it is reasonable to expect from this
man, whom, without pretending to determine the limits of his capacity,
or the compass of his knowledge, I am, for my part, inclined to look
upon as an agent to some other person of higher station, and greater
accomplishments.

It is not uncommon, sir, for gentlemen to exercise their abilities, and
employ their pens, upon political questions, and when they have produced
any thing, which their complaisance for themselves equally hinders them
from owning and suppressing, they are known to procure some person of
inferiour rank, to take upon him, in publick, the character of the
author, and to stand the danger of the prosecution, contenting
themselves with the applause and admiration of their chosen friends,
whom they trust with the important secret, and with whom they sit and
laugh at the conjectures of the publick, and the ignorance of the
ministry.

This, sir, is a frequent practice, not only with those who have no other
employment, but, as I have sufficient reasons to believe, among some
gentlemen who have seats in this house; gentlemen, whose abilities and
knowledge qualify them to serve the publick in characters much superiour
to that of lampooners of the government.

Mr. PULTENEY answered in terms to the following purpose:--Sir, whether
the man who confessed himself the author of the paper, has accused
himself of what he did not commit, or has ingenuously and openly
discovered the truth, it is beyond my penetration absolutely to decide;
the frankness and unconcern with which he made the declaration, gave it,
at least, the appearance of truth, nor do I discover any reason for
doubting his sincerity. Is there any improbability in the nature of the
fact, that should incline us to suspect his veracity? Is there any
apparent advantage to be gained by assuming a false character? Neither
of those circumstances can be produced against him, and an assertion is
to be admitted for its own sake, when there is nothing to invalidate it.

But the honourable gentleman, sir, appears to have a very particular
reason for his doubts; a reason, which will, I hope, have no weight with
any but himself. By denying the paper to this man, he gives room for
conjecture and suspicion to range far and wide, and wanton with whatever
characters he shall think proper subjects for his amusement. An author
is now to be sought, and many diverting arguments may be brought by the
dullest inquirer for fixing it upo