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Ministers of state. A definition of one, vi. 301. Plato's observation on them, ii. 331. Events imputed to their skill and address, frequently the effect of negligence, weakness, humour, passion, or pride, iv. 252. Have no virtues or defects by which the publick is not affected, 253, 254. Reputation of secrecy a character of no advantage to them, 254. Are wont to have a mean opinion of most men's understanding, 263. The general wishes of a people more obvious to others than to them, ibid. The whig ministers praised for those very qualities which their admirers owned they chiefly wanted, iii. 113. Morals more necessary than abilities in, vi. 54. The greatest princes see only by their eyes, 69. The difficulties they are often subjected to, from a necessity of concealing their want of the power they are thought to be possessed of, iv. 345. Make no scruple of moulding the alphabet into what words they please, xi. 98. The felicity of a familiarity with them consists only in the vanity of it, 289. Seldom record the important parts of their own administration, and why, iv. 277. Ministers of genius seldom so fortunate in life as those of meaner qualifications, xii. 29. The cause of it, 30. When they have received bad impressions of any one, though groundless, seldom lay them aside, 364. 413. A minister of state, however he may cover his designs, can never wholly conceal his opinions, iv. 351. He is grievously mistaken, in neglecting or despising, but still more in irritating, men of genius and learning, x. 299. It is not impossible for a bad minister to find a man of wit to defend