598 TOLAND. portraits of the electress dowager, the elector, the young prince, and the Queen of Prussia. He then made an excursion to Berlin, where he had frequent opportunities of conversing with the queen, who took much pleasure in hearing his paradoxical opinions. A dissolution of par liament having taken place in November of the same year, he published the following advertisement in the Postman: — “There having been a public report, as if Mr. Toland stood for Blechingly in Surrey, it is thought f i t t o adver tise, that Sir Robert Clayton has given his interest i n that borough t o a n eminent citizen, and that Mr. Toland hath n o thoughts o f standing there o r any where else.” This advertisement afforded matter o f pleasantry t o a n anony mous writer, who published a pamphlet, entitled “Modesty mistaken.” - I t would b e tedious and uninteresting t o record the titles o f the various works, the publication o f which engaged him during several succeeding years o f his life. These were chiefly political, and recommended him t o the notice o f Mr. Harley, secretary o f state, b y whom his pen was frequently employed, and under whose directions h e i s also stated t o have acted a s a spy. I n the spring o f 1707, h e set out for Berlin; which city h e was compelled t o quit sooner than h e had intended, b y a n incident, says M. des Maizeaux, too ludicrous t o b e mentioned. What this was, cannot now h e discovered. He then went t o Hanover, and was very graciously received a t Dusseldoff, b y the elector palatine, who presented him with a gold chain and medal, together with a purse o f one hundred ducats. A French banker, then i n Holland, being desirous o f procuring a powerful protection, Toland proceeded t o Vienna, i n hopes o f obtaining for him the title o f count o f the empire, for which h e was willing t o pay a large sum
but the imperial ministers could not b e prevailed on, and Toland, after many unsuccessful attempts, quitted that city for Prague; from whence, having exhausted a l l his money, h e was forced t o make use o f many shifts t o enable him t o retrace his way into Holland. Here
