queen and the people. There was now a call for writers, who might
convey intelligence of past abuses, and show the waste of public
money, the unreasonable conduct of the allies, the avarice of
generals, the tyranny of minions, and the general danger of
approaching ruin. For this purpose a paper called the Examiner was
periodically published, written, as it happened, by any wit of the
party, and sometimes, as is said, by Mrs. Manley. Some are owned by
Swift; and one, in ridicule of Garth's verses to Godolphin upon the
loss of his place, was written by Prior, and answered by Addison,
who appears to have known the author either by conjecture or
intelligence.

The Tories, who were now in power, were in haste to end the war, and
Prior, being recalled (1710) to his former employment of making
treaties, was sent (July, 1711) privately to Paris with propositions
of peace. He was remembered at the French court; and, returning in
about a month, brought with him the Abbe Gaultier and M. Mesnager, a
minister from France, invested with full powers. This transaction
not being avowed, Mackay, the master of the Dover packet-boat,
either zealously or officiously, seized Prior and his associates at
Canterbury. It is easily supposed they were soon released.

The negotiation was begun at Prior's house, where the queen's
ministers met Mesnager (September 20, 1711), and entered privately
upon the great business. The importance of Prior appears from the
mention made of him by St. John in his letter to the queen:-

"My Lord Treasurer moved, and all my Lords were of the same opinion,
that Mr. Prior should be added to those who are empowered to sign;
the reason for which is because he, having personally treated with