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his Creditor for the preſent Day, and forgets that he is ever to ſee him more. The Frown of a Prince, and the Loſs of a Penſion, have indeed been found of wonderful Efficacy, to abſtract Men’s Thoughts from the preſent Time, and fill them with Zeal for the Liberty and Welfare of Ages to come.[1] But I am inclined to think more favourably of the Author of this Prediction, than that he was made a Patriot by Diſappointment or Diſguſt. If he ever ſaw a Court, I would willingly believe, that he did not owe his Concern for Poſterity to his ill Reception there, but his ill Reception there to his Concern for Poſterity.
However, ſince Truth is the ſame in the Mouth of a Hermit, or a Prince; ſince it is not Reaſon but Weakneſs that makes
- ↑ This could never have been written by Dr. Samuel Johnſon; his Experience would have ſet the Remark in the following Order: The Smiles of a Prince, and the Enjoyment of a Penſion, have been found of wonderful Efficacy to fix Men’s Thoughts on the preſent Times and Meaſures, be they ever ſo profligate and ruinous, and to fill them with Zeal in ſupport of them, regardleſs of Ages to come.
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