A modest answer to Captain Smith's immodest memoirs of secret service and his remarks upon the D. of S---'s letter to the House of Lords humbly dedicated to the Right Honourable, the Lords spiritual and temporal in Parliament assembled by Ric. Kingston. Kingston, Richard, b. 1635? 1700 Approx. 55 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 22 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2011-04 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A47483 Wing K613 ESTC R28760 10758617 ocm 10758617 45670

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A47483) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 45670) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1405:34) A modest answer to Captain Smith's immodest memoirs of secret service and his remarks upon the D. of S---'s letter to the House of Lords humbly dedicated to the Right Honourable, the Lords spiritual and temporal in Parliament assembled by Ric. Kingston. Kingston, Richard, b. 1635? Smith, Matthew, fl. 1696. Memoirs of secret service. Smith, Matthew, fl. 1696. Remarks upon the D--. of S-----'s letter to the House of Lords concerning Captain Smyth. 43 p. Printed for John Nutt, London : 1700. Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.

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eng Jacobites. Great Britain -- History -- 1660-1714. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2009-07 Assigned for keying and markup 2009-08 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2009-11 Sampled and proofread 2009-11 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2010-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

A MODEST ANSWER TO Captain SMITH's Immodeſt MEMOIRS OF Secret Service.

AND HIS REMARKS UPON THE D. of S—'s Letter, TO THE Houſe of LORDS.

Humbly Dedicated to the Right Honourable The Lords Spiritual and Temporal, In Parliament Aſſembled.

By RIC. KINGSTON.

LONDON, Printed for John Nutt, near Stationers-Hall, 1700.

A Modeſt Anſwer TO Captain SMITH's Immodeſt Memoirs, &c.

THO' the Juſtice of the Right Honourable the Houſe of Peers in their Proceedings againſt Captain Matthew Smith, has given an Intire Satisfaction to all, that by examining the Stratagem, have diſcovered that the bottom of the Deſign in Publiſhing his Two Books, was meerly the Contrivance of a Party againſt a Perſon of Great Honour and Integrity; yet becauſe others, that either being in the Party that put the Unthinking Captain, upon ſo Rude an Enterprize, or that take every thing for Truth that they deſire ſhould be thought ſo, are ſtill Whiſpering their Diſcontents, and Buzzing it from Ear to Ear, that the Captain has very hard Meaſure; I thought fit to rectify that Miſtake, and ſet the whole Affair in its proper light: Not as a Buſy Intermedler in Publick Affairs, but as a Friend to Truth and Juſtice, that having it in his Power to Diſabuſe the Nation, thinks it his indiſpenſible Duty not to neglect this Opportunity of doing it.

The Author is ſo perfect a Stranger to his Grace the D. of S. that he never had the Honour of Speaking to him but once in his Life, and that is now about Three Years ago, and 'twould be a greater piece of Diſingenuity, than he can believe any Man will be guilty of, to inſinuate that the Author is making his Court to the D. by this diſcovery of the Artifice, that has been employed to Aſperſe his known Honour and Fidelity.

Nor has he any Intention to Leſſen Captain Smith's Services, or hinder him from the Juſt Reward that is due to them, by making Reflections upon his Perſon or Converſation, any further than the neceſſity of ſpeaking Truth extorts them from him, nor will advance any thing in Confutation of his Books, or Detecting his Criminal Confederacy, but from apparent Matters of Fact, and Irreproachable Evidence.

I am not ignorant that this Narration is Impar Congreſſus, for which I humbly beg his Graces Pardon, and intreat the Reader in Honour to make that Allowance through the whole Diſcourſe; but if any think fit to Chide the Undertaking upon that Conſideration, (having already confeſt my Fault) I have only this Boon to ask; That they would ſuſpend their Cenſure till they have Read the Book, and then a God's Name let them ſpeak their Pleaſure.

To proceed orderly in this Affair, I am obliged to acquaint my Reader, that tho' Captain Smith's Letters of Correſpondence with his Grace the D. of S, had been long transfer'd from Hand to Hand in Manuſcripts; yet the Printing and Publiſhing them under the Title of Memoirs of Secret Service, raiſing all the Clamour and Noiſe, that has been made about them ſince; it will be neceſſary in laying open the Deſign againſt his Grace, and diſcovering the Captain's Practices, to begin with that Book.

And herein I will prove.

Firſt, Tho' Captain Smith with great Aſſurance, has Printed his Name in the Title-Page of thoſe Memoirs, as Author of the Book; It was not written by him.

Secondly, That the Writing, and Giving away Five Hundred of thoſe Books, Publiſhing and Maintaining the Captain, and the Perſon that Wrote it, was carried on by a Contribution, at the Charge of a Party.

Thirdly, That the very Letters of the Captain's Correſpondence, as now Printed in the Memoirs, are ſo Alter'd, and in them are ſo many Additions, Spurious Gloſſes, and Artificial Connexions, that they cannot be ſaid to be the ſame with the Originals ſent to the D, and conſequently, that no Inferences can or ought to be collected from them, to ſupport Captain Smith's Pretenſions againſt him.

Fourthly, That the Subſtance of both his Books, generally ſpeaking, are meer Fardles of Improbabilities, Incongruities, and Invented Falſities.

And having diſpatch'd an Anſwer to the Firſt, I ſhall proceed to this Second Book, Entituled, Remarks upon the D. of S—'s Letter concerning Captain Smith, &c.

The Book claim'd by Captain Smith, Entituled, Memoirs of Secret Service, was Written by Mr. Thomas Brown, a Stiff Jacobite, and a Mercenary Poet, that will Write any thing, or againſt any Man for Money. And here methinks Captain Smith, that pretends to be ſo ſtout a Williamite, has made a Horrible Blunder in his Politicks, at the Threſhold of his Enterprize, in employing a Rank Proſtituted Jacobite, to do (as he calls it) Service for the Government; and I cannot get over the Aenigma, without the Aſſiſtance of a Proverb, Like to like— Tho ſome will applaud his Judgment in the choice of ſuch a Tool; for deſigning to Calumniate an Eminent Miniſter, who was ſo fit to undertake it, as a Debauch'd and Mercenary Jacobite, whoſe peculiar Talent lies in Scandalizing Mankind.

A Sheet of the firſt Impreſſion of theſe Memoirs, by a Miſtake, coming to me to be Corrected, gave me the firſt Opportunity of Gueſſing at the Author.

Reading the Preface, the Paraphraſe, the Obſervations, and the Minutes, which almoſt compoſe the whole Pamphlet: And meeting a Quotation in Latine from Titus Livius, to which Language I knew Captain Smith ſo perfect a Stranger, that he familiarly breaks Priſcian's Head in Engliſh: And knowing that he is no more able to Write one Line of that Preface, than to run away with the Monument, confirm'd my Opinion, that Mr. Brown was the Author of it. Now

Reſolving to make my ſelf Maſter of the Secret, I ſent for Mr. Brown to me. At his coming, I charg'd him with the Fact; ſhew'd him the Infamy and Danger of the Action, and he immediately confeſs'd, He was the Author of the Book, Entituled, Memoirs of Secret Service; Curs'd Captain Smith, for drawing him into a Snare, and employing his Pen to ſo Baſe a purpoſe, for which, he ſaid, he heartily Beg'd the D's Pardon; and by way of Atonement, voluntarily offer'd to tell me all he knew in the Matter. Theſe Words were ſpoken in the Preſence and Hearing of Mr. M. S. Phyſician, Mr. A. R. Bookſeller, and Mr. B. B. Printer.

At another time diſcourſing this Subject with Mr. Brown, in the Preſence of Mr. A. R. he told us how bravely he Lived, while he was Writing the Book before-mentioned; and that when he had finiſhed the Copy for the Preſs, and Captain Smith being then out of Pocket, and expecting no great Sum of Money till the Sitting of the Parliament, he gave him a Bill under his Hand for the Payment of Fifty Pounds for Writing that Book. And now having proved this Particular beyond Diſpute, I proceed to my Second Head; which is,

That Writing, Publiſhing, and Giving away above Five Hundred of theſe Memoirs, and the Charge of Maintaining the Captain and the Poet, while he was Writing the Book, was carried on by a Contribution, at the Charge of a Party.

For Proof of this Particular, I muſt again make uſe of Mr. Brown, who at the ſame Place, and Time, and before Mr. A. R. above-named, told it me, in the very Words they are inſerted in above. He alſo added the Names of ſeveral Conſiderable Perſons that were Contributers to the Charge, which I think is neither Safe nor Prudent in me to remember: And alſo that Dr. Chamberlain, who lives in Suffolk-Street, (to uſe Brown's own Words) was Caſheer to the Party, and ſent Money to Captain Smith by his Foot-Boy, as often as the Captain ſent for it.

Having travell'd ſo far, and ſucceſsfully in this Affair, and my Curioſity tempting me to poſſeſs my ſelf of the whole Matter, I ſoon perceived what I had long ſuſpected, and now am obliged to prove as my Third Particular, viz.

That the very Letters of Captain Smith's Correſpondence with his Grace the D. of S, as now Printed in the Memoirs, are in many Places alter'd, and ſo many Gloſſes and Artificial Connexions added to them, that they cannot be ſaid to be the ſame with the Originals ſent to the D, and conſequently that no Inferences can or ought to be collected from them, to ſupport Smith's Pretenſions againſt him.

Captain Smith in April 1696, delivered all the Copies of his Letters of Correſpondence with his Grace into my Hands; and now upon reading the Book, finding thoſe in Print run ſmoother, and that they were more intelligibly connected, than any I had read that were Written by Captain Smith himſelf, without the help of a Prompter, I began to ſuſpect ſome Foul Play, or Trick, was in the Wind. I diligently compared the Written and Printed Letters, and ſoon found tho' they are bad enough ſtill, that the Finger of Tom Brown had been there; for ſeveral Paſſages are added to thoſe in Print, that were not in his firſt Written Copies. Some flat Words were changed for better; and in other Places whole Sentences Alter'd, to mend the Sence, to ſmooth the Cadencies, and to make them ſpeak more to his purpoſe in Print, than they did in Manuſcript. This I thought ſufficient to deſtroy all his Pretences to Veracity.

However, becauſe this Proof, tho' as plain as Demonſtration to my ſelf, yet was liable to Exceptions by thoſe that favour'd the Perſon and aſſiſted the Contrivance.

I enquired from whoſe Hand-Writing the Letters were Printed off; and being aſſured it was done from Captain Smith's Hand-Writing, to ſave the trouble of Tranſcribing, I procured the Copy to be left with me, by which I ſoon perceived, tho' the Letters were Written in Smith's Hand, yet they were in ſeveral Places Corrected, Mended, Alter'd, and ſeveral Additions made to them, by blotting out what had been Written by the Captain, and Interlineations and Additions made in Mr. Brown's Hand, and the difference between the two Hands as plain to be ſeen, as the Noſe on either of their Faces: And reſolving not to be ſingle in the knowledge of this Artifice, I ſhewed the Copy with the Additions and Alterations to a Miniſter of State; who, if there be occaſion, I am ſure will do me Juſtice in what I have aſſerted.

Still methinks I hear ſome Body enquire, How I came by the Blotted and Interlined Copy? I Anſwer:

It was delivered into my Hands by the Bookſeller and Printer, when the firſt Impreſſion was Printing off; and I believe that very Copy is yet in my power to produce, if required to do it.

After this, having an Opportunity to Diſcourſe Mr. Brown, I charg'd him with making the Alterations and Additions aforeſaid. He would fain have ſhuffled it off at firſt; but when he heard me ſay, I would ſhew him his own Hand in the Copy to prove it. He anſwer'd:

What wou d you have me do? Smith cannot Write Senſe; and I having Wrote the Preface, made Obſervations, and lick'd over his Minutes, I was forc'd to ſtick in here and there a Word, and now and then Uſher in a ſhort Sentence to make his Letters ſpeak Sence, and ſeem of a piece with the reſt; for which Captain Smith promiſed to bear me Harmleſs. This was ſpoken in the preſence of Mr. J. H. and Mr. T. W. and that it might not ſlip my Memory, I wrote it down about half an hour after. And this leads to the Fourth Particular, viz.

That the ſubſtance of his two whole Books, call'd Memoirs, &c. are meer Fardles of Improbabilities, Incongruities, and Invented Falſities.

To Anſwer the whole Books, will be the buſineſs of another time. I ſhall only regard them now en Paſſant; I have ſufficiently prov'd, tho he values himſelf upon it, he was not the Author of it, yet to do him a kindneſs, and ſuppoſing it contains his meaning, I ſhall treat it as if it were ſo, without regard to the diſmal Trunk he ſpeaks through.

His Preface, and two firſt Letters to his Grace, diſplaies his Quality, tells you he was of the Inner-Temple, and had been Comptroller of that Society, and then without doubt it was well govern'd. I think that Dignity is otherwiſe called Maſter of Miſrule at Chriſtmas; and ſince his Extravagant Expences upon that Occaſion, laid the Foundation of his Ruine, and that the Office ſo aptly agrees with the Rakiſh Qualifications of the Perſon, I will not grudge him the Honour of it.

He was alſo Captain of an Independant Company. p. 8. Did Duty at Windſor-Caſtle, when His Majeſty came thither upon the Revolution, and would Inſinuate that he was Broke for no other Reaſon, but becauſe he had been a Captain in the Late King James's Reign; but that is a Great Miſtake. He was Broke for being an Errant Coward. For the truth of which I appeal to the Noble Lords that Broke him. This Paſſage, would admit of ſevere Reflections upon his Honour, for what will a Coward not be guilty of: but I will not add to his Afflictions.

He acknowledges himſelf to be a very Weak Man, and I find, in running over his Letters, that Natural Imbecility has had a ſtrange effect upon his Memory, as well as his Courage, as appears by the Obſervations following.

In the 19 and 20 pages, He ſays the E. of P. next to his Grace the D. of N. was the firſt Perſon he communicated the Contents of his Letters of Correſpondence to, and that this was done in May 1696. but he extreamly forgets himſelf, for he ſhew'd them to Francis Jermy, Eſq and Mr. William Read, at the latter end of March, left them three Weeks in his Cuſtody, and put them all into my Hands to peruſe on the 23d of April, 96.

He ſays he had no Deſign to Accuſe his Grace the D. of S. and in page the 26th, out of a tender regard no doubt to his Graces Honour, harrangues ſweetly upon it in theſe words.

I could not avoid, ſays he, being upon my Oath, to diſcover a Correſpondence between a great Miniſter of State and my ſelf. That Honourable Houſe cannot but remember, I anſwered their Queſtions with all the Submiſſion and Profound Reſpect (Oh Fine Tom. Brown!) it was poſſible for me to expreſs, in relation to that Noble Peer. I ſaid nothing but what I could not avoid: And I am ſure no reaſonable Man will think me guilty of ſo much Folly, as to believe that I had a Deſign to Accuſe any Perſon, or that I would Deſtroy my Blooming Hopes; for under the Circumſtances I then lay, 'twas not my Intereſt to Oppoſe in the leaſt the Diſpoſitions of the Court.

Poor Man! how he ſtruggles between his Unwillingneſs to accuſe the D, and his Tenderneſs of an Oath? This was in November, 1696.

And yet almoſt Eight Months before, that is to ſay, at the beginning of April 1696. He told this Story to Mr. Jermy and Mr. Read, and prayed them to aſſiſt him in making his Complaint to the King againſt his Grace the D. of S.

And on the 16th and 18th of April, 1696. Captain Smith in a Publick Tavern near Charing-Croſs, in the Company of Mr. Jermy, M. William Read and my Self ſaid, That he had reaſon to believe that the D. was in the Aſſaſſination-Plot, becauſe he having given him notice of it, his Grace had not acquainted His Majeſty with it, but went out of Town, as he believed, that it might take effect, and therefore deſired Mr. Jermy and my Self, to recommend him to ſome Perſon of Quality near the King, that he might inform His Majeſty, That by this Great Miniſter's Omiſſion of his Duty, His Majeſty's Life was ſtill in Danger: Which he aggravated with all his Abilities, and repeated it ſo often, that we were almoſt afraid to hear him, tho he was not aſhamed to ſpeak it.

I ſay Aſhamed to ſpeak it, and will leave it to the Readers Judgment whether I have not authority to ſerve my Self with that Expreſſion; for after two or three meetings, where the D's concealing his Services, and the King's Life being ſtill in Danger, was the whole ſubject of his Diſcourſe; and I having promiſed him, if his Letters made it out, to carry him to a Miniſter that would repreſent it to the King: I was aſtoniſhed upon receiving a Letter from him, contradicting all his confident Affirmations but a Week before; and I could not forbear thinking, if the Devil owed him a ſhame, he might have took ſome other time to have paid it. The Letter is dated April 21. 1696.

Reverend Sir,

I Have for 15 or 16 Months given his Grace the D. of S. an account of ſuch things as I could by any means obtein the Knowledge of, and have, incloſed, ſent you the Copies of the two laſt Letters (he ſent me the other Letters April 19.) I ſent to him, as being the moſt meterial, they being ſent at the very time the Barbarous Action was to have been committed, and I queſtion not but his Grace made the deſigned uſe of them, and acquainted His Majeſty with the Contents; and by that means preſerved His Majeſty's Perſon, and confounded His Enemies, which was the only thing I aimed at.

Your moſt humble Servant M. Smith.

This Letter, under his own Hand Writing, I have by me, ready to produce if their Lordſhips are pleaſed to require it; and think it is a full and effectual Anſwer to both his Books; for if they labour with any deſign, except that of diſcovering abundance of Rudeneſs and Ill-manners in the Captain; they contain little elſe, but what he has anſwered himſelf, in the above-recited Letter, to all Intents and Purpoſes.

Shewing this Letter to Mr. Jermy, who firſt brought the Captain to me, he was very angry with him, ſaying, What a Vile Fellow he is to Say and Unſay at this Scandalous Rate, and abuſe a Perſon of Quality? When to wipe his Shoes would be an Honour to him.

Not long after ſeeing the Captain in the preſence of Mr. Jermy and W. Read. I charged him with theſe Ungentle-manlike Proceedings, in Affirming and Denying in Matters of that Importance: But he thought he excuſed himſelf ſufficiently by ſaying, That when he wrote that Letter, a Friend had told him he would reconcile him to the D. and put him in hopes of getting him an Allowance; but now, ſays he, I ſee I was deluded, and I will go to the King my ſelf, and if he will not hear me, I will appeal to the Parliament, where I am promiſed Friends that will do his Buiſineſs for him. This Diſcourſe was about the 3d of May, 1696. by which, and the recited Letter, 'tis apparent, that all he Deſigns is his own Sordid Intereſt. When he was in expectation from the D. then the D. did communicate his Services to His Majeſty. When he finds nothing coming, then he changes his Note, and his Grace did not do it. Which, to ſay no worſe, is a manifeſt Contradiction, and a Satyr would have turn'd him out of his Cell, as all Mankind ought to do out of their Company, for blowing Hot and Cold with the ſame Breath.

Till about the middle of November following I heard no more of Captain Smith, and then he was pleas'd to tell me, Mr. Jermy and Mr. Read, That he had been with the L. C. the E. of A. the E. of P—h and Sir W. T. that they had promiſed him a Penſion of Four Thouſand Pounds a Year; but he mould not accept it without a Conſiderable Title. He knew they intended to make him a Lord, but he ſcorned to accept of any thing below a Duke. This Relation will appear ſtrange to thoſe that know him not; but if any Man of Conſideration ſeems to queſtion the Truth of it, they may when they pleaſe have it confirmed under the Oathes of the three Gentlemen above-named.

But while we were expecting the Iſſue of this bold adventure, we were told that our Captain's Blooming Hopes were Froſt-bitten. It ſeems they knew him better at Kenſington than he knew himſelf, and diſcharg'd him from appearing any more at Court: And ſoon after, as he ſays himſelf, all his Friends dropt him, and I fear thoſe that took him up ſince, and made him a Property to ſerve their own Deſigns, will e're long deſert him alſo; for that commonly is the fatal conſequence of depending on, and ſerving the Intereſt of a Party.

His Rappers are ſo thick ſowed, and grown ſo Rank through his whole Books, that I muſt content my Reader at preſent only with a few Gleaning, till the whole Crop is fit for Threſhing out, and then he ſhall have a large Amends. The Captain ſays, that Holmes, a Proclamation-man, lay with him one Nigt, when the Government was in ſearch of him; but he generouſly ſuffered him to eſcape in the Morning. I hope the Captain does not Reckon that Neglect, among the number of his Services; but what is more ſtrange, he would not earn the Thouſand Pound Reward for taking him, becauſe he mould not betray any Body for Money. Bravely ſpoken, but who can believe it, that conſiders how he paid his Dear Reſpects to his Unkle, and there are Men of Honour that have known his Converſation from his Coventry Cradle, that are of Opinion, The Captain would have Hang'd his — for half the Money.

To prove his ability to ſerve the Government, inſtead of Firm-ground, he lays hold on two ſlender Reeds, which are too weak to bear the weight he lays upon them; and yet upon examining, are ſtrong enough to wound his Credit, and deſtroy all his pretenſion to Merit from them.

His Topping Inſtance is from his Intimacy and Intereſt in one Mr. John Hewet, who was employed by certain Jacobites to deliver their Forreign and Inland Letters, when they durſt not truſt them by the Common Conveniencies.

The Captain has truly deſcribed his pretended Correſpondents Employment, but trifles and impoſes upon the Reader, when to make his Intelligence apappear more conſiderable then it was; he is forced to ſet him up for a Gentleman.

John Hewet was a Poor Lad, kept upon Charity, and the Jacobites experiencing his Fidelity, truſted him with the Delivery of their Letters; but for the Captain to pretend to an Intereſt in that Boy, and in ſix or ſeven Months time to make no better uſe of him; is to ſay he had undertaken a Province he knew not how to manage, or in truth that he had no Intereſt at all in him. Had there been ſuch an Intire Truſt and Confidence between the Boy and the Captain, as he pretends to: Jack Hewet was able moſt Weeks in the Year, and almoſt every Day in the Week, to have put a Pacquet of Letters into the Captains Hands, that being Diſcreetly Managed, might have been ſafely returned to Hewet, and afterwards have been delivered by him as directed, without the leaſt ſuſpicion that they had been opened. Such a ſmart touch as this had been ſervice indeed, and deſervedly would have made the Captains Fortune; but ſince this was every day in the Bov's power, and he would not oblige the Captain with it, there is no reaſon to believe that the Boy would truſt him with a greater matter, and what in all probability he was not truſted with himſelf; for none but Fools and Madmen, would put ſo many Lives into the Hands of a Lad but of 13 Years of Age.

But that which puts an End to the Captains Pretence of Correſponding with Hewet, is, That John Hewet being Interrogated upon Oath by the Lords in Parliament, declared, That he never Acquainted Captain Smith with any of the Jacobites Secrets; but finding him Inquiſitive, and Prodigal of his Money, he collected News out of the Poſt-Boy to get ſome Money from him, under pretence that it came from France.

Captain Smith was preſent when the Lad made this Oath; and as he made no Anſwer to it then, neither has he attempted to diſprove it in his Memoirs, tho' he has impertinently waſted 14 Pages, in giving Reaſons why he Correſponded with Hewet; when Hewet has Sworn he never Correſponded with him. The Competition and Credibility is to the Captain's Diſadvantage; the Lad is upon his Oath, and the Captain but on his Honour. The Captain aſſiſts the Boy with an Excellent Character, and ſo gives him Credit againſt himſelf; but neither the Lad, nor no Body elſe that know him, will beſtow one favourable Word upon the Captain. So that Pretence is vaniſhed.

His next Aſſylum, or Argument to prove himſelf capable of diſcovering the moſt Secret Caballings, and cloſeſt Deſigns of His Majeſty's Enemies: Nay, if he might be ſupplied with as much Money as he wanted, That it ſhould be utterly impoſſible for any thing, either Foreign, or Domeſtick, to eſcape his knowledge, was, becauſe Sir William Parkins, one of the Chiefs of the Jacobite Party was his Unkle, and not only truſted him with his choiceſt Secrets, but employed him to Court other Men to aſſiſt in the Deſign, take Commiſſions under him; and I know not how many other Good-Morrows, as Incredible as his refuſing to get a Thouſand Pounds upon a Point of Honour!

The bare recital of theſe Improbabilities, as they are apparent in his Memoirs, naturally lead me to ask Captain Smith a few ſhort Queſtions?

What neceſſity was there to be at ſo much Charge in Correſponding with Hewet, when Sir William Parkins was ſo Free with him, that was no Stranger to all their Deſigns?

What made him ignorant of the Day when the Treaſon was to be acted, ſince all the Conſpirators knew of it above a Fortnight before?

Why was he not more Plain and Particular in his Letters to my Lord D, when his Grace and Mr. V. ſo often deſired it? There is no queſtion to be made but Sir William Parkins could have furniſh'd him with the whole Matter, and there can be no excuſe for his Non-complyance with his Grace's repeated Commands, but that either the Captain forgot to ask his Unkle, and then he neglected his Buſineſs: Or, that Sir William Parkins could not tell him, and then no Body will believe him: Or that Sir William would not tell him, and then 'tis plain he would not truſt him; ſo that take it which way you pleaſe, it looks with an ill Face upon the Captain, and he would do well to lay his Services a little cloſer together for the future.

Among other Names that he gives us a Catalogue of, as his Acquaintance among the Quondam Jacobites, he is pleaſed unluckily to mention Captain Porter: Let us hear what that Gentleman is pleaſed to ſay in the Matter, whom the worſt of his Enemies never accus'd for prevaricating in any thing relating to that whole Conſpiracy.

About a Fortnight, or thereabouts, ſince, having an Opportunity to Diſcourſe Captain Porter, I took the Freedom to ask him, Whether he knew of any Correſpondence and Truſt between Sir William Parkins and his Nephew Captain Matthew Smith? Captain Porter was pleaſed Anſwer,

That once, and no oftner, as he could remember, Captain Smith came into a Room where Sir William Parkins, Himſelf, and others, were in Conſultation upon their Buſineſs: Captain Smith was no ſooner ſat down, but by a private Intimation from Sir William Parkins, they drop'd the Subject they were diſcourſing on, and fell a talking about another Buſineſs: And when Captain Smith left the Room, Sir William Parkins took that Advantage, To forewarn his Friends that were preſent from keeping Capt. Smith Company, or Diſcourſing any of their Matters before him. 'Tis true, ſays Sir William, I Married his Aunt, and therefore am obliged to be commonly Civil to him; But pray have a care of him. He is a — and a Fellow that I never truſted. This Relation, upon my Requeſt, Captain Forter was pleaſed to give me leave, if I thought fit, to Publiſh in his Name, and he would own it. And after this, he that can believe any thing that Smith ſays will boggle at nothing.

Another Witty Gentleman, and of great Integrity and Honour, that is no Stranger to Capt. Smith, who will quickly tell you his Name, tho' I am oblig'd to conceal it, told me he knew Captain Smith was the utter Averſion of Sir William Parkins, the Scorn of the whole Family, and never fit to be truſted with any thing that he could Tell, Sell, or Pawn for 6 Pence.

He pretends to an Acquaintance with Capt. Boys, who was ſome time in the Counſels of the Jacobite Party. I ask'd that Gentleman what Intereſt Capt. Smith had among them; but he averr'd he never knew him. He is ſafe in naming the reſt of his pretended Correſpondents among the Jacobeans; for they are all either Dead or Baniſhed England; or there is no reaſon to doubt but they would confirm the Opinion of his being a moſt Notorious Romancer. In ſhort,

All his Pretences to do Service for the Government, were but Tricks to ſupply a Boundleſs Extravagancy. He was driven to his laſt Shift, his Inventions were upon the Wrack how to ſubſiſt; and his Relation to Sir William Parkins giving him a Colour to impoſe upon the Government, he reſolves to make the utmoſt Penny of it, Trumps it up upon all Occaſions, and keeps up his Correſpondence with the Duke by repeated Promiſes what he could and would do from that Relation, while he did nothing but abuſe and delay his Grace upon thoſe Pretences, which, in truth, had Colour enough to deceive any Man.

He makes no Pretences to be qualified for this Employment by vertue of his Underſtanding, and Sincerity, which is the Wiſeſt Thing he ever diſcovered; for all that have known him from his Birth, till he ſet up for a Memoirer and Remarker, are ſenſible he never carried any ſuch things about him: And I am not ſo much ſurprized, to find him ſo early diſcarded by the D, as I admire it was not done 12 Months ſooner; but this muſt be aſcribed to his Plying the D. with large Promiſes in every Letter, and his Grace's Unwillingneſs to neglect any Opportunity of ſerving the Government, where there was ſuch a plauſible Pretence as Smith laid hold on to ſerve himſelf, and abuſe the D's Candor and Credulity by Falſe Inſinuations. However do but

Read all the D's Letters to our Captain: See the Encouragements he gave him, if he could do Service, and if you don't diſcover in his Grace a continued Series of Uneaſineſs and Suſpicion of the Author's Veracity, as well he might from his Arguing, inſtead of Informing, which only was his Duty; from his Stuffing his Letters with Impertinent Traſh, and Idle Stories, inſtead of Real Services, and his promiſing many Diſcoveries, and at beſt giving but a Dark ſight into any thing, I will forfeit my Judgment. I have already ſhew'd what Tricks have been play'd with his Letters, and now think it material to add, and I undertake to prove it by Credible Witneſſes,

That before he delivered out any Copies of his Letters, he knew from a Good Hand, That his Original Letters ſent to the D, were loſt: And then what might not a Man of his Principles do, to ſupport his own Pretenſions.

Another thing the Captain makes a Noiſe with, is the Merits of his Service; which can only be known by his Letters: And tho' I have ſaid enough to invalidate the whole, by the Tricks that he has play'd with them, and the Suſpicion that lies upon them all, by his knowing the Originals were loſt, yet let any unprejudiced Eye View them in the Dreſs they now appear in, without the Sham and Trick of Language, Ornament, and Dreſs, pretended Private Diſcourſes, Minutes, Notes, and Obſervations, which have no other Authority to give them Credit, but the empty Flouriſhes of the Poet's Fruitful Brain, to Earn the Sum of Threeſcore Pounds, and the Naked Affirmation of a Profligate Wretch, to gain Four Thouſand Pounds a Year and a Dukedom by his Services; and if he diſcovers any thing in them but Impertinent Chat, Nauſeous trifling with a Miniſter of State, and dim Diſcoveries, he has a clearer Eye-ſight and Underſtanding than other Men dare pretend to.

This brings me to take a View of his Second Book, Entituled, Remarks upon the D. of S—'s Letter to the Houſe of Lords, concerning Captain Smith; being a Vindication of his Services, &c.

A general Survey of theſe Remarks, without Animadverting upon particular Inſtances, is enough to Nauſeate any Modeſt Reader; for in no one Line have they treated that Truly Great Perſon like a Gentleman, for which the Infamous Poet is as much to be ſcorn'd, as the Malicious Captain, and their Supporters and Managers.

Every Page is ſo beſmeered with Sordid Clownery, Saucy Language, and Impudent Reflections, that would ſhame any Pen, tho' made of Braſs; or any Men, but ſuch a Couple of Contemptible Wretches, as have club'd their Noddles to render themſelves Ridiculous, and Puniſhable. There is too much in theſe Remarks to be confuted, almoſt every Line may be diſproved, or ought to be Reprehended, they are well nigh Burſting with Stinging Wind, ſuch as the Hackney Jade Pegaſus lets fly when he is too hard Girt upon a full Belly.

They are nothing but Idle and Impertinent Repetitions of his Memoirs, which being anſwer'd already, I might have ſlighted for that reaſon; but ſince Mr. Brown, after all his ſeeming Penitential Sorrow, crying Peccavi, and begging Pardon for his firſt Offence in employing his Pen to ſo Baſe a Purpoſe, has aggravated his Crime by relapſing into his former Faults and Follies, which no Body will wonder at that knows his Character, give me leave to gueſs at the Occaſion of it, and give them both a ſhort Anſwer.

Our Hackney Imp of Parnaſſus, that all the Vacation ſtands at Livery to be Ridden by every Malicious Fop; being extreamly out of Sorts, as it often happens by his Idleneſs and Debauchery, and reduced to the true State of a Heathen Philoſopher: The Riding-Coat that Smith gave him when they were Memoiring, being wore Thredbare, and his whole Man calling for Amendments, for fear of falling into the Rag-Man's Hands, for want of Reparations; he once more, to his Shame, engages with Smith, and all on a ſudden Tom Brown appears New Rig'd from Stem to Stern; and immediately after, out comes theſe Remarks to acquaint the Town who was the Author of them.

The Captain puts his Name to the Pamphlet, and 'tis flouriſh'd with a Quotation out of Virgil. I cannot but wonder at his Confidence, in pauming himſelf upon the World for a Man of Learning, when he is ſo Notoriouſly known to be one of the greateſt Dunces in Nature; who if he was to Faſt till he could Conſtrue ſo many Words in Latin, or Write any three Lines in the whole Remarks, would certainly Die of Hunger:

But he has ſo long accuſtomed himſelf to claim the Honour of Services he never did; that it's now grown into a Habit, and he cannot leave it: Tho' by his good Favour it lays an indelible Blot upon his Reputation: For he that for nothing has Forehead enough to own a Book that not one Line of it his own, What will he not do when Four Thouſand Pounds a Year, and a Conſiderable Title is to be the Purchaſe of his Leaſing?

I confeſs, the Remarks are worded to the beſt Advantage of ſo ill a Cauſe. The Poet has ſhew'd his great Abilities in the Black Art of Scandal, and tricking up other Peoples Malice into a gaudy Dreſs of Words, to delude the Vulgar Readers into a good Opinion of what he is advancing. How eaſie a Matter this is for a Man of Parts to do, that gives himſelf a Looſe into the Common Place of Railery, without confining himſelf to the Laws of Truth, or the Rules of Decency and Good Manners, is very intelligible to Men of Sence: They both abhor the Practice and make allowance for it; while the meaner ſort are captivated by the Stile, and led Blindfold into Error. I ſhall therefore diſappoint the latter, and I hope, oblige the former by anſwering Matter of Fact only, without being at the trouble to remove the Rubbiſh and Trumpery that encloſes it.

The Preface acquaints us how provoking a thing it is to a Man of any Spirit to be treated with Contempt; which I ſuppoſe is no new thing to him, and he has no reaſon to be in ſuch a Chafe, or Paſſion about it; ſince he never was, nor deſerved to be treated otherwiſe.

He is ambitious, you ſee, all along of a Conſiderable Title, and yet is angry that his Adverſaries have found a fit one for him, viz. Fool or Madman, tho others are of opinion, he has ſo great an Alloy of the former in his Conſtitution, that he is in no danger of falling under the denomination of the latter: Nor will they allow it conferr'd upon him by the Malice of his Enemies, ſince it has been the whole ſtudy of his Life to acquire the Title. They are pleas'd, as a Specimen of their Good Manners, to join Quality with Inſolence, which is an Argument the Dung-Hill and the Tann-Fat lay too near both their Fathers Doors, for either of them to pretend to be Gentlemen. How might I expatiate on ſo fruitful a Subject; but I hate to be thought a Trifler.

He runs on with the old ſtory of Stifling and Deprecicating his Services, which methinks 'tis now high time to give over, ſince with all the Intereſt he has with a Party to aſſiſt him, he could never perſuade any body to believe, that he has done any Service but what he has been very well paid for; and his bold demanding and threatning for more, has made him ſlighted and deſpiſed by every body.

His Inſolent behaviour at Kenſington, cauſed him to be diſcharged the Court. Tho he gave away ſome hundreds of his Books among the Honourable the Houſe of Commons, he could not find one Member that would deliver his Petition to the Houſe. He has addreſt to the Right Honourable the Houſe of Peers; and their Lordſhips have commanded his Book of Remarks to be burnt by the Hand of the Common Hangman. Whither will he go next? Are not the King, Lords nor Commons Able to Judge of the Merits of his Service! Had he Wit to his Malice, and Power to his Venom, he would ſet the Kingdom in a Flame.

I will next proceed to his Grievances, and the Firſt that preſents it ſelf is a Complaint, That he was taken up by a Meſſenger when the Plot was warm; and this he conſtrues as a Deſign upon his Perſon and Papers; when any thing, beſides himſelf, would have known, that it was to comply with his Requeſt of being concealed, that they did it, tho they would not truſt him with the Reaſon why they did it. Had he any harder meaſure than others under his Circumſtances? Was not Sir Thomas Pendergarſt and Mr. La Rue, that were the Firſt Diſcoverers of the Aſſaſſination-Plot, taken up and committed? Was not Mr. Fiſher and Mr. Grimes that knew more of the Plot than the Captain can honeſtly pretend to, taken up by Meſſengers, and kept ſometime Priſoners in their Houſes? Is there not many Reaſons to be given for theſe Prudent Proceedings? Well! in ſome colder Clymate 'tis poſſible our Doughty Captain may come to great Military Preferment; but certainly his Head is not long enough to make a States-man.

In his next Complaint he Fights in the Dark, and gives us an unaccountable Stretch of his Talent. Some Body (he leaves the Reader to Gueſs who) he ſays, ſuppreſt Sir William Parkin's Petition, which after the ineffectual Application of the Houſe of Commons, pray obſerve it, I had, ſays he, the Fortune to prevail with him to make. What an incredible Story have we here? That after the Honourable Members of the Houſe of Commons, that viſited Sir William in Newgate, could not prevail with him to make a Confeſſion; yet our Captain, that was his utter Averſion, effected it. Can any Man in his Right Mind, imagine that Sir William Parkins was ſo void of Senſe, to believe that Smith could more effectually prevail with the King to Pardon him, than a Whole Houſe of Commons! Away Captain! This Remark lies ſo Wide, and Broad, 'tis impoſſible to ſwallow it without Choaking. Farther, he ſays,

The Lady Parkins went to Kenſington to give a Petition to his Grace the the D. of N. to deliver to His Majeſty. His Grace had prepared the King to Receive it; was expected; the D. of N. ſent to enquire for the Lady Parkins; ſhe was not to be found: yet a certain Perſon, without ſo much as a Letter to Gueſs at his Name or Quality, found her, when no body elſe could, and ſent the Lady away full of Sorrow and Deſpair, aſſuring her it would not be received. There is little Reaſon to believe the Lady would take her Anſwer from any Perſon, but the D. of N. who had promiſed to deliver it, nor that any Certain Perſon would ſuppreſs a Petition that His Majeſty expected. When Smith told this Story firſt, he laid the Blame upon the Lady for not coming to Kenſington till the Council was up, and gone, and the King retir'd into His Bedchamber, tho now he lays it upon a Certain Perſon.

His Invention is ſo Barren, and he is at ſo great a Loſs for New Matter, that he is forced to harp upon the ſame Strings in his Remarks, that he had before almoſt fretted to pieces, by his nauſeous Repetitions in his Memoirs: His Intereſt in Hewet and Sir William Parkins is ſtill the Burden of the Song; and yet neither in his former nor latter Book takes he any Notice, that Hewet has deny'd it upon Oath, and that Sir William has branded him with a Hard Name, and diſcharged the whole Party from truſting him with the Knowledge of their Matters; for tho he was his Wifes Relation, he knew him too well to repoſe any Confidence in him.

To magnifie his own Intelligence, through both his Books, he undervalues the diſcovery of Sir Thomas Pendergarſt and Mr. La Rue, tho the whole Nation is ſatisfied with their Candor and Sincerity in the whole Affair.

Upon this Head he has ſo remarkable a piece of Effrontery, that I cannot paſs it over without admiring at his Confidence, in ſetting up himſelf for a common Calumniator, and one that never Starts in publiſhing the moſt Notorious Falſhoods in the World: Such as every Eye can diſcover, and every Man detect that hath read any thing in theſe Proceedings. He was ignorant of the Day on which His Majeſty was to be Murdered, and therefore would perſuade the Reader, that the Conſpirators themſelves did not know it; tho you may read it in all the Tryals upon Oath, that the Day was appointed before the Date of his Letters to the Duke; and all that were to be Actors in were enjoyn'd to be ready on it. But this is not what I principally intended, but that which follows.

In Page the Eighth he has theſe Words, Whoever will take the pains to compare the Evidences of Captain Porter and Mr. Pendergarſt with my Memoirs, will find there a ſufficient Confirmation of every Tittle, that I ſay: Tho he will plainly ſee, that They were even then but half informed of thoſe things which I had long before fully diſcovered.

There might be ſome pretence for his ſaying he knew more of the Plot, and before Sir Thomas Pendergarſt did, whom Captain Porter ſent for to Town, but a little before the Treaſon was to be put in Execution; but to ſay he knew it ſooner, and better than Captain Porter, is to tell the World, that if he has any Conſcience, 'tis ſo Caſe-hardened it will boggle at nothing, and that Beelzebub would Keck at a Story that Captain Smith makes no Scruple at. Captain Porter and Sir William were Hand and Glove in the whole Conſpiracy, and mutually correſponded in every Circumſtance. Smith does not pretend to have the Diſcovery of this Plot from Sir William, but from Jack Hewet; and in ſhort, Smith would perſuade us, that Jack Hewet knew more of the Aſſaſſination-Plot than either Sir W. P. or Captain Porter.

He ſays his Grace knew what he was, and what he is, before he had any Correſpondence with that Noble Peer: I have no Faith in that Article, but on the contrary am of Opinion, that if his Grace had known Smith's Veritable Character, he would have diſmiſt him much ſooner than he did; tho his Grace could not have done it ſo early as he deſerved it. However, ſince he values himſelf upon being known to the D. that he may not give himſelf any further trouble in publiſhing his own Hiſtory, a Gentleman has undertaken to write his Life, and then every Body may know him alſo.

The next thing he makes a Noiſe with, is the Merits of his Services; but ſince he is unable to value them himſelf, what Expectations can he have from a Subject, when his Demands are ſo extraordinary, that he ſcorns Four Thouſand Pound a Year, unleſs one of the moſt Conſiderable Titles of Honour in the Kingdom be Tack'd to his Squireſhip. But to ballance the Account. He ſerv'd in Secret Service as he calls it, after he has made the whole Nation Ring of it) full Seventeen Months, his Grand Tour beyond Sea being thrown into the Scale to make Weight, for which he acknowledges to have received from His Majeſty above Three Hundred Pounds; which if the Proper Judges had not thought ſufficient, there is no Queſtion but he would have received (if he had known how to ask it) a further Compenſation; and therefore he ought to have been determin'd by them. This was paid above-board; but when the Captain and I am at leiſure, to a ••• unt for all the Sums of Money he as clandeſtinely received from the Party that Fool'd him into being an Author, it will ſurprize the Nation to hear there was ſo much miſchief carried on, under ſo Thin and Mean a Cover.

To Conclude. In his Memoirs, he ſays, he never complain'd of his Grace. In page the 15th of his Remarks he ſays, he did complain of him, and that he had reaſon for it, but that he did it in an Unhandſome manner, or threatned to complain of him in Parliament, he utterly denies. And,

Yet as confidently, as he denies it, it will be prov'd upon the Oathes of Three Witneſſes, (when ever required) that he did do it, and that very Unhandſomely too, as you will find immediately.

After aſſerting ſo notorious a Falſity, he Wonders that his Grace ſhould think it neither Safe, nor Decent, to have any more to do with him, and ſays, 'tis a Myſtery that none but the D. can unfold; but for once, and uſe it not, without troubling his Grace, I will be the Captains Oedipus, and, in ſhort, am ready to produce the Perſon, that in April, 1696. told his Grace at his Houſe, in St. James's Square, that Captain Matthew Smith in a Tavern near Charing-Croſs, in the preſence of Francis Jermy, Eſq Mr. William Read and the Author, did vilely abuſe his Grace in a very reproachful Language, and ſaid he would complain of his Grace to the King; and if His Majeſty would not hear him, he would complain againſt him the next Parliament, where he was promis'd the Aſſiſtance of Friends that would do his Buſineſs for him. And after this I preſume neither the Captain, nor no Body elſe, will wonder at his Graces Future Conduct toward him: Who is ſo Falſe and Vain a Creature, then when his Book was Printing, and he upon the Pinn of commending his own Politicks, he ſaid in the preſence of two Reputable Citizens, That it was in his Power either to Preſerve or Ruine the Preſent Government at his Pleaſure; with other like Rhodomontades, that I am both afraid, and aſhamed to Publiſh.

FINIS.