CRAFTSMAN EXTRAORDINARY. BEING REMARKS ON A LATE PAMPHLET, INTITLED, Observations on the Conduct of PUBLISHED BY CALEB D'ANVERS, Efq; LONDON: Printed for R. FRANCK LIN, under Tom's M DCC XXIX, Craftsman Extraordinary, &c. To CALEB D'ANVERS, Efq; SIR, T HE late Pamphlet, intitled Obfervations on the Conduct of Great-Britain, &c. being chiefly defigned as an Answer to my first Letter on the pretended Project of a TRUCE, it may be thought incumbent on me to justify what I have written; for though this Piece (which confists of nothing but Inconfiftencies, Contradictions, Pravarications, and downright Falfhoods) is already funk into that Contempt, which it deferves; yet when a private Perfon launches into Politicks, it is his Duty to pay fome Regard to an Adverfary, who produces the leaft Marks of Authority, however mean and defpicable his Performance may be thought. THE Shortness of Time will, I hope, excufe any little Inaccuracies of Stile, or trivial Mistakes, which I may happen to fall into through the Courfe of this Difquifition, which every Body will perceive required Hafte. I SHALL pass over all his little Sophistry. on the Freedom of Writing, as well as his dirty Imputations of Libelling, Difaffection and ill Designs against the Government (thofe trite, worn out Topicks of every wretched Scribbler against you for above these two Years paft) and come directly to the Points, upon which the whole Strefs of his Arguments, fuch as they are, depends. THE first Objection, which he undertakes to confute, is the fuppofed Inactivity of our Squadrons, and the Depredations committed by the Spaniards upon our Merchants in the West Indies. In order to do this, he hath given us, what he calls, the Inftructions to Admiral Hofier, and the other Commanders of our Squadrons in those Parts. I SHALL not enquire from whom he received thefe Lights; though it feems very extraordinary that a little obfcure Pamphleteer should be favoured with Papers, of such a private Nature, as have been fometimes refused, even upon Applications in Parlia ment. NEITHER Will I offer to difpute whether these Instructions are genuine and authentick; though there are feveral Things in them, which have a fufpicious Afpect. By the first Orders given to Admiral Hofier, it looks as if Thofe, who fent him, did not understand the Service they fent him upon; for they di rect |