It is proposed in future to devote a 
~f 442 9 
SCARCE TRACTS, WITH EXTRACTS AND ANALYS 
SCARCE BOOKS. 
a 
few Pages of the Monthly Mugazine to the 
[June tj: 
Fusertion of such Scarce Tracts as are of an interesting Nature, with the Use 
of which we may be fuooured by our Correspondents; and under the same Head to 
introduce also the Analyses of Scarce and Curious Books. 
Sa 
{ That wretched parasite, Sir Roger L’Estrange, 
‘ published the following work to recommend 
himself to the office of Licenser of the Press, 
jn which he was the creature of the courts 
of Charles II. and James II. The pamph- 
Jet is in every respect a great curiosity, 
and, by shewing the sentiments of his party, 
on this subject, it ought to put the friends 
of \iberty on their guard, A. late vi- 
zier doubtless had this publication be- 
fore him, when, in the years 1793, 4, 
and 5, he laidso many restrictions on the 
press. At that time it was contrived to 
register presses, to compel printers to in- 
dorse what they printed, and to pass some 
‘Jaws which imposed on libellers, under 
certain circumstances, the penalty of trans- 
‘portation. L’Estrange’s work procured for its 
author, the appointment of licenser, and 
he played the sycophant till the revolu-~ 
tion. He wrote other works as contempt- 
ble’ for their bad taste, as this is for its 
principles. | 
Considerations und Proposals in Order to 
the Regulation of the Press: together 
mith Diverse Instances of Treasonous 
«nd Seditious Pamphlets, proving 
the necessity thereof. By Roger 
L’Estrange. London, printed by 
A. C. June 3, M.ve.txt. 
Lo ihe King’s Most Excellent Majesty. 
SIR, 
T is not without some force upon my- 
{ self, that I have resolved upon this 
dedication: for I have no ambition to 
appear pragmatical, and to become the 
marque of a peevish faction: but, since 
my duty will haveit thus, I shall accompt 
all other interests as nothing in compe- 
tition with my allegiance. 
If your Majesty shall vouchsafe to look 
so far, and so low, as into the ensuing 
treatise, you will find it, Sir, to be partly 
a deliberative discourse about the means 
of regulating the press ; (the matter being 
at this instant under.publique debate) and 
in part, an extract of certain treasonous 
and seditious passages and _ positions 
which may serve to evince the necessity 
efthat regulation, ‘The latter of which, 
I do most humbly offer to your royal cons 
sideration, not presuming tn any sort, to 
concern your Majesty in the former. 
In this extract, is presented to your 
Majesties view; first, that spirit of hy- 
pocrisie, scandal, malice, errour, and il-. 
Jusion, that actuated the late rebellion. 
Secondly. A manifestation of the same 
spirit reigning still, and working, not only’ 
by the same means, but in very many of 
the same persons, and to the same’ends; 
that is, there is a combination, and de- 
sign against your sacred life, and dignity, 
,which is carryed on by the same argu- 
ments, pretences, wayes, and instruments, 
that ruin’d your royal and_ blessed 
father. <All which I think myself 
bound, not only in generals, to declare, 
but, more particularly, to trace, and to 
discover to your Majesty, as a duty 
which I owe both to God and to my 
sovereign. : 
The first part of the conspirator’s work, 
is to disaffect the people toward your 
Majesties person and government; and 
their next business is to eneourage and 
carry on those seditious inclinations into 
action. 
Touching the former; scarce any one 
regicide or traytor has been brought to 
publique justice, since your Majesties 
blessed: return, whom either tke pulpit 
hath not canonized for a saint, or the 
press recommended for a patriot, and 
martyr, (beside the arraignment of the 
bench, for the very formalityes of their 
tryals) what is the intent, or what may be 
the effect of suggesting to the people, 
that there is no justice to be found, either 
in your cause or in your courts;~ (both 
which are struck at in the same blow) is 
submitted humbly to your royal wisdom. 
Nor is the factian less industrious to draw 
an odium upon your Majesties person, 
and to perplex, seduce, and exasperate, 
the multitude, in matters of religion; and 
concerning the government of the church, 
There have been printed, and re- 
printed, since your Majesties happy re- 
stauration, not so few as a hundred schis- 
matical pamphlets, against bishops, ce- 
remonies, and common-prayer: 1 many 
of which, your Majesty is directly, and 
in all of them implicitly, charg’d with an 
a‘ inclination 
ES, OF aur , 
