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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2020
The nonpartisan editorial policy of Addison and Steele's Spectator is well known. “I never espoused any Party with Violence,” Mr. Spectator proclaimed in the first number of the periodical, “and am resolved to observe an exact Neutrality between the Whigs and Tories, unless I shall be forced to declare myself by the Hostilities of either Side.” Although in general the two essayists kept their promise, there is often a noticeably Whiggish cast to their writings; and on one occasion Steele threw neutrality to the winds and involved the Spectator in a bit of party pamphleteering that would have done credit, in substance if not in tone, to the most rabid political hack, Whig or Tory.
1 Four Sermons. I. On the Death of Queen Mary, 1694. II. On the Death of the Duke of Gloucester, 1700. III. On the Death of King William, 1701. IV. On the Queen's Accession to the Throne, 1703. With a large Preface. By Will. Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. Printed for Charles Harper… 1712. The Preface is dated 2 May 1712; and the book is advertised as “Just Publish'd” in the Post-Boy for 13-15 May 1712, the Daily Courant for 14 May 1712, and the London Gazette for 15-17 May 1712.
2 “The Four Last Years of the Queen,” Prose Works of Jonathan. Swift, ed. Temple Scott (London, 1905-25), x, 42. The Scott edition is cited hereafter as Prose Works.
3 Quoted by William Thomas Laprade, Public Opinion and Politics in Eighteenth-Century England (New York, 1936), p. 107.
4 In a letter, dated 17 June 1712, to the Bishop of Salisbury, printed in Mr. Pope's Literary Correspondence (London, 1736), iv, 107. Modern scholars have been skeptical of the accuracy of Fleetwood's estimate. See Donald F. Bond, “The First Printing of the Spectator,” MP, xlvii (1950), 167. As pointed out by Aitken, at least one reader was displeased with Spectator No. 384. See Original and Genuine Letters Sent to the Tatler and Spectator (London, 1725), ii, 357-360.
5 Bouse of Commons Journal, xvii (1712), 263. For correction of the frequently repeated error that Steele reproduced Fleetwood's Preface after it had been condemned by the House, see John C. Stephens, Jr., “Addison and Steele's Spectator,” TLS, 15 Dec. 1950, p. 801.
6 Diligent search has failed to turn up any record of the publication of this piece. It may be assumed that it was written following Parliamentary action against Fleetwood's Preface on 10 June, and it is referred to in the Observator No. 51 (21-25 June 1712).
7 Prose Works, v, 269-271. The exact dating of this pamphlet remains a puzzle to Swift scholars. It has been thought that it may have been written during the last fortnight in July 1712: see, besides the citation above, the Journal to Stella, ed. Harold Williams (Oxford, 1948), ii, 553-554, n. 10. As a matter of fact, another pamphlet bearing on the Fleetwood controversy shows that Swift's Letter could not have been issued later than 5 July 1712 and was probably published some days before that date. This second item was a Whig answer to Tory attacks on the Bishop's Preface and bore the title The Tryal and Condemnation of Don Prefatio d'Asaven', and the title page promises some Remarks upon … the Letter pretended to be written by the Lord W[harto]n to the B[isho]p of St. A[sap]h. A careful search has not revealed the actual date on which this pamphlet was issued; but, as it was advertised as “Just Publish'd” in the Protestant Post-Boy for 28 June-5 July 1712, it is probable that Swift's Letter of Thanks appeared in late June 1712.
8 Prose Works, v, 263-268.
9 … For Endeavouring to Resist, Subvert, and totally Destroy the Doctrines of Passive-Obedience, Indefeasible Hereditary-Right, and A [rbilrar]y Power: With His Speech at the Place of Execution, in which are some Remarks upon Jack Ketch's being lately turn'd Tory, and the Letter pretended to be written by the Lord W[harto]n to the B[isho]p of St. A[sap]h (London, 1712).
10 Don Prefatio furnishes the only evidence that I have been able to find that the Medley entered the dispute. The so-called “true” Medley, printed by A. Baldwin, did not mention Fleetwood. A “rival or spurious” Medley, printed by J. Baker between 26 May and 4 Aug. 1712, may have taken up the quarrel. I have not had access to the latter. See William Thomas Morgan and Chloe Siner Morgan, A Bibliography of British History (1700-1715) (Bloomington, Ind., 1934-41), iii, 284-285.
11 Sir James Montague and Nicholas Lechmere were prominent Whigs who had helped conduct the prosecution of Dr. Henry Sacheverell in 1710. I cannot identify Sergeant P———-t with certainty.
12 … Being a Full Defence of the Bishop of St. Asaph's Preface to his Four Sermons: In Answer to the Objections which have been made against it: Proving them to be all Groundless, by Scripture, Law, and Reason (London, 1713).
13 [Abel Boyer], The History of the Reign of Queen Anne, Digested into Annals (London, 1703-13), xi, 133.
14 Mr. Pope's Literary Correspondence (London, 1736), iv, 106-107.
15 In the effort to establish precise publication dates for the various pamphlets discussed in this paper, files of the following periodicals have been searched: London Gazette, Post-Boy, Observator, Daily Courant, Protestant Post-Boy, Flying Post, Medley, Plain Dealer, Post Man, Evening Post, Pacifick Post-Boy, Examiner, Mercator, Spectator, and Guardian. I should like to thank Miss Marella Walker of the Emory University Library for patient and persistent help in the location and procuring of materials for this study.