Observations in Gardening, 44 Books published, 45, 46 THE _Gentleman_’s _Magazine_: JANUARY, 1731. _A View of the WEEKLY ESSAYS in this Month._ _The Craftsman_, _by_ Caleb D’anvers _Esq;_ and Mr _Oldcastle_. Jan. 2. No. 235. Mr. _Oldcastle_ having begun his remarks on the conduct of the Kings of _England_, to shew how the spirit of _Faction_, and the spirit of _Liberty_ had exerted themselves at different times and occasions, had brought his Observations down to the reign of Q. _Elizabeth_. He begins No. 234, with an Eulogium upon her prudent conduct in the most arduous difficulties that attended her accession to the Throne. These difficulties he explains at large, and goes on No. 235, to speak more largely of the means whereby she establish’d her glory and confirm’d herself in the affections of her People. Her first principle was to be neither _fear’d nor despis’d_ by those she govern’d. He mentions some instances wherein she discover’d her wisdom in both these respects, particularly in maintaining her _Prerogative_, which altho’ she was fond of, yet took care it never should be grievous, or if it should happen so to particular persons, that it should appear specious to the publick. The effects, he says, of a bare-fac’d _Prerogative_ are not so dangerous to _Liberty_ as the attempts which are made to surprize and undermine it. Wherefore Q. _Eliz._ never kept up a _Standing Army_, but placed her security in the affection of her People. With respect to _parties_ he extols her moderation and equity, by which conduct she stood on firmer ground, and had less to fear from the spirit of _Faction_. She neither hastily espoused the party which she favour’d, nor inflam’d the spirits of the adverse party. The _Papists_ and _Puritans_ she used with lenity, ’till their evil practices made it necessary to execute rigours, and even then she distinguished _Papists in conscience from Papists in Faction, nor condemn’d the Zeal of the Puritans, but sometimes censured their Violence. He says from ~Cambden~, she bestowed her favours with so much caution, and so little distinction, as to prevent either party from gaining the ascendant over her, whereby she remained Mistress of her own self, and preserved both their affections and her own power and authority entire._ He proceeds to justify Q. _Eliz._ from the imputation of avarice, by observing that she neither hoarded up, nor was lavish of the publick money. Quotes a saying of the famous _Burleigh_, that, _He never cared to see the treasury swell like a disorder’d spleen, when the other parts of the common-wealth were in a Consumption_; and his mistress thought that _money in the pockets of her subjects was better than in her own_.