An Account of the True Author of two Infamous Libels (1727)

 

Related to the draft-article about Horatio’s identity.

 

 

Full title: (Anon.) An Account of the True Author of two Infamous Libels, entitled,

A Letter from Count Sinzendorf, etc. to Mr. De Palm, late Resident, etc. dated from Vienna, Febr. 20 N.S. 1727.

A Memorial presented by Mr. De Palm, etc.

With an Appendix containing the said Libels, with Proper Remarks, etc.

London: Printed for J. Smith near the Exchange MDCCXXVII.

 

An Account of the True Author¹ of two Infamous Libels, etc.

[numbering starts with p. 5]

 

Where, when, or how this great Man² was born, is not material, but that he was born is most certain. According to some, he was of the City of Devent³ in the Province of Groninghen, and of a Gentleman's Family, being called John William, Baron of Ripperda. He was of the Religion of the Country, whose God is Gold,⁴ and, being a true[6]Worshipper, he went on Pilgrimage tot that Part of the World where it keeps its first Court in Europe; for he went to Spain as the Mahometans go to Mecca, and the zealous Papists to Loretta.⁵

 

As to the outward Signs of Religion which Men call Protestant, Papist, Turk, Jew, Free-thinker, etc. he looked upon them as other Ministers do, and thought them only various Dresses to deck and set off the same Idol.⁶ The love of Gold was with him the only true Catholick Faith, since for this the Mahometan Dervis and Jewish Rabbin expound their Law; for this the Jesuit go to China for Proselytes, and leaves the Swedes with their Copper in Darkness; for this the Godly rail against Tithes for more profitable Contributions[7]; for this Dean B-----y⁷ sails to the Bermuda's, and forsakes the Wild Irish for the more tractable Indians; for this a broken barber or Valet quits France under the pretence of Religion, and commences a Marqué with a Pension in England; howsoever therefore people differ in their Modes of Worship, he well knew that Turk and Presbyterian, Quaker and Papist, Independent and Established Teachers,⁸ all agree in crying out --- Great is Diana of the Ephesians!⁹

 

Having thus resolved all things into their first principles, and found out that the Primum Mobile¹⁰ was Gold, he determined, by rendering himself Master of the source of that Metal, to get the Dominion of the rest of the World: Some little Obstacles indeed obstructed him in the way towards[8]this glorious Enterprize, Religion, Honour, Conscience, Love of his Country, Honesty, Fame, and many other Bugbears, mere empty Names and Illusions; but these he as easily repelled as Æneas the crouding Ghosts in his decent to Hell, the Realm of Plutus.

 

In pursuance of this Scheme he became great by Bankruptcy and Flight from Justice in Holland, which made him a Minister of State in Spain; there, like Diomed in the Iliad of Homer, he trucked Brass for Gold; Assurance supplied the want of Parts, and because he was a Dutchman the Spaniards concluded he must of course be an Accomptant: He was therefore made President of the Finances, or, as we would call it, Lord Treasurer; and having once master'd the[9]Arcanum Magnum,¹¹ or Philosopher-stone,¹² he turned it at Vienna into Rhenish and Tokay, and by his powerful Arguments, and still more powerful Wine, join'd to the Weight of Spanish Pistoles, prevailed with the Imperial Court to accede to a Treaty extremely advantageous to themselves.

 

In his Youth he was a Republican and a Patriot, because he lived in a State where Patriot was a thriving Calling; but when his insatiable Avarice[10] grew too great to be endured by e free People, he even fled to Tyranny for Shelter. A Patriot was then in Jest, and none so sure to meet with his Aversion as the Party he had deserted; Liberty and Honesty, with the Pretence of which he ow'd his first Figure in the World, was the chief Subject of his Ridicule; and the only Contest under his Administration was, whether KNAVES or FOOLS were the fittest for Employments. These Qualifications, and the Honour of having concluded Alliances highly disadvantageous to Spain, he was promoted to be FIRST MINISTER: In this Station he grew petulant in Power, and because he could bully or bribe the Spanish Counsels, he thought all Europe must bow to his Nod, and owe Fate to his determination.[11]

 

He was so transported with the Flattery that follows this height of Power, that he fancy'd himself really to be what his Parasites¹³ endeavour'd to persuade him. He even imagined himself an Orator,¹⁴ and in broken Flemish wou'd often harangue his Crowd of Courtiers, and was weak enough to be pleased with their Approbation; when a very little Reflection wou'd have shewn him; That it was the Finances,¹⁵ and not the Orator, whose motley Harangues were so prevailing.

 

How unequal a match this evil Minister was for our most excellent and wise Administration, his short Blaze of Glory and sudden Ruin has determined; the Wisdom, Probity, Diligence and Uncorruptness of those whom we[12]have the Happines to see employ'd by our most gracious Sovereign, soon overcame the cunning, artifice, vanity and corruption of this mere Fleming: In one Thing indeed he shew'd his Wisdom; for he betimes perceived how much his Undertakings were above his Strength, for, by selling the Prince who had trusted him, he thought to make his Peace with the British Nation, and to be paid by us for betraying the Spaniards, because he had obtain'd Bribes from them as a Reward for his Treachery to his own country.

 

This shews the Wisdom and Address of those at the head of Affairs, since they know how to make even the chief Ministers of Foreign Nations their Tools and Pensioners. But this their prudent Management[13] was in some measure frustrated by the Artifices of that Machiavellian Minister of Darkness,¹⁶ to say no worse of him, Cardinal Alberoni,¹⁷ who found out that the said Ripperda was growing honest, and coming into our Interest, and that it was hew ho prevented Gibraltar's being besieged early in the Spring, and hinder'd the Spanish Money from being remitted into Germany; which wou'd have enabled the Imperial troops to take field in Silesia.

 

Alberoni giving an Account of his Discoveries to the Courts of Vienna and Madrid,¹⁸ and the first of these having complain'd to the other Court of the Non-payment of the Mon[e]y stipulated between them, the King of Spain sent for the Duke de Ripperda, and told him, that he discharged[14] him from being President of the Council of Finances, on which he, with the Insolence peculiar to men who think themselves useful, reply'd, that since his majesty thought him unfit for that Station, and that it was too heavy a Burthen for him, he desired Leave with it to lay down all other Employments, and to e eased at once from the Trouble of all Court-Attendance by an entire Dismission: The King took him at his word, and, when he was withdrawn, he ordered a Resolution to be enter'd in the Councel Books to this Effect, viz.

 

"That his Majesty, out of his great Goodness, at the request of the Duke of Ripperda, was pleased to grant to the said Duke leave to lay down all his Employments[15, and to dismiss him from his Service; and farther, in consideration of his former Fidelity, to grant him a Pension of three thousand Pistoles for Life per ann. to be paid to him either at Madrid, or any other place that het should appoint."¹⁹

 

On this Order's being notified to the Duke de Ripperda, he went to thank the King for his Goodness; but as het return'd from Court, instead of going home, he went into the coach of the Ambassador of Holland, and order'd it to drive to the House of Colonel Stanhope Lord Ambassador of Great Britain.²⁰ As soon as the King was inform'd of his Retreat, he order'd a Detachment of his Guards to surround Mr. Stanhope's House, who thereupon assured[16]the King that he wou'd be accountable for the Person of the Duke, who, since this,²¹ has been confined close Prisoner in the Castle of Sagovia,²² and order'd to be prosecuted for High Treason. Thus you see the fatal Effects of Ambition, Avarice, and Corruption. For though Fortune and Cunning may make Villains to triumph for a time they often like Lightning only blaze and vanish; which was the Fate of this Minister, there being but three years from his Rise to his Destruction.

 

We might have been much more particular in our Account of this fallen Minister, were we not apprehensive of being thought to describe some of our own great Men under the Name of the Duke de Ripperda; For Knaves of all countries have a sort of Affinity, and often resemble[17]in their outward Form, as well as their mind: But this is so consummate a Statesman that we must look back to the last Age for his Equal, and even there we can hardly find three to match him; there are many who come pretty near him, but none who possess so many of his excellent Qualities, as two Grandees who flourish'd together; the one²³ noted for Treachery and Apostacy, and the other²⁴ remarkable for unbounded Ambition, unsatiable Avarice and the height of Ingratitude. This latter indeed seems to be most like him, and had the Duke de Ripperda been contented to satiate his Appetite for Wealth and Power with the same temper and caution, he might have reign'd as long, had many Grants of Lands and Palaces, and perhaps too have been buried at the publick [18] charge with the greatest pomp and magnificence.

 

The Maxims of this Statesman are very remarkable, and very much resemble those of the pious²⁵ Author of The Fable of the Bees, who, we are told, is of the same Country and Religion with our Duke; which indeed is not impossible, since the Air and Climate sometimes have the same Effect upon the Minds and Bodies of People; and we find that those Countries which are most famous for Monsters,²⁶ are no less noted for Variety of Religions.

His First principle was, That Mankind are naturally Villains, and so we presume that he admitted himself as one of the Number; and, as a consequence of this, he tells us that the vilest and most hateful Qualities are the most necessary Accomplishments[19] of a great Man, or a fine Gentleman; it is not to be wondered therefore that the Beaumonde greatly admire the Dutch system²⁷ just mentioned; tho' if we were to judge of his morals by his poetry, we need not be Criticks to prove them to be very wretched, and well suited to the Half-pen[n]y Sheet in which they first made their Appearance;²⁸ and we cannot but agree with the Author when he says, That he had not the least Design of being witty.²⁹ The rest of this Gentleman's Principles and maxims are so much of a Piece with those of his Countryman Dr. M.³⁰ that the Wits and Beaux must be already acquainted with them, and the Curious may have Recourse to the Author.

Such is the man, and such his morals, who is really the Author[20]of those Infamous Libels, entitled, etc. tho' some will have him to be assisted by a certain Duke now at Madrid; of whom nothing more need to be said than that he is a Dishonour to our Country.³¹

 

As for the Remarks which were promis'd in out Title, we have indeed made such as were proper; for what better Answer can be given to such scurrilous, false, and impudent Libels than displaying the character of their Author. Are they fit to be reason'd with who presume to give Lie to MAJESTY, who tell a Brave and Wise People, That they are Fools³² and Asses, and who endeavour, under specious pretences, to sow Discord between the best KING and the happiest Subjects in the whole World?³³

 

[21] Appendix [to the pamphlet]

A Letter from Count de Sinzendorf, Chancellor of the Court to his Imperial and Catholic Majesty, sent to Mons. de Palm, the Emperor's Resident at the Court of G--- B----, dated from Vienna the 20th of February, 1727.

His Imperial and Catholic Majesty judges it indispensably necessary, upon the Step which has been lately taken in the [22] Country where you are, to send you in the Dispatch here annex'd, a Memorial, which you are to present to the K---- of G---t B----, and to publish afterwards, that the whole Nation may be acquainted with it, whilst Answers are preparing to certain Pamphlets published before the opening of the Parliament.

It is easy to see that the Speech was made for no Purpose, but to excite the Nation to a Rupture, and open War with the Emperor and with Spain, and to make the Parliament approve the precipitate and burthensome Measures which the Government has taken for private Ends, but too well known: That not only unwarrantable Inferences and Pretences have been made use of, but that manifest Falshoods [23] have been boldly advanced for indisputable Facts, a Proceeding never seen before among Powers who ought to respect each other, when in the most flagrant Wars; from whence it ought to be presumed, that the K---, whose Sacred Mouth ought to be an Oracle of Truth, must have been himself abused by the Suggestions and false Reports of those, who have the Honour to possess his Confidence; and who think it their Interest to inflame by these Means both the Prince and the Nation, for their own private Views and Personal Preservation, without any Regard to the Honour of the Majesty of the Throne, or to the Evils which may result from hence to their own Country, and to all Europe.

[24] For these Purposes they establish a Foundation, and lay down as a certain Fact, that there is a positive Article in the Treaty of Alliance between the Emperor and the King of Spain, to place the Pretender on the Throne of * * * * *, and to invade that Kingdom with open Force; and this they do, a few Days after the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Catholick King had, before his Departure from London, in a Memorial presented in the Sacred Name of his Master, publicly and in the most authentic Manner, disavowed these Imputations, which sufficiently prove the Emperor's Disavowal of the same, since the pretended Article was equally imputed to the two Powers, and one of them could not have stipulated [25] any thing in the same Treaty without the other. Besides which it is to be considered, that six Months ago, upon the first Reports of these false Suppositions, the Emperor and King of Spain, in order to silence them, proposed a formal Act, de non offendendo, into which all the Allies on one Side and the other might enter, and which wou'd effectually have secured the peaceable Possessions, of each of the Powers contracting, either in the Treaty of Vienna, or that of Hanover, 'till such Time as it had been possible by one general Treaty to remove and quiet the Complaints of all Sides: But these Proposals were rendered ineffectual by the same Views of those Persons, who chose rather to hinder the peaceable Effects of these just [26] Designs, by Attacks and open Hostilities.

It is further known, and it is even notorious, by the folemn Communication made to the * * * * * * * of the Treaty of Peace concluded at Vienna between the Emperor and King of Spain, that the Treaty of the Quadruple Alliance, trade at London the 2d of August, 1718, has been laid down as the unalterable Basis of their Peace; and that all the Articles of this Quadruple Alliance are therein confirm'd and corroborated, as if they had been inserted anew: How then can it be supposed, and even given out as a Matter of Fact, that by another Secret Treaty, sign'd on the same Day, Conditions have been established, and Engagements [27] taken entirely repugnant to the same?;

Such a Thing cannot be advanced, without insulting and injuring, in the most outrageous Manner, the Majesty of the two contracting Powers, who have a Right to demand a signal Reparation and Satisfaction proportioned to the Enormity of the Affront, which equally interests their Honour, and that Faith which ought always to be respected among Sovereign Princes.

But if those who endeavour to avail themselves of such feign'd Recriminations, and to excuse themselves from the Blame which their rash and turbulent Measures deserve, imagine that this unjustifiable Conduct may at last oblige the Emperor [28] and King of Spain, to repel Force by Force, and to defend themselves by all those Means which God has put into their Hands, from the Mischiefs with which they are threatened, and from the Insults and Attacks which have been actually made use of against them, so far that it has been even attempted to engage the Ottoman Port in these unparallell'd Designs, at least, ought they not to publish as antecedent Facts, those Things which they have Reason to apprehend may be the Consequence of a War, into which they will have forced these two Powers to enter in their own just Defence?

The Emperor and King of Spain hope however from the Divine Goodness, and from the Wisdom of Persons less prejudiced, and less passionate,[29] that more mature and serious Reflections will be made, in order to restore amicably the publick tranquility, and to save all Europe from the Misfortunes of a War, stirr'd up by Motives so trifling and groundless, which can tend to nothing but the Destruction of the Subject, of his Estate, and of his Commerce.

Their Majesties, the Emperor and the King of Spain ardently desire the Blessing of Peace, and to observe their Treaties with all their Allies, with the strictest Fidelity: But as a mutual Contract can subsist no longer on one Side, than while it remains unbroken on the other; the evil Consequences of a Rupture, if that should happen, ought to be imputed to those alone who[30] have been the Authors of those Infractions.

I have the Emperor's express Orders to write this to you in his Name, that you may be able to destroy those Falshoods and Calumnies, which have been charged on the high contracting Parties of the Treaty of Vienna, who have no other View, but that of making Peace between themselves, without hurting any one else. I am, &c.

 

[31] Translation of the Memorial presented, in Latin, to the K---- of G---- B------, by M. de Palm, the Imperial Resident, upon the Speech which his B----- M------ made to the two H----- of his P-------t, on the 28/17 of January, 1726-7.

Most Serene and Potent K----,

As soon as the Speech made by your Majesty to the Parliament of Great Britain now assembled, came to the Knowledge [32]of his Imperial and Catholic Majesty, my most gracious Master, he was struck with the utmost Astonishment, that your M----- could suffer yourself to be prevailed upon to declare from the R---- T---- to that most renowned Nation, in a manner hitherto unheard of, as certain and undoubted Facts, several Things, some of which are strained in that Speech to a wrong Sense, some are entirely distant from the Intentions of his Imperial and Catholic Majesty; and lastly, (which affect much more sensibly than all the rest) some Things absolutely void of all Foundation.

For as to what regards the Peace concluded at Vienna with the most serene King of Spain, who can forbear being astonished, that this [33]very Peace, which is built on the Quadruple Alliance signed at London, and other Treaties contracted with your M-----, as its solid and sole Foundation; and for the obtaining of which Peace, your M----, together with your Allies, waged so bloody, so long, and so glorious a War, and took your self so much Pains to procure, should now be alledged by your M------ as a just Ground of Complaint, and should be made use of as a Pretence for these Things, which hitherto your M---- have been doing in all Parts, to the great Detriment of the Emperor and the Empire, and the publick Tranquility, and should be represented by your M----- to the B----- Nation, with so much Animosity against the Emperor and King of Spain, as a Violation of Treaties.[34]

After complaining of the Peace made at Vienna, complaint is likewise made of the Treaty of Commerce entered into with Spain, which is calculated to promote the mutual and lawful Advantages of the Subjects of both Parties, which is agreeable to the Law of Nations, and to the Customs of all People in Amity with each other; which can in no Respect be of any Prejudice to the B----- Nation, whether we regard the situation of the Countries, or the particular nature of the Trade, and which is not in the least repugnant to the Treaties made with G----t B----n; so that if this Treaty be considered with a Mind free from Prejudice, and from all Design of inflaming the Nation, there will remain no Pretence to say, that this [35]Treaty can be grievous or hurtful to a Nation for which his Imperial Majesty has the greatest Affection and Esteem, and whose glorious Exploits and important Succours no Time will efface out of his Memory.

The other Head of Complaint, which contains such Things as are void of all Foundation, relates principally to that imaginary Alliance which in the Speech is called Offensive, and is there supposed to have been made against your M----- between the Emperor and King of Spain. But it will not only appear how groundless and frivolous this Supposition is, from the Offer lately made by his Imperial and Catholic Majesty of entering into a Convention, De se mutuo non Offendendo, but will be entirely refuted [36]by the Consideration of the Tenor of the Treaty of Alliance and Friendship it self made with the Crown of Spain, and communicated in its whole Extent to your M----- when it was proper; from the Words of which, whether the least Shadow or Appearance of an Offensive Alliance can be drawn, is submitted to the Judgment of the whole World.

Another Part of the Complaint relates to the Secret Articles made in Favour of the Pretender, whereof your M-----y asserts, that you have certain and undoubted Informations, by which Articles it shou'd have been agreed to set the Pretender on the Throne of **********; with what View, and what Motive,  and what Purpose, these Informations founded on the falsest Reports, were represented [37] to the People of *******, is not only easy to be understood by his Imperial and Catholic Majesty, but is obvious to the meanest Capacity!

 But since the inviolable Dignity and Honour of such great Princes cannot suffer that Assertions of this Nature, intirely unsupported by Truth, should be advanced from the R----l T----e to the whole Nation, and to all Mankind; his Sacred Imperial and Catholic Majesty has expressly commanded me, that I shou'd declare to your M------, and to the whole Kingdom of *****, how highly he thinks himself affronted thereby, solemnly affirming upon his Imperial Word, that there exists no secret Article nor Convention whatsoever, which contains, or can tend to[38] prove the least tittle of what has been alledged.

But that the secret Designs, which lie concealed under a Conduct 'till this Time unheard of, may more manifestly appear; it must be observ'd, that the Time is purposely taken for doing this, when a Negotiation is on Foot at Paris, for composing the Differences which have arisen without any Fault of his Imperial and Catholic Majesty; which Negotiation sufficiently shews how much his Imperial and Catholic Majesty is at all Times inclined to Peace, and to the religious Observation of his Treaties.

As to what is said of Gibraltar, and concerning the Siege thereof, under which in the Speech it is insinuated,[39] as if some other Design was concealed; the Hostilities notoriously committed in the Indies and elsewhere against the King of Spain, in Violation of Treaties, seem to have given a very just Occasion to the King of Spain for attempting that Siege. But as to the Intentions and Engagements of the Emperor upon that Article, it is easy to see what they are, by the Treaty above mentioned, which has been communicated.

As to what is said in the last Place, concerning the Ostend Trade, which the Goodness of the Catholic King induced him to favour, (being bound by no Treaty) after he had been apprized of the just Reasons for the Establishment of it, various Expedients for a Composition have[40] been propos'd, not only at the Hague and in other places, but even lately at Paris, least this harmless Method of providing for the Security of the Barrier shou'd prove an Obstacle to the common Friendship of neighbouring Powers.

Which Things being thus, the Injury offer'd to Truth, the Honour and Dignity of his Sacred Imperial and Catholic Majesty, require that they shou'd be exposed to your M-----, to the Kingdom of ******* and to the whole World. And his Sacred Imperial Majesty demands that Reparation which is due to him by all manner of Right, for the great Injuries which have been done him by these many Imputations.

 

 

Notes

1. Author means here originator, not writer.

2. The most recent work on Ripperda is in Dutch: Sytze van der Veen, Een Spaanse Groninger in Marokko, De levens van Johan Willem Ripperda (1682-1737) (2007).

3. 'Devent' is a mistake. Ripperda was born in the province of Groningen, and either in a village called Oldehove or in the town of Groningen. 'Devent' may refer to the town of Deventer, which is in the province of Overijssel.

4.  On the notion of the Dutch being the cause of England's 'New economic Order', see Kramnick, p. 41; about Bolingbroke, The Craftsman, this moneyed economy, and his reference to Bernard Mandeville, p. 70-6. And Susanna Centlivre, A Bickerstaff's burying; or, work for the upholders. A farce; as it is acted at the theatres, with applause (1724), p. 17: 'The European's God is Gold, we Indians say'.

5. Loreto, place of pilgrimage in Italy.

6. This may refer to Thomas Gordon's pamphlet, entitled The Craftsmen, A Sermon or Paraphrase upon several Verses of the 19^th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles (1720). 'Take notice (…) of the wide Difference that there is between these High Priests Church, and the Bible-Church! The Priests Church being a Trading Church, and Money being her End, and Grimace her Ware. (…) Whatever enlightened the People, marred the Market of the Priests. By this Craft we have our Wealth.' (p. 17). Bolingbroke named his paper after Gordon's craftsmen. About the similarities and differences between Gordon, a so-called Commonwealthman, and Bolingbroke, see Kramnick, Bolingbroke and his circle (1968), p. 243-52. 'And Bolingbroke's Craftsman was not the least reluctant to quote from this Commenwealthman sheet [i.e. Cato's Letters]' (p. 248).

7. Then dean Berkeley, afterwards bishop George Berkeley. He was appointed dean of Derry in 1724. He devised a scheme of Bermuda. This scheme seems to have taken hold of Berkeley’s mind about two years previously; to it he devoted his fortune and ten years of his life. His plan was to found a college in the Bermudas, with the twofold object of “the reformation of manners among the English in our western plantations, and the propagation of the gospel among the American savages.” (The Cambridge History of English and American Literature (1907-1921), vol. IX, section xi)

8. See Isaac Kramnick, Bolingbroke and his circle (1968), p.19, juncto note 44.

9. Acts 19:28. See Thomas Gordon, The craftsmen: a sermon or paraphrase upon several verses of the 19th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Composed by the late Daniel Burgess(1720), quoted there p. 24.

10. See The Craftsman, no. 66, October 7, 1727, p. 214.

11. See The Craftsman, no. 6, December 23, 1726, p. 54.

12. See Carl Wennerlind, Credit-Money as the Philosopher's Stone: Alchemy and the Coinage Problem in Seventeenth-Century England, History of Political Economy, Volume 35, Annual Supplement, 2003, pp. 234-261.

13. See The Craftsman, no. 59, August 19, 1727, p. 151.

14. See Isaac Kramnick, Bolingbroke and his circle (1968), p. 80.

15. Possibly 'Financer'.

16. See Isaac Kramnick, Bolingbroke and his circle (1968), p. 19 juncto note 44.

17. Gulio Alberoni (1664-1752), Italian cardinal and former statesman for Filip V of Spain, but then back again in Italy. About Alberoni's part, see Sytze van der Veen, a.w., p. 258 juncto note 1, p. 587.

18. Van de Veen does not relate this part, but he mentions p. 359-60 Alberoni's reaction to Ripperda's fall.

19. If really a quote, it might have been derived from a message of the English ambassador Stanhope to the British minister Duke of Newcastle.

20. William Stanhope, 1st earl of Harrington (c. 1683-1756).

21. Being forced from the ambassador's house.

22. Segovia.

23. Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (c.1471–1530). See Isaac Kramnick, Bolingbroke and his circle (1968), p. 22.

24. George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628). See Isaac Kramnick, Bolingbroke and his circle (1968), p. 22

25. Ironically, in the sense that God is Gold.

26. About the typical use of words in The Craftsman satire, such as 'Monsters', see Isaac Kramnick, Bolingbroke and his circle (1968), p. 20-1.

27. The financial system of banks and credits.

28. Disparagingly spoken, because the reference is to a pirated version. The original poem was six penny. See for Mandeville's own statement, Fable i, Preface, p. 4.

29. See Fable i, Preface, p. 5.

30. Mandeville.

31. Philip Wharton, 1^st Duke of Wharton (1698-1731). See Bolingbroke: 'Wharton's Rambles', in The Craftsman extraordinary; containing an answer to the Defence of the enquiry into the reasons of the conduct of Great-Britain (1729), p. 7; name in full in Henry St. John, Viscount Bolingbroke, A collection of political tracts (1748).  About Wharton in Dutch, see Sytze van der Veen, Een Spaanse Groninger in Marokko, De levens van Johan Willem Ripperda (1682-1737) (2007), p. 273; 341-3.

32. Refers possibly to Mandeville's Grumbling Hive or Knaves turn'd Honest, 'Moral', in Fable i, p. 36.

33. Compare H. T. Dickinson, Bolingbroke (1970), ch. 13, The Spirit of Patriotism (p. 247-76), and especially p. 261 about Bolingbroke's views on the nature of monarchical government.