair dropped. During this difficulty, we have been affured that the following difcourfe was very seasonably published with great fuccefs; fhewing the difficulties that the earl of Oxford lay under, and his real defire, that all perfons in employment fhould be true loyal churchmen, zealous for her majesty's honour and fafety, as well as for the fucceffion in the house of Hanover, if the queen fhould hap

pen