THE deplorable Condition of a very pretty Gentleman, who walks here at the Hours when Men of Quality firſt appear, is what is very much lamented. His Hiſtory is, That on the 9th of September 1705. being in his One and twentieth Year, he was waſhing his Teeth at a Tavern Window in Pall-mall, when a fine Equipage paſſed by, and in it a young Lady who looked up at him; away goes the Coach, and the young Gentleman pulled off his Night⯑cap, and inſtead of rubbing his Gums, as he ought to do out of the Window till about Four a Clock, ſits him down, and ſpoke not a Word till Twelve at Night; after which, he began to enquire, If any Body knew the Lady—The Company asked, What Lady? But he ſaid [4] no more, 'till they broke up at Six in the Mor⯑ning. All the enſuing Winter he went from Church to Church every Sunday, and from Play⯑houſe to Playhouſe every Night in the Week, but could never find the Original of the Picture which dwelt in his Boſom. In a Word, his Attention to any Thing but his Paſſion, was utterly gone. He has loſt all the Money he ever played for, and been confuted in every Argument he has enter'd upon ſince the Moment he firſt ſaw her. He is of a Noble Family, has naturally a very good Air, and is of a frank, honeſt Temper: But this Paſſion has ſo extremely mauled him, that his Features are ſet and uninformed, and his whole Viſage is deaden'd by a long Abſence of Thought. He never appears in any Alacrity, but when raiſed by Wine; at which Time he is ſure to come hither, and throw away a great deal of Wit on Fellows, who have no Senſe fur⯑ther than juſt to obſerve, That our poor Lover has moſt Underſtanding when he is drunk, and is leaſt in his Senſes when he is ſober.

On Thurſday laſt was acted, for the Bene⯑fit of Mr. Betterton, the Celebrated Comedy, called Love for Love. Thoſe excellent Players, Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Bracegirdle, and Mr. Dogget, though not at preſent concerned in the Houſe, acted on that Occaſion. There has not b en known ſo great a Concourſe of Perſons of Di⯑ſtinction as at that Time; the Stage it ſelf was cover'd with Gentlemen and Ladies, and when the Curtain was drawn, it diſcovered even there a very ſplendid Audience. This unuſual Encouragement, which was given to a Play for the Advantage of ſo great an Actor, gives an undeniable Inſtance, That the true Reliſh for Manly Entertainments and Rational Plea⯑ſures [5] is not wholly loſt. All the Parts were acted to Perfection: the Actors were careful of their Carriage, and no one was guilty of the Affection to inſert Witticiſms of his own, but a due Reſpect was had to the Audience, for en⯑couraging this accompliſh'd Player. It is not now doubted but Plays will revive, and take their uſual Place in the Opinion of Perſons of Wit and Merit, notwithſtanding their late Apo⯑ſtacy in Favour of Dreſs and Sound. This Place is very much altered ſince Mr. Dryden frequen⯑ted it; where you uſed to ſee Songs, Epigrams, and Satyrs, in the Hands of every Man you met, you have now only a Pack of Cards; and in⯑ſtead of the Cavils about the Turn of the Ex⯑preſſion, the Elegance of the Style, and the like, the Learned now diſpute only about the Truth of the Game. But however, the Com⯑pany is altered, all have ſhewn a great Reſpect for Mr. Betterton: And the very Gaming Part of this Houſe have been ſo much touched with a Senſe of the Uncertainty of Humane Affairs, (which alter with themſelves every Moment) that in this Gentleman, they pitied Mark An⯑thony of Rome, Hamlet of Denmark, Mithri⯑datus of Pontus, Theodoſius of Greece, and Henry the Eighth of England. It is well known, he has been in the Condition of each of thoſe illuſtrious Perſonages for ſeveral Hours toge⯑ther, and behaved himſelf in thoſe high Sta⯑tions, in all the Changes of the Scene, with ſuitable Dignity. For theſe Reaſons, we in⯑tend to repeat this Favour to him on a proper Occaſion, leſt he who can inſtruct us ſo well in perſonating Feigned Sorrows, ſhould be loſt to us by ſuffering under Real Ones. The Town is at preſent in very great Ex⯑pectation of ſeeing a Comedy now in Rehear⯑ſal, [6] which is the 25th Production of my Ho⯑noured Friend Mr. Thomas D'Urfey; who, be⯑ſides his great Abilities in the Dramatick, has a peculiar Talent in the Lyrick Way of Writing, and that with a Manner wholly new and un⯑known to the Ancient Greeks and Romans, where⯑in he is but faintly imitated in the Tranſlations of the Modern Italian Opera's.

Letters from the Hague of the 16th ſay, That Major-General Cadogan was gone to Bruſſels, with Orders to diſperſe proper Inſtructions for aſſembling the whole Force of the Allies in Flanders in the Beginning of the next Month. The late Offers concerning Peace, were made in the Style of Perſons who think themſelves upon equal Terms: But the Allies have ſo juſt a Senſe of their preſent Advantages, that they will not admit of a Treaty, except France of⯑fers what is more ſuitable to her preſent Con⯑dition. At the ſame Time we make Prepara⯑tions, as if we were alarmed by a greater Force than that which we are carrying into the Field. Thus this Point ſeems now to be argued Sword in Hand. This was what a Great General al⯑luded to, when being asked the Names of thoſe who were to be Plenipotentiaries for the enſu⯑ſuing Peace; anſwered, with a ſerious Air, There are about an Hundred thouſand of us. Mr. Kid⯑ney, who has the Ear of the greateſt Politicians that come hither, tells me, There is a Mail come in to Day with Letters, dated Hague, A⯑pril 19. N. S. which ſay, a Deſign of bringing Part of our Troops into the Field at the latter End of this Month, is now altered to a Reſolu⯑tion of marching towards the Camp about the 20th of the next. There happened t'other Day, in the Road of Scheveling, an Engagement be⯑tween [7] a Privateer of Zealand, and one of Dun⯑kirk. The Dunkirker, carrying 33 Pieces of Cannon, was taken and brought into the Texel. It is ſaid, the Courier of Monſieur Rouille is re⯑turned to him from the Court of France. Mon⯑ſieur Vendo [...]e being reinſtated in the Favour of the Dutcheſs of Burgundy, is to command in Flanders.

Mr. Kidney added, That there were Letters of the 17th from Ghent, which give an Ac⯑count, That the Enemy had formed a Deſign to ſurprize two Battalions of the Allies which lay at Aloſt; but thoſe Battalions received Advice of their March, and retired to Dendermond. Lieutenant General Wood appeared on this Oc⯑caſion at the Head of 5000 Foot, and 1000 Horſe, upon which the Enemy withdrew, without ma⯑king any further Attempt.

I am ſorry I am obliged to trouble the Pub⯑lick with ſo much Diſcourſe upon a Matter which I at the very firſt mentioned as a Tri⯑fle, viz. the Death of Mr. Partridge, under whoſe Name there is an Almanack come out for the Year 1709. In one Page of which it is aſſerted by the ſaid John Partridge, That he is ſtill living, and not only ſo, but that he was alſo living ſome Time before, and even at the Inſtant when I writ of his Death. I have in another Place, and in a Paper by it ſelf, ſuf⯑ficiently convinced this Man that he is dead, and if he has any Shame, I don't doubt but that by this Time he owns it to all his Acquain⯑tance: For tho' the Legs and Arms, and whole Body of that Man may ſtill appear and perform their animal Functions; yet ſince, as I have elſewhere obſerved, his Art is gone, the Man is gone. I am, as I ſaid, concerned, that this [8] little Matter ſhould make ſo much Noiſe; but ſince I am engaged, I take my ſelf obliged in Honour to go on in my Lucubrations, and by the Help of theſe Arts of which I am Maſter, as well as my Skill in Aſtrological Specula⯑tions, I ſhall, as I ſee Occaſion, proceed to con⯑fute other dead Men, who pretend to be in Be⯑ing, that they are actually deceaſed. I therefore give all Men fair Warning to mend their Man⯑ners, for I ſhall from Time to Time print Bills of Mortality; and I beg Pardon of all ſuch who ſhall be named therein, if they who are good for nothing ſhall find themſelves in the Number of the Deceaſed.

THere has lain all this Evening on the Ta⯑ble, the following Poem. The Subject of it being Matter very uſeful for Families, I thought it deſerved to be conſidered, and made more publick. The Turn the Poet gives it, is very happy; but the Foundation is from a real Accident which happened among my Acquain⯑tance. A young Gentleman of a great Eſtate, fell deſperately in Love with a great Beauty, of very high Quality, but as ill-natured, as long Flattery and an habitual Self will could make her. However, my young Spark ventures upon her, like a Man of Quality, without be⯑ing acquainted with her, or having ever ſaluted [9] her, till it was a Crime to kiſs any Woman elſe. Beauty is a Thing which palls with Poſ⯑ſeſſion; and the Charms of this Lady ſoon wanted the Support of good Humour and Com⯑plaiſancy of Manners. Upon this my Spark flies to the Bottle for Relief from his Satiety. She diſdains him for being tired with that for which all Men envied him; and he never came Home, but it was—Was there no Sot that would ſtay longer? Would any Man living but you? Did I leave all the World for this Uſage? To which he—Madam, Split me, you are very impertinent! In a Word, this Match was Wedlock in its moſt terrible Ap⯑pearances. She, at laſt weary of Railing to no Purpoſe, applies to a good Uncle, who gives her a Bottle of Water: The Vertue of this Powerful Liquor (ſaid he) is ſuch, that if the Woman you marry proves a Scold, (which, it ſeems, my dear Neece, is your Misfortune; as it was your good Mother's before you,) let her hold ſix Spoonfuls in her Mouth, for a full half Hour after you come Home—But I find I am not in Humour for telling a Tale, and no⯑thing in Nature is ſo ungrateful as Story-Telling againſt the Grain, therefore take it as the Author has given it you.

Letters from Venice ſay, The Diſappointment of their Expectation to ſee his Daniſh Majeſty, [13] has very much diſquieted the Court of Rome. Our laſt Advices from Germany inform us, That the Miniſter of Hanover has urg'd the Council at Ratisbonne to exert themſelves in Behalf of the Common Cauſe, and taken the Liberty to ſay, That the Dignity, the Virtue, the Pru⯑dence of his Electoral Highneſs, his Maſter, were called to the Head of their Affairs in vain, if they thought fit to leave him naked of the proper Means to make thoſe Excellencies uſe⯑ful for the Honour and Safety of the Empire. They write from Berlin of the 13th, O. S. That the true Deſign of General Fleming's Viſit to that Court was, to inſinuate, that it will be for the mutual Intereſt of the King of Pruſſia and King Auguſtus to enter into a new Alli⯑ance; but that the Miniſters of Pruſſia are not inclined to his Sentiments. We hear from Vi⯑enna, That his Imperial Majeſty has expreſſed great Satisfaction in their High Mightineſſes having communicated to him the whole that has paſſed in the Affair of a Peace. Though there have been Practices uſed by the Agents of France, in all the Courts of Europe, to break the good Underſtanding of the Allies, they have had no other Effect, but to make all the Mem⯑bers concerned in the Alliance, more doubtful of their Safety from the great Offers of the Enemy. The Empire is rouzed by this Alarm, and the Frontiers of all the French Dominions are in Danger of being inſulted the enſuing Campagne: Advices from all Parts confirm, That it is impoſſible for France to find a Way to obtain ſo much Credit, as to gain any one Po⯑tentate of the Allies, or conceive any Hope for Safety from other Proſpects.

I find it of very great Uſe, now I am ſetting up for a Writer of News, that I am an Adept in Aſtrological Speculations; by which Means. I avoid ſpeaking of Things which may offend Great Perſons. But at the ſame Time, I muſt not proſtitute the Liberal Sciences ſo far, as not to utter the Truth in Caſes which do not im⯑mediately concern the Good of my Native Country. I muſt therefore contradict what has been ſo aſſuredly reported by the News-Writers of England, That France is in the moſt deplo⯑rable Condition, and that their People die in great Multitudes. I will therefore let the World know, that my Correſpondent, by the Way of Bruſſels, informs me, upon his Honour, That the Gentleman who writes the Gazette of Paris, and ought to know as well as any Man, has told him, That ever ſince the King has been paſt his 63d Year, or Grand Climacte⯑rick, there has not died one Man of the French Nation who was younger than his Majeſty, ex⯑cept a very few, who were taken ſuddenly near the Village of Hickſtet in Germany; and ſome more, who were ſtraitned for Lodging at a Place called Ramilies, and died on the Road to Ghent and Bruges. There are alſo other Things given out by the Allies, which are Shifts below a Conquering Nation to make uſe of. Among others, 'tis ſaid, There is a general Murmuring among the People of France, tho' at the ſame Time all my Letters agree, That there is ſo good an Underſtanding among them, that there is not one Morſel carried out of any Market in the Kingdom, but what is delivered upon Credit.

THis Evening, the Comedy, call'd The Coun⯑try Wife, was acted in Drury-Lane, for the Benefit of Mrs. Bignall. The Part which gives Name to the Play was performed by her ſelf. Through the whole Action, ſhe made a a very pretty Figure, and exactly entered into the Nature of the Part. Her Husband, in the Drama, is repreſented to be one of thoſe De⯑bauchees who run through the Vices of the Town, and believe when they think fit they can marry and ſettle at their Eaſe. His own Knowledge of the Iniquity of the Age, makes him chuſe a Wife wholly ignorant of it, and place his Security in her Want of Skill how to abuſe him. The Poet, on many Occaſions, where the Propriety of the Character will admit of it, inſinuates, That there is no Defence a⯑gainſt Vice, but the Contempt of it: And has, in the natural Ideas of an untainted Innocent, ſhown the gradual Steps to Ruin and Deſtruction, which Perſons of Condition run into, without the Help of a good Education how to form their Conduct. The Torment of a Jealous Cox⯑comb, which ariſes from his own Falſe Ma⯑xims, and the Aggravation of his Pain, by the very Words in which he ſees her Innocence, makes a very pleaſant and inſtructive Satyr. [16] The Character of Horner, and the Deſign of it, is a good Repreſentation of the Age in which that Comedy was written; at which Time Love and Wenching were the Buſineſs of Life, and the Gallant Manner of purſuing Women was the beſt Recommendation at Court. To which only it is to be imputed, that a Gentle⯑man of Mr. Wicherly's Character and Senſe, condeſcends to repreſent the Inſults done to the Honour of the Bed, without juſt Reproof; but to have drawn a Man of Probity with Re⯑gard to ſuch Conſiderations, had been a Mon⯑ſter, and a Poet had at that Time diſcovered his Want of knowing the Manners of the Court he lived in, by a Virtuous Character in his fine Gentleman, as he would ſhow his Ig⯑norance, by drawing a Vicious one to pleaſe the preſent Audience. Mrs. Bignall did her Part very happily, and had a certain Grace in her Ruſticity, which gave us Hopes of ſeeing her a very Skilful Player, and in ſome Parts, ſupply our Loſs of Mrs. Verbruggen. I cannot be of the ſame Opinion with my Friends and Fellow-Labourers, the Reformers of Manners, in their Severity towards Plays, but muſt allow, that a good Play acted before a well-bred Au⯑dience, muſt raiſe very proper Incitements to good Behaviour, and be the moſt quick and moſt prevailing Method of giving Young Peo⯑ple a Turn of Senſe and Breeding. But as I have ſet up for a Weekly Hiſtorian, I reſolve to be a Faithful One; and therefore take this publick Occaſion, to admoniſh a Young Noble⯑man, who came fluſtered into the Box laſt Night, and let him know, how much all his Friends were out of Countenance for him. The Women ſate in Terror of hearing ſome⯑thing that ſhould ſhock their Modeſty, and all [17] the Gentlemen in as much Pain, out of Com⯑paſſion to the Ladies, and perhaps Reſentment for the Indignity which was offered in coming into their Preſence in ſo diſreſpectful a Man⯑ner. Wine made him ſay nothing that was Rude, therefore he is forgiven, upon Condition he weill never hazard his offending more in this Kind. As I juſt now hinted, I own my ſelf of the Society for Reformation of Manners. We have lower Inſtruments than thoſe of the Fa⯑mily of Bickerſtaff, for puniſhing great Crimes, and expoſing the Abanddoned. Therefore, as I diſign to have Notices from all Publick Aſſem⯑blies, I ſhall take upon me only Indecorums, Improprieties, and Negligences, in ſuch as ſhould give us better Examples. After this De⯑claration; if a Fine Lady thinks fit to giggle at Church, or a Great Beau come in drunk to a Play, either ſhall be ſure to hear of it in my en⯑ſuing Paper: For meerly as a well-bred Man, I cannot bear theſe Enormities.

After the Play, we naturally ſtroll to this Coffee-houſe, in Hopes of meeting ſome new Poem, or other Entertainment, among the Men of Wit and Pleaſure, where there is a Dearth a preſent. But it is wonderful there ſhould be ſo few Writers, when the Art is be⯑come meerly Mechanick, and Men may make themſelves Great that Way, by as certain and infallible Rules, as you may be a Joiner or a Maſon. There happens a good Inſtance of this, in what the Hawker juſt now has offered to Sale; to wit, Inſtructions to Vanderbank; A Sequel to the Advice to the Poets; A poem, oc⯑caſioned by the Glorious Succeſs of Her Majeſty's Arms, under the Command of the Duke of Marl⯑borought, the laſt Tear in Flanders. Here you are to underſtand, that the Author finding the [18] Poets would not take his Advice, he troubles himſelf no more about 'em; but has met with one Vanderbank, who works in Arras, and makes very good Tapeſtry Hangings: There⯑fore, in order to celebrate the Hero of the Age, he claps me together all that can be ſaid of a Man that makes Hangings: As,

Well, what ſhall this Work man do? Why? To ſhow how great an Hero the Poet intends, he provides him a very good Horſe:

Now as to the Intrepidity, the calm Cou⯑rage, the conſtant Application of the Hero, it is not neceſſary to take that upon your ſelf; you may, in the Lump, bid him you employ raiſe him as High as he can, and if he does it not, let him anſwer for diſobeying Orders.

A whole Poem of this Kind may be ready againſt an enſuing Campagne, as well as a Space left in the Canvaſs of a Piece of Tape⯑ſtry for the principal Figure, while the Under-Parts are working: So that in Effect, the Ad⯑viſer copies after the Man he pretends to direct. [19] This Method ſhould, methinks, encourage young Beginners: For the Invention is ſo fitted to all Capacities, that by the Help of it a Man may make a Receipt for a Poem. A young Man may obſerve, that the Gigg of the Thing is, as I ſaid, finding out all that can be ſaid of his Way you employ to ſet forth your Worthy. Waller and Denham had worn out the Expe⯑dient of Advice to a Painter: This Author has transferred the Work, and ſent his Advice to the Poets; that is to ſay, to the Turners of Verſe, as he calls 'em. Well, that Thought is worn out alſo, therefore he directs his Genius to the Loom, and will have a new Set of Hang⯑ings in Honour of the laſt Year in Flanders. I muſt own to you, I approve extremely this Invention, and it might be improved for the Benefit of Manufactury: As, ſuppoſe an Inge⯑nious Gentleman ſhould write a Poem of Ad⯑vice to a Callico-Printer: Do you think there is a Girl in England, that would wear any Thing but The Taking of Liſle, or The Battle of Oudenarde? They would certainly be all the Faſhion, till the Heroes Abroad had cut out ſome more Parterns. I ſhould fancy ſmall Skirmiſhes might do for Under-Petticoats, pro⯑vided they had a Siege for the Upper. If our Adviſer were well imitated, many Induſtrious People might be put to Work. Little Mr. Dactile, now in the Room, who formerly writ a Song and a Half, is a Week gone in a very pretty Work, upon this Hint: He is writing an Epi⯑gram to a young Virgin who knits very well ('tis a Thouſand Pities he is a Jacobite): But his Epigram is by Way of Advice to this Damſel, to knit all the Actions of the Pretender and the Duke of Burgundy laſt Campagne in the Clock of a Stocking. It were endleſs to enumerate [20] the many Hands and Trades that may be em⯑ployed by Poets, of ſo uſeful a Turn as this Adviſer's. I ſhall think of it; and in this Time of Taxes, ſhall conſult a great Critick employed in the Cuſtom-houſe, in order to pro⯑poſe what Tax may be proper to put upon Knives, Seals, Rings, Hangings, Wrought-Beds, Gowns and Petticoats, where any of thoſe Commodities bear Motto's, or are worked upon Poetical Grounds.

Letters from Turin of the 3d Inſtant, N. S. inform us, That his Royal Highneſs employs all his Addreſs in alarming the Enemy, and perplexing their Speculations, concerning his real Deſigns the enſuing Campaign. Contracts are entered into with the Merchants of Milan, for a great Number of Mules to tranſport his Proviſions and Ammunition. His Royal High⯑neſs has ordered the Train of Artillery to be conveyed to Suſa before the 20th of the next Month. In the mean Time, all Accounts a⯑gree, Thas the Enemy are very backward in their Preparations, and almoſt incapable of de⯑fending themſelves againſt an Invaſion, by rea⯑ſon of the general Murmurs of their own Peo⯑ple; which, they find, are no way to be quiet⯑ed, but by giving them Hopes of a ſpeedy Peace. When theſe Letters were diſpatched, the Marſhal de Theſſe was arrived at Genoa, where he has taken much Pains to keep the Correſpondents of the Merchants of France in Hopes, that Meaſures will be found out to ſupport the Credit and Commerce between that State and Lyons; But the late Declaration of the Agents of Monſieur Bernard, that they cannot diſcharge the Demands made upon [21] them, has quite diſpirited all thoſe who are en⯑gaged in the Remittances of France.

It is a very natural Paſſion in all good Mem⯑bers of the Commonwealth, to take what Care they can of their Families. Therefore I hope the Reader will forgive me, that I deſire he would go to the Play called the Stratagem, this Evening, which is to be acted for the Benefit of my near Kinſman Mr. John Bicker⯑ſtaff. I proteſt to you, the Gentleman has not ſpoken to me to deſire this Favour; but I have a Reſpect for him, as well in Regard to Con⯑ſanguinity, as that he is an intimate Friend of that Famous and Heroick Actor, Mr. George Powell, who formerly played Alexander the Great in all Places, though he is lately grown ſo reſerved, as to act it only on the Stage.

ALL Hearts at preſent pant for Two La⯑dies only, who have for ſome Time en⯑groſſed the Dominion of the Town. They are indeed both exceeding Charming, but differ very much in their Excellencies. The Beauty of Clariſſa is Soft, that of Chloe Piercing. When you look at Clariſſa, you ſee the moſt exact Harmony of Feature, Complexion, and Shape; you find in Chloe nothing extraordinary in any one of thoſe Particulars, but the whole Wo⯑man irreſiſtible. Clariſſa looks Languiſhing; Chloe Killing. Clariſſa never fails of gaining Admiration; Chloe of moving Deſire. The Gazers at Clariſſa are at firſt unconcerned, as if they were obſerving a fine Picture. They who behold Chloe, at the firſt Glance, diſcover Tranſport, as if they met their deareſt Friend. Theſe different Perfections are ſuitably repre⯑ſented by the laſt great Painter Italy has ſent us, Mr. Jervaſe. Clariſſa is, by that skilful Hand, placed in a Manner that looks artleſs, and innocent of the Torments ſhe gives; Chloe drawn with a Livelineſs that ſhows ſhe is con⯑ſcious, but not affected, of her Perfections. Clariſſa is a Shepherdeſs; Chloe a Country Girl. I muſt own, the Deſign of Chloe's Picture ſhows, to me, great Maſtery in the Painter; for nothing could be better imagined than the Dreſs he has given her, of a Straw-Hat and Ribband, to repreſent that Sort of Beauty which enters the Heart with a certain Familiarity, and cheats it into a Belief, that it has received a Lover as well as an Object of Love. The Force of their different Beauties is ſeen alſo in the Effects it makes on their Lovers. The Ad⯑mirers of Chloe are eternally gay and well⯑pleaſed: Thoſe of Clariſſa, melancholy and [24] thoughtful. And as this Paſſion always changes the natural Man into a quite different Creature from what he was before, the Love of Chloe makes Coxcombs; that of Clariſſa, Madmen. There were of each Kind juſt now in this Room. Here was one that whiſtles, laughs, ſings, and cuts Capers, for Love of Chloe. Another has juſt now writ Three Lines to Clariſſa, then taken a Turn in the Garden, then came back again, then tore his Fragment, then called for ſome Chocolate, then went away without it.

Chloe has ſo many Admirers in the Houſe at preſent, that there is too much Noiſe to pro⯑ceed in my Narration: So that the Progreſs of the Loves of Clariſſa and Chloe, together with the Bottles that are drank each Night for the One, and the many Sighs which are uttered, and Songs written, on the Other, muſt be our Subject on future Occaſions.

Letters from the Hay-market inform us, That on Saturday Night laſt the Opera of Pyrrhus and Demetrius was performed with great Ap⯑plauſe. This Intelligence is not very accepta⯑ble to us Friends of the Theatre; for the Stage being an Entertainment of the Reaſon and all our Faculties, this Way of being pleaſed with the Suſpence of 'em for Three Hours together, and being given up to the ſhallow Satisfaction of the Eyes and Ears only, ſeems to ariſe ra⯑ther from the Degeneracy of our Underſtand⯑ing, than an Improvement of our Diverſions. That the Underſtanding has no Part in the Pleaſure is evident, from what theſe Letters very poſitively aſſert, to wit, That a great Part of the Performance was done in Italian: And a great Critick fell into Fits in the Gallery, at ſeeing, not only Time and Place, but Langua⯑ges [25] and Nations confuſed in the moſt incorri⯑gible Manner. His Spleen is ſo extremely mo⯑ved on this Occaſion, that he is going to pub⯑liſh a Treatiſe againſt Opera's, which, he thinks, have already inclined us to Thoughts of Peace, and if tolerated, muſt infallibly diſpirit us from carrying on the War. He has communicated his Scheme to the whole Room, and declared in what Manner Things of this Kind were firſt introduced. He has upon this Occaſion conſidered the Nature of Sounds in general, and made a very elaborate Digreſſion upon the London Cries, wherein he has ſhown from Reaſon and Philoſophy, why Oyſters are cried, Card-matches ſung, and Turneps and all other Vegetables neither cried, ſung, nor ſaid, but ſold, with an Accent and Tone neither natu⯑ral to Man or Beaſt. This Piece ſeems to be taken from the Model of that excellent Diſ⯑courſe of Mrs. Manly the School Miſtreſs, con⯑cerning Samplers. Advices from the upper End of Piccadilly ſay, That May-Fair is utter⯑ly aboliſhed; and we hear, Mr. Penkethman has removed his ingenious Company of Strollers to Greenwich: But other Letters from Deptford ſay, the Company is only making thither, and not yet ſettled; but that ſeveral Heathen Gods and Goddeſſes, which are to deſcend in Ma⯑chines, landed at the Kings-Head-Stairs laſt Saturday. Venus and Cupid went on Foot from thence to Greenwich; Mars got drunk in the Town, and broke his Landlord's Head, for which he ſate in the Stocks the whole Evening; but Mr. Penkethman giving Security that he ſhould do nothing this enſuing Summer, he was ſet at Liberty. The moſt melancholy Part of all, was, that Diana was taken in the Act of Fornication with a Boat-man, and commit⯑ted [26] by Juſtice Wrathful, which has, it ſeems, put a Stop to the Diverſions of the Theatre of Black-Heath. But there goes down another Diana and a Patient Griſſel next Tide from Billingſgate.

They write from Saxony of the 13th Inſtant, N. S. That the Grand General of the Crown of Poland was ſo far from entring into a Treaty with King Staniſlaus, that he had written Cir⯑cular Letters, wherein he exhorted the Palati⯑nates to join againſt him; declaring, that this was the moſt favourable Conjuncture for aſſert⯑ing their Liberty.

Letters from the Hague of the 23d Inſtant, N. S. ſay, they have Advices from Vienna, which import, That his Electoral Highneſs of Hannover had ſignified to the Imperial Court, that he did not intend to put himſelf at the Head of the Troops of the Empire, except more effectual Meaſures were taken for acting vigorouſly againſt the Enemy the enſuing Cam⯑paign. Upon this Repreſentation, the Empe⯑ror has given Orders to ſeveral Regiments to march towards the Rhine, and diſpatched Ex⯑preſſes to the reſpective Princes of the Empire to deſire an Augmentation of their Forces.

Theſe Letters add, That an Expreſs arrived at the Hague on the 20th Inſtant, with Advice, That the Enemy having made a Detachment from Tournay of 1500 Horſe, each Trooper carrying a Foot Soldier behind him, in order to ſurpriſe the Garriſon of Aloſt; the Allies, upon Notice of their March, ſent out a ſtrong Body of Troops from Ghent, which engaged the Ene⯑my at Aſche, and took 200 of them Priſoners, obliging the reſt to retire without making any farther Attempt. On the 22d in the Morning [27] a Fleet of Merchant Ships coming from Scot⯑land, were attacked by Six French Privateers at the Entrance of the Meuſe. We have yet no certain Advice of the Event: But Letters from Rotterdam ſay, That a Dutch Man of War of Forty Guns, which was Convoy to the ſaid Fleet, was taken, as were alſo Eighteen of the Merchants. The Swiſs Troops, in the Service of the States, have compleated the Augmenta⯑tion of their reſpective Companies. Thoſe of Wirtemberg and Pruſſia are expected on the Frontiers within few Days; and the Auxiliaries from Saxony, as alſo a Battalion of Holſtein, and another of Wolfembuttle, are advancing thither with all Expedition. On the 21ſt Inſtant, the Deputies of the States had a Conference near Woerden with the Preſident Rouille, but the Matter which was therein debated is not made publick. His Grace the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene continue at the Hague.

I have lately been very ſtudious for Intelli⯑gence, and have juſt now, by my Aſtrological Flying-Poſt, received a Packet from Felicia, an Iſland in America, with an Account that gives me great Satisfaction, and lets me under⯑ſtand that the Iſland was never in greater Proſperity, or the Adminiſtration in ſo good Hands, ſince the Death of their late glorious King. Theſe Letters import, That the Chief Miniſter has entered into a firm League with the ableſt and beſt Men of the Nation, to carry on the Cauſe of Liberty, to the Encourage⯑ment of Religion, Virtue, and Honour. Thoſe Perſons at the Helm are ſo uſeful, and in themſelves of ſuch Weight, that their ſtrict Alliance muſt needs tend to the univerſal Proſ⯑perity of the People. Camillo, it ſeems, pre⯑ſides [28] over the Deliberations of State; and is ſo highly valued by all Men for his ſingular Pro⯑bity, Courage, Affability, and Love of Man⯑kind, that his being placed in that Station has diſſipated the Fears of that People, who of all the World are the moſt jealous of their Liber⯑ty and Happineſs. The next Member of their Society is Horatio, who makes all the Publick Diſpatches. This Miniſter is Maſter of all the Languages in Uſe to great Perfection. He is held in the higheſt Veneration imaginable for a ſevere Honeſty, and Love of his Country: He lives in a Court unſullied with any of its Artifices, the Refuge of the Oppreſſed, and Terror of Oppreſſors. Martio has joined him⯑ſelf to this Council; a Man of moſt undaunt⯑ed Reſolution and great Knowledge in Mari⯑time Affairs; famous for deſtroying the Navy of the Franks, and ſingularly happy in one Particular, That he never preferred a Man who has not proved remarkably ſerviceable to his Country. Philander is mentioned with particu⯑lar Diſtinction; a Nobleman who has the moſt refined Taſt of the true Pleaſures and Elegance of Life, joined to an indefatigable Induſtry in Buſineſs: A Man eloquent in Aſ⯑ſemblies, agreeable in Converſation, and dex⯑trous in all Manner of Publick Negotiations. Theſe Letters add, That Verono, who is alſo of this Council, has lately ſet Sail to his Govern⯑ment of Patricia, with Deſign to confirm the Affections of the People in the Intereſts of his Queen. This Miniſter is Maſter of great Abi⯑lities, and is as induſtrious and reſtleſs for the Preſervation of the Liberties of the People, as the greateſt Enemy can be to ſubvert them. The Influence of theſe Perſonages, who are Men of ſuch diſtinguiſhed Parts and Virtues, [29] makes the People enjoy the utmoſt Tranquility in the Midſt of a War, and gives them undoubt⯑ed Hopes of a ſecure Peace from their Vigilance and Integrity.

This was long ago a witty Author's Lamenta⯑tion, but the Evil ſtill continues; and if a Man of any Delicacy were to attend the Diſcourſes of the young Fellows of this Age, they would believe there were none but Proſtitutes to make the Objects of Paſſion. So true it is what the Author of the above Verſes ſaid, a little before his Death, of the modern Pretenders to Gal⯑lantry: ‘"They ſet up for Wits in this Age, by ſaying when they are Sober, what they of the laſt ſpoke only when they were Drunk."’ But Cupid is not only Blind at preſent, but Dead⯑drunk; he has loſt all his Faculties: Elſe how ſhould Celia be ſo long a Maid with that agreea⯑ble Behaviour? Corinna, with that ſprightly Wit? Lesbia, with that Heavenly Voice? And Sachariſſa, with all thoſe Excellencies in one Perſon, frequent the Park, the Play, and murder the poor Tits that drag her to publick Places, and not a Man turn pale at her Appearance? But ſuch is the fallen State of Love, that if it were not for honeſt Cynthio, [30] who is true to the Cauſe, we ſhould hardly have a Pattern left of the ancient Worthies that Way: And indeed he has but very little Encourage⯑ment to perſevere; but he has a Devotion, ra⯑ther than Love, for his Miſtreſs; and ſays,

But the Stars I am ſo intimately acquainted with, that I can aſſure him he will never have her: For would you believe it, tho' Cynthio has Wit, Good Senſe, Fortune, and his very Being depends upon her, the Termagant for whom he fighs, is in Love with a Fellow, who ſtares in the Glaſs all the Time he is with her, and lets her plainly ſee, ſhe may poſſibly be his Rival, but never his Miſtreſs. Yet Cynthio, the ſame unhappy Man whom I mentioned in my firſt Narrative, pleaſes himſelf with a vain Imagina⯑tion, that with the Language of his Eyes, now he has found who ſhe is, he ſhall conquer her, though her Eyes are intent upon one who looks from her; which is ordinary with the Sex. It is certainly a Miſtake in the Ancients, to draw the little Gentleman, Love, as a blind Boy; for his real Character is, a little Thief that ſquints. For ask Mrs. Meddle, who is a Confident, or Spy, upon all the Paſſions in Town, and ſhe'll tell you, that the Whole is a Game of Croſs Purpoſes. The Lover is generally purſuing one who is in Purſuit of another, and running from one that deſires to meet him. Nay, the Nature of this Paſſion is ſo juſtly repreſented in a ſquinting little Thief, (who is always in a Double Action) that do but obſerve Clariſſa [31] next Time you ſee her, and you'll find, when her Eyes have made their ſoft Tour round the Company, ſhe makes no Stay on him they ſay ſhe is to marry, but reſts Two Seconds of a Mi⯑nute on Wildair, who neither looks nor thinks on her, or any Woman elſe. However, Cynthio had a Bow from her t'other Day, upon which he is very much come to himſelf; and I heard him ſend his Man of an Errand Yeſterday with⯑out any Manner of Heſitation; a Quarter of an Hour after which he reckoned Twenty, re⯑member'd he was to ſup with a Friend, and went exactly to his Appointment. I ſent to know how he did this Morning, and I find he hath not forgot that he ſpoke to me Yeſter⯑day.

This Week being Sacred to Holy Things, and no publick Diverſions allowed, there has been taken Notice of, even here, a little Treatiſe, called, A Project for the Advancement of Reli⯑gion: Dedicated to the Counteſs of Berkeley. The Title was ſo uncommon, and promiſed ſo peculiar a Way of Thinking, that every Man here has read it, and as many as have done ſo, have approved it. It is written with the Spirit of one who has ſeen the World enough to un⯑dervalue it with good Breeding. The Author muſt certainly be a Man of Wiſdom, as well as Piety, and have ſpent much Time in the Ex⯑erciſe of both. The real Cauſes of the Decay of the Intereſt of Religion, are ſet forth in a clear and lively Manner, without unſeaſonable Paſſions; and the whole Air of the Book, as to the Language, the Sentiments, and the Reaſon⯑ings, ſhow it was written by one whoſe Virtue ſits eaſie about him, and to whom Vice is throughly contemptible. It was ſaid by one of [32] this Company, alluding to that Knowledge of the World the Author ſeems to have, the Man writes much like a Gentleman, and goes to Hea⯑ven with a very good Mien.

Letters from Italy ſay, That the Marquis de Prie, upon the Receipt of an Expreſs from the Court of Vienna, went immediately to the Pa⯑lace of Cardinal Paulucci, Miniſter of State to his Holineſs, and demanded in the Name of his Imperial Majeſty, that King Charles ſhould be forthwith acknowledged King of Spain, by a ſolemn Act of the Congregation of Cardinals appointed for that Purpoſe: He declared at the ſame Time, That if the leaſt Heſitation were made in this moſt important Article of the late Treaty, he ſhould not only be obliged to leave Rome himſelf, but alſo tranſmit his Maſter's Orders to the Imperial Troops to face about, and return into the Eccleſiaſtical Dominions. When the Cardinal reported this Meſſage to the Pope, his Holineſs was ſtruck with ſo ſenſible an Affliction, that he burſt into Tears. His Sor⯑row was aggravated by Letters which imme⯑diately after arrived from the Court of Madrid, wherein his Nuncio acquainted him, That upon the News of his Accommodation with the Em⯑peror, he had received a Meſſage to forbear com⯑ing to Court; and the People were ſo highly pro⯑voked, that they could hardly be reſtrain'd from inſulting his Palace. Theſe Letters add, That the King of Denmark was gone from Florence to Piſa, and from Piſa to Leghorn, where the Go⯑vernour paid his Majeſty all imaginable Ho⯑nours. The King deſigned to go from thence to Lucca, where a Magnificent Tournament was prepared for his Diverſion. An Engliſh Man of War, which came from Port Mahon to Leghorn [33] in 6 Days, brought Advice. That the Fleet com⯑manded by Admiral Whitaker was ſafely ar⯑rived at Barcelona, with the Troops and Ammu⯑nition which he had taken in at Naples.

General Boneval, Governo of Commacchio, had ſummoned the Magiſtrates of all the Towns near that Place to appear before him, and take an Oath of Fidelity to his Imperial Majeſty, commanding alſo the Gentry to pay him Ho⯑mage, on Pain of Death and Confiſcation of Goods. Advices from Swiſſerland inform us, That the Bankers of Geneva were utterly rui⯑ned by the Failure of Mr. Bernard. They add, That the Deputies of the Swiſs Cantons were returned from Soleure, where they were aſſem⯑bled at the Inſtance of the French Ambaſſador; but were very much diſſatisfied with the Re⯑ception they had from that Miniſter. 'Tis true, he omitted no Civilities, or Expreſſions of Friendſhip from his Maſter, but he took no Notice of their Penſions and Arrears; what further provoked their Indignation, was, That inſtead of 25 Piſtoles formerly allowed to each Member for their Charge in coming to the Diet, he had preſented them with 6 only. They write from Dreſden, That King Auguſtus was ſtill buſie in recruiting his Cavalry, and that the Daniſh Troops, which lately ſerved in Hun⯑gary, had Orders to be in Saxony in the Middle of May, and that his Majeſty of Denmark was expected at Dreſden in the Beginning of that Month. King Auguſtus makes great Prepara⯑tions for his Reception, and has appointed Six⯑ty Coaches, each drawn by Six Horſes, for that Purpoſe: The Interview of theſe Princes af⯑fords great Matter for Speculation. Letters from Paris of the 22d of this Month ſay, That Mareſchal Harcourt and the Duke of Berwick [34] were preparing to go into Alſace and Dauphiné, but that their Troops were in Want of all Man⯑ner of Neceſſaries. The Court of France had received Advices from Madrid, That on the 7th of this Month the States of Spain had with much Magnificence acknowledged the Prince of Aſturias Preſumptive Heir of the Crown. This was performed at Buen Retiro; the Depu⯑ties took the Oaths on that Occaſion from the Hands of Cardinal Portocarrero. Theſe Ad⯑vices add, That it was ſignified to the Pope's Nuncio, by Order of Council, to depart from that Court in 24 Hours, and that a Guard was accordingly appointed to conduct him to Bay⯑onne.

Letters from the Hague of the 26th Inſtant inform us, That Prince Eugene was to ſet out the next Day for Bruſſels, to put all Things in a Readineſs for opening the Campaign. They add, That the Grand Penſioner having reported to the Duke of Marlborough what paſſed in the laſt Conference with Mr. Rouille, his Grace had taken a Reſolution immediately to return to Great Britain, to communicate to Her Majeſty all that has been tranſacted in that important Affair.

The Nature of my Miſcellaneous Work is ſuch, that I ſhall always take the Liberty to tell for News ſuch Things (let 'em have happened never ſo much before the Time of Writing) as have eſcaped publick Notice, or have been miſ⯑repreſented to the World, provided that I am ſtill within Rules, and treſpaſs not as a Tatler any further than in an Incorrectneſs of Style, and writing in an Air of common Speech. Thus if any Thing that is ſaid, even of old Anchiſes or Aeneas, be ſet by me in a different Light than has [35] hitherto been hit upon, in order to inſpire the Love and Admiration of worthy Actions, you will, Gentle Reader, I hope, accept of it for In⯑telligence you had not before. But I am going upon a Narrative, the Matter of which I know to be true: It is not only doing Juſtice to the deceas'd Merit of ſuch Perſons, as, had they li⯑ved, would not have had it in their Power to thank me, but alſo an Inſtance of the Greatneſs of Spirit in the loweſt of Her Majeſty's Subjects. Take it as follows:

At the Siege of Namur by the Allies, there were in the Ranks of the Company commanded by Captain Pincent, in Colonel Frederick Hamil⯑ton's Regiment, one Unnion a Corporal, and one Valentine a private Centinel: There happened between theſe Two Men a Diſpute about a Mat⯑ter of Love, which, upon ſome Aggravations, grew to an irreconcileable Hatred. Unnion be⯑ing the Officer of Valentine, took all Opportuni⯑ties even to ſtrike his Rival, and profeſs the Spite and Revenge which moved him to it. The Centinel bore it without Reſiſtance, but frequent⯑ly ſaid, He would die to be revenged of that Tyrant. They had ſpent whole Months thus, one injuring, the other complaining; when in the Midſt of this Rage towards each other, they were commanded upon the Attack of the Ca⯑ſtle, where the Corporal received a Shot in the Thigh, and fell; the French preſſing on, and he expecting to be trampled to Death, called out to his Enemy, Ah, Valentine! Can you leave me here? Valentine immediately ran back, and in the Midſt of a thick Fire of the French, took the Corporal upon his Back, and brought him thro' all that Danger as far as the Abbey of Salſine, where a Cannon-Ball took off his Head: His Bo⯑dy fell under his Enemy whom he was carrying [36] off. Unnion immediately forgot his Wound, roſe up, tearing his Hair, and then threw himſelf up⯑on the bleeding Carcaſs, crying, Ah Valentine! Was it for me, who have ſo barbarouſly uſed thee, that thou haſt died? I will not live after thee. He was not by any Means to be forced from the Body, but was removed with it bleed⯑ing in his Arms, and attended with Tears by all their Comrades, who knew their Enmity. When he was brought to a Tent, his Wounds were dreſſed by Force; but the next Day, ſtill calling upon Valentine, and lamenting his Cruel⯑ties to him, he died in the Pangs of Remorſe and Deſpair.

It may be a Queſtion among Men of Noble Sentiments, Whether of theſe unfortunate Per⯑ſons had the greater Soul, he that was ſo gene⯑rous as to venture his Life for his Enemy, or he who could not ſurvive the Man that died, in lay⯑ing upon him ſuch an Obligation?

When we ſee Spirits like theſe in a People, to what Heights may we not ſuppoſe their Glory may ariſe, but (as it is excellently ob⯑ſerved by Salluſt) it is not only to the general Bent of a Nation that great Revolutions are owing, but to the extraordinary Genio's that lead 'em. On which Occaſion he proceeds to ſay, That the Roman Greatneſs was neither to be attributed to their ſuperior Poli y, for in that the Carthaginians excelled; nor to their Valour, for in that the French were preferable; but to particular Men, who were born for the Good of their Country, and formed for great Attempts. This he ſays to introduce the Characters of Caeſar and Cato. It would be entring into too weighty a Diſcourſe for this Place, if I attempted to ſhow, that our Na⯑tion has produced as great and able Men for [37] publick Affairs as any other. But I believe, the Reader outruns me, and fixes his Imagination upon the Duke of Marlborough. It is, me⯑thinks, a pleaſing Reflection to conſider the Diſpenſations of Providence in the Fortune of this Illuſtrious Man, who, in the Space of Forty Years, has paſſed through all the Grada⯑tions of Humane Life, till he has aſcended to the Character of a Prince, and become the Scourge of a Tyrant, who ſate in one of the greateſt Thrones of Europe, before the Man who was to have the greateſt Part in his Downfal had made one Step in the World. But ſuch Elevations are the Natural Conſe⯑quences of an exact Prudence, a calm Courage, a well governed Temper, a patient Ambition, and an affable Behaviour. Theſe Arts, as they are the Steps to his Greatneſs, ſo they are the Pillars of it now it is raiſed. To this her Glo⯑rious Son, Great Britain is indebted for the hap⯑py Conduct of her Arms, in whom ſhe can boaſt, She has produced a Man formed by Na⯑ture to lead a Nation of Heroes.

I AM juſt come from viſiting Sappho, a fine Lady, who writes Verſes, ſings, dances, and can ſay and do whatever ſhe pleaſes, without the Imputation of any Thing that can injure her Character; for ſhe is ſo well known to have no Paſſion but Self-Love, or Folly but Affectation, that now upon any Occaſion, they only cry, 'Tis her Way, and That's ſo like her, [38] without further Reflection. As I came into the Room, ſhe cries, Oh! Mr. Bickerſtaff, I am utterly undone! I have broke that pretty Italian Fan I ſhowed you when you were here laſt, wherein were ſo admirably drawn our Firſt Parents in Paradiſe aſleep in each other's Arms. But there is ſuch an Affinity between Painting and Poetry, that I have been impro⯑ving the Images which were raiſed by that Picture, by reading the ſame Repreſentation in Two of our greateſt Poets. Look you, here are the Paſſages in Milton and in Dryden. All Milton's Thoughts are wonderfully juſt and na⯑tural, in this inimitable Deſcription which Adam makes of himſelf in the Eighth Book of Paradiſe Loſt. But there is none of them finer than that contained in the following Lines, where he tells us his Thoughts when he was falling aſleep a little after his Creation:

But now I can't forgive this odious Thing: This Dryden, who, in his State of Innocence, has given my Great-Grandmother Eve the ſame Apprehenſion of Annihilation on a very diffe⯑rent Occaſion: As Adam pronounces it of himſelf. when he was ſeized with a pleaſing Kind of Stupor and Deadneſs, Eve fancies her⯑ſelf [39] falling away, and diſſolving in the Hurry of a Rapture. However, the Verſes are very good, and I don't know but it may be natural what ſhe ſays. I'll read 'em:

She went on, and ſaid a Thouſand good Things at Random, but ſo ſtrangely mixed, that you would be apt to ſay, All her Wit is meer good Luck, and not the Effect of Reaſon and Judgment. When I made my Eſcape hi⯑ther, I found a Gentleman playing the Critick on Two other great Poets, even Virgil and Ho⯑mer. He was obſerving, that Virgil is more judicious than the other in the Epithets he gives his Hero. Homer's uſual Epithet, ſaid he, is [...], or [...], and his Indiſcre⯑tion has been often rallied by the Criticks, for mentioning the Nimbleneſs of Foot in Achilles, though he deſcribes him ſtanding, ſitting, lying down, fighting, eating, drinking, or in any other Circumſtance, however foreign or repugnant to Speed and Activity. Virgil's common Epi⯑thet to Aeneas, is Pius, or Pater. I have there⯑fore conſidered, ſaid he, what Paſſage there is in any of his Hero's Actions, where either of theſe Appellations would have been moſt im⯑proper, to ſee if I could catch him at the ſame Fault with Homer: And this, I think, is his Meeting with Dido in the Cave, where Pius [40] Aeneas would have been Abſurd, and Pater Aeneas a Burleſque: The Poet has therefore wiſely dropped 'em both for Dux Trojanus.

Which he has repeated twice in Juno's Speech, and his own Narration: For he very well knew, a looſe Action might be conſiſtent enough with the uſual Manners of a Soldier, tho' it became neither the Chaſtity of a Pious Man, nor the Gravity of the Father of a People.

While other Parts of the Town are amuſed with the preſent Actions, we generally ſpend the Evening at this Table in Enquiries into An⯑tiquity, and think any Thing News which gives us new Knowledge. Thus we are ma⯑king a very pleaſant Entertainment to our ſelves, in putting the Actions of Homer's Iliad into an exact Journal.

This Poem is introduced by Chryſes, King of Chryſeis, and Prieſt of Apollo, who comes to re⯑demand his Daughter, who was carried off at the Taking of that City, and given to Aga⯑memnon for his Part of the Booty. The Refu⯑ſal he received enrages Apollo, who for Nine Days ſhowered down Darts upon them, which occaſioned the Peſtilence.

The 10th Day Achilles aſſembles the Coun⯑cil, and encourages Calchas to ſpeak for the Surrender of Chryſeis to appeaſe Apollo. Aga⯑memnon and Achilles ſtorm at one another, notwithſtanding which Agamemnon will not releaſe his Priſoner, unleſs he has Briſeis in her Stead. After long Conteſtations, wherein Aga⯑memnon gives a glorious Character of Achil⯑les's Valour, he determines to reſtore Briſeis to [41] her Father, and ſends Two Heralds to fetch away Chryſeis from Achilles, who abandons him⯑ſelf to Sorrow and Deſpair. His Mother Thetis came to comfort him under his Affliction, and promiſes to repreſent his ſorrowful Lamenta⯑tions to Jupiter: But he could not attend it; for the Evening before, he had appointed to divert himſelf for Two Days beyond the Seas with the harmleſs Aethiopians.

'Twas the 21ſt Day after Chryſeis's Arrival to the Camp, that Thetis went very early to demand an Audience of Jupiter. The Means he uſes to ſatisfie her were, to perſwade the Greeks to attack the Trojans; that ſo they might perceive the Conſequence of contemning Achil⯑les, and the Miſeries they ſuffer if he does not head them. The next Night he orders Aga⯑memnon, in a Dream, to attack them; who was deceived with the Hopes of obtaining a Victo⯑ry, and alſo taking the City without ſharing the Honour with Achilles.

On the 22d in the Morning, he aſſembles the Council, and having made a Feint of raiſing the Siege and retiring, he declares to them his Dream; and, together with Neſtor and Ulyſſes, reſolves on an Engagement.

This was the 23d Day, which is full of Inci⯑dents, and which continues from almoſt the Beginning of the Second Canto to the Eighth. The Armies being then drawn up in View of one another, Hector brings it about, that Mene⯑laus and Paris, the Two Perſons concerned in the Quarrel, ſhould decide it by a ſingle Com⯑bat; which tending to the Advantage of Mene⯑laus, was interrupted by a Cowardice infuſed by Minerva: Then both Armies engage, where the Trojans have the Diſadvantage; but being afterwards animated by Apollo, they repulſe [42] the Enemy, yet they are once again forced to give Ground; but their Affairs were retrieved by Hector, who has a ſingle Combat with Ajax. The Gods threw themſelves into the Battle, Juno and Minerva took the Gracians Part, and Apollo and Mars the Trojans: But Mars and Ve⯑nus are both wounded by Diomedes.

The Truce for burying the Slain ended the 23d Day; after which the Greeks threw up a great Intrenchment to ſecure their Navy from Danger. Councils are held on both Sides. On the Morning of the 24th Day, the Battle is re⯑newed, but in a very diſadvantagious Manner to the Greeks, who were beaten back to their Retrenchments. Agamemnon being in Deſpair at this ill Succeſs, propoſes to the Counſel to quit the Enterprize and retire from Troy. But by the Advice of Neſtor, he is perſwaded to re⯑gain Achilles, by returning Chryſeis, and ſending him conſiderable Preſents. Hereupon, Ulyſſes and Ajax are ſent to that Hero, who conti⯑nues inflexible in his Anger. Ulyſſes, at his Return, joins himſelf with Diomedes, and goes in the Night to gain Intelligence of the Ene⯑my: They enter into their very Camp, where, finding the Centinels aſleep, they made a great Slaughter. Rheſus, who was juſt then arrived with Recruits from Thrace for the Trojans, was killed in that Action. Here ends the 10th Can⯑to. The Sequel of this Journal will be inſerted in the next Article from this Place.

We hear from Italy, That notwithſtanding the Pope has received a Letter from the Duke of Anjou, demanding of him to explain himſelf upon the Affair of acknowledging King Charles, his Holineſs has not yet thought fit to ſend any Anſwer to that Prince. The Court of Rome [43] appears very much mortified, that they are not to ſee his Majeſty of Denmark in that City, ha⯑ving perhaps given themſelves vain Hopes from a Viſit made by a Proteſtant Prince to that See. The Pope has diſpatched a Gentleman to com⯑pliment his Majeſty, and ſent the King a Pre⯑ſent of all the Curioſities and Antiquities of Rome, repreſented in Seventeen Volumes, very richly bound, which were taken out of the Vatican Library. Letters from Genoa of the 14th Inſtant ſay, A Felucca was arrived there in Five Days from Marſeilles, with an Account, That the People of that City had made an In⯑ſurrection, by reaſon of the Scarcity of Provi⯑ſions; and that the Intendant had ordered ſome Companies of Marines, and the Men belonging to the Gallies, to ſtand to their Arms to pro⯑tect him from Violence; but that he began to be in as much Apprehenſion of his Guards, as thoſe from whom they were to defend him. When that Veſſel came away, the Soldiers murmured publickly for Want of Pay; and it was generally believed, they would pillage the Magazines, as the Garriſons of Grenoble, and other Towns of France, had already done. A Veſſel which lately came into Leghorn brought Advice, That the Britiſh Squadron was arrived at Port Mahon, where they were taking in more Troops, in order to attempt the Relief of Alicant, which ſtill made a very vigorous Defence. 'Tis ſaid, Admiral Bing will be at the Head of that Expedition. The King of Denmark was gone from Leghorn towards Lucca.

They write from Vienna, That in caſe the Allies ſhould enter into a Treaty of Peace with France, Count Zinzendorf will be appointed Firſt Plenipotentiary, the Count de Goes the Se⯑cond, [44] and Monſieur Van Konsbruch a Third. Major-General Palmes, Envoy Extraordinary from Her Britannick Majeſty, has been very ur⯑gent with that Court to make their utmoſt Ef⯑forts againſt France the enſuing Campaign, in order to oblige it to ſuch a Peace, as may eſtabliſh the Tranquility of Europe for the fu⯑ture.

We are alſo informed, That the Pope uſes all imaginable Shifts to elude the Treaty con⯑cluded with the Emperor, and that he demand⯑ed the immediate Reſtitution of Commacchio, inſiſting alſo, That his Imperial Majeſty ſhould ask Pardon, and deſire Abſolution for what has formerly paſſed, before he would ſolemnly ac⯑knowledge King Charles: But this was utterly refuſed.

They hear at Vienna, by Letters from Con⯑ſtantinople, dated the 22d of February laſt, That on the 12th of that Month the Grand Signior took Occaſion, at the Celebration of the Feſti⯑vals of the Muſſelmen, to ſet all the Chriſtian Slaves which were in the Galleys at Liberty.

Advices from Swiſſerland import, That the Preachers of the County of Tockenburg conti⯑nue to create new Jealouſies of the Proteſtants, and ſome Diſturbances lately happened there on that Account. The Proteſtants and Papiſts in the Town of Hamman go to Divine Service one after another in the ſame Church, as is uſual in many other Parts of Swiſſerland; but on Sunday the 10th Inſtant, the Popiſh Curate having ended his Service, attempted to hinder the Proteſtants from entring into the Church according to Cuſtom; but the Proteſtants brisk⯑ly attacked him and his Party, and broke into it by Force.

[45] Laſt Night, between Seven and Eight, his Grace the Duke of Marlborough arrived at Court.

The preſent great Captains of the Age, the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, ha⯑ving been the Subject of the Diſcourſe of the laſt Company I was in, it has naturally led me into a Conſideration of Alexander and Caeſar, the Two greateſt Names which ever appeared before this Century. In order to enter into their Characters, there needs no more but exa⯑mining their Behaviour in Parallel Circum⯑ſtances. It muſt be allowed, That they had an equal Greatneſs of Soul; but Caeſar's was more corrected and allayed by a Mixture of Prudence and Circumſpection. This is ſeen conſpicuouſly in one Particular in their Hiſto⯑ries, wherein they ſeem to have ſhown exactly the Difference of their Tempers. When Alex⯑ander, after a long Courſe of Victories, would ſtill have led his Soldiers farther from Home, they unanimouſly refuſed to follow him. We meet with the like Behaviour in Caeſar's Army in the Midſt of his March againſt Arioviſtus. Let us therefore obſerve the Conduct of our Two Generals in ſo nice an Affair: And here we find Alexander at the Head of his Army, upbraiding them with their Cowardice, and Meanneſs of Spirit; and in the End, telling them plainly, He would go forward himſelf, though not a Man followed him. This ſhow⯑ed indeed an exceſſive Bravery; but how would the Commander have come off, if the Speech had not ſucceeded, and the Soldiers had taken him at his Word? The Project ſeems of a Piece with Mr. Bays's in the Rehearſal, who, to gain a Clap in his Prologue, comes out, with a ter⯑rible Fellow in a Fur-Cap following him, and [46] tells his Audience, If they would not like his Play, he would lie down and have his Head ſtruck off. If this gained a Clap, all was well; but if not, there was nothing left but for the Executioner to do his Office. But Caeſar would not leave the Succeſs of his Speech to ſuch un⯑certain Events: He ſhews his Men the Unrea⯑ſonableneſs of their Fears in an obliging Man⯑ner, and concludes, That if none elſe would march along with them, he would go himſelf with the Tenth Legion, for he was aſſured of their Fidelity and Valour, though all the reſt forſook him; not but that in all Probability they were as much againſt the March as the reſt. The Reſult of all was very natural: The Tenth Legion fired with the Praiſes of their Ge⯑neral, ſend Thanks to him for the juſt Opinion he entertains of 'em; and the reſt, aſhamed to be outdone, aſſure him, That they are as rea⯑dy to follow where he pleaſes to lead them, as any other Part of the Army.

EAſter Day being a Time when you cannot well meet with any but humble Adven⯑tures; and there being ſuch a Thing as low Gallantry, as well as low Comedy, Colonel Ramble and my ſelf went early this Morning into the Fields, which were ſtrewed with Shep⯑herds and Shepherdeſſes, but indeed of a diffe⯑rent Turn from the Simplicity of thoſe of Ar⯑cadia. Every Hedge was conſcious of more than what the Repreſentations of enamoured Swains admit of. While we were ſurveying the Crowd around us, we ſaw at a Diſtance a Com⯑pany coming towards Pancras-Church; but tho' there was not much Diſorder, we thought we ſaw the Figure of a Man ſtuck through with a Sword, and at every Step ready to fall, if a Woman by his Side had not ſupported him; the reſt followed Two and Two. When we came nearer this Appearance, who ſhould it be but Monſieur Guardeloop, mine and Ramble's French Taylor, attended by others, leading one of Madam Depingle's Maids to the Church, in order to their Eſpouſals. It was his Sword rucked ſo high above his Waſt, and the Cir⯑cumflex which Perſons of his Profeſſion take in their Walking, that made him appear at a Diſtance wounded and falling. But the Morning being rainy, methought the March to thi [...] Wedding was but too lively a Picture of Wed⯑lock it ſelf. They ſeemed both to have [...] Month's Mind to make the beſt of their Wa [...] ſingle; yet both tugged Arm in Arm; an [...] when they were in a dirty Way, he was bu [...] deeper in the Mire, by endeavouring to pu [...] out his Companion, and yet without helpin [...] her. The Bridegroom's Feathers in his Hat [...] drooped, one of his Shoes had loſt an He [...] [51] In ſhort, he was in his whole Perſon and Dreſs ſo extremely ſouſed, that there did not appear one Inch or ſingle Thread about him unmar⯑ried. Pardon me, that the melancholy Object ſtill dwells upon me ſo far as to reduce me to Punning. However, we attended to the Chap⯑pel, where we ſtay'd to hear the irrevocable Words pronounced upon our old Servant, and made the beſt of our Way to Town. I took a Reſolution to forbear all married Perſons, or any in Danger of being ſuch, for Four and twenty Hours at leaſt; therefore dreſſed, and went to viſit Florimell, the vaineſt Thing in Town, where I knew would drop in Colonel Picket, juſt come from the Camp, her profeſſed Admirer. He is of that Order of Men who has much Honour and Merit, but withal a Cox⯑comb; the other of that Set of Females who has Innocence and Wit, but the Firſt of Co⯑quets. It is eaſy to believe, Theſe muſt be Admirers of each other. She ſays, The Colo⯑nel rides the beſt of any Man in England: The Colonel ſays, She talks the beſt of any Wo⯑man. At the ſame Time, he underſtands Wit juſt as ſhe does Horſemanſhip. You are to know, theſe extraordinary Perſons ſee each other dai⯑ly; and they themſelves, as well as the Town, think it will be a Match: But it can never happen that they can come to the Point; for inſtead of addreſſing to each other, they ſpend their whole Time in Reports of themſelves: He is ſatisfied if he can convince her he is a fine Gentleman, and a Man of Conſequence; and ſhe, in appearing to him an accompliſhed Lady and a Wit, without further Deſign. Thus he tells her of his Manner of poſting his Men at ſuch a Paſs, with the Numbers he com⯑manded on that Detachment: She tells him, [52] how ſhe was dreſſed on ſuch a Day at Court, and what Offers were made her the Week following. She ſeems to hear the Repetition of his Men's Names with Admiration; and waits only to anſwer him with as falſe a Mu⯑ſter of Lovers. They talk to each other not to be informed, but approved. Thus they are ſo like, that they are to be ever diſtant, and the Parallel Lines may run together for ever, but never meet.

This Evening the Comedy, called Epſom-Wells, was acted for the Benefit of Mr. Bullock, who, though he is a Perſon of much Wit and Ingenuity, has a peculiar Talent of looking like a Fool, and therefore excellently well qua⯑lified for the Part of Bisket in this Play. I cannot indeed ſufficiently admire his Way of bearing a Beating, as he does in this Drama, and that with ſuch a Natural Air and Proprie⯑ty of Folly, that one cannot help wiſhing the Whip in one's own Hand; ſo richly does he ſeem to deſerve his Chaſtiſement. Skilful Actors think it a very peculiar Happineſs to play in a Scene with ſuch as Top their Parts. Therefore I cannot but ſay, when the Judgment of any good Author directs him to write a Beating for Mr. Bullock from Mr. William Pen⯑kethman, or for Mr. William Penkethman from Mr. Bullock, thoſe excellent Players ſeem to be in their moſt ſhining Circumſtances, and pleaſe me more, but with a different Sort of Delight than that which I receive from thoſe Grave Scenes of Brutus and Caſſius, or Anthony and Ventidius. The whole Comedy is very juſt, and the Low Part of Humane Life repreſented with much Humour and Wit.

We are adviſed from Vienna, by Letters of the 20th Inſtant, That the Emperor hath lately added 20 new Members to his Council of State, but they have not yet taken their Places at the Board. General Thaun is returned from Baden, his Health being ſo well re-eſtabliſhed by the Baths of that Place, that he deſigns to ſet out next Week for Turin, to his Command of the Imperial Troops in the Service of the Duke of Savoy. His Imperial Majeſty has advanced his Brother Count Henry Thaun to be a Brigadier, and a Councellor of the Aulick Council of War. Theſe Letters import, That King Sta⯑niſlaus and the Swediſh General Craſſau are di⯑recting their March to the Nieper, to join the King of Sweden's Army in Ukrania: That the States of Auſtria have furniſhed Marſhal Heiſter with a conſiderable Sum of Money, to enable him to puſh on the War vigorouſly in Hungary, where all Things as yet are in perfect Tranqui⯑lity: And that General Thungen has been very importunate for a ſpeedy Reinforcement of the Forces on the Upper Rhine, repreſenting at the ſame Time, what Miſeries the Inhabitants muſt neceſſarily undergo, if the Deſigns of France on thoſe Parts be not ſpeedily and effectually pre⯑vented.

Letters from Rome, dated the 13th Inſtant, ſay, That on the preceding Sunday his Holineſs was carried in an open Chair from St. Peter's to St. Mary's, attended by the Sacred College, in Cavalcade; and, after Maſs, diſtributed ſeveral Dowries for the Marriage of poor and diſtreſ⯑ſed Virgins. The Proceedings of that Court are very dilatory concerning the Recognition of King Charles, notwithſtanding the preſſing In⯑ſtances of the Marquis de Prie, who has decla⯑red, That if this Affair be not wholly concluded [54] by the 15th Inſtant, he will retire from that Court, and order the Imperial Troops to return into the Ecclefiaſtical State. On the other Hand, the Duke of Anjou's Miniſter has, in the Name of his Maſter, demanded of his Holineſs to ex⯑plain himſelf on that Affair; which, 'tis ſaid, will be finally determined in a Conſiſtory to be held on Monday next; the Duke d'Uzeda de⯑figning to delay his Departure till he ſees the Iſſue. Theſe Letters alſo ſay, That the Court was mightily alarmed at the News which they received by an Expreſs from Ferrara, that Ge⯑neral Boneval, who commands in Commachio, had ſent Circular Letters to the Inhabitants of St. Alberto, Longaſtrino, Fillo, and other adja⯑cent Parts, enjoining them to come and ſwear Fealty to the Emperor, and receive new Inve⯑ſtitures of their Fiefs from his Hands. Letters from other Parts of Italy ſay, That the King of Denmark continues at Lucca; that four Engliſh and Dutch Men of War were ſeen off of Oneglia, bound for Final, in order to tranſport the Troops deſigned for Barcelona; and that Her Majeſty's Ship the Colcheſter arriv'd at Leghorn the 4th In⯑ſtant from Port Mahon, with Advice, That Major-General Stanhope deſigned to part from thence the 1ſt Inſtant with 6 or 7000 Men to attempt the Relief of the Caſtle of Alicant.

Our laſt Advices from Berlin, bearing Date the 27th Inſtant, import, That the King was gone to Linum, and the Queen to Meckleuburg; but that their Majeſties deſigned to return the next Week to Oranienburg, where a great Chaſe of Wild-Beaſts was prepared for their Diverſion, and from thence they intend to proceed toge⯑ther to Potſdam; That the Prince Royal was ſet out for Brahant, but intended to make ſome ſhort Stay at Hanever, Theſe Letters alſo in⯑form us, That they are adviſed from Obory, [55] that the King of Sweden, being on his March towards Holki, met General Reune with a Do⯑tachment of Muſcovites, who placing ſome Re⯑giments in Ambuſcade, attacked the Swedes in their Rear, and putting them to Flight, killed 2000 Men, the King himſelf having his Horſe ſhot under him.

We hear from Copenhagen, That the Ice being broke, the Sound is again open for the Ships; and that they hoped his Majeſty would return ſooner than they at firſt expected.

Letters from the Hague, dated May 4. N. S. ſay, That an Expreſs arrived there on the 1ſt from Prince Eugene to his Grace the Duke of Marlborough. The States are adviſed, That the Auxiliaries of Saxony were arrived on the Frontiers of the United Provinces; as alſo, That the Two Regiments of Wolfembuttel, and 4000 Troops from Wirtemberg, which are to ſerve in Flanders, re in full March thither. Letters from Flanders ſay, That the great Convoy of Ammunition and Proviſions which ſet out from Ghent for Liſle, was ſafely arrived at Courtray. We hear from Paris, That the King has order⯑ed the Militia on the Coaſts of Normandy and Bretagne to be in a Readineſs to march; and that the Court was in Apprehenſion of a De⯑ſcent, to animate the People to riſe in the Midſt of their preſent Hardſhips.

They write from Spain, That the Pope's Nun⯑cio left Madrid the 10th of April, in order to go to Bayonne; that the Marquis de Bay was at Badajos to obſerve the Motions of the Portu⯑gueze, and that the Count d'Eſtain, with a Bo⯑dy of 5000 Men, was on his March to attack Gironne. The Duke of Anjou has depoſed the Biſhop of Lerida, as being a Favourer of the Intereſt of King Charles; and has ſummoned a Convocation at Madrid, compoſed of the Arch⯑biſhops, [56] Biſhops and States of that Kingdom, wherein he hopes they will come to a Reſolu⯑tion to ſend for no more Bulls to Rome.

THE Play of The London Cuckolds was acted this Evening before a ſuitable Audience, who were extremely well diverted with that Heap of Vice and Abſurdity. The Indignation which Eugenio, who is a Gentleman of a juſt Taſt, has, upon Occaſion of ſeeing humane Na⯑ture fall ſo low in their Delights, made him, I thought, expatiate upon the Mention of this Play very agreeably. Of all Men living, ſaid he, I pity Players, (who muſt be Men of good Un⯑derſtanding to be capable of being ſuch) that they are obliged to repeat and aſſume proper Geſtures for repreſenting Things of which their Reaſon muſt be aſhamed, and which they muſt diſdain their Audience for approving. The A⯑mendment of theſe low Gratifications is only to be made by People of Condition, by encoura⯑ging the Preſentation of the Noble Characters drawn by Shakeſpeare and others, from whence it is impoſſible to return without ſtrong Impreſ⯑ſions of Honour and Humanity. On theſe Oc⯑caſions, Diſtreſs is laid before us with all its Cauſes and Conſequences, and our Reſentment placed according to the Merit of the Perſons af⯑flicted. Were Drama's of this Nature more ac⯑ceptable to the Taſt of the Town, Men who have Genius would bend their Studies to excel in 'em. How forcible an Effect this would have on our Minds, one needs no more than to obſerve [57] how ſtrongly we are touched by meer Pictures. Who can ſee Le Brun's Picture of the Battle of Porus, without entring into the Character of that fierce gallant Man, and being accordingly ſpurred to an Emulation of his Conſtancy and Courage? When he is falling with his Wound, the Fea⯑tures are at the ſame Time very terrible and languiſhing; and there is ſuch a ſtern Faintneſs diffuſed through all his Look, as is apt to move a kind of Horrour, as well as Pity in the Be⯑holder. This, I ſay, is an Effect wrought by meer Lights and Shades, conſider alſo a Repre⯑ſentation made by Words only, as in an Account given by a good Writer: Catiline in Salluſt makes juſt ſuch a Figure as Porus by Le Brun. It is ſaid of him, Catilina vero longe a ſuis inter Hoſtium Cadavera repertus eſt; paululum etiam ſpirans, Ferocitatemque Animi quam vivus habue⯑rat in Vultu retinens. ‘'Catiline was found kill'd far from his own Men among the dead Bo⯑dies of the Enemy: He ſeemed ſtill to breath, and ſtill retained in his Face the ſame Fierce⯑neſs he had when he was living."’ You have in that one Sentence a lively Impreſſion of his whole Life and Actions. What I would inſi⯑nuate from all this, is, That if the Painter and the Hiſtorian can do thus much in Colours and Language, what may not be performed by an excellent Poet? When the Character he draws is repreſented by the Perſon, the Manner, the Look, and the Motion, of an accompliſhed Play⯑er: If a Thing painted or related can irreſiſti⯑bly enter our Hearts, what may not be brought to paſs by ſeeing generous Things performed be⯑fore our Eyes? Eugenio ended his Diſcourſe, by recommending the apt Uſe of a Theatre, as the moſt agreeable and eaſie Method of making a polite and moral Gentry, which would end in rendring the reſt of the People regular in their [58] Behaviour, and ambitious of laudable Under⯑takings.

Letters f om Naples of the 9th Inſtant, N. S. adviſe, That Cardinal Grimani had ordered the Regiment commanded by General Pate to march towards Final, in order to embark for Catalonia, whither alſo a Thouſand Horſe are to be tranſ⯑ported from Sardinia, beſides the Troops which come from the Milaneſe. An Engliſh Man of War has taken Two Prizes, One a Veſſel of Mal⯑ta, the [...]ther of Genoa, both laden with Goods of the Enemy. They w ite from Florence of the 13th, That his Majeſty of Denmark had received a Courier from the Hague, with an Account of ſome Matters relating to the Treaty of a Peace; upon which he declared, that he thought it ne⯑ceſſary to haſten to his own Dominions.

Letters from Swiſſerland inform us, That the Effects of the great Scarcity of Corn in France we e felt at Geneva; the Magiſtrates of which City had appointed Deputies to treat with the Cantons of Bern and Zurich, for Leave to buy up ſuch Quantities of Grain within their Terri⯑tories as ſhould be thought neceſſary. The Pro⯑teſtants of Tockenburg are ſtill in Arms about the Convent of St. John, and have declared, That they will not lay them down, till they ſhall have ſufficient Security from the Roman Catho⯑licks, of living unmoleſted in the Exerciſe of their Religion. In the mean Time, the Deputies of Bern and Tockenburg have frequent Confe⯑rences at Zurich with the Regency of that Can⯑ton, to find out Methods for the quieting theſe Diſorders.

Letters from the Hague of the 3d of May ad⯑viſe, That the Prendent Rouille, after his laſt Conference with the Deputies of the States, had retired to Bodegrave, five Miles diſtant from [59] Worden, and expected the Return of a Courier from France on the 4th, with new Inſtructions. It is ſaid, if his Anſwer from the French Court ſhall not prove Satisfactory, he will be deſired to withdraw out of theſe Parts. In the mean Time it is alſo reported, That his Equipage, as an Ambaſſador on this great Occaſion, is actual⯑ly on the March towards him. They write from Flanders, That the great Convoy of Pro⯑viſions, which ſet out from Ghent, is ſafely ar⯑rived at Liſle. Thoſe Advices add, That the Enemy had aſſembled near Tournay a conſidera⯑ble Body of Troops drawn out of the Neigh⯑bouring Garriſons. Their High Mightineſſes ha⯑ving ſent Orders to their Miniſters at Hamburgh and Dantzick, to engage the Magiſtrates of thoſe Cities to forbid the Sale of Corn to the French, and to ſignify to them, That the Dutch Merchants will buy up as much of that Com⯑modity as they can ſpare. The Hamburghers have accordingly contracted with the Dutch, and refuſed any Commerce with the French on that Occaſion.

After the Laſſitude of a Day ſpent in the ſtrolling Manner, which is uſual with Men of Pleaſure in this Town, and with a Head full of a Million of Impertinencies, which had danced round it for Ten Hours together, I came to my Lodging, and haſtened to Bed. My Valet de Chambre knows my Univerſity. Trick of read⯑ing there; and he being a good Scholar for a Gentleman, ran over the Names of Horace, Ti⯑bullus, Ovid, and others, to know which I would have. Bring Virgil, ſaid I, and if I fall aſleep, take Care of the Candle. I read the Sixth Book over with the moſt exquiſite De⯑light, and had gone half through it a ſecond Time, when the pleaſing Idea's of Elyſian Fields, [60] deceaſed Worthies walking in them, ſincere Lo⯑vers enjoying their Languiſhment without Pain, Compaſſion for the unhappy Spirits who had miſpent their ſhort Day-light, and were exiled from the Seats of Bliſs for ever; I ſay, I was deep again in my Reading, when this Mixture of Images had taken Place of all others in my Imagination before, and lulled me into a Dream, from which I am juſt awake, to my great Diſ⯑advantage. The happy Manſions of Elyſium by Degrees ſeemed to be wafted from me, and the very Traces of my late walking Thoughts began to fade away, when I was caſt by a ſudden Whirlwind upon an Iſland, encompaſſed with a roaring and troubled Sea, which ſhak'd its very Centre, and rocked its Inhabitants as in a Cradle. The Iſlanders lay on their Faces with⯑out offering to look up, or hope for Preſerva⯑tion; all her Harbours were crowded with Mariners, and tall Veſſels of War lay in Dan⯑ger of being driven to Pieces on her Shores. Bleſs me! ſaid I, why have I lived in ſuch a Manner, that the Convulſion of Nature ſhould be ſo terrible to me, when I feel in my ſelf, that the better Part of me is to ſurvive it? Oh! may that be in Happineſs. A ſudden Shriek, in which the whole People on their Faces join⯑ed, interrupted my Soliloquy, and turned my Eyes and Attention to the Object which had given us that ſudden Start, in the Midſt of an inconſolable and ſpeechleſs Affliction. Imme⯑diately the Winds grew calm, the Waves ſubſided, and the People ſtood up, turning their Faces upon a magnificent Pile in the Midſt of the Iſland. There we beheld an Hero of a comely and erect Aſpect, but pale and languid, ſitting under a Canopy of State. By the Faces and dumb Sorrow of thoſe who attended, we thought him in the Article of Death. At a Diſtance ſate a Lady, whoſe Life ſeemed to [61] hang upon the ſame Thread with his: She kept her Eyes fixed upon him, and ſeemed to ſmother Ten Thouſand Thouſand nameleſs Things, which urged her Tenderneſs to claſp him in her Arms: But her Greatneſs of Spirit overcame thoſe Sentiments, and gave her Power to forbear diſturbing his laſt Moment; which immediately approached. The Hero looked up with an Air of Negligence, and Satiety of Be⯑ing, rather than of Pain to leave it; and leaning back his Head, expired.

When the Heroine, who ſate at a Diſtance, ſaw his laſt Inſtant come, ſhe threw her ſelf at his Feet, and kneeling, preſſed his Hand to her Lips; in which Poſture ſhe continued under the Agony of an unutterable Sorrow, till con⯑ducted from our Sight by her Attendants. That commanding Awe, which accompanies the Grief of great Minds, reſtrained the Multitude while in her Preſence; but as ſoon as ſhe retired, they gave Way to their Diſtraction, and all the Iſlanders called upon their deceaſed Hero. To him, methought, they cried out, as to a Guar⯑dian Being, and I gathered from their broken Accents, That it was he who had the Empire over the Ocean and its Powers, by which he had long protected the Iſland from Shipwreck and Inva⯑ſion. They now give a Looſe to their Moan, and think themſelves expoſed without Hopes of Humane or Divine Aſſiſtance. While the Peo⯑ple ran wild, and expreſſed all the different Forms of Lamentation, methought a Sable Cloud over-ſhadowed the whole Land, and co⯑vered its Inhabitants with Darkneſs: No Glimpſe of Light appeared, except one Ray from Heaven upon the Place in which the He⯑roine now ſecluded her ſelf from the World, with her Eyes fixed on thoſe Abodes to which her Conſort was aſcended. Methought a long Period of Time had paſſed away in Mourning [62] and in Darkneſs, when a Twilight began by Degrees to enlighten the Hemiſphere; and look⯑ing round me, I ſaw a Boat rowed towards the Shore, in which ſate a Perſonage adorned with Warlike Trophies, bearing on his left Arm a Shield, on which was engraven the Image of Victory, and in his Right Hand a Branch of O⯑live. His Viſage was at once ſo winning and ſo awful, that the Shield and the Olive ſeemed equally ſuitable to his Genius.

When this illuſtrious ^* Perſon touched on the Shore, he was received by the Acclamations of the People, and followed to the Palace of the Heroine. No Pleaſure in the Glory of her Arms, or the Acclamations of her applauding Subjects, were ever capable to ſuſpend her Sorrow for one Moment, till ſhe ſaw the Olive Branch in the Hand of that auſpicious Meſſenger. At that Sight, as Heaven beſtows its Bleſſings on the Wants and Importunities of Mortals, out of its Native Bounty, and not to encreaſe its own Power or Honour, in Compaſſion to the World, the Celeſtial Mourner was then firſt ſeen to turn her Regard to Things below; and taking the Branch out of the Warrior's Hand, looked at it with much Satisfaction, and ſpoke of the Bleſ⯑ſings of Peace, with a Voice and Accent, ſuch as that in which Guardian Spirits whiſper to dy⯑ing Penitents Aſſurances of Happineſs. The Air was huſhed, the Multitude attentive, and all Nature in a Pauſe, while ſhe was ſpeaking. But as ſoon as the Meſſenger of Peace had made ſome low Reply, in which, methought, I heard the Word Iberia, the Heroine aſſuming a more ſevere Air, but ſuch as ſpoke Reſolution, without Rage, returned him the Olive, and [63] again veiled her Face. Loud Cries and Claſhing of Arms immediately followed, which forced me from my charming Viſion, and drove me back to theſe Manſions of Care and Sorrow.

THis Evening we were entertained with The Old Batchelor, a Comedy of deſerved Re⯑putation. In the Character which gives Name to the Play, there is excellently repreſented the Reluctance of a battered Debauchee to come into the Trammels of Order and Decency: He neither languiſhes nor burns, but frets, for Love. The Gentlemen of more regular Behaviour are drawn with much Spirit and Wit, and the Dra⯑ma introduced by the Dialogue of the firſt Scens with uncommon, yet natural, Converſation. The Part of Fondlewife is a lively Image of the unſea⯑ſonable Fondneſs of Age and impotence. But in⯑ſtead of ſuch agreeable Works as theſe, the Town has this half Age been tormented with Inſects, called Eaſie Writers, whoſe Abilities Mr. Wicherly one Day deſcribed excellently well in one Word: That, ſaid he, among theſe Fellows is called Eaſy Writing, which any one may eaſily write. Such Jantie Scribblers are ſo juſtly laughed at for their Sonnets on Phillis and Chloris, and Fantaſtical Deſcriptions in 'em, that an ingenious Kinſman of mine, of the Family of the Staffs, Mr. Humphrey Wagſtaff by Name, has, to avoid their Strain, run into a Way perfectly new, and deſcribed Things exactly as they happen: He never forms Fields, or Nymphs, or Groves, where they are not, but [64] makes the Incidents juſt as they really appear. For an Example of it, I ſtole out of his Manu⯑ſcript the following Lines: They are a Deſcrip⯑tion of the Morning, but of the Morning in Town; nay, of the Morning at this End of the Town, where my Kinſman at preſent lodges.

All that I apprehend is, that dear Numps will be angry I have publiſhed theſe Lines; not that he has any Reaſon to be aſhamed of them, but for fear of thoſe Rogues, the Bane to all excel⯑lent Performances, the Imitators. Therefore, beforehand, I bar all Deſcriptions of the Even⯑ing; as, a Medley of Verſes ſignifying, Grey-Peas are now cried warm: That Wenches now begin to amble round the Paſſages of the Play⯑houſe: Or of Noon; as, That find Ladies and great Beaux are juſt yawning out of their Beds and Windows in Pall-Mall, and ſo forth. I forewarn alſo all Perſons from encouraging any Draughts after my Couſin; and foretel any [65] Man who ſhall go about to imitate him, that he will be very inſipid. The Family Stock is em⯑barked in this Deſign, and we will not admit of Counterfeits: Dr. Anderſon and his Heirs enjoy his Pills, Sir Willium Read has the Cure of Eyes, and Monſieur Roſelli can only cure the Gout. We pretend to none of theſe Things; but to exa⯑mine who and who are together, to tell any miſtaken Man he is not what he believes he is, to diſtinguiſh Merit, and expoſe falſe Pretences to it, is a Liberty our Family has by Law in 'em, from an Inter-Marriage with a Daughter of Mr. Scoggin, the famous Droll of the laſt Centu⯑ry. This Right I deſign to make Uſe of; but will not encroach upon the above-mentioned Adepts, or any other. At the ſame Time I ſhall take all the Privileges I may, as an Engliſhman, and will lay hold of the late Act of Naturaliza⯑tion to introduce what I ſhall think fit from France. The Uſe of that Law may, I hope, be extended to people the polite World with new Characters, as well as the Kingdom it ſelf with new Subjects. Therefore an Author of that Na⯑tion, called Le Bruyere, I ſhall make bold with on ſuch Occaſions. The laſt Perſon I read of in that Writer, was, Lord Timon. Timon, ſays my Author, is the moſt generous of all Men; but is ſo hurri⯑ed away with that ſtrong Impulſe of Beſtowing, that he confers Benefits without Diſtinction, and is Munificent without laying Obligations. For all the Unworthy, who receive from him, have ſo little Senſe of this noble Infirmity, that they look upon themſelves rather as Partners in a Spoil, than Partakers of a Bounty. The other Day, coming into Paris, I met Timon going out on Horſeback, attended only by one Servant. It ſtruck me with a ſudden Damp, to ſee a Man of ſo excellent a Diſpoſition, and that underſtood making a Figure ſo very well, ſo much ſhorten'd [66] in his Retinue. But paſſing by his Houſe, I ſaw his great Coach break to Pieces before his Door, and, by a ſtrange Inchantment, immediately turned into many different Vehicles. The firſt was a very pretty Chariot, into which ſtep'd his Lordſhip's Secretary. The ſecond was hung a little heavier; into that ſtrutted the Fat Steward. In an Inſtant follow'd a Chaiſe, which was enter'd by the Butler. The reſt of the Body and Wheels were forthwith changed into Go-carts, and ran away with by the Nurſes and Brats of the reſt of the Family What makes theſe Misfortunes in the Affairs of Timon the more aſtoniſhing, is, That he has a better Underſtanding than thoſe who cheat him; ſo that a Man knows not which more to wonder at, the Indifference of the Ma⯑ſter, or the Impud nce of the Servant.

It is a Matter of much Speculation among the Beaus and Oglers, what it is that can have made ſo ſuddeu a Change, as has been of late obſerved, in the whole Behaviour of Paſtorella, who never ſate ſtill a Moment till ſhe was Eigh⯑teen, which ſhe has now exceeded by Two Months. Her Aunt, who has the Care of her, has not been always ſo rigid as ſhe is at this preſent Date; but has ſo good a Senſe of the Frailty of Woman, and Falſhood of Man, that ſhe reſolved on all Manner of Methods to keep Paſtorella, if poſſible, in Safety, againſt her ſelf, and all her Admirers. At the ſame Time the good Lady knew by long Experience, that a gay Inclination, curbed too raſhly, would but run to the greater Exceſſes for that Reſtraint: Therefore intended to watch her, and take ſome Opportunity of engaging her inſenſibly in her own Intereſts, without the Anguiſh of an Admonition. You are to know then, That Miſs, with all her Flirting and Ogling, had alſo [67] naturally a ſtrong Curioſity in her, and was the greateſt Eves-Dropper breathing. Pariſatis (for ſo her prudent Aunt is called) obſerved this Humour, and retires one Day to her Cloſet, into which ſhe knew Paſtorella would peep, and liſten to know how ſhe was employed. It happened accordingly, and the young Lady ſaw her good Governante on her Knees, and after a mental Behaviour, break into theſe Words: As for the dear Child committed to my Care, let her Sobriety of Carriage, and Severity of Behaviour, be ſuch, as may make that Noble Lord, who is taken with her Beauty, turn his De⯑ſigns to ſuch as are honourable. Here Pariſatis heard her Neece neſtle cloſer to the Key-Hole: She then goes on; Make her the joyful Mother of a numerous and wealthy Offspring; and let her Carriage be ſuch, as may make this Noble Youth expect the Bleſſings of an happy Marriage, from the Singularity of her Life, in this looſe and cen⯑ſorious Age. Miſs having heard enough, ſneaks off for Fear of Diſcovery, and immediately, at her Glaſs, alters the Sitting of her Head; then pulls up her Tucker, and forms herſelf into the exact Manner of Lindamira: In a Word, be⯑comes a ſincere Convert to every Thing that's commendable in a fine young Lady; and Two or Three ſuch Matches as her Aunt feigned in her Devotions, are at this Day in her Choice. This is the Hiſtory and Original Cauſe of Paſto⯑rella's Converſion from Coquettry. The Pru⯑dence in the Management of this young Lady's Temper, and good Judgment of it, is hardly to be exceeded. I ſcarce remember a greater In⯑ſtance of Forbearance of the uſual peeviſh Way with which the Aged treat the Young, than this, except that of our famous Noy, whoſe good Na⯑ture went ſo far, as to make him put off his Admonitions to his Son, even till after his Death, [68] and did not give him his Thoughts of him, till he came to read that memo able Paſſage in his Will: All the reſt of my Eſtate, ſays he, I leave to my Son Edward (who is Executor to this my Will) to be ſquandred as he ſhall think fit: I leave it him for that Purpoſe, and hope no better from him. A generous Diſdain, and Reflection upon how little he deſerved from ſo excellent a Father, reformed the young Man, and made Edward, from an errant Rake, become a fine Gentleman.

Letters from Portugal of the 18th Inſtant, dated from Eſtremos, ſay, That on the 6th the Earl of Galway arrived at that Place, and had the Satiſ⯑faction to ſee the Quarters well furniſhed with all Manner of Proviſions, and a Quantity of Bread ſufficient for ſubſuting the Troops for 60 Days, beſides Bisket for 25 Days. The Enemy give out, That they ſhall bring into the Field 14 Regiments of Horſe, and 24 Battalions. The Troops in the Service of Portugal will make up 14000 Foot, and 4000 Horſe. On the Day theſe Letters were diſpatched, the Earl of Galway re⯑ceived Advice, that the Marquis de Bay was preparing for ſome Enterprize, by gathering his Troops together on the Frontiers. Where⯑upon his Excellency reſolved to go that ſame Night to Villa Vicoſa, to aſſemble the Troops in that Neighbourhood, in order to diſappoint his Deſigns.

Yeſterday in the Evening Captain Foxon, Aid⯑de-Camp to Major-General Cadogan, arriv'd here Expreſs from the Duke of Marlborough. And this Day a Mail is come in, with Letters dated from Bruſſels of the 6th of May, N. S. which adviſe, That the Enemy had drawn togethera Body, conſiſting of 20000 Men, with a Deſign, as was ſuppoſed, to intercept the great Convoy [69] on the March towards Liſle, which was ſafely arrived at Menin and Courtray, in its Way to that Place, the French having retired without making any Attempt.

We hear from the Hague, That a Perſon of the Firſt Quality is arrived in the Low-Countries from France, in order to be a Plenipotentiary in an enſuing Treaty of Peace.

Letters from France acknowledge, That Mon⯑ſieur Bernard has made no higher Offers of Satiſ⯑faction to his Creditors than of 35 l. per Cent.

Theſe Advices add, That the Mareſchal Bouf⯑flers, Monſieur Torcy, (who diſtinguiſhed himſelf formerly, by adviſing the Court of France to adhere to the Treaty of Partition) and Monſieur d' Harcourt, (who negotiated with Cardinal Por⯑tocarrero for the Succeſſion of the Crown of Spain in the Houſe of Bourbon) are all Three joined in a Commiſſion for a Treaty of Peace. The Mareſchal is come to Ghent: The other Two are arrived at the Hague.

It is confidently reported here, That the Right Honourable the Lord Townſhend is to go with his Grace the Duke of Marlborough into Holland.

MY Brother Iſaac having a ſudden Occaſion to go out of Town, ordered me to take upon me the Diſpatch of the next Advices from Home, with Liberty to ſpeak it my own Way; [70] not doubting the Allowances which would be given to a Writer of my Sex. You may be ſure, I undertook it with much Satisfaction: And I confeſs, I am not a little pleaſed with the Op⯑portunity of running over all the Papers in his Cloſet, which he has left open for my Uſe on this Occaſion. The firſt that I lay my Hands on, is, A Treatiſe concerning The Empire of Beauty, and the Effects it has had in all Nations of the World, upon the publick and private Actions of Men; with an Appendix, which he calls, The Batchelor's Scheme for Governing his Wife. The firſt Thing he makes this Gentleman propoſe, is, That ſhe ſhall be no Woman; for ſhe is to have an Averſion to Balls, to Opera's, to Viſits: She is to think his Company ſuffi⯑cient to fill up all the Hours of Life with great Satisfaction: She is never to believe any other Man Wiſe, Learned, or Valiant; or at leaſt but in a ſecond Degree. In the next Place, he in⯑tends ſhe ſhall be a Cuckold; but expects, that he himſelf muſt live in perfect Security from that Terror. He dwells a great while on Inſtructions for her diſcreet Behaviour, in caſe of his Falſhood. I have not Patience with theſe unreaſonable Expectations, therefore turn back to the Treatiſe it ſelf. Here, indeed, my Bro⯑ther deduces all the Revolutions among Men from the Paſſion of Love; and in his Preface, anſwers that uſual Obſervation againſt us, That there is no Quarrel without a Woman in it; with a gallant Aſſertion, That there is nothing elſe worth Quarrelling for. My Brother is of a Com⯑plexion truly Amorous; all his Thoughts and Actions carry in 'em a Tincture of that obliging Inclination; and this Turn has opened his Eyes to ſee, we are not the inconſiderable C eatures which unlucky Pretenders to our Favour would inſinuate. He obſerves, That no Man begins to [71] make any tolerable Figure, till he ſets out with he Hopes of Pleaſing ſome one of us. No ſoon⯑er he takes that in Hand, but he pleaſes every one elſe by the by. It has an immediate Effect upon his Behaviour. There is Colonel Ranter, who never ſpoke without an Oath, till he ſaw the Lady Betty Modiſh; now never gives his Man an Order, but it is, Pray Tom, do it. The Drawers where he drinks, live in perfect Hap⯑pineſs. He asked Will at the George t'other Day, How he did? Where he uſed to ſay, Damn it, Is it ſo? He now believes there is ſome Miſtake: He muſt confeſs, he is of another Opinion; but however he won't inſiſt.

Every Temper, except downright inſipid, is to be animated and ſoftned by the Influence of Beauty: But of this untractable Sort is a life⯑leſs handſome Fellow that viſits us, whom I have dreſſed at this Twelvemonth; but he is as inſenſible of all the Arts I uſe, as if he converſed all that Time with his Nurſe. He outdoes our whole Sex in all the Faults our Enemies im⯑pute to us; he has brought Lazineſs into an Opi⯑nion, and makes his Indolence his Philoſophy: Inſomuch, that no long r ago than Yeſterday in the Evening he gave me this Account of him⯑ſelf: I am, Madam, perfectly unmoved at all that paſſes among Men, and ſeldom gives my ſelf the Fa⯑tigue of going among 'em; but when I do, I always appear the ſame Thing to thoſe whom I converſe with. My Hours of Exiſtence, or being awake, are from Eleven in the Morning to Eleven at Night; half of which I live to my ſelf, in picking my Teeth, waſhing my Hands, paring my Nails, and looking in the Glaſs. The Inſignificancy of my Manners to the reſt of the World, makes the Laughers call me a Quid Nunc, a Phraſe which I neither under⯑ſtand, or ſhall ever enquire what they mean by it. The laſt of me each Night is at St. James's Coffee-houſe, [72] where I converſe, yet never fall into a Diſpute on any Occaſion, but leave the Under⯑ſtanding I have Paſſive of all that goes through it, without entring into the Buſineſs of Life. And thus, Madam, have I arrived by Lazineſs, to what others pretended to by Philoſophy, a perfect Neglect of the World. Sure, if our Sex had the Liberty of frequenting Publick Houſes and Con⯑verſations, we ſhould put theſe Rivals of our Faults and Follies out of Countenance. How⯑ever, we ſhall ſoon have the Pleaſure of being acquainted with 'em one Way or other; for my Brother Iſaac deſigns, for the Uſe of our Sex, to give the exact Characters of all the Chief Politicians who frequent any of the Coffee-houſes from St. James's to the Change; but de⯑ſigns to begin with that Cluſter of Wiſe Heads, as they are found ſitting every Evening from the Left-ſide of the Fire, at the Smyrna, to the Door. This will be of great Service for us, and I have Authority to promiſe an exact Jour⯑nal of their Deliberations; the Publication of which I am to be allowed for Pin-Money. In the mean Time, I caſt my Eye upon a new Book, which gave me a more pleaſing Entertainment, being a ſixth Part of Miſcellany Poems, pub⯑liſh'd by Jacob Tonſon; which, I find, by my Bro⯑ther's Notes upon it, no Way inferior to the other Volumes. There are, it ſeems, in this, a Collection of the beſt Paſtorals that have hi⯑therto appeared in England; but among them, none ſuperior to that Dialogue between Sylvia and Dorinda, written by one of my own Sex; where all our little Weakneſſes are laid open in a Manner more juſt, and with truer Raillery, than ever Man yet hit upon.

[73] But to reaſſume my firſt Deſign, there can⯑not be a greater Inſtance of the Command of Females, than in the prevailing Charms of the Heroine in the Play which was acted this Night, call'd, All for Love; or, The World well loſt. The enamoured Antony reſigns Glory and Power to the Force of the attractive Cleopatra, whoſe Charms were the Defence of her Dia⯑dem, againſt a People otherwiſe invincible. It is ſo natural for Women to talk of themſelves, that it is to be hoped, all my own Sex, at leaſt, will pardon me, that I could fall into no other Diſcourſe. If we have their Favour, we give our ſelves very little Anxiety for the reſt of our Readers. I believe I ſee a Sentence of Latin in my Brother's Day-Book of Wit, which ſeems applicable on this Occaſion, and in Contempt of the Criticks.

But I am interrupted by a Packet from Mr. Kid⯑ney from St. James's Coffee-houſe, which I am obliged to inſert in the very Style and Words which Mr. Kidney uſes in his Letter.

We are adviſed by Letters from Bern, dated the 1ſt Inſtant, N. S. That the Duke of Berwick arrived at Lyons the 25th of the laſt Month, and continued his Journey the next Day to viſit the Paſſes of the Mountains, and other Poſts in Dau⯑phine and Provence. Theſe Letters alſo informed us, That the Miſeries of the People in France are heightened to that Degree, that unleſs a Peace be ſpeedily concluded, half of that King⯑dom would periſh for want of Bread. On the 24th, the Mareſchal de Theſſe paſſed through Lyons, in his Way to Verſailles; and Two Batta⯑lions, which were marching from Alſace to re⯑inforce [74] the Army of the Duke of Berwick, paſſed alſo through that Place. Thoſe Troops were to be followed by 6 Battalions more.

Letters from Naples of the 16th of April ſay, That the Marquis de Prie's Son was arrived there, with Inſtructions from his Father, to ſig⯑nify to the Viceroy the Neceſſity his Imperial Majeſty was under, of deſiring an Aid from that Kingdom, for carrying on the extraordinary Expences of the War. On the 14th of the ſame Month, they made a Review of the Spaniſh Troops in that Garriſon, and afterwards of the Marines; one Part of whom will embark with thoſe deſigned for Barcelona, and the reſt are to be ſent on Board the Gallies appointed to convoy Proviſions to that Place.

We hear from Rome. by Letters dated the 20th of April, That the Count de Mellos, Envoy from the King of Portugal, had made his Pub⯑lick Entry into that City with much State and Magnificence. The Pope has lately held Two other Conſiſtories, wherein he made a Promo⯑tion of Two Cardinals; but the Acknowledg⯑ment of King Charles is ſtill deferred.

Letters from other Parts of Italy adviſe us, That the Doge of Venice continues dangerouſly Ill: That the Prince de Carignan having relaps'd into a violent Fever, died the 23d of April, in his 80th Year.

Advices from Vienna of the 27th of April im⯑port, That the Archbiſhop of Saltzburg is dead, who is ſucceeded by Count Harrach, formerly Biſhop of Vienna, and for theſe laſt Three Years Coadjutor to the ſaid Archbiſhop; and that Prince Maximilian of Lichtenſtein has likewiſe depa ted this Life, at his Country Seat called Cromaw in Moravia. Theſe Advices add, That the Emperor has nam'd Count Zinzendorf, Count Goes, and Monſieur Consbruck, for his Plenipo⯑tentiaries [75] in an enſuing Treaty of Peace; and they hear from Hungary, That the Imperialiſts have had ſeveral ſucceſsful Skirmiſhes with the Malecontents.

Letters from Paris, dated May the 6th, ſay, That the Mareſchal de Theſſe arrived there on the 29th of the laſt Month; and that the Chevalier de Beuil was ſent thither by Don Pedro Rouquillo with Advice, That the Confederate Squadron ap⯑peared before Alicant on the 17th, and having for ſome Time cannonaded the City, endeavoured to land ſome Troops for the Relief of the Ca⯑ſtle; but General Stanhope finding the Paſſes well guarded, and the Enterprize dangerous, demanded to capitulate for the Caſtle; which being granted him, the Garriſon, conſiſting of 600 Regular Troops, marched out with their Arms and Baggage the Day following; and be⯑ing received on Board, they immediately ſet Sail for Barcelona. Theſe Letters add, That the March of the French and Swiſs Regiments is fur⯑ther deferred for a few Days; and that the Duke of Nouilles was juſt ready to ſet out for Rouſ⯑ſillon, as well as the Count de Bezons for Catalo⯑nia.

The ſame Advices ſay, Bread was ſold at Pa⯑ris for 6 d. per Pound; and that there was not half enough, even at that Rate, to ſupply the Neceſſities of the People, which reduced them to the utmoſt Deſpair; that 300 Men had ta⯑ken up Arms, and having plunder'd the Market of the Suburb of St. Germain, preſſed down by their Multitude the King's Guards who oppoſed them. Two of thoſe Mutineers were afterward ſeiz'd, and condemn'd to Death; but Four others went to the Magiſtrate who pronounc'd that Sen⯑tence, and told him. He muſt expect to anſwer with his own Life, for thoſe of their Comrades. All Order and Senſe of Government being thus [76] loſt among the enraged People, to keep up a Show of Authority; the Captain of the Guards, who ſaw all their Inſolence, pretended, That he had repreſented to the King their deplora⯑ble Condition, and had obtained their Pardon. It is further reported, That the Dauphin, and Dutcheſs of Burgundy, as they went to the O⯑pera, were ſurrounded by Crowds of People, who upbraided them with their Neglect of the general Calamity, in going to Diverſions, when the whole People were ready to periſh for want of Bread. Edicts are daily publiſhed to ſuppreſs theſe Riots; and Papers, with Menaces againſt the Government, as publickly thrown about. Among others, theſe Words were dropped in a Court of Juſtice, France wants a Ravilliac or a Jeſuit to deliver her. Beſides this univerſal Di⯑ſtreſs, there is a contagious Sickneſs, which, it is feared, will end in a Peſtilence. Letters from Bourdeaux bring Accounts no leſs lamentable: The Peaſants are driven by Hunger from their Abodes into that City, and make Lamentations in the Streets without Redreſs.

We are adviſed by Letters from the Hague, dated the 10th Inſtant, N. S. That on the 6th, the Marquis de Torcy arrived there from Paris, but the Paſſport, by which he came, having been ſent blank by Monſieur Rouille, he was there Two Days before his Quality was known. That Miniſter offer'd to communicate to Monſ. Hein⯑ſius the Propoſals which he had to make; but the Penſionary refuſed to ſee them, and ſaid, He would ſignify it to the States, who deputed ſome of their own Body to acquaint him, That they would enter into no Negotiation till the Arrival of his Grace the D. of Marlborough, and the other Miniſters of the Alliance. Prince Eugene was expected there the 12th Inſtant from Bruſſels. 'Tis ſaid, That beſides Monſieur de Torcy, and [77] Monſieur Pajot, Director General of the Poſts, there are Two or Three Perſons at the Hague whoſe Names are not known; but 'tis ſuppoſed, that the Duke d'Alba, Ambaſſador from the Duke of Anjou, was one of them. The States have ſent Letters to all the Cities of the Pro⯑vinces, deſiring them to ſend their Deputies to receive the Propoſitions of Peace made by the Court of France.

A Kinſman has ſent me a Letter, wherein he informs me, He had lately reſolved to write an Heroick Poem; but by Buſineſs has been interrupted, and has only made one Simi⯑litude, which he ſhould be afflicted to have wholly loſt, and begs of me to apply it to ſome⯑thing, being very deſirous to ſee it well placed in the World. I am ſo willing to help the Di⯑ſtreſſed, that I have taken it in: But though his greater Genius might very well diſtinguiſh his Verſes from mine, I have marked where his begin. His Lines are a Deſcription of the Sun in Eclipſe, which I know nothing more like than a brave Man in Sorrow, who bears it as he ſhould, without imploring the Pity of his Friends, or being dejected with the Contempt of his Enemies: As in the Caſe of Cato:

This is a very lively Image; but I muſt take the Liberty to ſay, My Kinſman drives the Sun a little like Phaeton: He has all the Warmth of Phaebus, but won't ſtay for his Direction of it. Avail and Toil, Defect and Tract, will ne⯑ver do for Rhimes. But however, he has the true Spirit in him; for which Reaſon I was wil⯑ling to entertain any Thing he pleas'd to ſend me. The Subject which he writes upon, naturally raiſes great Reflections in the Soul, and puts us in Mind of the mixed Condition which we Mortals are to ſupport; which, as it varies to Good or Bad, adorns or defaces our Actions to the Beholders: All which Glory and Shame muſt end in what we ſo much repine at, Death. But Doctrines on [79] this Occaſion, any other than that of living well, are the moſt inſignificant and moſt empty of all the Labours of Men. None but a Tragedian can die by Rule, and wait till he diſcovers a Plot, or ſays a fine Thing upon his Exit. In real Life, this is a Chimaera; and by Noble Spi⯑rits, it will be done decently, without the O⯑ſtentation of it. We ſee Men of all Conditions and Characters go through it with equal Reſo⯑lution: And if we conſider the Speeches of the mighty Philoſophers, Heroes, Law-givers, and Great Captains, they can produce no more in a diſcerning Spirit, than Rules to make a Man a Fop on his Death-Bed. Commend me to that natural Greatneſs of Soul, expreſſed by an in⯑nocent, and conſequently reſolute Country Fel⯑low, who ſaid in the Pains of the Cholick, If I once get this Breath out of my Body, you ſhall hang me before you put it in again. Honeſt Ned. and ſo he died.

But it is to be ſuppoſed, from this Place you may expect an Account of ſuch a Thing as a New Play is not to be omitted. That acted this Night is the neweſt that ever was writ. The Au⯑thor is my ingenious Friend Mr. Thomas D—y. This Drama is called, The Modern Prophets, and is a moſt unanſwerable Satyr againſt the late Spirit of Enthuſiaſm. The Writer had by long Experience obſerved, That in Company, very grave Diſcourſes have been followed by Baw⯑dry; and therefore has turned the Humour that Way with great Succeſs, and taken from his Audience all Manner of Superſtition, by the A⯑gitations of pretty Mrs. Bignall, whom he has, with great Subtilty, made a Lay-Siſter, as well as a Propheteſs; by which Means, ſhe carries on the Affairs of both Worlds with great Suc⯑ceſs. My Friend deſigns to go on with another Work againſt Winter, which he intends to call, [80] The Modern Poets; a People no leſs miſtaken in their Opinions of being inſpired, than the other. In order to this, he has by him ſeveral Songs, beſides many Ambiguities, which cannot be mi⯑ſtaken for any Thing but what he means them. Mr. D—y generally writes State-Plays, and is wonderfully uſeful to the World in ſuch Repre⯑ſentations. This Method is the ſame that was us'd by the Old Athenians, to laugh out of Counte⯑nance, or promote Opinions among the People. My Friend has therefore, againſt this Play is acted for his own Benefit, made Two Dances, which may be alſo of an univerſal Benefit. In the Firſt, he has repreſented Abſolute Power in the Per⯑ſon of a Tall Man with an Hat and Feather, who gives his Firſt Miniſter, that ſtands juſt be⯑fore him, an huge Kick; the Miniſter gives the Kick to the next before; and ſo to the End of the Stage. In the Moral and Practical Jeſt, you are made to underſtand, That there is, in an Abſolute Government, no Gratification, but giving the Kick you receive from one above you, to one below you. This is performed to a grave and melancholy Air; but on a ſudden the Tune moves quicker, and the whole Company fall into a Circle, and take Hands; then at a certain ſharp Note, they move round, and kick as kick can. This latter Performance he makes to be the Repreſentation of a Free State; where, if you all mind your Steps, you may go round and round very jollily, with a Motion pleaſant to your ſelves and thoſe you dance with: Nay, if you put your ſelves out, at the worſt you only kick and are kicked, like Friends and Equals.

Of all the Vanities under the Sun, I confeſs that of being proud of one's Birth is the great⯑eſt. At the ſame Time, ſince in this unreaſo⯑nable Age, by the Force of prevailing Cuſtom, [81] Things in which Men have no Hand, are impu⯑ted to them; and that I am uſed by ſome Peo⯑ple, as if Iſaac Bickerſtaff, tho' I write my ſelf Eſquire, was no Body: To ſet the World right in that Particular, I ſhall give you my Genea⯑logy, as a Kinſman of ours has ſent it me from the Heralds-Office. It is certain, and obſerved by the wiſeſt Writers, That there are Women who are not nicely Chaſt, and Men not ſeverely Honeſt, in all Families; therefore let thoſe who may be apt to raiſe Aſperſions upon ours, pleaſe to give us as Impartial Account of their own, and we ſhall be ſatisfied. The Buſineſs of Heralds is a Matter of ſo great Nicety, that, to avoid Miſtakes, I ſhall give you my Couſin's Letter Verbatim, without altering a Syllable.

As politick News is not the principal Subject on which we treat, we are ſo happy as to have no Occaſion for that Art of Cookery which our Brother Newſmongers ſo much excel in; as ap⯑pears by their excellent and inimitable Manner of dreſſing up a ſecond Time for your Taſt the ſame Diſh which they gave you the Day before, in caſe there come over no new Pickles from Holland. Therefore, when we have nothing to ſay to you from Courts and Camps, we hope ſtill to give you ſomewhat new and curious from our ſelves: The Women of our Houſe, upon Occaſion, being capable of carrying on the Bu⯑fineſs, according to the laudable Cuſtom of the Wives in Holland; but, without further Preface, take what we have not mentioned in our former Relations.

Letters from Hanover of the 30th of the laſt Month ſay, That the Prince Royal of Pruſſia arrived there on the 15th, and left that Court on the Second of this Month, in Purſuit of his Journey to Flanders, where he makes the enſu⯑ing Campaign. Thoſe Advices add, That the young Prince Naſſau, Hereditary Governour of Frieſland, conſummated on the 26th of the laſt Month his Marriage with the beaureous Princeſs of Heſſe-Caſſel, with a Pomp and Magnificence ſuitable to their Age and Quality.

[85] Letters from Paris ſay, His moſt Chriſtian Majeſty retired to Marly on the firſt Inſtant, N. S. and our laſt Advices from Spain inform us, That the Prince of Aſturias had made his pub⯑lick Entry into Madrid in great Splendor. The Duke of Anjou has given Don Joſeph Hartado de Amaraga the Government of Terra-Firma de Veragua, and the Preſidency of Panama in Ame⯑rica. They add, That the Forces command⯑ed by the Marquis de Bay hath been reinforced by Six Battalions of Spaniſh and Walloon Guards. Letters from Lisbon adviſe, That the Army of the King of Portugal was at Elvas on the 22d of the laſt Month, and would decamp on the 24th, in order to march upon the Enemy, who lay at Badajos.

Yeſterday, at Four in the Morning, his Grace the Duke of Marlborough ſet out for Margate; and embarked for Holland at Eight this Morn⯑ing.

Yeſterday alſo Sir George Thorold was declared Alderman of Cordwainers Ward, in the Room of his Brother Sir Charles Thorold deceaſed.

WHen a Man has engaged to keep a Stage-Coach, he is obliged, whether he has Paſſengers or not, to ſet out: Thus it fares with us Weekly Hiſtorians; but indeed, for my Particular, I hope I ſhall ſoon have little more to do in this Work than to publiſh what is ſent me from ſuch as have Leiſure and Capa⯑city for giving Delight, and being pleaſed in an elegant Manner. The preſent Grandeur of [86] the Britiſh Nation might make us expect, that we ſhould riſe in our Publick Diverſions, and Manner of enjoying Life, in Proportion to our Advancement in Glory and Power. Inſtead of that, take and ſurvey this Town, and you'll find, Rakes and Debauchees are your Men of Pleaſure; Thoughtleſs Atheiſts, and Illiterate Drunkards, call themſelves Free-Thinkers; and Gameſters, Banterers, Biters, Swearers, and Twenty new born Inſects more, are, in their ſe⯑veral Species, the Modern Men of Wit. Hence it is, that a Man who has been out of Town but one half Year, has loſt the Language, and muſt have ſome Friend to ſtand by him, and keep him in Countenance for talking common Senſe. To Day I ſaw a ſhort Interlude at White's of this Nature, which I took Notes of, and put together as well as I could in a Publick Place. The Perſons of the Drama are, Pip, the laſt Gentleman that has been made ſo at Cards; Trimmer, a Perſon half undone at them, and is now between a Cheat and a Gentleman; Acorn, an honeſt Engliſh Man, of good plain Senſe and Meaning; and Mr. Friendly, a reaſonable Man of the Town.

According to our late Deſign in the applauded Verſes on the Morning, which you lately had from hence, we proceed to improve that juſt Intention, and preſent you with other Labours, [90] made proper to the Place in which they were written. The following Poem comes from Co⯑penhagen, and is as fine a Winter-piece, as we have ever had from any of the Schools of the moſt learned Painters. Such Images as theſe give us a new Pleaſure in our Sight, and fix up⯑on our Minds Traces of Reflection, which ac⯑company us whenever the like Objects occur. In ſhort, excellent Poetry and Deſcription dwell upon us ſo agreeably, that all the Readers of them are made to think, if not write, like Men of Wit. But it would be Injury to detain you longer from this excellent Performance, which is addreſſed to the Earl of Dorſet by Mr. Philips, the Author of ſeveral choice Poems in Mr. Ton⯑ſon's new Miſcellany.

There has a Mail this Day arrived from Hol⯑land; but the Matter of the Advices importing rather what gives us great Expectations, than any poſitive Aſſurances, I ſhall, for this Time, decline giving you what I know, and apply the following Verſes of Mr. Dryden, in the Second Part of Almanzor, to the preſent Circumſtances of Things, without diſcovering what my Know⯑ledge in Aſtronomy ſuggeſts to me.

MUch Hurry and Buſineſs had to Day per⯑plex'd me into a Mood too thoughtful for going into Company; for which Reaſon, in ſtead of the Tavern, I went into Lincoln's Inn-Walks; and having taken a Round or Two, I ſate down, according to the allowed Familia⯑rity of theſe Places, on a Bench; at the other End of which ſate a venerable Gentleman, who ſpeaking with a very affable Air, Mr. Bicker⯑ſtaff, ſaid he, I take it for a very great Piece of good Fortune that you have found me out. Sir, ſaid I, I had never, that I know of, the Honour of ſeeing you before. That, replied he, is what I have often lamented; but I aſſure you, I have for many Years done you good Offices, without being obſerved by you; or elſe, when you had any little Glimpſe of my being concerned in an Affair, you have fled from me, and ſhunned me like an Ene⯑my; but however, the Part I am to act in the World is ſuch, that I am to go on in doing Good, though I meet with never ſo many Repulſes, even from thoſe I oblige. This, thought I, ſhows a great good Nature, but little Judgment in the Perſons upon whom he confers his Favours. He immediately took Notice to me, That he obſer⯑ved by my Countenance I thought him indiſcreet in his Beneficence, and proceeded to tell me his Quality in the following Manner: I know thee, Iſaac, to be ſo well vers'd in the Occult Sciences, that I need not much Preface, or make long Pre⯑parations to gain you Faith that there are Airy Beings, who are employed in the Care and Atten⯑dance [92] [...] [93] [...] [94] of Men, as Nurſes are to Infants, till they come to an Age in which they can act-of themſelves. Theſe Beings are uſually called amongſt Men, Guar⯑dian Angels; and, Mr. Bickerſtaff, I am to ac⯑quaint you, that I am to be yours for ſome Time to come; it being our Orders to vary our Stations, and ſometimes to have me Pationt under our Pro⯑tection, and ſometimes another, with a Power of aſſuming what Shape we pleaſe, to enſuare our Words unto their own Good. I have of late been upon ſuch hard Duty, and know you have ſo much Work for me, that I think fit to appear to you Face to Face, to deſire you would give me as little Oc⯑caſion for Vigilance as you can. Sir, ſaid I, it will be a great Inſtruction to me in my Behaviour, if you pleaſe to give me ſome Account of your late Employments, and what Hardſhips or Satisfactions you have had in them, that I may govern my ſelf accordingly. He anſwered: To give you an Ex⯑ample of the Drudgery we go through, I will entertain you only with my Three laſt Stations: I was on the Firſt of April laſt put to mortifie a great Beauty, with whom I was a Week; from her I went to a common Swearer, and have been laſt with a Gameſter. When I firſt came to my Lady, I found my great Work was to guard well her Eyes and Ears, but her Flatte⯑rers were ſo numerous, and the Houſe, after the modern Way, ſo full of Looking-glaſſes, that I ſeldom had her ſafe but in her Sleep. When⯑ever we went Abroad, we were ſurrounded by an Army of Enemies: When a well-made Man appeared, he was ſure to have a Side-glance of Obſervation: If a diſagreeable Fellow, he had a full Face, out of meer Inclination to Con⯑queſts. But at the Cloſe of the Evening, on the Sixth of the laſt Month, my Ward was fit⯑ting on a Couch, reading Ovid's Epiſtles; and as ſhe came to this Line of Helen to Paris,

enter'd Philander, who is the moſt skilful of all Men in an Addreſs to Women. He is arri⯑ved at the Perfection of that Art which gains them, which is, To talk like a very miſerable Man, but look like a very happy One. I ſaw Dictinna bluſh at his Entrance, which gave me the Alarm; but he immediately ſaid ſomething ſo agreeable on her being at Study, and the No⯑velty of finding a Lady employed in ſo grave a Manner, that he on a ſudden became very fami⯑liarly a Man of no Conſequence; and in an In⯑ſtant laid all her Suſpicions of his Skill aſleep, as he almoſt had done mine, till I obſerved him very dangerouſly turn his Diſcourſe upon the Elegance of her Dreſs, and her Judgment in the Choice of that very pretty Mourning. Having had Women before under my Care, I trembled at the Apprehenſion of a Man of Senſe who could talk upon Trifles, and reſolved to ſtick to my Poſt with all the Circumſpection imaginable. In ſhort, I prepoſſeſſed her againſt all he could ſay to the Advantage of her Dreſs and Perſon; but he turned again the Diſcourſe, where I found I had no Power o ver her, on the abuſing her Friends and Acquaintance. He allowed in⯑deed, That Flora had a little Beauty, and a great deal of Wit; but then ſhe was ſo ungainly in her Behaviour, and ſuch a laughing Hoyden—Paſtorella had with him the Allowance of being Blameleſs: But what was that towards being Praiſe-worthy? To be only Innocent, is not to be Virtuous. He afterwards ſpoke ſo much a⯑gainſt Mrs. Dipple's Forehead, Mrs. Prim's Mouth, Mrs. Dentifrice's Teeth, and Mrs. Fidget's Cheeks, that ſhe grew downright in Love with him: For it is always to be underſtood, That a Lady takes all you detract from the reſt of her Sex to [96] be a Gift to her. In a Word, Things went ſo far, that I was diſmiſſed, and ſhe will remem⯑ber that Evening Nine Months, from the Sixth of April, by a very remarkable Token. The next, as I ſaid, I went to was a common Swea⯑rer: Never was a Creature ſo puzzled as my ſelf when I came firſt to view his Brain; half of it was worn out, and filled up with meer Exple⯑tives, that had nothing to do with any other Parts of the Texture; therefore, when he cal⯑led for his Clothes in a Morning, he would cry, John?—John does not anſwer. What a Plague! No Body there? What the Devil, and rot me! John, for a laxy Dog as you are. I knew no Way to cure him, but by writing down all he ſaid one Morning as he was dreſſing, and lay⯑ing it before him on the Toilet when he came to pick his Teeth. The laſt Recital I gave him of what he ſaid for half an Hour before, was, What, a Pox rot me! Where is the Waſhball? Call the Chairmen: Damn 'em, I warrant they are at the Alehouſe already! Zounds, and Con⯑found 'em. When he came to the Glaſs, he takes up my Note—Ha! This Fellow is worſe than me: What, Does he ſwear with Pen and Ink? But reading on, he found them to be his own Words. The Stratagem had ſo good an Effect upon him, that he grew immediately a new Man, and is learning to ſpeak without an Oath, which makes him extremely ſhort in his Phraſes; for, as I obſerved before, a Common Swearer has a Brain without any Idea on the Swearing Side; therefore my Ward has yet mighty little to ſay, and is forced to ſubſtitute ſome other Vehicle of Nonſence to ſupply the Defect of his uſual Expletives. When I left him, he made Uſe of, Odsbodikins! Oh me! and Never ſtir alive! and ſo forth; which gave me the Hopes of his Recovery. So I went to the next I told you of, [97] the Gameſter. When we firſt take our Place about a Man, the Receptacles of the Pericra⯑nium are immediately ſearched. In his, I found no one ordinary Trace of Thinking; but ſtrong Paſſion, violent Deſires, and a continued Series of different Changes, had torn it to Pieces. There appeared no middle Condition; the Tri⯑umph of a Prince, or the Miſery of a Beggar, were his alternate States. I was with him no longer than one Day, which was Yeſterday. In the Morning at Twelve, we were worth Four Thouſand Pounds; at Three, we were arrived at Six Thouſand; half an Hour after, we were reduced to One Thouſand; at Four of the Clock we were down to Two Hundred; at Five, to Fifty; at Six, to Five; at Seven, to One Gui⯑nea; the next Bet, to Nothing. This Morning, he borrowed Half a Crown of the Maid who cleans his Shoes; and is now gaming in Lin⯑colns-Inn-Fields among the Boys for Farthings and Oranges, till he has made up Three Pieces, and then he returns to White's into the beſt Company in Town. This ended our firſt Diſ⯑courſe; and it is hoped, you will forgive me that I have picked ſo little out of my Compa⯑nion at our firſt Interview. In the next, 'tis poſſible he may tell me more pleaſing Incidents; for though he is a Familiar, he is not an Evil Spirit.

We hear from the Hague of the 14th Inſtant, N, S. That Monſieur de Torcy hath had frequent Con⯑ferences with the Grand Penſioner, and the other Miniſters who were heretofore commiſ⯑ſioned to treat with Monſieur Rouille. The Pre⯑liminaries of a Peace are almoſt ſettled, and the Proceedings wait only for the Arrival of the Duke of Marlborough; after whoſe Approba⯑tion of the Articles propoſed, it is not doubted [98] but the Methods of the Treaty will be publickly known. In the mean Time, the States have declared an Abhorrence of making any Step in this great Affair, but in Concert with the Court of Great Britain, and other Princes of the Alliance. The Poſture of Affairs in Franes does neceſſarily oblige that Nation to be very much in Earneſt in their Offers; and Monſieur de Torcy hath profeſſed to the Grand Penſioner, That he will avoid all Occaſions of giving him the leaſt Jealouſie of his uſing any Addreſs in private Converſations for accompliſhing the Ends of his Embaſſy. It is ſaid, That as ſoon as the Preliminaries are adjuſted, that Miniſter is to return to the French Court. The States of Holland have reſolved to make it an Inſtruction to all their Men of War and Privateers, to bring into their Ports whatever Neutral Ships they ſhall meet with laden with Corn, and bound for France; and to avoid all Cauſe of Complaint from the Potentates to whom theſe Ships ſhall belong, their full Demand for their Freight ſhall be paid them there. The French Prote⯑ſtants reſiding in that Country have applied themſelves to their reſpective Magiſtrates, deſi⯑ring that there may be an Article in the Trea⯑ty of Peace, which may give Liberty of Con⯑ſcience to the Proteſtants in France. Monſieur Boſnage, Miniſter of the Walloon Church at Rot⯑terdam, has been at the Hague, and hath had ſome Conferences with the Deputies of the States on that Subject. It is reported there That all the French Refugees in thoſe Domi⯑nions are to be naturalized, that they may enjoy the ſame good Effects of the Treaty with the Hollanders themſelves, in reſpect to France.

Letters from Paris ſay, The People conceiv [...] great Hopes of a ſudden Peace, from Monſieu [...] Torcy's being employed in the Negotiation, h [...] [99] being a Miniſter of too great Weight in that Court, to be ſent on any Employment in which his Maſter would not act in a Manner wherein he might juſtly promiſe himſelf Succeſs. The France Advices add, That there is an Inſurrection in Poicton; 3000 Men having taken up Arms, and beaten the Troops which were appointed to diſperſe them: Three of the Mutineers being taken, were immediately executed; and as ma⯑ny of the King's Party were uſed after the ſame Manner.

Our late Act of Naturalization hath had ſo great an Effect in Foreign Parts, that ſome Princes have prohibited the French Refugees in their Dominions to ſell or transfer their Eſtates to any other of their Subjects; and at the ſame Time have granted them greater Immunities than they hitherto enjoyed. It has been alſo thought neceſſary to reſtrain their own Subjects from leaving their native Country, on Pain of Death.

HAD it not been that my Familiar had ap⯑peared to me, as I told you in my laſt, in Perſon, I had certainly been unable to have found even Words, without Meaning, to keep up my Intelligence with the Town: But he has checked me ſeverely for my Deſpondence, and ordered me to go on in my Deſign of obſerving upon Things, and forbearing Perſons; for, ſaid he, the Age you live in is ſuch, that a good Pi⯑cture of any Vice or Virtue will infallibly be [100] miſrepreſented; and though none will take the kind Deſcriptions you make ſo much to them⯑ſelves, as to wiſh well to the Author, yet all will reſent the ill Characters you produce, out of Fear of their own Turn in the Licence you muſt be obliged to take, if you point at particu⯑lar Perſons. I took his Admonition kindly, and immediately promiſed him to beg Pardon of the Author of the Advice to the Poets, for my Rail⯑lery upon his Work; tho' I aimed at no more, in that Examination, but to convince him, and all Men of Genius, of the Folly of laying them⯑ſelves out on ſuch Plans as are below their Cha⯑racters. I hope too it was done without Ill-Breeding, and nothing ſpoken below what a Ci⯑vilian (as it is allowed I am) may utter to a Phyſician. After this Preface, all the World may be ſafe from my Writings; for if I can find nothing to commend, I am ſilent, and will for⯑bear the Subject: For, though I am a Reformer, I ſcorn to be an Inquiſitor.

It would become all Men as well as me, to lay before 'em the noble Character of Verus the Magiſtrate, who always ſate in Triumph over, and Contempt of Vice; He never ſearched after it, or ſpared it when it came before him: At the ſame Time, He could ſee thro' the Hypocri⯑ſy and Diſguiſe of thoſe, who have no Pretence to Virtue themſelves, but by their Severity to the Vicious. This ſame Verus was, in Times long paſt, Chief Juſtice (as we call it amongſt us) in Faelicia. He was a Man of profound Knowledge of the Laws of his Country, and as juſt an Ob⯑ſerver of 'em in his own Perſon. He conſidered Juſtice as a Cardinal Virtue, not as a Trade for Maintenance. Wherever he was Judge, he ne⯑ver forgot that he was alſo Council. The Cri⯑minal before him was always ſure he ſtood be⯑fore his Country, and, in a Sort, a Parent of it. [101] The Priſoner knew, that tho' his Spirit was bro⯑ken with Guilt, and incapable of Language to defend it ſelf, all would be gathered from him which could conduce to his Safety; and that his Judge would wreſt no Law to deſtroy him, nor conceal any that could ſave him. In his Time, there were a Neſt of Pretenders to Juſtice, who happen'd to be employed to put Things in a Me⯑thod for being examined before him at his uſual Seſſions: Theſe Animals were to Verus, as Mon⯑keys are to Men, ſo like, that you can hardly diſown them; but ſo baſe, that you are aſhamed of their Fraternity. It grew a Phraſe, Who would do Juſtice on the Juſtices? That certainly would Verus. I have ſeen an old Trial where he ſate Judge on Two of 'em; one was called Trick-Track, the other Tearſhift; one was a learned Judge of Sharpers, the other the quickeſt of all Men at finding out a Wench. Trick-Track never ſpared a Pick-pocket, but was a Companion to Cheats: Tearſhift would make Compliments to Wenches of Quality, but certainly commit poor ones. If a poor Rogue wanted a Lodging, Trick-Track ſent him to Gaol for a Thief: If a poor Whore went only with one thin Petticoat, Tear⯑ſhift would impriſon her for being looſe in her Dreſs. Theſe Patriots infeſted the Days of Ve⯑rus, while they alternately committed and relea⯑ſed each others Priſoners. But Verus regarded them as Criminals, and always look'd upon Men as they ſtood in the Eye of Juſtice, without re⯑ſpecting whether they ſate on the Bench, or ſtood at the Bar.

Yeſterday we were entertained with the Tra⯑gedy of The Earl of Eſſex, in which there is not one good Line, and yet a Play which was never ſeen without drawing Tears from ſome Part of the Audience: A remarkable Inſtance, that the [102] Soul is not to be moved by Words, but Things for the Incidents in this Drama are laid together ſo happily, that the Spectator makes the Play for himſelf, by the Force which the Circumſtance has upon his Imagination. Thus, in ſpight of the moſt dry Diſcourſes, and Expreſſions almoſt ri⯑diculous with reſpect to Propriety, it is impoſ⯑ſible for one unprejudic'd to ſee it untouch'd with Pity. I muſt confeſs this Effect is not wrought on ſuch as examine why they are pleaſed; but it never fails to appear on thoſe who are not too learned in Nature, to be moved by her firſt Suggeſtions. It is certain, the Per⯑ſon and Behaviour of Mr. Wilks has no ſmall Share in conducing to the Popularity of the Play; and when an handſome Fellow is going to a more courſe Exit than Beheading, his Shape and Countenance makes every tender one re⯑prieve him with all her Heart, without waiting till ſhe hears his dying Words.

This Evening The Alchymiſt was played. This Comedy is an Example of Ben's extenſive Ge⯑nius and Penerration into the Paſſions and Fol⯑lies of Mankind. The Scene in the Fourth Act, where all the cheated People oppoſe the Man that would open their Eyes, has ſomething in it ſo inimitably excellent, that it is certainly as great a Maſter-piece as has ever appeared by any Hand. The Author's great Addreſs in ſhowing Covetouſneſs the Motive of the Actions of the Puritan, the Epicure, the Gameſter, and the Tra⯑der; that all their Endeavours, how differently ſoever they ſeem to tend, center only in that one Point of Gain, ſhows he had to a great Perfection that Diſcernment of Spirit, which conſtitutes a Genius for Comedy.

It is not to be imagined how far the Violence of our Deſires will carry us towards our own [103] Deceit in the Purſuit of what we wiſh for. A Gentleman here this Evening was giving me an Account of a dumb Fortune-Teller, who out⯑does Mr. Partridge, my ſelf, or the Unborn-Doctor, for Predictions. All his Viſitants come to him full of Expectations, and pay his own Rate for the Interpretations they put upon his Shrugs and Nods. There is a fine rich City-Widow ſtole thither the other Day, (though it is not Six Weeks ſince her Husband's Departure from her Company to reſt) and, with her truſty Maid, demanded of him, Whether ſhe ſhould marry again, by holding up Two Fingers, like Horns on her Forehead. The Wizard held up both her Hands forked. The Relict deſired to know, Whether he meant by his holding up both Hands, to repreſent that ſhe had one Huſ⯑band before, and that ſhe ſhould have another? Or that he intimated, ſhe ſhould have Two more? The Cunning Man look'd a little ſour; upon which Betty jogged her Miſtreſs, who gave t'other Guinea; and he made her underſtand, She ſhould poſitively have Two more; but ſha⯑ked his Head, and hinted, that they ſhould not live long with her. The Widow ſighed, and gave him t'other half Guinea. After this Prepoſ⯑ſeſſion, all that ſhe had next to do, was to make Sallies to our End of the Town, and find out who it is her Fate to have. There are Two who frequent this Place, whom ſhe takes for Men of Vogue, and of whom her Imagination has given her the Choice. They are both the Appearances of fine Gentlemen, to ſuch as do not know when they ſee Perſons of that Turn; and indeed, they are induſtrious enough to come at that Chara⯑cter, to deſerve the Reputation of being ſuch. But this Town will not allow us to be the Thing we ſeem to aim at, and are too diſcerning to be fobb'd off with Pretences. One of theſe pretty [104] Fellows fails by his laborious Exactneſs; the o⯑ther, by his as much ſtudied Negligence. Frank Careleſs, as ſoon as his Valet has helped on and adjuſted his Clothes, goes to his Glaſs, ſets his Wig awry, tumbles his Cravat; and in ſhort, undreſſes himſelf to go into Company. Will Nice is ſo little ſatisfied with his Dreſs, that all the Time he is at a Viſit, he is ſtill mending it, and is for that Reaſon the more inſufferable; for he who ſtudies Careleſneſs, has, at leaſt, his Work the ſooner done of the Two. The Widow is diſtracted whom to take for her firſt Man; for Nice is every Way ſo careful, that ſhe fears his Length of Days; and Frank is ſo looſe, that ſhe has Apprehenſions for her own Health with him. I am puzzled how to give a juſt Idea of them; but in a Word, Careleſs is a Cox⯑comb, and Nice a Fop: Both, you'll ſay, very hopeful Candidates for a gay Woman juſt ſet at Liberty. But there is a Whiſper, her Maid will give her to Tom Terrour the Gameſter. This Fel⯑low has undone ſo many Women, that he'll cer⯑tainly ſucceed if he is introduced; for nothing ſo much prevails with the vain Part of that Sex, as the Glory of deceiving them who have de⯑ceived others.

Letters from Berlin, bearing Date May 11. N. S. inform us, That the Birth-Day of her Pruſſian Majeſty has been celebrated there with all poſſi⯑ble Magnificence; and the King made her, on that Occaſion, a preſent of Jewels to the Value of Thirty Thouſand Crowns. The Marquis de Queſne, who has diſtinguiſhed himſelf by his great Zeal for the Proteſtant Intereſt, was, at the Time of the Diſpatch of theſe Letters, at that Court, ſoliciting the King to take Care, [105] that an Article in Behalf of the Refugees, ad⯑mitting their Return to France, ſhould be inſer⯑ted in the Treaty of Peace. They write from Hanover of the 14th, That his Electoral High⯑neſs had received an Expreſs from Count Merci, repreſenting how neceſſary it was to the Com⯑mon Cauſe, that he would pleaſe to haſten to the Rhine; for that nothing but his Preſence could quicken the Meaſures towards bringing the Imperial Army into the Field. There are very many Speculations upon the intended In⯑terview of the King of Denmark and King Au⯑guſtus. The latter has made ſuch Preparations for the Reception of the other, that it is ſaid, his Daniſh Majeſty will be entertained in Saxony with much more Elegance than he met with in Italy it ſelf.

Letters from the Hague of the 18th Inſtant, N. S. ſay, That his Grace the Duke of Marlborough landed the Night before at the Brill, after ha⯑ving been kept out at Sea by adverſe Winds two Days longer than is uſual in that Paſſage. His Excellency the Lord Townſhend, Her Majeſty's Ambaſſador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State-General, was driven into the Veer in Zealand on Thurſday laſt, from whence he came to the Hague within few Hours after the Arrival of his Grace. The Duke, ſoon after his coming to the Hague, had a Viſit from the Pen⯑ſioner of Holland. All Things relating to the Peace were in Suſpence till this Interview; nor is it yet known what Reſolutions will be taken on that Subject; for the Troops of the Allies have freſh Orders diſpatched to them to move from their reſpective Quarters, and march with all Expedition to the Frontiers, where the Ene⯑my are making their utmoſt Efforts for the De⯑fence of their Country. Theſe Advices further inform us, That the Marquis de Torcy had re⯑ceived [106] an Anſwer from the Court of France to his Letters which he had ſent thither by an Ex⯑preſs on the Friday before.

I Have taken a Reſolution hereafter, on any Want of Intelligence, to carry my Familiar abroad with me, who has promiſed to give me very proper and juſt Notices of Perſons and Things, to make up the Hiſtory of the paſſing Day. He is wonderfully skilful in the Know⯑ledge of Men and Manners, which has made me more than ordinary curious to know how he came to that Perfection, and I communicated to him that Doubt. Mr. Pacolet, ſaid I, I am migh⯑tily ſurpriz'd to ſee you ſo good a Judge of our Nature and Circumſtances, ſince you are a meer Spirit, and have no Knowledge of the Bodily Parts of us. He anſwered, ſmiling, You are mi⯑ſtaken, I have been one of you, and lived a Month amongſt you, which gives me an exact Senſe of your Condition. You are to know, That all who enter into Humane Life, have a certain Date or Stamen given to their Being, [107] which they only who die of Age may be ſaid to have arrived at; but it is ordered ſometimes by Fate, that ſuch as die Infants, are after Death to attend Mankind to the End of that Stamen of Being in themſelves, which was broke off by Sickneſs or any other Diſafter. Theſe are proper Guardians to Men, as being inſenſible of the Infirmity of their State. You are Philoſopher enough to know, that the Difference of Men's Underſtanding proceeds only from the various Diſpoſitions of their Organs; ſo that he who dies at a Month old, is in the next Life as knowing (tho' more innocent) as they who live to Fifty; and after Death, they have as perfect a Memory and Judgment of all that paſs'd in their Life-time, as I have of all the Revolutions in that uneaſie, turbulent Condition of yours; and, you'd ſay, I had enough of it in a Month, were I to tell you all my Misfortunes. A Life of a Month, can't have, one would think, much Variety; but pray, ſaid I, let us have your Story.

Then he proceeds in the following Manner:

It was one of the moſt wealthy Families in Great Britain into which I was born, and it was a very great Happineſs to me that it ſo hap⯑pen'd, otherwiſe I had ſtill, in all Probability, been living: But I ſhall recount to you all the Occurrences of my ſhort and miſerable Exiſtence, juſt as, by examining into the Traces made in my Brain, they appeared to me at that Time. The firſt Thing that ever ſtruck my Senſes, was a Noiſe over my Head of one ſhrieking; after which, methought I took a full Jump, and found my ſelf in the Hands of a Sorcereſs, who ſeem'd as if ſhe had been long waking, and em⯑ployed in ſome Incantation: I was throughly frightned, and cried out, but ſhe immediately ſeem'd to go on in ſome Magical Operation, and [108] anointed me from Head to Foot. What they meant, I could not imagine; for there gather'd a great Crowd about me, crying, An Heir, an Heir; upon which I grew a little ſtill, and be⯑lieved this was a Ceremony to be uſed only to great Perſons, and ſuch as made them, what they call'd, Heirs. I lay very quiet; but the Witch, for no Manner of Reaſon or Provocation in the World, takes me and binds my Head as hard as poſſibly ſhe could, then ties up both my Legs, and makes me ſwallow down an horrid Mixture; I thought it an harſh Entrance into Life to begin with taking Phyſick; but I was forced to it, or elſe muſt have taken down a great Inſtrument in which ſhe gave it me. When I was thus dreſſed, I was carried to a Bed-ſide, where a fine young Lady (my Mother I wot) had like to have hugg'd me to Death. From her, they faced me about, and there was a Thing with quite another Look from the reſt of the Room, to whom they talk'd about my Noſe. He ſeem'd wonderfully pleas'd to ſee me; but I knew ſince, my Noſe belong'd to another Fa⯑mily. That into which I was born, is one of the moſt numerous amongſt you; therefore Crowds of Relations came every Day to congra⯑tulate my Arrival; among others, my Couſin Betty, the greateſt Romp in Nature: She whisks me ſuch a Height over her Head, that I cry'd out for fear of falling. She pinch'd me, and called me ſquealing Chit, and threw me into a Girls Arms that was taken in to tend me. The Girl was very proud of the Womanly Employ⯑ment of a Nurſe, and took upon her to ſtrip and dreſs me a-new, becauſe I made a Noiſe, to ſee what ailed me: She did ſo, and ſtuck a Pin in every Joint about me. I ſtill cri⯑ed: Upon which, ſhe lays me on my Face in her Lap; and to quiet me, fell a nailing in all [109] the Pins, by clapping me on the Back, and skreaming a Lullaby. But my Pain made me exalt my Voice above hers, which brought up the Nurſe, the Witch I firſt ſaw, and my Grandmother. The Girl is turn'd down Stairs, and I ſtripp'd again, as well to find what ail'd me, as to ſatisfy my Granam's further Curioſi⯑ty. This good old Woman's Viſit was the Cauſe of all my Troubles. You are to underſtand, That I was hitherto bred by Hand, and any Body that ſtood next, gave me Pap, if I did but open my Lips; inſomuch, that I was grown ſo cunning, as to pretend my ſelf aſleep when I was not, to prevent my being cramm'd. But my Grandmother began a loud Lecture upon the Idleneſs of the Wives of this Age, who, for Fear of their Shapes, forbear ſuckling their own Off⯑ſpring: And Ten Nurſes were immediately ſent for; one was whiſper'd to have a wanton Eye, and would ſoon ſpoil her Milk; another was in a Conſumption; the Third had an ill Voice, and would frighten me, inſtead of lulling me to ſleep. Such Exceptions were made againſt all but one Country Milch-Wench, to whom I was committed, and put to the Breaſt. This care⯑leſs Jade was eternally romping with the Foot⯑men, and downright ſtarved me; inſomuch that I daily pined away, and ſhould never have been reliev'd, had it not been, that on the Thirtieth Day of my Life, a Fellow of the Royal Society, who had writ upon Cold Baths, came to viſit me, and ſolemnly proteſted, I was utterly loſt for want of that Method: Upon which he ſous'd me Head and Ears into a Pail of Water, where I had the good Fortune to be drowned, and ſo eſcap'd be⯑ing laſh'd into a Linguiſt till Sixteen, running after Wenches till Twenty five, and being mar⯑ried to an ill natured Wife till Sixty: Which had certainly been my Fate, had not the Inchant⯑ment [110] between Body and Soul been broke by this Philoſopher. Thus, till the Age I ſhould have otherwiſe liv'd. I am oblig'd to watch the Steps of Men; and if you pleaſe, ſhall accompany you in your preſent Walks, and get you Intelligence from the Aerial Lacquey, who is in Waiting, what are the Thoughts and Purpoſes of any whom you enquire for. I accepted his kind Offer, and immediately took him with me in an Hack to White's.

We got in hither, and my Companion threw a Powder round us, that made me as inviſi⯑ble as himſelf; ſo that we could ſee and hear all others, our ſelves unſeen and un⯑heard.

The firſt Thing we took Notice of, was a Nobleman of a goodly and frank Aſpect, with his generous Birth and Temper viſible in it, playing at Cards with a Creature of a black and horrid Countenance, wherein were plainly de⯑lineated the Arts of his Mind, Couſenage and Falſhood. They were marking their Game with Counters, on which we could ſee Inſcriptions, imperceptible to any but us. My Lord had ſcor'd with Pieces of Ivory, on which were writ, Good Fame, Glory, Riches, Honour, and Po⯑ſterity. The Spectre over-againſt him had on his Counters the Inſcriptions of Diſhonour. Impu⯑dence, Poverty, Ignorance, and Want of Shame. Bleſs me! ſaid I; Sure my Lord does not ſee what he plays for! As well as I do, ſays Pacolet. He deſpiſes that Fellow he plays with, and ſcorns himſelf for making him his Companion. At the very Inſtant he was ſpeaking, I ſaw the Fellow who play'd with my Lord, hide Two Cards in the Roll of his Stocking: Pacolet immediately ſtole 'em from thence; upon which the Noble⯑man [111] ſoon after won the Game. The little Tri⯑umph he appeared in, when he got ſuch a tri⯑ [...]ing Stock of ready Money, tho' he had ven⯑tured ſo great Sums with Indifference, increas'd my Admiration. But Pacolet began to talk to me. Mr. Iſaac, This to you looks wonderful, but not at all to us higher Beings: That Noble has as many good Qualities as any Man of his Order, and ſeems to have no Faults but what, as I may ſay, are Excreſcencies from Virtues. He is Generous to a Prodigality, more Affable than is conſiſtent with his Quality, and Coura⯑gious to a Raſhneſs. Yet, after all this, the Source of his whole Conduct is (tho' he would hate himſelf if he knew it) meer Avarice. The Ready Caſh laid before the Gameſter's Counters makes him venture, as you ſee, and lay Diſtin⯑ction againſt Infamy, Abundance againſt Want; in a Word, all that's deſirable againſt all that's to be avoided. However, ſaid I, be ſure you diſ⯑appoint the Sharpers to Night, and ſteal from 'em all the Cards they hide. Pacolet obey'd me, and my Lord went Home with their whole Bank in his Pocket.

To Night was acted a Second Time a Come⯑dy, call'd, The Buſie Body: This Play is written by a Lady. In old Times, we us'd to ſit upon a Play here after it was acted; but now the En⯑tertainment is turn'd another Way; not but there are conſiderable Men appear in all Ages, who, for ſome eminent Quality or Invention, deſerve the Eſteem and Thanks of the Publick. Such a Be⯑nefector is a Gentleman of this Houſe, who is obſerved by the Surgeons with much Envy; for he has invented an Engine for the Prevention of Harms by Love-Adventures, and by great Care and Application, hath made it an Immodeſty to name his Name. This Act of Self-denial has [112] gain'd this worthy Member of the Common⯑wealth a great Reputation. Some Law-giver [...] have departed from their Abodes for ever, an [...] commanded the Obſervation of their Laws til [...] their Return; others have uſed other Artifice [...] to fly the Applauſe of their Merit; but this Per⯑ſon ſhuns Glory with greater Addreſs, and has, by giving his Engine his own Name, made it obſcene to ſpeak of him more. However, he is rank'd among, and receiv'd by the modern Wits, as a great Promoter of Gallantry and Pleaſure. But I fear, Pleaſure is leſs under⯑ſtood in this Age, which ſo much pretends to it, than in any ſince the Creation. 'Twas ad⯑mirably ſaid of him who firſt took Notice, That (Res eſt ſevera Voluptas) there is a certain Seve⯑rity in Pleaſure. Without that, all Decency is baniſhed; and if Reaſon is not to be preſent at our greateſt Satisfactions, of all the Races of Creatures, the Humane is the moſt miſerable. It was not ſo of old; when Virgil deſcribes a Wit, he always means a virtuous Man; and all his Sentiments of Men of Genius are ſuch as ſhow Perſons diſtinguiſhed from the common Level of Mankind; ſuch as placed Happineſs in the Contempt of low Fears, and mean Gratifi⯑cations: Fears, which we are ſubject to with the Vulgar; and Pleaſures, which we have in common with Beaſts. With theſe illuſtrious Perſonages, the wiſeſt Man was the greateſt Wit; and none was thought worthy of that Character, unleſs he anſwered this excellent Deſcription of the Poet:

We had this Morning Advice, That ſome Eng⯑liſh Merchant Ships, convoyed by the Briſtol of 54 Guns, were met with by a Part of Monſ. du [113] Gui Trouin's Squadron, who engaged the Con⯑voy. That Ship defended it ſelf till the Engliſh Merchants got clear of the Enemy, but being diſabled, was her ſelf taken. Within few Hours after, my Lord Durſley came up with Part of his Squadron, and engaging the French, retook the Briſtol (which being very much ſhattered, ſunk), and took the Glorieux, a Ship of 44 Guns, as al⯑ſo a Privateer of 14. Before this Action, his Lordſhip had taken Two French Merchant Men, and had, at the Diſpatch of theſe Advices, brought the whoſe ſafe into Plimouth.

SIR Thomas, of this Houſe, has ſhow'd me ſome Letters from the Bath, which give Accounts of what paſſes among the good Com⯑pany of that Place; and allow'd me to tran⯑ſcribe one of them, that ſeems to be writ by ſome of Sir Thomas's particular Acquaintance, and is as follows:

Letters from the Hague, bearing Date the 21ſt Inſtant, N. S. adviſe, That his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, immediately after his Ar⯑rival, ſent his Secretary to the Preſident and the Penſionary, to acquaint them therewith. Soon after, theſe Miniſters viſited the Duke, and made him Compliments in the Name of the States-General; after which they enter'd into a Con⯑ference with him on the preſent Poſture of Af⯑fairs, and gave his Grace Aſſurances of the firm Adherence of the States to the Alliance: At the ſame Time acquainting him, That all Overtures of Peace were rejected, till they had an Oppor⯑tunity of acting in Concert with their Allies on that Subject. After this Interview, the Penſio⯑nary and the Preſident returned to the Aſſembly of the States. Monſieur Torcy has had a Confe⯑rence at the Penſioner's Houſe with his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, Prince Eugene, and his Excellency the Lord Townſhend. The Re⯑ſult of what was debated at that Time is kept ſecret; but there appears an Air of Satisfaction and good Underſtanding between theſe Mini⯑ſters. [119] We are apt alſo to give our ſelves very hopeful Proſpects from Monſieur Torcy's being employed in this Negotiation, who has been al⯑ways remarkable for a particular Way of Think⯑ing, in his Senſe of the Greatneſs of France; which he has always ſaid, Was to be promoted rather by the Arts of Peace, than thoſe of War. His delivering himſelf freely on this Subject, has formerly appeared an unſucceſsful Way to Power in that Court; but in its preſent Circumſtan⯑ces, thoſe Maxims are better received; and it is thought a certain Argument of the Since⯑rity of the French King's Intentions, that this Miniſter is at preſent made uſe of. The Mar⯑quis is to return to Paris within few Days, who has ſent a Courier thither to give Notice of the Reaſons of his Return, that the Court may be the ſooner able to diſpatch Commiſſioners for a formal Treaty.

The Expectations of Peace are increaſed by Advices from Paris of the 17th Inſtant, which ſay, The Dauphin hath altered his Reſolution of commanding in Flanders the enſuing Cam⯑paign. The Saxon and Pruſſian Reinforcements, together with Count Merci's Regiment of Impe⯑rial Horſe, are encamped in the Neighbourhood of Bruſſels; and ſufficient Stores of Corn and Forage are tranſported to that Place and Ghent for the Service of the Confederate Army.

They write from Mons, That the Elector of Bavaria had Advice, That an advanced Party of the Portugueze Army had been defeated by the Spaniards.

We hear from Languedoc, That their Corn, Olives, and Figs, were wholly deſtroyed; but that they have a hopeful Proſpect of a plentiful Vintage.

THE Diſcourſe has happened to turn this Evening upon the true Nature of Panegy⯑rick, the Perfection of which was aſſerted to conſiſt in a certain artful Way of conveying the Applauſe in an indirect Manner. There was a Gentleman gave us ſeveral Inſtances of it: A⯑mong others, he quoted (from Sir Francis Ba⯑con, in his Advancement of Learning) a very great Compliment made to Tiberius, as follows: In a full Debate upon Publick Affairs in the Se⯑nate, one of the Aſſembly roſe up, and with a very grave Air ſaid, He thought it for the Ho⯑nour and Dignity of the Commonwealth, that Tiberius ſhould be declared a God, and have Di⯑vine Worſhip paid him. The Emperor was ſurprized at the Propoſal, and demanded of him to declare whether he had made any Ap⯑plication to incline him to that Overture? The Senator anſwered, with a bold and haughty Tone, Sir, In Matters that concern the Common⯑wealth, I will be governed by no Man. Another Gentleman mentioned ſomething of the ſame Kind ſpoken by the late Duke of B—m, to the late Earl of O—y: My Lord, (ſays the Duke, after his Libertine Way) you will certain⯑ly be Damn'd. How, my Lord! ſays the Earl with ſome Warmth. Nay, ſays the Duke, there's no Help for it, for it is poſitively ſaid, Curſed is he of whom all Men ſpeak well. This is taking a Man by Surprize, and being welcome when you have ſo ſurprized him. The Perſon flattered receives you into his Cloſet at once; and the [121] ſudden Change in his Heart, from the Ex⯑pectation of an Ill-wiſher, to find you his Friend, makes you in his full Favour in a Mo⯑ment. The Spirits that were raiſed ſo ſudden⯑ly againſt you, are as ſuddenly for you. There was another Inſtance given of this Kind at the Table: A Gentleman who had a very great Favour done him, and an Employment beſtow⯑ed upon him, without ſo much as being known to his Benefactor, waited upon the Great Man who was ſo Generous, and was beginning to ſay, he was infinitely obliged. Not at all, ſays the Patron, turning from him to another, Had I known a more deſerving Man in England, he ſhould not have had it.

We ſhould certainly have had more Exam⯑ples, had not a Gentleman produced a Book which he thought an Inſtance of this kind: It was a Pamphlet, call'd, The Naked Truth. The Idea any one would have of that Work from the Title, was, That there would be much Plain Dealing with People in Power, and that we ſhould ſee Things in their proper Light, ſtripped of the Ornaments which are uſually given to the Actions of the Great: But the Skill of this Author is ſuch, that he has, under that rugged Appearance, approved himſelf the fineſt Gentleman and Courtier that ever writ. The Language is extremely ſublime, and not at all to be underſtood by the Vulgar: The Senti⯑ments are ſuch as would make no Figure in ordinary Words; but ſuch is the Art of the Ex⯑preſſion, and the Thoughts are elevated to ſo high a Degree, that I queſtion whether the Diſ⯑courſe will ſell much. There was an ill-na⯑tured Fellow preſent, who hates all Panegy⯑rick mortally. P— take him! ſaid he, What the Devil means his Naked Truth, in ſpeaking nothing but to the Advantage of all whom he [122] mentions? This is juſt ſuch a great Action as that of the Champion's on a Coronation Day, who chal⯑lenges all Mankind to diſpute with him the Right of the Sovereign, ſurrounded with his Guards. The Gentleman who produced the Treatiſe, deſired him to be cautious, and ſaid, it was writ by an excellent Soldier, which made the Company obſerve it more narrowly: And (as Criticks are the greateſt Conjurers at finding out a known Truth) one ſaid, he was ſure it was writ by the Hand of his Sword-Arm. I could not perceive much wit in that Expreſſi⯑on; but it rais'd a Laugh, and I ſuppoſe, was meant as a Sneer upon valiant Men. The ſame Man pretended to ſee in the Style, that it was an Horſe-Officer; but ſure that's being too nice: For though you may know Officers of the Cavalry by the Turn of their Feet, I can't ima⯑gine how you ſhould diſcern their Hands from thoſe of other Men. But it is always thus with Pedants; they will ever be carping, if a Gen⯑tleman or a Man of Honour puts Pen to Paper [...] I don't doubt, but this Author will find this Aſſertion too true, and that Obloquy is not re⯑pulſed by the Force of Arms. I will therefore ſet this Excellent Piece in a Light too glaring for weak Eyes, and, in Imitation of the Cri⯑tick Longinus, ſhall, as well as I can, make my Obſervations in a Style like the Author's, of whom I treat; which perhaps I am as capable of as another, having an unbounded Force of Thinking, as well as a moſt exquiſite Addreſs extenſively and wiſely indulged to me by the ſu⯑preme Powers. My Author, I will dare to aſſert ſhows the moſt Univerſal Knowledge of any Writer who has appeared this Century. He is a Poet, and Merchant, which is ſeen in Two Maſter-Words, Credit Bloſſoms. He is a G [...]am⯑marian, and a Politician; for he ſays, The Uni⯑ting [123] the Two Kingdoms, is the Emphaſis of the Se⯑curity to the Proteſtants Succeſſion. Some would be apt to ſay, he is a Conjurer; for he has found, That a Republick is not made up of every Body of Animals, but is compoſed of Men only, and not of Horſes. Liberty and Property have choſen their Retreat within the Emulation Circle of an Humane Commonwealth. He is a Phyſician; for he ſays, I obſerve a conſtant Equality in its Pulſe, and a juſt Quickneſs of its vigorous Circu⯑lation. And again: I view the Strength of our Conſtitution plainly appear in the Sanguine and ruddy Complexion of a well-contented City. He is a Divine: For he ſays, I cannot but bleſs my ſelf. And indeed, this Excellent Treatiſe has had that good Effect upon me, who am far from being Superſtitious, that I, alſo, can't but bleſs my ſelf.

This Day arrived a Mail from Lisbon, with Letters of the 13th Inſtant, N. S. containing a particular Account of the late Action in Portu⯑gal. On the 7th Inſtant, the Army of Portu⯑gal, under the Command of the Marquis de Frontera, lay on the Side of the Caya, and the Army of the Duke of Anjou, commanded by the Marquis de Bay, on the other. The latter Commander having an Ambition to ravage the Country, in a Manner in Sight of the Portu⯑gueze, made a Motion with the whole Body f his Horſe toward Fort St. Chriſtopher, near the Town of Badajos. The Generals of the Portu⯑gueze, diſdaining that ſuch an Inſult ſhould be offered to their Arms, took a Reſolution to paſs the River, and oppoſe the Deſigns of the Ene⯑my. The Earl of Galway [...]epreſented to them, That the preſent Poſtu [...]e of Affairs wa ſuch on the Side of the Allies, that there needed no more to be done at preſent in that Country, [124] but to carry on a Defenſive Part. But his Ar⯑guments could not avail in the Council of War. Upon which, a great Detachment of Foot, and the whole of the Horſe of the King of Portu⯑gal's Army, paſſed the River, and with ſome Pieces of Cannon did good Execution on the Enemy. Upon obſerving this, the Marquis de Bay advanced with his Horſe, and attacked the Right Wing of the Portugueze Cavalry, who faced about, and fled, without ſtanding the firſt Encounter. But their Foot repulſed the ſame Body of Horſe in three ſucceſſive Charges, with great Order and Reſolution. While this was tranſacting, the Britiſh General com⯑manded the Brigade of Pearce, to keep the Enemy in Diverſion by a new Attack. This was ſo well executed, that the Portugueze In⯑fantry had Time to retire in good Order, and repaſs the River. But that Brigade, which reſcued 'em, was it ſelf ſurrounded by the Ene⯑my, and Major-General Sarkey, Brigadier Pearce, together with both their Regiments, and that of the Lord Galway, lately raiſed, were taken Priſoners.

During the Engagement, the Earl of Barry⯑more having advanced too far to give ſome ne⯑ceſſary Order, was hemmed in by a Squadron of the Enemy; but found Means to gallop up to the Brigade of Pearce, with which he remains alſo a Priſoner. My Lord Galway had his Horſe ſhot under him in this Action; and the Conde de St. Juan, a Portugueze General, was taken Priſoner. The ſame Night the Army encamped at Aronches, and on the 9th moved to Elvas, where they lay when theſe Diſ⯑patches came away. Colonel Stanwix's Regi⯑ment is alſo taken. The whole of this Affair has given the Portugueze a great Idea of the Capacity and Courage of my Lord Galway, a⯑gainſt [125] whoſe Advice they entered upon this un⯑fortunate Affair, and by whoſe Conduct they were reſcued from it. The prodigious Con⯑ſtancy and Reſolution of that great Man is hard⯑ly to be parallel'd, who, under the Oppreſſion of a maimed Body, and the Reflection of repeated ill Fortune, goes on with an unſpeak⯑able Alacrity in the Service of the Common Cauſe. He has already put Things in a very good Poſture after this ill Accident, and made the neceſſary Diſpoſitions for covering the Coun⯑try from any further Attempt of the Enemy, who lie ſtill in the Camp they were in before the Battle.

Letters from Bruſſels, dated the 25th Inſtant, adviſe, That notwithſtanding the Negotiations of a Peace ſeem ſo far advanced, that ſome do confidently report the Preliminaries of a Treaty to be actually agreed on; yet the Allies haſten their Preparations for opening the Campaign; and the Forces of the Empire, the Pruſſians, the Danes, the Wirtembergers, the Palatines, and Saxon Auxiliaries, are in Motion towards the General Rendevous, they being already ar⯑rived in the Neighbourhood of Bruſſels. Theſe Advices add, That the Deputies of the States of Holland, having made a General Review of the Troops in Flanders, ſet out for Antwerp on the 21ſt Inſtant from that Place. On the ſame Day the Prince Royal of Pruſſia came thither incognito, with a Deſign to make the enſuing Campaign under his Grace the Duke of Marl⯑borough.

IT is obſerved too often, that Men of Wit do ſo much employ their Thoughts upon fine Speculations, that Things uſeful to Mankind are wholly neglected; and they are buſy in making Emendations upon ſome Encliticks in a Greek Author, while obvious Things, that e⯑very Man may have uſe for, are wholly overlooked. It would be an happy Thing, if ſuch as have real Capacities for Pub⯑lick Service, were employed in Works of general Uſe; but becauſe a Thing is every Body's Buſineſs, it is no Body's Buſineſs: This is for Want of publick Spirit. As for my Part, who am only a Student, and a Man of no great Intereſt, I can only remark Things, and recommend the Correction of 'em to high⯑er Powers. There is an Offence I have a Thou⯑ſand Times lamented, but fear I ſhall never ſee remedi d; which is, That in a Nation where Learning is ſo frequent as in Great Britain, there ſhould be ſo many groſs Errors as there are in the very Directions of Things, wherein Accuracy is neceſſary ſo the Conduct of Life. This is notoriouſly obſerved by all Men of Letters when they firſt come to Town (at [127] which Time they are uſually curious that Way) in the Inſcriptions on Sign-Poſts. I have Cauſe to know this Matter as well as any Body; for I have (when I went to Merchant-Taylor's School) ſuffered Stripes for ſpelling after the Signs I obſerved in my Way; tho' at the ſame Time, I muſt confeſs, ſtaring at thoſe Inſcrip⯑tions firſt gave me an Idea and Curioſity for Medals; in which I have ſince arrived at ſome Knowledge. Many a Man has loſt his Way and his Dinner by this general Want of Skill in Orthography: For, conſidering that the Painters are uſually ſo very bad, that you can⯑not know the Animal under whoſe Sign you are to live that Day, How muſt the Stranger be miſſed, if it be wrong ſpelled, as well as ill painted? I have a Couſin now in Town, who has anſwered under Batchellor at Queen's College, whoſe Name is Humphrey Mopſtaff: (He is a Kin to us by his Mother.) This young Man going to ſee a Relation in Barbekin, wan⯑dered a whole Day by the Miſtake of one Let⯑ter, for it was written, This is the BEER, inſtead of, This is the BEAR. He was ſet right at laſt, by enquiring for the Houſe, of a Fellow who could not read, and knew the Place mechanically, only by having been often drunk there. But, in the Name of Goodneſs, let us make our Learning of Uſe to us, or not. Was not this a Shame, that a Philoſopher ſhould be thus directed by a Cobler? I'll be ſworn, if it were known how many have ſuffered in this Kind by falſe Speeling ſince the Union, this Matter would not long lie thus. What makes theſe Evils the more inſupporta⯑ble, is, That they are ſo eaſily amended, and nothing done in it. But it is ſo far from that, that the Evil goes on in other Arts as well as Orthography. Places are confounded, as well [128] for want of proper Diſtinctions, as Things for Want of true Characters. Had I not come by the other Day very early in the Morning, there might have been Miſchief done; for a worthy North-Britain was ſwearing at Stocks-market that they would not let him in at his Ludg⯑ings; but I knowing the Gentleman, and ob⯑ſerving him look often at the King on Horſe⯑back, and then double his Oaths, that he was ſure he was right, found he miſtook that for Charing-Croſs, by the Erection of the like Sta⯑tue in each Place. I grant, private Men may diſtinguiſh their Abodes as they pleaſe; as one of my Acquaintance who lives at Marybone, has put a good Sentence of his own Invention upon his Dwelling-place, to find out where he lives: He is ſo near London, that his Conceit is this, The Country in Town; or, The Town in the Coun⯑try; for you know, if they are both in one, they are all one. Beſides that, the Ambiguity is not of great Conſequence; if you are ſafe at the Place, 'tis no Matter if you do not diſtinctly know where to ſay the Place is. But to return to the Orthography of Publick Places: I pro⯑poſe, That every Tradeſman in the Cities of London and Weſtminſter, ſhall give me Sixpence a Quarter for keeping their Signs in Repair, as to the Grammatical Part; and I will take into my Houſe a Swiſs Count of my Acquain⯑tance, who can remember all their Names without Book, for Diſpatch ſake, ſetting up the Head of the ſaid Foreigner for my Sign; the Features being ſtrong, and fit for hanging high.

This Day a Mail arrived from Holland, by which there are Advices from Paris, That the Kingdom of France is in the utmoſt Miſery and Diſtraction. The Merchants of Lions have been [129] at Court, to remonſtrate their great Sufferings by the Failure of their Publick Credit; but have received no other Satisfaction, than Pro⯑miſes of a ſudden Peace; and that their Debts will be made good by Funds out of the Re⯑venue, which will not anſwer, but in caſe of the Peace which is promiſed. In the mean Time, the Cries of the common People are loud for Want of Bread, the Gentry have loſt all Spirit and Zeal for their Country, and the King himſelf ſeems to languiſh under the An⯑xiety of the preſſing Calamities of the Nation, and retires from hearing thoſe Grievances, which he hath not Power to redreſs. Inſtead of Preparations for War, and the Defence of their Country, there is nothing to be ſeen but evident Marks of a general Deſpair. Proceſſi⯑ons, Faſtings, Publick Mournings, and Humili⯑ations, are become the ſole Employments of a People, who were lately the moſt vain and gay of any in the Univerſe.

The Pope has written to the French King on the Subject of a Peace, and his Majeſty has an⯑ſwered in the lowlieſt Terms, That he entirely ſubmits his Affairs to Divine Providence, and ſhall ſoon ſhow the World, that he prefers the Tranquility of his People to the Glory of his Arms, and Extent of his Conqueſts.

Letters from the Hague of the 24th ſay, That his Excellency the Lord Toxnſhend delivered his Credentials on that Day to the States-Ge⯑neral, as Plenipotentiary from the Queen of Great-Britain; as did alſo Count Zinzendorf, who bears the ſame Character from the Em⯑peror.

Prince Eugene intended to ſet out the next Day for Bruſſels, and his Grace the Duke of Marlborough on the Tueſday following. The Marquis de Torcy talks daily of going, but ſtill [130] continues here. The Army of the Allies is to aſſemble on the 7th of the next Month at Hel⯑chin; though 'tis generally believed, that the Preliminar es to a Treaty are fully adjuſted.

The Approech of a Peace ſtrikes a Pannick thro' ou Armies, tho' that of a Battle could ne⯑ver do it, and they almoſt repent of their Bra⯑very, that made ſuch haſt to humble them⯑ſelves and the French King. The Duke of Marlborough, tho' otherwiſe the greateſt Gene⯑ral of the Age, has plainly ſhown himſelf un⯑acquainted with the Arts of Husbanding a War. He might have grown as old as the Duke of Alva, or Prince Waldeck, in the Low-Countries, and yet have got Reputation enough every Year for any reaſonable Man: For the Command of General in Flanders hath been ever looked upon as a Proviſion for Life. For my Pa t, I can't ſee how his Grace can anſwer it to the World, for the great Eagerneſs he hath ſhown to ſend a Hundred Thouſand of the braveſt Fellows in Europe a begging. But the pr vate Gentlemen of the Infantry will be able to ſhift for themſelves; a brave Man can never ſtarve in a Country ſtock'd with Hen-rooſts. There is not a Yard of Linnen, ſays my honour⯑ed P ogenitor, Sir John Falſtaff, in my whole Company; but as for that, ſays this worthy Knight, I am in no great Pain, we ſhall find Shirts on every Heage. There is another Sort of Gentlemen whom I am much more concerned for, and that is, the ingenious Fraternity of which I have the Honour to be an unworthy Member; I mean th News-Writers of Great Britain, whe⯑ther Poſt-Men or Poſt-Boys, or by what other Name or Title ſoever dignified or diſtinguiſhed. The Caſe of theſe Gentlemen is, I think, more hard than that of the Soldiers, conſidering that they have taken more Towns, and fought more [131] Battels. They have been upon Parties and Skirmiſhes, when our Armies have lain ſtill; and given the General Aſſault to many a Place, when the Beſiegers were quiet in their Trench⯑es. They have made us Maſters of ſeveral ſtrong Towns many Weeks before our Generals could do it; and compleated Victories, when our greateſt Captains have been glad to come off with a drawn Battle. Where Prince Eugene has ſlain his Thouſands, Boyer has ſlain his Ten Thouſands. This Gentleman can indeed be never enough commended for his Courage and Intrepidity during this whole War: He has laid about him with an inexpreſſible Fury, and like the offended Marius of Ancient Rome, made ſuch Havock among his Countrymen, as muſt be the Work of Two or Three Ages to re⯑pair. It muſt be confeſs'd, the Redoubted Mr. Buckley has ſhed as much Blood as the former; but I cannot forbear ſaying, (and I hope it will not look like Envy) that we re⯑gard our Brother Buckley as a kind of Drawcan⯑ſir, who ſpares neither Friend or Foe: But gene⯑rally kills as many of his own Side as the Ene⯑my's. It is impoſſible for this ingenious Sort of Men to ſubſiſt after a Peace: Every one re⯑members the Shifts they were driven to in the Reign of King Charles the Second, when they could not furniſh out a ſingle Paper of News, without lighting up a Comet in Germany, or a Fire in Moſcow. There ſcarce appeared a Letter without a Paragraph on an Earthquake. Pro⯑digies were grown ſo familiar, that they had loſt their Name, as a great Poet of that Age has it I remember Mr. Dyer, who is juſtly look'd upon by all the Fox-hunters in the Na⯑tion as the greateſt Stateſman our Country has produced, was particularly famous for dealing in Whales, inſomuch that in Five Months Time [130] [...] [131] [...] [132] (for I had the Curioſity to examine his Letters on that Occaſion) he brought Three into the Mouth of the River Thames, beſides Two Por⯑puſſes and a Sturgeon. The judicious and wary Mr. I. Dawks hath all along been the Rival of this great Writer, and got himſelf a Repu⯑tation from Plagues and Famines, by which, in thoſe Days, he deſtroyed as great Multirudes, as he has lately done by the Sword. In every Dearth of News, Grand Cairo was ſure to be un⯑peopled.

It being therefore viſible, that our Society will be greater Sufferers by the Peace than the Soldiery it ſelf; inſomuch that the Daily Cou⯑rant is in Danger of being broken, my Friend Dyer of being reformed, and the very beſt of the whole Band of being reduced to Half-Pay; Might I preſume to offer any Thing in the Be⯑half of my diſtreſſed Brethren, I would hum⯑bly move, That an Appendix of proper Apart⯑ments furniſhed with Pen, Ink, and Paper, and other Neceſſaries of Life, ſhould be added to the Hoſpital of Chelſea, for the Relief of ſuch de⯑cay'd News-Writers as have ſerv'd their Coun⯑try in the Wars; and that for their Exerciſe, they ſhould compile the Annals of their Brother Veterans, who have been engaged in the ſame Service, and are ſtill obliged to do Duty after the ſame Manner.

I cannot be thought to ſpeak this out of an Eye to any private Intereſt; for, as my chief Scenes of Action are Coffee-houſes, Play-houſes, and my own Apartment, I am in no need of Camps, Fortifications, and Fields of Battle, to ſupport me, I don't call out for Heroes and Generals to my Aſſiſtance. Though the Of⯑ficers are broken, and the Armies disbanded, I ſhall ſtill be ſafe as long as there are Men or Women, or Politicians, or Lovers, or Poets, or [133] Nymphs, or Swains, or Cits, or Courtiers in Being.

THERE is nothing can give a Man of any Conſideration greater Pain, than to ſee Or⯑der and Diſtinction laid aſide amongſt Men, eſpecially when the Rank (of which he himſelf is a Member) is intruded upon by ſuch as have no Pretence to that Honour. The Appellation of Eſquire is the moſt notoriouſly abuſed in this Kind of any Claſs amongſt Men, inſomuch that it is become almoſt the Subject of Deriſion; but I will be bold to ſay, This Behaviour towards it proceeds from the Ignorance of the People in its true Origine. I ſhall therefore, as briefly as poſ⯑ſible, do my ſelf and all true Eſquires the Juſtice to look into Antiquity upon this Subject.

In the Firſt Ages of the World, before the Invention of Jointures and Settlements, when the noble Paſſion of Love had Poſſeſſion of the Hearts of Men, and the Fair Sex were not yet cultivated into the merciful Diſpoſition which they have ſhowed in latter Centuries, it was natural for Great and Heroick Spirits to retire to Rivulets, Woods, and Caves, to lament their Deſtiny, and the Cruelty of the fair Perſons who were deaf to their Lamentations. The Hero in this Diſtreſs was generally in Armour, and in a Readineſs to fight any Man he met with, eſpecially if diſtinguiſhed by any extra⯑ordinary Qualifications, it being the Nature of Heroick Love to hate all Merit, leſt it ſhould [134] come within the Obſervation of the Cruel One, by whom its own Perfections are neglected. A Lover of this Kind had always about him a Per⯑ſon of a Second Value, and ſubordinate to him, who could hear his Afflictions, carry an Inchant⯑ment for his Wounds, hold his Helmet when he was eating (if ever he did eat); or in his Ab⯑ſence, when he was retired to his Apartment in any King's Palace, tell the Prince himſelf, or perhaps his Daughter, the Birth, Parentage, and Adventures, of his valiant Maſter. This truſty Companion was ſtyled his Eſquire, and was al⯑ways fit for any Offices about him; was as gen⯑tle and chaſt as a Gentleman-Uſher, quick and active as an Equerry, ſmooth and eloquent as a Maſter of the Ceremonies. A Man thus qualified was the firſt, as the Ancients affirm, who was called an Eſquire; and none without theſe Accompliſhments ought to aſſume our Or⯑der: But, to the utter Diſgrace and Confuſion of the Heralds, every Pretender is admitted into this Fraternity, even Perſons the moſt Foreign to this courteous Inſtitution I have taken an Inventory of all within this City, and looked over every Letter in the Poſt-Office for my better Information. There are of the Mid⯑dle-Temple, including all in the Buttery-Books, and in the Liſts of the Houſe, 5000. In the In⯑ner, 4000. In the King's Bench Walks the whole Buildings are inhabited by Eſquires only. The adjacent Street of Eſſex, from Morris's Coffee-houſe, and the Turning towards the Graecian, you cannot meet one who is not an Eſquire. 'till you take Water. Every Houſe in Norfolk and Arundel Streets is gove ned alſo by a 'Squire, or his Lady. Soho-Square, Bloomsbury-Square, and all other Places, where the Floors riſe above Nine Foot, are ſo many Univerſities, where you enter your ſelves, and become of our Order. [135] However, if this were the worſt of the Evil, it were to be ſupported, becauſe they are generally Men of ſome Figure and Uſe; though I know no Pretence they have to an Honour which had its Riſe from Chivalry. But if you travel into the Counties of Great Britain, we are ſtill more impoſed upon by Innovation. We are indeed derived from the Field: But ſhall that give Ti⯑tle to all that ride mad after Foxes, that holloo when they ſee an Hare, or venture their Necks full Speed after an Hawk, immediately to com⯑mence Eſquires? No; our Order is Temperate, Cleanly, Sober, and Chaſt; but theſe Rural Eſquires commit Immodeſties upon Hay-cocks, wear Shirts half a Week, and are drunk Twice a Day. Theſe Men are alſo to the laſt Degree exceſſive in their Food: An Eſquire of Norfolk eats Two Pounds of Dumplin every Meal, as if obliged to it by our Order: An Eſquire in Hamp⯑ſhire is as ravenous in devouring Hogs-fleſh: One of Eſſex has as little Mercy on Calves. But I muſt take the Liberty to proteſt againſt them, and acquaint thoſe Perſons, that it is not the Quantity they eat, but the Manner of eating, that ſhows a Squire. But above all, I am moſt offended at ſmall Quill men, and Tranſcribing Clerks, who are all come into our Order, for no Reaſon that I know of, but that they can eaſily flouriſh it at the End of their Name. I'll un⯑dertake, that if you read the Superſcriptions to all the Offices in the Kingdom, you will not find Three Letters directed to any but Eſquires. I have my ſelf a Couple of Clerks, and the Rogues make nothing of leaving Meſſages upon each other's Desk: One directs, To Degory Gooſe⯑quill Eſq to which the other replies by a Note, To Nehemiah Daſhwell Eſq with Reſpect. In a Word, it is now Populus Armigerorum, A Peo⯑ple of Eſquires. And I don't know, but, by the [136] late Act of Naturalization, Foreigners will aſ⯑ſume that Title, as Part of the Immunity of be⯑ing Engliſhmen. All theſe Improprieties flow from the Negligence of the Heralds-Office. Thoſe Gentlemen in Party-colour'd Habits do not ſo rightly, as they ought, underſtand them⯑ſelves; though they are dreſs'd Cap-a-pe in Hieroglyphicks, they are inwardly but ignorant Men. I asked an Acquaintance of mine, who is a Man of Wit, but of no Fortune, and is for⯑ced to appear as Jack-pudding on the Stage to a Mountebank: Prethee, Jack. Why is your Coat of ſo many Colours? He reply'd, I act a Fool, and this ſpotted Dreſs is to ſignifie, that every Man living has a weak Place about him; for I am Knight of the Shire, and repreſent you all. I wiſh the Heralds would know as well as this Man does, in his Way, that they are to act for us in the Caſe of our Arms and Appellations: We ſhould not then be jumbled together in ſo promiſcuous and abſurd a Manne. I deſign to take this Matter into fu ther Conſideration, and no Man ſhall be received as an Eſquire, who cannot bring a Certificate, That he has con⯑quered ſome Lady's obdurate Heart; That he can lead up a Country Dance, or carry a Meſ⯑ſage between her and her Lover, with Addreſs, Secrecy, and Diligence. A 'Squire is properly born for the Service of the Sex, and his Cre⯑dentials ſhall be ſigned by Three Toaſts, and One Prude, before his Title ſhall receiv'd in my Office.

On Saturday laſt was preſented, The Buſie Bo⯑dy, a Comedy, written (as I have heretofore re⯑mark'd) by a Woman. The Plot and Incidents of the Play are laid with that Subtilty of Spirit which is peculiar to Females of Wit, and is very ſeldom well performed by thoſe of the other [137] Sex, in whom Craft in Love is an Act of Inven⯑tion, and not, as with Women, the Effect of Nature and Inſtinct.

To Morrow will be acted a Play, call'd, The Trip to the Jubilee. This Performance is the greateſt Inſtance that we can have of the irre⯑ſiſtble Force of proper Action. The Dialogue in it ſelf has ſomething too low to bear a Criti⯑ciſm upon it: But Mr. Wilks enters into the Part with ſo much Skill, that the Gallantry, the Youth, and Gaiety of a young Man of a plenti⯑ful Fortune, is looked upon with as much In⯑dulgence on the Stage, as in real Life, without any of thoſe Intermixtures of Wit and Humour, which uſually prepoſſeſs us in Favour of ſuch Characters in other Plays.

Letters from the Hague of the 23d Inſtant, N. S. ſay, Mr. Walpole (who is ſince arrived) was going with all Expedition to Great Britain, whither they doubted not but he carried with him the Preliminaries to a Treaty of Peace. The French Miniſter, Monſieur Torcy, has been obſer⯑ved in this whole Negotiation to turn his Diſ⯑courſe upon the Calamities ſent down by Hea⯑ven upon France, and imputed the Neceſſities they were under to the immediate Hand of Pro⯑vidence, in inflicting a general Scarcity of Pro⯑viſion, rather than the ſuperior Genius of the Generals, or the Bravery of the Armies againſt them. It would be impious not to acknowledge the Indulgence of Heaven to us; but at the ſame Time, as we are to love our Enemies, we are glad to ſee 'em mortified enough to mix Chriſtianity with their Politicks. An Authen⯑tick Letter from Madam Maintenon to Monſieur Torcy has been ſtolen by a Perſon about him, who has communicated a Copy of it to ſome of the Dependants of a Miniſter of the Al⯑lies. [138] That Epiſtle is writ in the moſt Pathetick Manner imaginable, and in a Style which ſhows her Genius, that has ſo long engroſſed the Heart of this great Monarch.

There is ſuch a Veneration due from all Men to the Perſons of Princes, that it were a Sort of Diſhoneſty to repreſent further the Condition which the King is in; but it is certain, That ſoon after the Receipt of theſe Advices, Mon⯑ſieur Torcy waited upon his Grace the Duke of Marlborough and the Lord Townſhend, and in that Conference gave up many Points, which he had before ſaid were ſuch, as he muſt return to France before he could anſwer.

IT is not to be imagined how far Prepoſſeſſion will run away with People's Underſtandings, in Caſes wherein they are under preſent Uneaſi⯑neſs. The following Narration is a ſufficient Teſtimony of the Truth of this Obſervation.

I had the Honour the other Day of a Viſit from a Gentlewoman (a Stranger to me) who ſeemed to be about Thirty. Her Complexion is Brown; but the Air of her Face has an Agree⯑ableneſs, which ſurpaſſes the Beauties of the Faireſt Women. There appeared in her Look and Mien a ſprightly Health; and her Eyes had too much Vivacity to become the Language of Complaint, which ſhe began to enter into. She ſeemed ſenſible of it; and therefore, with [140] down-caſt Looks, ſaid ſhe, Mr. Bickerſtaff, You ſee before you the unhappieſt of Women; and therefore, as you are eſteemed by all the World both a great Civilian, as well as an Aſtrologer, I muſt deſire your Advice and Aſſiſtance, in put⯑ting me in a Method of obtaining a Divorce from a Marriage, which I know the Law will pronounce void. Madam, ſaid I, your Grie⯑vance is of ſuch a Nature, that you muſt be very ingenuous in repreſenting the Cauſes of your Complaint, or I cannot give you the Sa⯑tisfaction you deſire. Sir, ſhe anſwers, I be⯑lieved there would be no need of half your Skill in the Art of Divination, to gueſs why a Wo⯑man would part from her Husband. 'Tis true, ſaid I, but Suſpicions, or Gueſſes at what you mean, nay, Certainty of it, except you plainly ſpeak it, are no Foundation for a formal Suit. She clap'd her Fan before her Face; My Huſ⯑band, ſaid ſhe, is no more an Husband (here ſhe burſt into Tears) than one of the Italian Singers.

Madam, ſaid I, the Affliction you complain of, is to be redreſſed by Law; but at the ſame Time, conſider what Mortifications you are to go through in bringing it into open Court; how you will be able to bear the impertinent Whiſ⯑pers of the People preſent at the Tryal, the li⯑centious Reflections of the Pleaders, and the In⯑terpretations that will in general be put upon your Conduct by all the World: How little (will they ſay) could that Lady command her Paſſions. Beſides, conſider, that curbing our Deſires is the greateſt Glory we can arrive at in this World, and will be moſt rewarded in the next. She anſwered, like a prudent Matron, Sir, if you pleaſe to remember the Office of Matrimony, the firſt Cauſe of its Inſtitution is that of having Poſterity: Therefore, as to the [141] curbing Deſires, I am willing to undergo any Abſtinence from Food as you pleaſe to enjoin me; but I cannot, with any Quiet of Mind, live in the Neglect of a neceſſary Duty, and an expreſs Commandment, Increaſe and Multi⯑ply. Obſerving ſhe was learned, and knew ſo well the Duties of Life, I turned my Ar⯑guments rather to dehort her from this Pub⯑lick Procedure by Examples, than Precepts. Do but conſider, Madam, what Crowds of beauteous Women live in Nunneries, ſeclu⯑ded for ever from the Sight and Converſa⯑tion of Men, with all the Alacrity of Spirit imaginable; they ſpend their Time in Hea⯑venly Raptures, in conſtant and frequent Devotion, and at proper Hours in agreeable Converſations. Sir, ſaid ſhe haſtily, Tell not me of Papiſts, or any of their Idolatries. Well then, Madam, conſider how many fine Ladies live innocently in the Eye of the World, and this gay Town, in the midſt of Temptation: There's the Witty Mrs. W— is a Virgin of 44, Mrs. T—s is 39, Mrs. L—ce 33; yet you ſee, they laugh and are gay, at the Park, at the Play-houſe, at Balls, and at Viſits; and ſo much at Eaſe, that all this ſeems hardly a Self-denial. Mr. Bickerſtaff, ſaid ſhe, with ſome Emotion, you are an excellent Caſuiſt; but the laſt Word deſtroyed your whole Argument; if it is not Self-denial, it is no Virtue. I preſented you with an Half-Guinea, in Hopes not only to have my Conſcience eas'd, but my Fortune told. Yet—Well Madam, ſaid I, Pray of what Age is your Husband? He is, reply'd my in⯑jured Client, Fifty, and I have been his Wife Fifteen Years. How happen'd it, you never communicated your Diſtreſs in all this Time to your Friends and Relations? She anſwered, He has been thus but a Fortnight. I am the [142] moſt ſerious Man in the World to look at, and yet could not forbear laughing out. Why, Ma⯑dam, in caſe of Infirmity, which proceeds on⯑ly from Age, the Law gives no Remedy. Sir, ſaid ſhe, I find you have no more Learning that Dr. Caſe; and I am told of a young Man, not Five and Twenty, juſt come from Oxford, to whom I will communicate this whole Matter, and doubt not but he will appear to have Seven Times more uſeful and ſatisfactory Knowledge than you and all your boaſted Family. Thus I have entirely loſt my Client: But if this te⯑dious Narrative preſerves Paſtorella from the intended Marriage with one Twenty Years her Senior—To ſave a Fine Lady, I am content⯑ed to have my Learning decry'd, and my Predictions bound up with Poor Robin's Alma⯑nacks.

This Evening was acted, The Recruiting Of⯑ficer, in which Mr. Eſtcourt's proper Senſe and Obſervation is what ſupports the Play. There is not, in my humble Opinion, the Humour hit in Serjeant Kite; but it is admirably ſup⯑ply'd by his Action. If I have Skill to judge, that Man is an excellent Actor; but the Crowd of the Audience are fitter for Repreſentations at May-Fair, than a Theatre-Royal. Yet that Fair is now broke, as well as the Theatre is breaking: But it is allowed ſtill to ſell Animals there. Therefore, if any Lady or Gentleman have Occaſion for a tame Elephant, let them enquire of Mr. Penkethman, who has one to diſ⯑poſe of at a reaſonable Rate. The Downfal of May-Fair has quite ſunk the Price of this noble Creature, as well as of many other Curioſities of Nature. A Tyger will ſell almoſt as cheap as an Ox; and I am credibly informed, a Man may purchaſe a Cat with Three Legs, for very [143] near the Value of one with Four. I hear like⯑wiſe, That there is a great Deſolation among the Gentlemen and Ladies who were the Or⯑naments of the Town, and uſed to ſhine in Plumes and Diadems; the Heroes being moſt of them preſs'd, and the Queens beating Hemp, Mrs. Sarabrand, ſo famous for her ingenious Puppet-Show, has ſet up a Shop in the Exchange, where ſhe ſells her little Troop under the Term of Jointed-Babies. I could not but be ſolici⯑tous to know of her, how ſhe had diſpoſed of that Rake-hell Punch, whoſe lewd Life and Converſation had given ſo much Scandal, and did not a little contribute to the Ruin of the Fair. She told me, with a Sigh, That deſpair⯑ing of ever reclaiming him, ſhe would not of⯑fer to place him in a Civil Family, but got him in a Poſt upon a Stall in Wapping, where he may be ſeen from Sun-riſing to Sun-ſetting, with a Glaſs in one Hand, and a Pipe in the other, as Centry to a Brandy-Shop. The great Revolu⯑tions of this Nature bring to my Mind the Di⯑ſtreſſes of the unfortunate Camilla, who has had the ill Luck to break before her Voice, and to diſappear at a Time when her Beauty was in the Heighth of its Bloom. This Lady enter'd ſo throughly into the great Characters ſhe act⯑ed, that when ſhe had finiſhed her Part, ſhe could not think of retrenching her Equipage, but would appear in her own Lodgings with the ſame Magnificence that ſhe did upon the Stage. This Greatneſs of Soul has reduced that unhap⯑py Princeſs to an involuntary Retirement, where ſhe now paſſes her Time among the Woods and Forreſts, thinking on the Crowns and Scepters ſhe has loſt, and often humming over in her Solitude,

[144] But for Fear of being over-heard, and he Quality known, ſhe uſually ſings it in Italian;

Since I have touched upon this Subject, I ſhal [...] communicate to my Reader Part of a Letter [...] have received from an Ingenious Friend at Am⯑ſterdam, where there is a very noble Theatre [...] though the Manner of furniſhing it with Actors is ſomething peculiar to that Place, and gives us Occaſion to admire both the Politeneſs and Fru⯑gality of the People.

Letters from the Hague of the 31ſt Inſtant, N. S. ſay, That the Articles Preliminary to a general Peace were ſettled, communicated to the States-General, and all the Foreign Miniſters re⯑ſiding there, and tranſmitted to their reſpective Maſters on the 28th. Monſieur Torcy immediate⯑ly returned to the Court of France, from whence he is expected again on the 4th of the next Month with thoſe Articles ratified by that Court. The Hague is agreed upon for the Place of Treaty, and the 15th of the next Month the Day on which it is to commence. The Terms whereon this Negotiation is founded, are not yet declared by publick Authority; but what is moſt generally received, is as follows:

Her Majeſty's Right and Title, and the Pro⯑teſtant Succeſſion to thoſe Dominions, is forth⯑with to be acknowledged. King Charles is to be owned the lawful Sovereign of Spain. The French King ſhall not only recall his Troops out of that Kingdom, and deliver up to the Allies the Towns of Roſes, Fonterabia, and Pampelona; but in caſe the Duke of Anjou ſhall not retire out of the Spaniſh Dominions, he ſhall be obliged to aſſiſt the Allies to force him from thence. A Ceſſation of Arms is agreed upon for Two Months from the firſt Day of the Treaty. The Port and Fortifications of Dunkirk are to be demoliſhed within Four Months; but the Town it ſelf left in the Hands of the French. The Pre⯑tender is to be obliged to leave France. All New⯑foundland is to be reſtored to the Engliſh. As to [146] the other Parts of America, the French are to re⯑ſtore whatever they may have taken from the Engliſh, as the Engliſh in like Manner to give up what they may have taken from the French before the Commencement of the Treaty. The Trade between Great-Britain and France ſhall be ſettled upon the ſame Foundation as in the Reign of King Charles the Second.

The Dutch are to have for their Barriers, New⯑port, Berg, St. Vinox, Furnes, Ipres, Lille, Tour⯑nay, Doua, Valenciennes, Conde, Maubeuge, Mons, Charleroy, Namur, and Luxemburg; all which Places ſhall be delivered up to the Allies be⯑fore the End of June. The Trade between Holland and France ſhall be on the ſame Foot as in 1664. The Cities of Strasburg, Briſac, and Alſatia, ſhall be reſtored to the Emperor and Empire; and the King of France, purſuant to the Treaty of Weſtphalia in 1648, ſhall only re⯑tain the Protection of Ten Imperial Cities, viz. Colmar, Schleſtat, Haguenau, Munſter, Turkeim, Keiſemberg, Obrenheim, Roſheim, Weiſemburg, and Landau, Huninguen, Fort Louis, Fort Khiel, and New Briſac, ſhall be demoliſhed, and all the Fortifications from Baſil to Philipsburg. The King of Pruſſia ſhall remain in the peaceable Poſſeſſion of Neufchatel. The Affair of Orange, as alſo the Pretenſions of his Pruſſian Majeſty in the French Comte, ſhall be determined at this general Negotiation of Peace. The Duke of Sa⯑voy ſhall have a Reſtitution made of all that has been taken from him by the French, and remain Maſter of Exilles, Chamont, Feneſtrelles, and the Valley of Pragelas.

A Gentleman has writ to me out of the Country a very civil Letter, and ſaid Things which I ſuppreſs with great Violence to my Vanity. There are many Terms in my Nar⯑ratives which he complains want explaining, and has therefore deſired, that, for the Benefit of my Country Readers, I would let him know what I mean by a Gentleman, a Pretty-Fellow, a Toaſt, a Coquet, a Critick, a Wit, and all other Appellations of thoſe in the gayer World, who are in Poſſeſſion of theſe ſeveral Characters; together with an Account of thoſe who unfortu⯑nately pretend to 'em. I ſhall begin with him we uſually call a Gentleman, or Man of Conver⯑ſation.

It is generally thought, That Warmth of Ima⯑gination, quick Reliſh of Pleaſure, and a Man⯑ner of becoming it, are the moſt eſſential Quali⯑ties for forming this Sort of Man. But any one that is much in Company will obſerve, that the Height of good Breeding is ſhown rather in ne⯑ver giving Offence, than in doing obliging Things. Thus he that never Shocks you, tho' he is ſeldom entertaining, is more likely to keep your Favour, than he who often entertains, and ſometimes diſpleaſes you. The moſt neceſ⯑ſary Talent therefore in a Man of Converſation, which is what we ordinarily intend by a Fine Gentleman, is a good Judgment. He that has this in Perfection, is Maſter of his Companion, without letting him ſee it; and has the ſame Advantage over Men of any other Qualifications whatſoever, as one that can ſee would have over a blind Man of Ten times his Strength.

[148] This is what makes Sophronius the Darling of all who converſe with him, and the moſt Power⯑ful with his Acquaintance of any Man in Town. By the Light of this Faculty, he acts with great Eaſe and Freedom among the Men of Pleaſure, and acquits himſelf with Skill and Diſpatch among the Men of Buſineſs. All which he per⯑forms with ſuch Succeſs, that, with as much Diſcretion in Life as any Man ever had, he neither is, nor appears Cunning. But as he does a good Office, if he ever does it, with Readineſs and Alacrity; ſo he denies what he does not care to engage in, in a Manner that convinces you, that you ought not to have asked it. His Judgment is ſo good and unerring, and accompanied with ſo chearful a Spirit, that his Converſation is a con⯑tinual Feaſt, at which he helps ſome, and is helped by others, in ſuch a Manner, that the Equality of Society is perfectly kept up, and every Man obliges as much as he is obliged: For it is the greateſt and juſteſt Skill in a Man of Superior Underſtanding, to know how to be on a Level with his Companions. This ſweet Diſ⯑poſition runs through all the Actions of Sophro⯑nius, and make his Company deſired by Wo⯑men, without being envied by Men. Sophro⯑nius would be as juſt as he is, if there were no Law; and would be as diſcreet as he is, if there were no ſuch Thing as Calumny.

In Imitation of this agreeable Being, is made that Animal we call a Pretty Fellow; who being juſt able to find out, that what makes Sophro⯑nius acceptable, is a Natural Behaviour; in or⯑der to the ſame Reputation, makes his own an Artificial one. Jack Dimple is his perfect Mi⯑mick, whereby he is of Courſe the moſt un⯑like him of all Men living. Sophronius juſt now paſſed into the inner Room directly forward: Jack comes as faſt after as he can for the Right [149] and Left Looking-glaſs, in which he had but juſt approved himſelf by a Nod at each, and marched on. He will meditate within for Half an Hour, till he thinks he is not careleſs enough in his Air, and come back to the Mirror to re⯑collect his Forgetfulneſs.

This Night was acted the Comedy, called, The Fox; but I wonder the Modern Writers do not uſe their Intereſt in the Houſe to ſuppreſs ſuch Repreſentations. A Man that has been at this, will ha dly like any other Play during the Sea⯑ſon: Therefore I humbly move, That the Wri⯑tings, as well as Dreſſes, of the laſt Age, ſhould give Way to the preſent Faſhion. We are come into a good Method enough (if we were not in⯑terrupted in our Mi [...]th by ſuch an Apparition as a Play of Johnſon's) to be entertained at more Eaſe, both to the Spectator and the Writer, than in the Days of Old. It is no Difficulty to get Hats, and Swords, and Wigs, and Shooes, and every Thing elſe, from the Shops in Town, and make a Man ſhow himſelf by his Habit, without more ado, to be a Counſellor, a Fop, a Courtier, or a Citizen, and not be obliged to make thoſe Characters talk in different Dia⯑lects to be diſtinguiſhed from each other. This is certainly the ſureſt and beſt Way of Writing: But ſuch a Play as this makes a Man for a Month after over-run with Criticiſm, and enquire, What every Man on the Stage ſaid? What had ſuch a one to do to meddle with ſuch a Thing? How came t'other, who was bred after this or that Manner, to ſpeak ſo like a Man converſant among a different People? Theſe Queſtions rob us of all our Pleaſure; for at this Rate, no Sentence in a Play ſhould be ſpoken by any one Character which could poſſibly enter into the Head of any other Man repreſented in it; but [150] every Sentiment ſhould be peculiar to him only who utters it. Laborious Ben's Works will bear this Sort of Inquiſition; but if the preſent Wri⯑ters were thus examined, and the Offences a⯑gainſt this Rule cut out, few Plays would be long enough for the whole Evening's Entertainment.

But I don't know how they did in thoſe old Times: This ſame Ben Johnſon has made every one's Paſſion in this Play be towards Money, and yet not one of them expreſſes that Deſire, or endeavour to obtain it any Way but what is peculiar to him only: One ſacrifices his Wife, another his Profeſſion, another his Poſterity, from the ſame Motive; but their Characters are kept ſo skilfully apart, that it ſeems prodigious their Diſcourſes ſhould riſe from the Intention of the ſame Author.

But the Poets are a Neſt of Hornets, and I'll drive theſe Thoughts no farther, but muſt men⯑tion ſome hard Treatment I am like to meet with from my Brother Writers. I am credibly inform⯑ed, that the Author of a Play, call'd, Love in a Hollow Tree, has made ſome Remarks upon my late Diſcourſe on The Naked Truth. I cannot blame a Gentleman for writing againſt any Er⯑ror; it is for the Good of the learned World. But I would have the Thing fairly left between us Two, and not under the Protection of Patrons. But my Intelligence is, that he has dedicated his Treatiſe to the Honourable Mr. Edw—d H—rd.

[153] P. S. Thoſe who were condemn'd to Death among the Athenians, were obliged to take a Doſe of Poiſon, which made them die up⯑wards, ſeizing firſt upon their Feet, making them cold and inſenſible, and ſo aſcending gra⯑dually, till it reach'd the Vital Parts. I believe your Death, which you foretold would happen on the 17th Inſtant, will fall out the ſame Way, and that your Diſtemper hath already ſeiz'd on you, and makes Progreſs daily. The lower Part of you, that is, the Advertiſements, is dead; and theſe have riſen for theſe Ten Days laſt paſt, ſo that they now take up almoſt a whole Para⯑graph. Pray, Sir, do your Endeavour to drive this Diſtemper as much as poſſible to the ex⯑treme Parts, and keep it there, as wiſe Folks do the Gout; for if it once gets into your Sto⯑mach, it will ſoon fly up into your Head, and you are a dead Man.

We hear from Leghorn, That Sir Edward Whitaker, with Five Men of War, Four Tranſports, and Two Fireſhips, was arrived at that Port, and Admiral Bing was ſuddenly expected. Their Squadrons being joined, they deſign to ſail directly for Final, to tranſport the Reinforce⯑ments, lodg'd in thoſe Parts, to Barcelona.

They write from Milan, That Count Thaun arrived there on the 16th Inſtant, N. S. and pro⯑ceeded on his Journey to Turin on the 21ſt, in order to concert ſuch Meaſures with his Royal Highneſs, as ſhall appear neceſſary for the Ope⯑rations of the enſuing Campaign.

Advices from Dauphine ſay, That the Troops of the Duke of Savoy being already to appear in thoſe Valleys, whereof he made himſelf Maſter the laſt Year; and that the Duke of Berwick apply'd himſelf with all ima⯑ginable Diligence to ſecure the Paſſes of [154] the Mountains, by ordering Intrenchments to be made towards Briançon, Tourneau, and the Valley of Queiras. That General has alſo been at Marſeilles and Tboulon, to haſten the Tranſ⯑portation of the Corn and Proviſions deſigned for his Army.

Letters from Vienna, bearing Date May 23. N. S. import, That the Cardinal of Saxe-Zeits and the Prince of Litchtenſtein were preparing to ſet out for Presburgh, to aſſiſt at the Diet of the States of Hungary, which is to be aſſembled at that Place on the 25th of this Month. Ge⯑neral Heiſter would ſhortly appear at the Head of his Army at Trentſchin, which Place is appoint⯑ed for the general Rendevous of the Imperial Forces in Hungary; from whence he will advance to lay Siege in Newhauſel: In the mean Time, Reinforcements, with a great Train of Artillery, are marching the ſame Way. The King of Denmark arrived on the 10th Inſtant at Inſpruck, and on the 26th at Dreſden, under a a Triple Diſcharge of the Artillery of that Place; but his Majeſty refuſed the Ceremonies of a Publick Entry.

Our Letters from the Upper Rhine ſay, That the Imperial Army began to form it ſelf at Etlingen; where the reſpective Deputies of the Elector Palatine, the Prince of Baden Durlach, the Biſhoprick of Spires, &c. were aſſembled, and had taken the neceſſary Meaſures for the Proviſion of Forage, the Security of the Coun⯑try againſt the Incurſions of the Enemy, and laying a Bridge over the Rhine. Several Veſſels laden with Corn are daily paſſing before Frank⯑fort for the Lower Rhine.

Letters from Poland inform us, That a De⯑tachment of Muſcovite Cavalry, under the Com⯑mand of General Infland, had joined the Con⯑federate Army; and the Infantry, commanded [155] by General Goltz, was expected to come up within few Days. Theſe Succour will amount to 20000 Men.

Our laſt Advices from the Hague, dated June the 4th, N. S. ſay, That they expected a Courier from the French Court with the Ratification of the Preliminaries that Night or the Day fol⯑lowing. His Grace the Dake of Marlborough will ſet out for Bruſſels on Wedneſday or Thurſday next, if the Diſpatches which are expected from Paris don't alter his Reſolutions. Letters from Majorca confirm the Honourable Capitulation of the Caſtle of Alicant, and alſo the Death of the Governour Major-General Richards, Colonel S [...] ⯑bourg, and Major Vignolles, who were all buried in the Ruins of that Place by the ſpringing of their great Mine, which did, it ſeems, more Execution than was reported. Monſieur Torcy paſſed thro' Mons in his Return, and had there a long Conference with the Elector of Bavaria; after which, that Prince ſpoke publickly of the Treatment he had received from France with the utmoſt Indignation.

I Came hither this Evening to ſee Faſhions, and who ſhould I firſt encounter but my old Friend Cynthio (encompaſſed by a Crowd of young Fellows) dictating on the Paſſion of Love with the gayeſt Air imaginable. ‘'Well, ſays he, as to what I know of the Matter, there is nothing but Ogling with Skill carries a Wo⯑man; but indeed it is not every Fool that is capable of this Art: You will find Twenty can ſpeak eloquently, Fifty can fight man⯑fully, and a Thouſand that can dreſs gen⯑teely at a Miſtreſs, where there is one that can gaze skilfully. This requires an exquiſite Judgment, to take the Language of her Eyes to yours exactly, and not let yours talk too faſt for hers; as at a Play between the Acts, when Beau Frisk ſtands upon a Bench full in Linda⯑mira's Face, and her dear Eyes are ſearching round to avoid that flaring open Fool; ſhe meets the watchful Glance of her true Lover, and ſees his Heart attentive on her Charms, and waiting for a ſecond Twincle of her Eye for its next Motion. Here the good Company ſneer'd; but he goes on. Nor is this Atten⯑dance a Slavery, when a Man meets Encou⯑ragement, and her Eye comes often in his Way: For, after an Evening ſo ſpent, and the Repe⯑tition of Four or Five ſignificant Looks at him, the happy Man goes Home to his Lodging, full of Ten thouſand pleaſing Images: His Brain is dilated, and gives him all the Idea's and Pro⯑ſpects which it ever lets in to its Seat of Plea⯑ſure. [157] Thus a kind Look from Lindamira re⯑vives in his Imagination all the Beauteous Launs, Green Fields, Woods, Foreſts, Rivers, and Solitudes, which he had ever before ſeen in Picture, Deſcription, or Real Life: And all with this Addition, That he now ſees 'em with the Eyes of an happy Lover, as before only with thoſe of a common Man. You laugh, Gentlemen: But conſider your ſelves, (you common People that were never in Love) and compare your ſelves in good Humour with your ſelves out of Humour, and you will then acknowledge, that all External Objects affect you according to the Diſpoſition you are in to receive their Impreſſions, and not as thoſe Ob⯑jects are in their own Nature. How much more ſhall all that paſſes within his View and Ob⯑ſervation, touch with Delight a Man who is prepoſſeſs'd with ſucceſsful Love, which is an Aſſemblage of ſoft Affections, gay Deſires, and hopeful Reſolutions?'’

Poor Cynthio went on at this Rate to the Crowd about him, without any Purpoſe in his Talk, but to vent an Heart overflowing with Senſe of Suc⯑ceſs. I wondered what could exalt him from the Diſtreſs in which he had long appear'd, to ſo much Alacrity. But my Familiar has given me the State of his Affairs. It ſeems then, that lately coming out of the Play-houſe, his Miſtreſs, who knows he is in her Livery, as the Manner of inſolent Beauties, is reſolved to keep him ſtill ſo, and gave him ſo much Wages, as to complain to him of the Crowd ſhe was to paſs through. He had his Wits and Reſolution enough about him to take her Hand, and ſay, He would attend her to her Coach. All the Way thither, my good young Man ſtammer'd at every Word, and ſtumbled at every Step. His Miſtreſs, wonderfully pleaſed with her Triumph, put him to a Thouſand Queſti⯑ons, [156] [...] [157] [...] [158] to make a Man of his natural Wit ſpeak with Heſitation, and let drop her Fan, to ſee him recover it aukwardly. This is the whole Foundation of Cynthio's Recovery to the ſpright⯑ly Air he appears with at preſent.

I grew mighty curious to know ſomething more of that Lady's Affairs, as being amaz'd how ſhe could dally with an Offer of one of his Merit and Fortune. I ſent Pacolet to her Lodg⯑ings, who immediately brought me back the fol⯑lowing Letter to her Friend and Confident A⯑manda in the Country, wherein ſhe has open'd her Heart and all its Folds.

My chief Buſineſs here this Evening was to ſpeak to my Friends in Behalf of honeſt Cave Underhill, who has been a Comick for Three Generations: My Father admired him extreme⯑ly when he was a Boy. There is certainly Na⯑ture [160] excellently repreſented in his Manner of Action; in which he ever avoided that gene⯑ral Fault in Players, of doing too much. It muſt be confeſs'd, he has not the Merit of ſome ingenious Perſons now on the Stage, of adding to his Authors; for the Actors were ſo dull in the laſt Age, that many of them have gone out of the World, without having ever ſpoke one Word of their own in the Theatre. Poor Cave is ſo mortified, that he quibbles, and tells you, he pretends only to act a Part fit for a Man who has one Foot in the Grave; viz. a Grave-dig⯑ger. All Admirers of true Comedy, it is hop'd, will have the Gratitude to be preſent on the laſt Day of his Acting, who, if he does not happen to pleaſe them, will have it even then to ſay, That it is his firſt Offence.

But there is a Gentleman here, who ſays he has it from good Hands, that there is actually a Subſcription made by many Perſons of Wit and Quality, for the Encouragement of new Come⯑dies. This Deſign will very much contribute to the Improvement and Diverſion of the Town: But as every Man is moſt concerned for him⯑ſelf, I, who am of a Saturnine and Melancholy Complexion, cannot but murmur, that there is not an equal Invitation to write Tragedies, ha⯑ving by me, in my Book of Common Places, enough to enable me to finiſh a very Sad one by the Fifth of the next Month. I have the Farewell of a General, with a Truncheon in his Hand, dying for Love, in Six Lines. I have the Principles of a Politician, (who does all the Miſchief in the Play,) together with his Decla⯑ration on the Vanity of Ambition in his laſt Moments, expreſs'd in a Page and an half. I have all my Oaths ready, and my Similies want nothing but Application. I won't pretend to give you an Account of the Plot, it being the [161] ſame Deſign upon which all Tragedies have been writ for ſeveral Years laſt paſt; and from the Beginning of the Firſt Scene, the Frequenters of the Houſe may know, as well as the Author, when the Battle is to be fought, the Lady to yield, and the Hero proceed to his Wedding and Coronation. Beſides theſe Advantages which I have in Readineſs, I have an eminent Trage⯑dian very much my Friend, who ſhall come in, and go through the whole Five Acts, without troubling me for one Sentence, whether he is to kill or be killed, love or be loved, win Battles or loſe them, or whatever other Tragical Perfor⯑mance I ſhall pleaſe to aſſign him.

I have this Day received a Letter, ſubſcribed Fidelia, that gives me an Account of an In⯑chantment under which a young Lady ſuffers, and deſires my Help to exorciſe her from the Power of the Sorcerer. Her Lover is a Rake of Sixty; the Lady a virtuous Woman of Twenty five: Her Relations are to the laſt De⯑gree afflicted, and amazed at this irregular Paſ⯑ſion: Their Sorrow I know not how to re⯑move, but can their Aſtoniſhment; for there is no Spirit in Woman half ſo prevalent as that of Contradiction, which is the ſole Cauſe of her Perſeverance. Let the whole Family go dreſs'd in a Body, and call the Bride to Morrow Morn⯑ing to her Nuptials, and I'll undertake, the In⯑conſtant will forget her Lover in the midſt of all his Aches. But if this Expedient does not ſuc⯑ceed, I muſt be ſo juſt to the young Lady's di⯑ſtinguiſhing Senſe, as to applaud her Choice. A fine young Woman, at laſt, is but what is due from Fate to an honeſt Fellow, who has ſuffered ſo unmercifully by the Sex; and I think we can⯑not enough celebrate her Heroick Virtue, who (like the Patriot that ended a Peſtilence by [162] plunging himſelf into a Gulph) gives her ſelf up to gorge that Dragon which has devoured ſo many Virgins before her.

THE Generality of Mankind are ſo very fond of this World, and of ſtaying in it, that a Man cannot have eminent Skill in any one Art, but they will, in Spite of his Teeth, make him a Phyſician alſo, that being the Science the Worldings have moſt need of. I pretended, when I firſt ſet up, to Aſtrology only; but I am told, I have deep Skill alſo in Medecine. I am applied to now by a Gentleman for my Advice in Behalf of his Wife, who, upon the leaſt Matri⯑monial Difficulty, is exceſſively troubled with Fits, and can bear no Manner of Paſſion without falling into immediate Convulſions. I muſt con⯑feſs, it is a Caſe I have known before, and re⯑member the Party was recovered by certain Words pronounced in the midſt of the Fit, by the Learned Doctor who performed the Cure. Theſe Ails have uſually their Beginning from the Affections of the Mind: Therefore you muſt have Patience to let me give you an Inſtance, whereby you may diſcern the Cauſe of the Diſtemper, and then proceed in the Cure as follows:

A fine Town Lady was married to a Gentle⯑man of ancient Deſcent in one of the Counties [163] of Great Britain, who had good Humour to a Weakneſs, and was that Sort of Perſon, of whom it is uſually ſaid, He is no Man's Ene⯑my but his own: One who had too much Ten⯑derneſs of Soul to have any Authority with his Wife; and ſhe too little Senſe to give him Au⯑thority for that Reaſon. His kind Wife obſerved this Temper in him, and made proper Uſe of it. But knowing it was below a Gentlewoman to wrangle, ſhe reſolved upon an Expedient to ſave Decorum, and wear her Dear to her Point at the ſame Time. She therefore took upon her to go⯑vern him, by falling into Fits whenever ſhe was repulſed in a Requeſt, or contradicted in a Diſ⯑courſe. It was a Fiſh-Day, when in the midſt of her Husband's good Humour at Table, ſhe bethought her ſelf to try her Project. She made Signs that ſhe had ſwallowed a Bone. The Man grew pale as Aſhes, and ran to her Aſſiſtance, calling for Drink. No, my Dear, ſaid ſhe, reco⯑vering, It is down; don't be frightened. This Accident betrayed his Softneſs enough. The next Day ſhe complained, a Lady's Chariot, whoſe Husband had not half his Eſtate, had a Crane-Neck, and hung with twice the Air that hers did. He anſwered, Madam, You know my Income, you know I have loſt Two Coach-Horſes this Spring.—Down ſhe fell.—Harts⯑horn! Betty, Suſan, Alice, throw Water in her Face. With much Care and Pains ſhe was at laſt brought to her ſelf, and the Vehicle in which ſhe viſited was amended in the niceſt Manner, to prevent Relapſes; but they frequently happen'd during that Husband's whole Life, which he had the good Fortune to end in few Years after. The Diſconſolate ſoon pitched upon a very agreeable Succeſſor, whom ſhe very prudently deſigned to [...] by the ſame Method. This Man knew her little Arts, and reſolved to break through all [164] Tenderneſs, and be abſolute Maſter, as ſoon as Occaſion offered. One Day it happened, that a Diſcourſe aroſe about Furniture: He was very glad of the Occaſion, and fell into an Invective againſt China, proteſting, he would never let Five Pounds more of his Money be laid out that Way as long as he breathed. She immediately fainted—He ſtarts up as amaz'd, and calls for Help—The Maids ran to the Cloſet—He chafes her Face, bends her forwards, and beats the Palms of her Hands: Her Convulſions increaſe, and down ſhe tumbles on the Floor, where ſhe lies quite dead, in Spight of what the whole Fa⯑mily, from the Nurſery to the Kitchin, could do for her Relief.

While every Servant was thus helping or la⯑menting their Miſtreſs, he, fixing his Cheek to hers, ſeemed to be following her in a Trance of Sorrow; but ſecretly whiſpers her, My Dear, This will never do: What is within my Power and Fortune, you may always command, but none of your Artifices: You are quite in other Hands than thoſe you paſſed theſe pretty Paſſions upon. This made her almoſt in the Condition ſhe pretended; her Convulſions now come thicker, nor was ſhe to be held down. The kind Man doubles his Care, helps the Servants to throw Water in her Face by full Quarts; and when the ſinking Part of the Fit came again, Well, my Dear, (ſaid he) I applaud your Action; but I muſt take my Leave of you till you are more ſincere with me. Farewell for ever: You ſhall always know where to hear of me, and want for nothing. With that, he or⯑dered the Maids to keep plying her with Harts⯑horn, while he went for a Phyſician: He was ſcarce at the Stair-head when ſhe followed, and pulling him into a Cloſet, thank'd him for her Cure; which was ſo abſolute, that ſhe gave me this Relation her ſelf, to be communi⯑cated [165] for the Benefit of all the voluntary Inva⯑lids of her Sex.

Advices from Bruſſels of the 6th Inſtant, N. S. ſay, His Highneſs Prince Eugene had received a Letter from Monſieur Torcy, wherein that Mini⯑ſter, after many Expreſſions of great Reſpect, acquaints him, That his Maſter had abſolutely refuſed to ſign the Preliminaries to the Treaty which he had, in his Majeſty's Behalf, conſented to at the Hague. Upon the Receipt of this In⯑telligence, the Face of Things at that Place were immediately altered, and the neceſſary Orders were tranſmitted to the Troops (which lay moſt remote from thence) to move towards the Place of Rendezvous with all Expedition. The Ene⯑my ſeem alſo to prepare for the Field, and have at preſent drawn together Twenty-five Thouſand Men in the Plains of Lenz. Mareſchal Villars is at the Head of thoſe Troops; and has given the Generals under his Command all poſſible Aſſu⯑rances, that he will turn the Fate of the War to the Advantage of his Maſter.

They write from the Hague of the 7th, That Monſieur Rouille had received Orders from the Court of France, to ſignify to the States-Gene⯑ral and the Miniſters of the High Allies, That the King could not conſent to the Preliminaries of a Treaty of Peace, as it was offered to him by Monſieur Torcy. The great Difficulty is the Buſineſs of Spain, on which Particular his Mi⯑niſters ſeemed only to ſay, during the Treaty, that it was not ſo immediately under their Ma⯑ſter's Direction, as that he could engage for its being relinquiſhed by the Duke of Anjou: But now he poſitively anſwers, That he cannot com⯑ply with what his Miniſter has promiſed in his Behalf, even in ſuch Points as are wholly in himſelf to act in or not. This has had no [166] other Effect, than to give the Alliance freſh Arguments for being diffident of Engagements entered into by France. The Penſioner made a Report of all which this Miniſter had declared to the Deputies of the States-General, and all Things turn towards a vigorous War. The Duke of Marlborough deſigned to leave the Hague within Two Days, in order to put him⯑ſelf at the Head of the Army, which is to aſ⯑ſemble on the 17th Inſtant between the Scheld and the Lis. A Fleet of Eighty Sail, laden with Corn from the Baltick, is arrived in the Texel. The States have ſent Circular Letters to all the Provinces, to notify this Change of Affairs, and animate their Subjects to new Reſolutions in Defence of their Country.

The Publick is not ſo little my Concern, tho' I am but a Student as that I ſhould not intereſt my ſelf in the preſent great Things in Agitation. I am ſtill of Opinion, the French King will ſign the Preliminaries. With that View, I have ſent him by my Familiar the following Epiſtle, and admoniſhed him, on Pain of what I ſhall ſay of him to future Generations, to act with Sincerity on this Occaſion.

IN my Paper of the 28th of the laſt Month, I mentioned ſeveral Characters which want Explanation to the Generality of Readers: A⯑mong others, I ſpoke of a Pretty Fellow. I have ſince received a kind Admonition in a Letter, to take Care that I do not omit to ſhow alſo what is meant by a very Pretty Fellow, which is to be allowed as a Character by it ſelf, and a Perſon exalted above the other by a peculiar Sprightli⯑neſs; as one who, by a diſtinguiſhing Vigour, outſtrips his Companions, and has thereby de⯑ſerved and obtained a particular Appellation, or Nick-name of Familiarity. Some have this Di⯑ſtinction from the Fair Sex, who are ſo generous as to take into their Protection ſuch as are laugh⯑ed at by the Men, and place them for that Rea⯑ſon in Degrees of Favour.

The chief of this Sort is Colonel Brunett, who is a Man of Faſhion, becauſe he will be ſo; and practiſes a very janty Way of Behaviour, becauſe he is too careleſs to know when he offends, and too ſanguine to be mortified if he did know it. Thus the Colonel has met with a Town ready to receive him, and cannot poſſibly ſee why he ſhould not make uſe of their Favour, and ſet himſelf in the Firſt Degree of Converſation. Therefore he is very ſucceſsfully loud among the Wits, fami⯑liar among the Ladies, and diſſolute among the Rakes. Thus he is admitted in one Place, be⯑cauſe he is ſo in another; and every Man treats Brunett well, not out of his particular Eſteem [171] for him, but in Reſpect to the Opinion of others. It is to me a ſolid Pleaſure to ſee the World thus miſtaken on the good-natur'd Side; for 'tis Ten to One but the Colonel mounts into a General Officer, marries a fine Lady, and is Maſter of a good Eſtate, before they come to explain upon him. What gives moſt Delight to me in this Ob⯑ſervation, is, that all this ariſes from pure Na⯑ture, and the Colonel can account for his Suc⯑ceſs no more than thoſe by whom he ſucceeds. For theſe Cauſes and Conſiderations, I pronounce him a true Woman's Man, and in the firſt De⯑gree, A very pretty Fellow.

The next to a Man of this univerſal Genius, is one who is peculiarly formed for the Service of the Ladies, and his Merit chiefly is to be of no Conſequence. I am indeed a little in Doubt, Whe⯑ther he ought not rather to be called a very Happy, than a very Pretty Fellow? For he is admitted at all Hours: All he ſays or does, which would of⯑fend in another, are paſſed over in him; and all Actions and Speeches which pleaſe, doubly pleaſe if they come from him: No one wonders or takes Notice when he's wrong; but all admire him when he's in the Right.—By the Way it is fit to remark, That there are People of better Senſe than theſe, who endeavour at this Character; but they are out of Nature; and tho', with ſome Induſtry, they get the Characters of Fools, they cannot ar⯑rive to be very, ſeldom to be meerly Pretty Fel⯑lows. But where Nature has formed a Perſon for this Station amongſt Men, he is gifted with a pe⯑culiar Genius for Succeſs, and his very Errors and Abſurdities contribute to it; this Felicity attend⯑ing him to his Life's End. For it being in a Man⯑ner neceſſary that he ſhould be of no Conſequence, he is as well in old Age as Youth; and I know a Man, whoſe Son has been ſome Years a pretty Fellow, who is himſelf at this Hour a very Pretty Fellow.

[172] One muſt move tenderly in this Place, for we are now in the Ladies Lodgings, and ſpeaking of ſuch as are ſupported by their Influence and Fa⯑vour; againſt which there is not, neither ought there to be, any Diſpute or Obſervation. But when we come into more free Air, one may talk a little more at large.

Give me Leave then to mention Three, whom I do not doubt but we ſhall ſee make conſiderable Figures; and theſe are ſuch as, for their Baccha⯑nalian Performances, muſt be admitted into this Order. They are Three Brothers lately landed from Holland: As yet, indeed, they have not made their publick Entry, but lodge and con⯑verſe at Wapping. They have merited already on the Water-ſide particular Titles: The Firſt is cal⯑led Hogſhead; the Second, Culverin; and the Third, Muſquet. This Fraternity is preparing for our End of the Town by their Ability in the Ex⯑erciſes of Bacchus, and meaſure their Time and Merit by Liquid Weight, and Power of Drink⯑ing. Hogſhead is a prettier Fellow than Culverin by Two Quarts, and Culverin than Muſquet by a full Pint. It is to be feared, Hogſhead is ſo often too full, and Culverin over-loaded, that Muſquet will be the only laſting very Pretty Fellow of the Three.

A Third Sort of this Denomination are ſuch as, by very daring Adventures in Love, have pur⯑chaſed to themſelves Renown and new Names; as, Jo. Carry, for his exceſſive Strength and Vi⯑gour; Tom Drybones, for his generous Loſs of Youth and Health; and Cancrum, for his meri⯑torious Rottenneſs.

Theſe great and leading Spirits are propoſed to all ſuch of our Britiſh Youth as would arrive at Perfection in theſe different Kinds; and if their Parts and Accompliſhments were well imi⯑tated, it is not doubted but that our Nation [173] would ſoon excel all others it Wit and Arts, as they already do in Arms.

[N. B. The Gentleman who ſtole Betty Pepin, may own it, for he is allowed to be a very Pret⯑ty Fellow.]

But we muſt proceed to the Explanation of other Terms in our Writings.

To know what a Toaſt is in the Country, gives as much Perplexity as ſhe her ſelf does in Town: And indeed, the Learned differ very much upon the Original of this Word, and the Acceptation of it among the Moderns. However, it is by all agreed to have a joyous and chearful Import. A Toaſt in a cold Morning, heightened by Nutmeg, and ſweeten'd with Sugar, has for many Ages been given to our Rural Diſpenſers of Juſtice, before they enter'd upon Cauſes, and has been of great and politick Uſe to take off the Severi⯑ty of their Sentences; but has indeed been remarkable for one ill Effect, that it inclines thoſe who uſe it immoderately, to ſpeak Latin, to the Admiration, rather than Information, of an Audience. This Application of a Toaſt makes it very obvious, that the Word may, without a Metaphor, be underſtood as an apt Name for a Thing which raiſes us in the moſt ſovereign De⯑gree. But many of the Wits of the laſt Age will aſſert, That the Word, in its preſent Senſe, was known among them in their Youth, and had its Riſe from an Accident at the Town of Bath, in the Reign of King Charles the Second.

It happened, that on a Publick Day a celebra⯑ted Beauty of thoſe Times was in the Croſs Bath, and one of the Crowd of her Admirers took a Glaſs of the Water in which the Fair One ſtood, and drank her Health to the Company. There was in the Place a Gay Fellow, half fuddled, who offered to jump in, and ſwore, Tho' he liked not [174] the Liquor, he would have the Toaſt. He was oppoſed in his Reſolution; yet this Whim gave Foundation to the preſent Honour which is done to the Lady we mention in our Liquors, who has ever ſince been called a Toaſt.

Tho' this Inſtitution had ſo trivial a Beginning, it is now elevated into a formal Order; and that happy Virgin who is received and drank to at their Meetings, has no more to do in this Life, but to judge and accept of the firſt good Offer. The Manner of her Inauguration is much like that of the Choice of a Doge in Venice: It is per⯑formed by Ballotting; and when ſhe is ſo cho⯑ſen, ſhe reigns indiſputably for that enſuing Year; but muſt be elected anew to prolong her Empire a Moment beyond it. When ſhe is regularly cho⯑ſen, her Name is written with a Diamond on a Drinking-glaſs. The Hieroglyphick of the Dia⯑mond is to ſhew her, that her Value is imaginary; and that of the Glaſs to acquaint her, that her Condition is frail, and depends on the Hand which holds her. This wiſe Deſign admoniſhes her, nei⯑ther to over-rate or depreciate her Charms; as well conſidering and applying, that it is perfect⯑ly according to the Humour and Taſte of the Company, whether the Toaſt is eaten, or left as an Offal.

The Foremoſt of the whole Rank of Toaſts, and the moſt undiſputed in their preſent Empire, are Mrs. Gatty and Mrs. Frontlet: The Firſt an Agreeable, the Second an Awful Beauty. Theſe Ladies are perfect Friends, out of a Knowledge, that their Perfections are too different to ſtand in Competition. He that likes Gatty, can have no Reliſh for ſo ſolemn a Creature as Frontlet; and an Admirer of Frontlet, will call Gatty a May⯑pole Girl. Gatty for ever ſmiles upon you; and Frontlet diſdains to ſee you ſmile. Gatty's Love is a ſhining quick Flame; Frontlet's a ſlow waſt⯑ing [175] Fire. Gatty likes the Man that diverts her; Frontlet him who adores her. Gatty always im⯑proves the Soil in which ſhe travels; Frontlet lays waſte the Country. Gatty does not only ſmile, but laughs at her Lover; Frontlet not only looks ſerious, but frowns at him. All the Men of Wit, (and Coxcombs their Followers) are profeſſed Servants of Gatty: The Politicians and Pretenders give ſolemn Worſhip to Frontlet. Their Reign will be beſt judged of by its Dura⯑tion. Frontlet will never be choſen more; and Gatty is a Toaſt for Life.

Letters from Hamburgh of the 7th Inſtant, N. S. inform us, That no Art or Coſt is omitted to make the Stay of his Daniſh Majeſty at Dreſden agree⯑able; but there are various Speculations upon the Interview between King Anguſtus and that Prince, many putting Politick Conſtructions up⯑on his Daniſh Majeſty's Arrival, at a Time when his Troops are marching out of Hungary, with Orders to paſs through Saxony, where it is given out, that they are to be recruited. It is ſaid alſo, That ſeveral Poliſh Senators have invited K. Au⯑guſtus to return into Poland. His Majeſty of Swe⯑den, according to the ſame Advices, has paſſed the Nieper without any Oppoſition from the Muſ⯑covites, and advances with all poſſible Expedi⯑tion towards Volhinia, where he propoſes to join King Staniſlaus and General Creſſau.

We hear from Bern of the 1ſt Inſtant, N. S. That there is not a Province in France, from whence the Court is not apprehenſive of recei⯑ving Accounts of Publick Emotions, occaſion'd by the Want of Corn. The General Diet of the 13 Cantons is aſſembled at Baden, but have not yet entered upon Buſineſs, ſo that the Affair of Tockenburgh is yet at a Stand.

[176] Letters from the Hague, dated the 11th Inſtant, N. S. adviſe, That Monſieur Rouillé having ac⯑quainted the Miniſters of the Allies, that his Ma⯑nner had refuſed to ratify the Preliminaries of a Treaty adjuſted with Monſieur Torcy, ſet out for Paris on Sunday Morning. The ſame Day the Foreign Miniſters met a Committee of the States-General, where Monſieur van Heſſen opened the Buſineſs upon which they were aſſembled, and in a very warm Diſcourſe laid before them the Con⯑duct of France in the late Negotiations, repre⯑ſenting the abject Manner in which ſhe had laid open her own Diſtreſſes, that reduced her to a Compliance with the Demands of all the Allies, and her Meanneſſes in receding from thoſe Points to which Monſieur Torcy had conſented. The re⯑ſpective Miniſter of each Potentate of the Alli⯑ance ſeverally expreſſed their Reſentment of the faithleſs Behaviour of the French, and gave each other mutual Aſſurances of the Conſtancy and Reſolution of their Principals, to proceed with the utmoſt Vigour againſt the common Enemy-His Grace the Duke of Marlborough ſet out from the Hague on the 9th in the Afternoon, and lay that Night at Rotterdam, from whence at Four the next Morning he proceeded towards Antwerp, with a Deſign to reach Ghent the next Day. All the Troops in the Low-Countries are in Motion towards the general Rendezvous between the Scheld and the Lis, the whole Army will be form⯑ed on the 12th Inſtant; and 'tis ſaid, That on the 14th they will advance towards the Enemy's Country. In the mean Time, the Mareſchal de Villars has aſſembled the French Forces between Lens, la Baſſes, and Douay.

Yeſterday Morning Sir John Norris, with the Squadron under his Command, ſailed from the Downes for Holland.

I have the Honour of the following Letter from a Gentleman whom I receive into my Fa⯑mily, and order the Heralds at Arms to enroll him accordingly.

A Letter from a young Lady, written in the moſt paſſionate Terms, wherein ſhe laments the Misfortune of a Gentleman, her Lover, who was lately wounded in a Duel, has turned my Thoughts to that Subject, and enclined me to examine into the Cauſes which precipitate Men into ſo fatal a Folly. And as it has been propo⯑ſed to treat of Subjects of Gallantry in the Arti⯑cle from hence, and no one Point in Nature is more proper to be conſider'd by the Company who frequent this Place than that of Duels, it is worth our Conſideration to examine into this Chimaerical groundleſs Humour, and to lay every other Thought aſide, till we have ſtrip'd it of all its falſe Pretences to Credit and Reputation amongſt Men.

But I muſt confeſs, when I conſider what I am going about, and run over in my Imagination all the endleſs Crowd of Men of Honour who will be offended at ſuch a Diſcourſe; I am underta⯑king, methinks, a Work worthy an invulnerable Hero in Romance, rather than a private Gentle⯑man with a ſingle Rapier: But as I am pretty well acquainted by great Opportunities with the Nature of Man, and know of a Truth, that all Men fight againſt their Will, the Danger vaniſhes, and Reſolution riſes upon this Subject. For this Reaſon I ſhall talk very freely on a Cuſtom which all Men wiſh exploded, though no Man has Courage enough to reſiſt it.

But there is one unintelligible Word which I fear will extremely perplex my Diſſertation; and [179] I confeſs to you I find very hard to explain, which is, the Term Satisfaction. An honeſt Country Gentleman had the Misfortune to fall into Com⯑pany with Two or Three modern Men of Honour, where he happened to be very ill treated; and one of the Company being conſcious of his Of⯑fence, ſends a Note to him in the Morning, and tells him, He was ready to give him Satisfaction. This is fine Doing (ſays the plain Fellow). Laſt Night he ſent me away curſedly out of Humour, and this Morning he fancies it would be a Satiſ⯑faction to be run through the Body.

As the Matter at preſent ſtands, it is not to do handſome Actions denominates a Man of Honour; it is enough if he dares to defend ill Ones. Thus you often ſee a common Sharper in Competition with a Gentleman of the firſt Rank; though all Mankind is convinced, that a fighting Gameſter is only a Pick-pocket with the Courage of an Highway-Man. One cannot with any Patience reflect on the unaccountable Jumble of Perſons and Things in this Town and Nation, which oc⯑caſions very frequently, that a brave Man falls by a Hand below that of the common Hangman, and yet his Executioner eſcapes the Clutches of the Hangman for doing it. I ſhall therefore here⯑after conſider, how the braveſt Men in other Ages and Nations have behaved themſelves upon ſuch Incidents as we decide by Combat; and ſhow, from their Practice, that this Reſentment neither has its Foundation from true Reaſon, or ſolid Fame; but is an Impoſture, made up of Cowar⯑dice, Falſhood, and Want of Underſtanding. For this Work, a good Hiſtory of Quarrels would be very edifying to the Publick, and I apply my ſelf to the Town for Particulars and Circum⯑ſtances within their Knowledge, which may ſerve to embelliſh the Diſſertation with proper Cuts. Moſt of the Quarrels I have ever known, [180] have proceeded from ſome valiant Coxcomb's per⯑ſiſting in the Wrong, to defend ſome prevailing Folly, and preſerve himſelf from the Ingenuity of owning a Miſtake.

By this Means it is called, Giving a Man Satiſ⯑faction, to urge your Offence againſt him with your Sword; which puts me in Mind of Peter's Order to the Keeper, in The Tale of a Tub: If you neglect to do all this, damn you and your Gene⯑ration for ever; and ſo we bid you heartily fare⯑wel. If the Contradiction in the very Terms of one of our Challenges were as well explained, and turn'd into downright Engliſh, would it not run after this Manner?

Among the many Employments I am neceſſa⯑rily put upon by my Friends, that of giving Ad⯑vice [181] is the moſt unwelcome to me; and indeed, I am forced to uſe a little Art in the Matter; for ſome People will ask Counſel of you, when they have already acted what they tell you is ſtill un⯑der Deliberation. I had almoſt loſt a very good Friend t'other Day, who came to know how I liked his Deſign to marry ſuch a Lady. I an⯑ſwered, By no Means; and I muſt be poſitive a⯑gainſt it, for very ſolid Reaſous, which are not proper to communicate. Not proper to commu⯑nicate! (ſaid he with a grave Air) I will know the Bottom of this. I ſaw him moved, and knew from thence he was already determined; there⯑fore evaded it by ſaying, To tell you the Truth, dear Frank, Of all Women living, I would have her my ſelf. Iſaac, ſaid he, Thou art too late, for we have been both one theſe two Months.

I learned this Caution by a Gentleman's con⯑ſulting me formerly about his Son. He railed at his damn'd Extravagance, and told me, In a very little Time, he would beggar him by the exor⯑bitant Bills which came from Oxford every Quar⯑ter. Make the Rogue bite upon the Bridle, ſaid I, pay none of his Bills, it will but encourage him to further Treſpaſſes. He look'd plaguy ſowr at me. His Son ſoon after ſent up a Paper of Verſes, forſooth, in Print, on the laſt publick Occaſion; upon which, he is convinced the Boy has Parts, and a Lad of Spirit is not to be too much cramp'd in his Maintenance, leſt he take ill Courſes. Nei⯑ther Father nor Son can ever ſince endure the Sight of me.

Theſe Sort of People ask Opinions, only out of the Fulneſs of their Heart on the Subject of their Perplexity, and not from a Deſire of Infor⯑mation.

There is nothing ſo eaſy as to find out which Opinion the Perſon in Doubt has a Mind to; therefore the ſure Way is to tell him, that is cer⯑tainly [182] to be choſen. Then you are to be very clear and poſitive; leave no Handle for Scruple. Bleſs me! Sir, there's no Room for a Queſtion. This rivets you into his Heart; for you at once applaud his Wiſdom, and gratify his Inclination. However, I had too much Bowels to be inſincere to a Man who came Yeſterday to know of me, With which of two eminent Men in the City he ſhould place his Son? Their Names are Paulo and Avaro. This gave me much Debate with my ſelf, becauſe not only the Fortune of the Youth, but his Virtue alſo, depended upon this Choice. The Men are equally wealthy; but they differ in the Uſe and Application of their Riches, which you immediately ſee upon entring their Doors.

The Habitation of Paulo has at once the Air of a Nobleman and a Merchant. You ſee the Servants act with Affection to their Maſter, and Satisfaction in themſelves: The Maſter meets you with an open Countenance, full of Benevo⯑lence and Integrity: Your Buſineſs is diſpatched with that Confidence and Welcome which al⯑ways accompanies honeſt Minds: His Table is the Image of Plenty and Generoſity, ſupported by Juſtice and Frugality. After we had dined here, our Affair was to viſit Avaro: Out comes an aukward Fellow with a careful Countenance; Sir, Would you ſpeak with my Maſter? May I crave your Name? After the firſt Preambles, he leads us into a noble Solitude, a great Houſe that ſeem'd uninhabited; but from the End of the ſpacious Hall moves towards us Avaro, with a ſuſpicious Aſpect, as if he believed us Thieves; and as for my Part, I approached him as if I knew him a Cut-purſe. We fell into Diſcourſe of his noble Dwelling, and the Great Eſtate all the World knew he had to enjoy in it: And I, to plague him, fell a commending Paulo's Way [183] of Living. Paulo, anſwered Avaro, is a very good Man; but we who have ſmaller Eſtates, muſt cut our Coat according to our Cloth. Nay, ſays I, Every Man knows his own Circumſtance beſt; you are in the Right, if you han't where⯑withal. He look'd very ſowr; (for it is, you muſt know, the utmoſt Vanity of a mean⯑ſpi⯑rited rich Man to be contradicted, when he calls himſelf Poor.) But I was reſolved to vex him, by conſenting to all he ſaid; the main Deſign of which was, that he would have us find out, he was one of the wealthieſt Men in London, and lived like a Beggar. We left him, and took a Turn on the Change. My Friend was raviſhed with Avaro: This (ſaid he) is cer⯑tainly a ſure Man. I contradicted him with much Warmth, and ſummed up their different Characters as well as I could. This Paulo (ſaid I) grows wealthy by being a common Good; Avaro, by being a general Evil: Paulo has the Art, Avaro the Craft of Trade. When Paulo gains, all Men he deals with are the better: Whenever Avaro profits, another certainly loſes. In a Word, Paulo is a Citizen, and Avaro a Cit. I convinced my Friend, and carried the young Gentleman the next Day to Paulo, where he will learn the Way both to gain, and enjoy a good Fortune. And tho' I cannot ſay, I have, by keep⯑ing him from Avaro, ſaved him from the Gal⯑lows, I have prevented his deſerving it every Day he lives: For with Paulo he will be an honeſt Man, without being ſo for Fear of the Law; as with Avaro, he would have been a Villain with⯑in the Protection of it.

We hear from Vienna of the 1ſt Inſtant, That Baron Imoff, who attended her Catholick Ma⯑jeſty with the Character of Envoy from the [184] Duke of Wolfembuttel, was returned thither. That Miniſter brought an Account, That Major-General Stanhope, with the Troops which em⯑barked at Naples, was returned to Barcelona. We hear from Berlin, by Advices of the 8th Inſtant, That his Pruſſian Majeſty had received Intelligence from his Miniſter at Dreſden, that the King of Denmark deſired to meet his Maje⯑ſty at Magdeburg. The King of Pruſſia has ſent Anſwer, That his preſent Indiſpoſition will not admit of ſo great a Journey; but has ſent the King a very preſſing Invitation to come to Berlin or Potſdam. Theſe Advices ſay, That the Miniſter of the King of Sweden has produced a Letter from his Maſter to the King of Poland, dated from Ba⯑titzan the 30th of March, O. S. wherein he ac⯑quaints him, that he has been ſucceſsful againſt the Muſcovites in all the Occaſions which have happened ſince his March into their Country. Great Numbers have revolted to the Swedes ſince General Mazeppa went over to that Side; and as many as have done ſo, have taken ſolemn Oaths to adhere to the Intereſts of his Swediſh Majeſty.

Advices from the Hague of the 14th Inſtant, N. S. ſay, That all Things tended to a vigorous and active Campagne; the Allies having ſtrong Reſentments againſt the late Behaviour of the Court of France; and the French uſing all poſſi⯑ble Endeavours to animate their Men to defend their Country againſt a victorious and exaſpe⯑rated Enemy. Monſieur Rouillé had paſſed through Bruſſels without viſiting either the Duke of Marlborough or Prince Eugene, who were both there at that Time. The States have met, and publickly declared their Satisfaction in the Con⯑duct of their Deputies during the whole Treaty. Letters from France ſay, That the Court is re⯑ſolved to put all to the Iſſue of the enſuing [185] Campaign. In the mean Time, they have ordered the Preliminary Treaty to be publiſhed, with Ob⯑ſervation upon each Article, in order to quiet the Minds of the People, and perſwade them, that it has not been in the Power of the King to procure a Peace, but to the Diminution of his Majeſty's Glory, and the Hazard of his Dominions. His Grace the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eu⯑gene arrived at Ghent on Wedneſday laſt, where, at an Aſſembly of all the General Officers, it was thought proper, by reaſon of the great Rains which have lately fallen, to defer forming a Camp, or bringing the Troops together; but as ſoon as the Weather would permit, to march up⯑on the Enemy with all Expedition.

I Have read the following Letter with Delight and Approbation, and I hereby order Mr. Kid⯑ney at St. James's, and Sir Thomas at White's, (who are my Clerks for enrolling all Men in their diſtant Claſſes, before they preſume to drink Tea or Chocolate in thoſe Places) to take Care, that the Perſons within the Deſcriptions in the Letter be admitted, and excluded according to my Friend's Remonſtrance.

The Pretenſions of this Correſpondent are worthy a particular Diſtinction: He cannot in⯑deed be admitted as a Pretty, but is, what we moſt juſtly call, a Smart Fellow. Never to pay at the Playhouſe, is an Act of Frugality that lets you into his Character; and his Expedient in ſending his Children a begging before they can go, are Characteriſtical Inſtances that he belongs to this Claſs. I never ſaw the Gentleman; but I know by his Letter, he hangs his Cane on his Button; and by ſome Lines of it, he ſhould wear red-heel'd Shoes; which are eſſential Parts of the Habit belonging to the Order of Smart Fel⯑lows.

My Familiar is returned with the following Letter from the French King:

It is very odd this Prince ſhould offer to invite me into his Dominions, or believe I ſhould accept the Invitation. No, no, I remember too well how he ſerved an ingenious Gentleman, a Friend of mine, whom he locked up in the Baſtile for no Reaſon in the World, but becauſe he was a Wit, and feared he might mention him with Juſtice in ſome of his Writings. His Way is, That all Men of Senſe are preferred, baniſhed, or impriſoned. He has indeed a Sort of Juſtice in him, like that of the Gameſters; for if a Stander-by ſees one at Play cheat, he has a Right to come in for Shares, as knowing the Myſteries of the Game.

This is a very wiſe and juſt Maxim; and if I have not left at Mr. Morphew's, directed to me, Bank Bills for 200 l. on or before this Day Seven⯑night, I ſhall tell how Tom Caſh got his Eſtate. [189] I expect Three Hundred Pounds of Mr. Soilett, for concealing all the Money he has lent to him⯑ſelf, and his Landed Friend bound with him, at Thirty per Cent. at his Scrivener's. Abſolute Prin⯑ces make People pay what they pleaſe in Defe⯑rence to their Power: I do not know why I ſhould not do the ſame, out of Fear or Reſpect to my Knowledge. I always preſerve Decorums and Civilities to the Fair Sex: Therefore if a cer⯑tain Lady, who left her Coach at the New Ex⯑change Door in the Strand, and whipt down Dur⯑ham-Yard into a Boat with a young Gentleman for Fox-Hall; I ſay, if ſhe will ſend me Word, that I may give the Fan which ſhe drop'd, and I found, to my Siſter Jenny, there ſhall be no more ſaid of it. I expect Huſh-Money to be regu⯑larly ſent for every Folly or Vice any one com⯑mits in this whole Town; and hope, I may pre⯑tend to deſerve it better than a Chamber-Maid, or Valet de Chambre: They only whiſper it to the little Set of their Companions; but I can tell it to all Men living, or who are to live. There⯑fore I deſire all my Readers to pay their Fines, or mend their Lives.

My Familiar being come from France, with an Anſwer to my Letter to Lewis of that Kingdom, inſtead of going on in a Diſcourſe of what he had ſeen in that Court, he put on the imme⯑diate Concern of a Guardian, and fell to enqui⯑ring into my Thoughts and Adventures ſince his Journey. As ſhort as his Stay had been, I confeſs'd I had had many Occaſions for his Aſ⯑ſiſtance in my Conduct; but communicated to him my Thoughts of putting all my Force a⯑gainſt the horrid and ſenſeleſs Cuſtom of Duels; If it were poſſible, ſaid he, to laugh at Things in themſelves ſo deeply Tragical as the imperti⯑nent Profuſion of Humane Life, I think I could [190] divert you with a Figure I ſaw juſt after my Death, when the Philoſopher threw me, as I told you ſome Days ago, into the Pail of Water.

Pacolet was going on in this Strain, but he re⯑covered from it, and told me, ‘It was too ſoon to give my Diſcourſe on this Subject ſo ſerious a Turn; you have chiefly to do with that Part of Mankind which muſt be led into Reflection by Degrees, and you muſt treat this Cuſtom with Humour and Raillery to get an Audience, before you come to pronounce Sentence upon it. There is Foundation enough for raiſing ſuch Entertainments from the Practice on this Occa⯑ſion. Don't you know, that often a Man is cal⯑led out of Bed to follow implicitly a Coxcomb (with whom he would not keep Company on any other Occaſion) to Ruin and Death?—Then a good Liſt of ſuch as are qualified by the Laws of theſe uncourteous Men of Chivalry to enter into Combat (who are often Perſons of Honour without common Honeſty): Theſe, I ſay, ran⯑ged and drawn up in their proper Order, would give an Averſion to doing any Thing in com⯑mon [192] with ſuch as Men laugh at and contemn. But to go through this Work, you muſt not let your Thoughts vary, or make Excurſions from your Theme: Conſider at the ſame Time, that the Matter has been often treated by the ableſt and greateſt Writers; yet that muſt not diſen⯑courage you; for the propereſt Perſon to handle it, is one who has roved into mix'd Converſa⯑tions, and muſt have Opportunities (which I ſhall give you) of ſeeing theſe Sort of Men in their Pleaſures and Gratifications; among which, they pretend to reckon Fighting. It was pleaſantly enough ſaid of a Bully in France, when Duels firſt began to be puniſhed: The King has taken away Gaming, and Stage-play⯑ing, and now Fighting too; How does he ex⯑pect Gentlemen ſhall divert themſelves?’

PAcolet being gone a ſtrolling among the Men of the Sword, in order to find out the ſecret Cauſes of the frequent Diſputes we meet with, and furniſh me with Materials for my Treatiſe on Duelling; I have Room left to go on in my Information to my Country Readers, whereby they may underſtand the bright Peo⯑ple whoſe Memoirs I have taken upon me to write. But in my Diſcourſe of the 28th of the laſt Month, I omitted to mention the moſt agreeable of all bad Characters; and that is, a Rake.

A Rake is a Man always to be pitied; and if he lives, is one Day certainly reclaimed; for [193] his Faults proceed not from Choice or Inclina⯑tion, but from ſtrong Paſſions and Appetites' which are in Youth too violent for the Club of Reaſon, good Senſe, good Manners, and good Nature: All which he muſt have by Nature and Education, before he can be allowed to be, or have been of this Order. He is a poor un⯑weildy Wretch, that commits Faults out of the Redundance of his good Qualities. His Pity and Compaſſion makes him ſometimes a Bub⯑ble to all his Fellows, let 'em be never ſo much below him in Underſtanding. His Deſires run away with him through the Strength and Force of a lively Imagination, which hurries him on to unlawful Pleaſures, before Reaſon has Power to come in to his Reſcue. Thus, with all the good Intentions in the World to A⯑mendment, this Creature ſins on againſt Hea⯑ven, himſelf, his Friends, and his Country, who all call for a better Uſe of his Talents. There is not a Being under the Sun ſo miſe⯑rable as this: He goes on in a Purſuit he him⯑ſelf diſapproves, and has no Enjoyment but what is followed by Remorſe; no Relief from Remorſe, but the Repetition of his Crime. It's poſſible I may talk of this Perſon with too much Indulgence; but I muſt repeat it, that I think this, a Character which is the moſt the Object of Pity of any in the World. The Man in the Pangs of the Stone, Gout, or any acute Diſtem⯑pers, is not in ſo deplorable a Condition in the Eye of right Senſe, as he that errs and repents, and repents and errs on. The Fellow with bro⯑ken Limbs juſtly deſerves your Alms for his impotent Condition; but he that can't uſe his own Reaſon, is in a much worſe State; for you ſee him in miſerable Circumſtances, with his Remedy at the ſame Time in his own Poſſeſſion, if he would or could uſe it. This is the Cauſe [194] that, of all ill Characters, the Rake has the beſt Quarter in the World; for when he is himſelf, and unruffled with Intemperance, you ſee his natural Faculties exert themſelves, and attract an Eye of Favour towards his Infirmities.

But if we look round us here, how many dull Rogues are there, that would fain be what this poor Man hates himſelf for? All the Noiſe towards Six in the Evening, is cauſed by his Mimicks and Imitators. How ought Men of Senſe to be careful of their Actions, if it were meerly from the Indignation of ſeeing them⯑ſelves ill drawn by ſuch little Pretenders? Not to ſay, he that leads, is guilty of all the Actions of his Followers: And a Rake has Imitators whom you would never expect ſhould prove ſo-Second-hand Vice ſure of all is the moſt nauſe⯑ous. There is hardly a Folly more abſurd, or which ſeems leſs to be accounted for, (tho' 'tis what we ſee every Day) than that grave and honeſt Natures give into this Way, and at the ſame Time have good Senſe, if they thought fit to uſe it: But the Fatality (under which moſt Men labour) of deſiring to be what they are not, makes 'em go out of a Method, in which they might be received with Applauſe, and would certainly excel; into one, wherein they will all their Life have the Air of Strangers to what they aim at.

For this Reaſon, I have not lamented the Me⯑tamorphoſis of any one I know ſo much as of No⯑bilis, who was born with Sweetneſs of Temper, juſt Apprehenſion, and every Thing elſe that might make him a Man fit for his Order. But inſtead of the Purſuit of ſober Studies, and Ap⯑plications, in which he would certainly be capa⯑ble of making a conſiderable Figure in the nobleſt Aſſembly of Men in the World; I ſay, in ſpight of that good Nature, which is his proper Bent, [195] he will ſay ill-natured Things aloud, put ſuch as he was, and ſtill ſhould be, out of Countenance, and drown all the natural Good in him, to re⯑ceive an artificial ill Character, in which he will never ſucceed: For Nobilis is no Rake. He may guzzle as much Wine as he pleaſes, talk Bawdy if he thinks fit; but he may as well drink Wa⯑ter-gruel, and go twice a Day to Church, for it will never do. I pronounce it again, Nobilis is no Rake. To be of that Order, he muſt be vi⯑cious againſt his Will, and not ſo by Study or Application. All Pretty Fellows are alſo excluded to a Man, as well as all Inamaratoes, or Perſons of the Epicene Gender, who gaze at one another in the Preſence of Ladies. This Claſs, of which I am giving you an Account, is pretended to alſo by Men of ſtrong Abilities in Drinking; tho' they are ſuch whom the Liquor, not the Converſation, keeps together. But Blockheads may roar, fight, and ſtab, and be never the nearer; their Labour is alſo loſt; they want Senſe: They are no Rakes.

As a Rake among Men is the Man who lives in the conſtant Abuſe of his Reaſon, ſo a Co⯑quet among Women is one who lives in con⯑tinual Miſapplication of her Beauty. The chief of all, whom I have the Honour to be acquain⯑ted with, is pretty Mrs. Toſs: She is ever in Practice of ſomething which disfigures her, and takes from her Charms; tho' all ſhe does, tends to a contrary Effect. She has naturally a very agreeable Voice and Utterance, which ſhe has chang'd for the prettieſt Liſp imaginable. She ſees what ſhe has a Mind to ſee, at half a Mile Diſtance; but poring with her Eyes half ſhut at every one ſhe paſſes by, ſhe believes much more becoming. The Cupid on her Fan and ſhe have their Eyes full on each other, all the Time in which they are not both in Motion. When⯑ever her Eye is turned from that dear Object, [196] you may have a Glance and your Bow, if ſhe is in Humour, returned as civilly as you make it; but that muſt not be in the Preſence of a Man of greater Quality: For Mrs. Toſs is ſo throughly well bred, that the chief Perſon pre⯑ſent has all her Regards. And ſhe, who gig⯑gles at Divine Service, and laughs at her very Mother, can compoſe her ſelf at the Approach of a Man of a good Eſtate.

A fine Lady ſhewed a Gentleman of this Com⯑pany, for an eternal Anſwer to all his Addreſſes, a Paper of Verſes, with which ſhe is ſo capti⯑vated, that ſhe profeſs'd, the Author ſhould be the happy Man in Spite of all other Pretenders. It is ordinary for Love to make Men Poetical, and it had that Effect on this enamour'd Man: But he was reſolved to try his Vein upon ſome of her Confidents or Retinue, before he ventured upon ſo high a Theme as her ſelf. To do other⯑wiſe than ſo, would be like making an Heroick Poem a Man's firſt Attempt. Among the Fa⯑vourites to the Fair One, he found her Parrat not to be in the laſt Degree: He ſaw Poll had her Ear, when his Sighs were neglected. To write againſt him, had been a fruitleſs Labour; therefore he reſolved to flatter him into his Inte⯑reſts, in the following Manner:

[197] It is indeed a very juſt Propoſition, to give that Honour rather to the Parrat than the other Volatile. The Parrat repreſents us in the State of making Love: The Dove in the Poſſeſſion of the Object beloved. But inſtead of turning the Dove off, I fancy it would be better if the Chaiſe of Venus had hereafter a Parrat added, (as we ſee ſometimes a Third Horſe to a Coach) which might intimate, That to be a Parrat, is the only Way to ſucceed; and to be a Dove, to preſerve your Conqueſts. If the Swain would go on ſucceſsfully, he muſt imitate the Bird he writes upon. For he who would be loved by Women, muſt never be ſilent before the Favour, or open his Lips after it.

I have ſo many Meſſages from young Gentle⯑men who expect Preferment and Diſtinction, that I am wholly at a Loſs in what Manner to acquit my ſelf. The Writer of the following Letter tells me in a Poſtſcript, he cannot go out of Town till I have taken ſome Notice of him, and is very urgent to be ſome Body in it, before he returns to his Commons at the Univerſity. But take it from himſelf.

I am very willing to encourage young Begin⯑ners; but am extreamly in the Dark how to diſpoſe of this Gentleman. I cannot ſee either his Perſon or Habit in this Letter; but I'll call at Charles's, and know the Shape of his Snuff-Box, by which I can ſettle his Character. Tho' indeed, to know his full Capacity, I ought to be inform'd, whether he takes Spaniſh or Mu⯑ſty.

Letters from the Low-Countries of the 17th Inſtant ſay, That the Duke of Marlborough and the Prince of Savoy intended to leave Ghent on that Day, and join the Army, which lies between Pont d'Eſpiere and Courtray, their Head Quarters being at Helchin. The ſame Day the Palatine Foor was expected at Bruſſels. Lieu⯑tenant-General Dompre, with a Body of Eight Thouſand Men, is poſted at Aloſt, in order to co⯑ver Ghont and Bruſſels. The Marſhal de Villars was ſtill on the Plains of Lenz; and it is ſaid, the Duke of Vendoſme is appointed to com⯑mand in Conjunction with that General. Ad⯑vices from Paris ſay, Monſieur Voiſin is made Secretary of State, upon Monſieur Chamillard's Reſignation of that Employment. The Want of Money in that Kingdom is ſo great, that the Court has thought fit to command all the [199] Plate of pivate Families to be brought into the Mint. They write from the Hague of the 18th, That the States of Holland continue their Seſ⯑ſion; and that they have approved the Reſolu⯑tion of the States-General, to publiſh a Second Edict to prohibit the Sale of Corn to the Ene⯑my. Many eminent Perſons in that Aſſembly have declared, that they are of Opinion, that all Commerce whatſoever with France ſhould be wholly forbidden: Which Point is un⯑der preſent Deliberation; but it is feared it will meet with powerful Oppoſition.

I Had ſuſpended the Buſineſs of Duelling to a diſtant Time, but that I am called upon to declare my ſelf on a Point propoſed in the fol⯑lowing Letter.

I abſolutely pronounce, that there is no Oc⯑caſion of Offence given in this Expreſſion; for a Smart Fellow is always an Appellation of Praiſe, and is a Man of double Capacity. The true Caſt or Mould in which you may be ſure to know him is, when his Livelihood or Edu⯑cation is in the Civil Liſt, and you ſee him ex⯑preſs a Vivacity or Mettle above the Way he is in by a little Jerk in his Motion, ſhort Trip in his Steps, well-fancied Lining of his Coat, or any other Indications which may be given in a vigorous Dreſs. Now, What poſſible Inſinuati⯑on can there be, that 'tis a Cauſe of Quarrel for a Man to ſay, he allows a Gentleman really to be, what he, his Taylor, his Hoſier, and his Millener, have conſpired to make him? I con⯑feſs, if this Perſon who appeals to me had ſaid, He was not a Smart Fellow, there had been Cauſe for Reſentment; but if he ſtands to it that he is one, he leaves no Manner of Ground for a Miſunderſtanding. Indeed, it is a moſt lamentable Thing, that there ſhould be a Diſpure raiſed upon a Man's ſaying another is, what he plainly takes Pains to be thought.

But this Point connot be ſo well adjuſted, as by enquiring what are the Sentiments of wiſe Nati⯑ons and Communities of the Uſe of the Sword, and from thence conclude, Whether it is ho⯑nourable to draw it ſo frequently or not? An Illuſtrious Commonwealth of Italy has preſer⯑ved it ſelf for many Ages, without letting one of their Subjects handle this deſtructive, Inſtru⯑ment, always leaving that Work to ſuch of Mankind as underſtand the Uſe of a whole Skin [201] ſo little, as to make a Profeſſion of expoſing it to Cuts and Scars.

But what need we run to ſuch Foreign Inſtan⯑ces: Our moſt ancient and well-governed Cities are conſpicuous Exemples to all Mankind in their Regulation of Military Atchievements. The chief Citizens, like the noble Italians, hire Mer⯑cenaries to carry Arms in their Stead; and you ſhall have a Fellow of a deſperate Fortune, for the Gain of one Half-Crown, go through all the Dangers of Tuttle-Fields, or the Artillery-Ground, clap his Right Jaw within Two Inches of the Touch-hole of a Muſquet, fire it off, and Huzza, with as little Concern as he tears a Pullet. Thus you ſee, to what Scorn of Danger theſe Merce⯑naries arrive, out of a meer Love of ſordid Gain: But methinks it ſhould take off the ſtrong Prepoſſeſſion Men have in Favour of bold Actions, when they ſee upon what low Mo⯑tives Men aſpire to 'em. Do but obſerve the common Practice in the Government of thoſe Heroick Bodies, our Militia and Lieutenancies, the moſt ancient Corps of Soldiers, perhaps, in the Univerſe; I queſtion, Whether there is one Inſtance of an Animoſity between any Two of theſe illuſtrious Sons of Mars ſince their Inſtitu⯑tion, which was decided by Combat? I remem⯑ber indeed to have read the Chronicle, of an Ac⯑cident which had like to have occaſiond Blood⯑ſhed in the very Field before all the General Offi⯑cers, tho' moſt of them were Juſtices of the Peace: Captain Crabtree of Birching-Lane, Haber⯑daſher, had drawn a Bill upon Major-General Mag⯑got, Cheeſemonger in Thames-ſtreet. Crabtree draws this upon Mr. William Maggot and Compa⯑ny. A Country Lad receiv'd this Bill, and not underſtanding the Word Company, us'd in draw⯑ing Bills on Men in Partnerſhip, carried it to Mr. Jeffrey Stitch of Crooked-Lane (Lieutenant of [202] the Major-General's Company) whom he had the Day before ſeen march by the Door in all the Pomp of his Commiſſion. The Lieutenant accepts it, for the Honour of the Company, ſince it had come to him. But Repayment be⯑ing ask'd from the Major-General, he abſolute⯑ly refuſes. Upon this, the Lieutenant thinks of nothing leſs than to bring this to a Rupture, and takes for his Second, Tobias Armſtrong of the Counter, and ſends him with a Challenge in a Scrip of Parchment, wherein was written, Stitch contra Maggot, and all the Fury vaniſh'd in a Moment. The Major-General gives Satisfaction to the Second, and all was well.

Hence it is, that the bold Spirits of our City are kept in ſuch Subjection to the Civil Power. Otherwiſe, Where would our Liberties ſoon be? If Wealth and Valour were ſuffer'd to exert them⯑ſelves with their utmoſt Force: If ſuch Officers as are employed in the terrible Bands above⯑mentioned, were to draw Bills as well as Swords: Theſe dangerous Captains, who could victual an Army as well as lead it, would be too powerful for the State. But the Point of Honour juſtly gives Way to that of Gain; and by long and wiſe Regulation, the richeſt is the braveſt Man. I have known a Captain riſe to a Colonel in Two Days by the Fall of Stocks; and a Major, my good Friend, near the Monu⯑ment. aſcended to that Honour by the Fall of the Price of Spirits, and the Riſing of right Nantz. By this true Senſe of Honour, that Bo⯑dy of Warriors are ever in good Order and Diſ⯑cipline, with their Colours and Coats all whole: As in other Battalions (where their Principles of Action are leſs ſolid) you ſee the Men of Ser⯑vice look like Spectres, with long Sides, and lank Cheeks. In this Army, you may meaſure a Man's Services by his Waſte, and the moſt [203] prominent Belly is certainly the Man who has been moſt upon Action. Beſides all this, there is another excellent Remark to be made in the Diſcipline of theſe Troops. It being of abſo⯑lute Neceſſity that the People of England ſhould ſee what they have for their Money, and be Eye-witneſſes of the Advantages they gain by it, all Battles which are fought abroad are re⯑preſented here. But ſince one Side muſt be beaten, and the other conquer, which might create Diſputes, the eldeſt Company is always to make the other run, and the younger retreats, according to the laſt News and beſt Intelli⯑gence. I have my ſelf ſeen Prince Eugene make Catinat fly from the Back-ſide of Grays-Inn-Lane to Hockley in the Hole, and not give over the Purſuit, till obliged to leave the Bear-Gar⯑den on the Right, to avoid being borne down by Fencers, Wild Bulls and Monſters, too terri⯑ble for the Encounter of any Heroes, but ſuch whoſe Lives are their Livelihood.

We have here ſeen, that wiſe Nations do not admit of Fighting, even in the Defence of their Country, as a laudable Action; and they live within the Walls of our own City in great Ho⯑nour and Reputation without it. It would be very neceſſary to underſtand, by what Force of the Climate, Food, Education, or Employment, one Man's Senſe is brought to differ ſo eſſenti⯑ally from that of another; that one is ridiculous and contemptible for forbearing a Thing which makes for his Safety; and another applauded for conſulting his Ruin and Deſtruction.

It will therefore be neceſſary for us (to ſhow our Travelling) to examine this Subject fully, and tell you how it comes to paſs, That a Man of Honour in Spain, tho' you offend him never ſo gallantly, ſtabs you baſely; in England, tho' you offend never ſo baſely, challenges fairly: [204] The former kills you out of Revenge; the latter out of good Breeding. But to probe the Heart of Man in this Particular to its utmoſt Thoughts and Receſſes, I muſt wait for the Return of Pa⯑celet, who is now attending a Gentleman lately in a Duel, and ſometimes viſits the Perſon, by whoſe Hand he received his Wounds.

Letters from Vienna of the 8th Inſtant ſay, there has been a Journal of the Marches and Actions of the King of Sweden, from the Begin⯑ning of January to the 11th of April, N. S. com⯑municated by the Swediſh Miniſters to that Court. Theſe Advices inform, That his Swediſh Majeſty entered the Territories of Muſcovy in February laſt with the main Body of his Army, in order to oblige the Enemy to a general Engagement; but that the Muſcovites declining a Battle, and an univerſal Thaw having rendred the Rivers unpaſſable, the King returned into Ukrania. There are mentioned ſeveral Rencounters be⯑tween conſiderable Detachments of the Swediſh and Ruſſian Armies. Marſhal Heiſter intended to take his Leave of the Court on the Day after the Date of theſe Letters, and put himſelf at the Head of the Army in Hungary. The Malecon⯑tents had attempted to ſend in a Supply of Pro⯑viſions into Newhauſel; but their Deſign was diſappointed by the Germans.

Advices from Berlin of the 15th Inſtant, N. S. ſay, That his Daniſh Majeſty having receiv'd an Invitation from the King of Pruſſia to an Inter⯑view, deſigned to come to Potſdam within few Days; and that King Auguſtus reſolved to ac⯑company him thither. To avoid all Difficulties in Ceremony, the Three Kings, and all the Company who ſhall have the Honour to ſit with them at Table, are to draw Lots, and take Pre⯑cedence accordingly.

[205] They write from Hamburgh of the 18th In⯑ſtant, N. S. That ſome particular Letters from Dantzick ſpeak of a late Action between the Swedes and Muſcovites near Jeroſlaw; but that Engagement being mentioned from no other Place, there is not much Credit given to this Intelligence.

We hear from Bruſſels, by Letters dated the 20th, That on the 14th in the Evening the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene arrived at Courtray, with a Deſign to proceed the Day fol⯑lowing to Liſte, in the Neighbourhood of which City the Confederate Army was to rendezvous the ſame Day. Advices from Paris inform us, that the Marſhal de Bezons is appointed to com⯑mand in Dauphine; and that the Duke of Berwick is ſet out for Spain, with a Deſign to follow the Fortunes of the Duke of Anjou, in caſe the French King ſhould comply with the late De⯑mands of the Allies.

The Court of France has ſent a Circular Let⯑ter to all the Governours of the Provinces, to re⯑commend to their Conſideration his Majeſty's late Conduct in the Affair of Peace. It is thought fit in that Epiſtle, to condeſcend to a certain Appeal to the People, Whether it is conſiſtent with the Dignity of the Crown, or the French Name, to ſubmit to the Preliminaties demanded by the Confederates? That Letter dwells upon the Unreaſonableneſs of the Allies, in requi⯑ring his Majeſty's Aſſiſtance in dethroning his Grandſon, and treats this Particular in Lan⯑guage more ſuitable to it, as it is a Topick of Oratory, than a real Circumſtance on which the Intereſts of Nations, and Reaſons of State, which affect all Europe, are concern'd.

The Cloſe of this Memorial ſeems to prepare the People to expect all Events, attributing the Confidence of the Enemy to the Goodneſs of their [206] Troops; but acknowledging, that his ſole Depen⯑dance is upon the Intervention of Providence.

HAving a very ſolid Reſpect for humane Na⯑ture, however it is diſtorted from its na⯑tural Make, by Affectation, Humour, Cuſtom, Misfortune, or Vice, I do apply my ſelf to my Friends to help me in raiſing Arguments for preſerving it in all its Individuals, as long as it is permitted. To one of my Letters on this Sub⯑ject, I have received the following Anſwer:

It is certain, Mr. Switch has hit upon the true Source of this Evil; and that it proceeds only from the Force of Cuſtom that we contradict our ſelves in half the Particulars and Occurrences of Life. But ſuch a Tyranny in Love, which the Fair impoſe upon us, is a little too ſevere, that we muſt demonſtrate our Affection for 'em by no certain Proof but Hatred to one another, or come at them (only as one does to an Eſtate) by Sur⯑vivorſhip. This Way of Application to gain a Lady's Heart, is taking her as we do Towns and Caſtles, by diſtreſſing the Place, and letting none come near 'em without our Paſs. Were ſuch a Lover once to write the Truth of his Heart, and let her know his whole Thoughts, he would appear indeed to have a Paſſion for her; but it would hardly be called Love. The Billet-Deux would run to this Purpoſe:

I am juſt come hither at Ten at Night, and have ever ſince Six been in the moſt celebrated, though moſt nauſeous, Company in Town: The Two Leaders of the Society were a Critick and a Wit. Theſe Two Gentlemen are great Opponents upon all Occaſions, not diſcerning that they are the neareſt each other in Temper and Talents of any Two Claſſes of Men in the World; for to profeſs Judgment, and to profeſs Wit, both ariſe from the ſame Failure, which is Want of Judgment. The Poverty of the Critick this Way proceeds from the Abuſe of his Faculty; that of the Wit, from the Neglect of it. It's a particular Obſervation I have al⯑ways made, That of all Morrals, a Critick is the ſillieſt; for by inuring himſelf to examine all Things, whether they are of Conſequence or not, he never looks upon any Thing but with a Deſign of paſſing Sentence upon it; by which Means, he is never a Companion, [210] but always a Cenſor. This makes him earneſt upon Trifles; and diſpute on the moſt indiffe⯑rent Occaſions with Vehemence. If he offers to ſpeak or write, that Talent which ſhould approve the Work of the other Faculties, pre⯑vents their Operation. He comes upon Action in Armour; but without Weapons: He ſtands in Safety; but can gain no Glory. The Wit on the other Hand has been hurried ſo long away by Imagination only, that Judgment ſeems not to have ever been one of his natural Faculties. This Gentleman takes himſelf to be as much obliged to be merry, as the other to be grave. A thorough Critick is a Sort of Puritan in the polite World. As an Enthuſiaſt in Religion ſtumbles at the ordinary Occurrences of Life, if he cannot quote Scripture Examples on the Occaſion; ſo the Critick is never ſafe in his Speech or Writing, without he has among the celebrated Writers an Authority for the Truth of his Sentence. You will believe we had a very good Time with theſe Brethren, who were ſo far out of the Dreſs of their native Country, and ſo loſt to its Dialect, that they were as much Strangers to themſelves, as to their Relation to each other. They took up the whole Diſcourſe; ſometimes the Critick grew paſſionate, and when reprimanded by the Wit for any Trip or Heſitation in his Voice, he would anſwer, Mr. Dryden makes ſuch a Cha⯑racter on ſuch an Occaſion break off in the ſame Manner; ſo that the Stop was according to Nature, and as a Man in a Paſſion ſhould do. The Wit, who is as far gone in Letters as himſelf, ſeems to be at a Loſs to anſwer ſuch an Apology; and concludes only, that though his Anger is juſtly vented, it wants Fire in the Utterance. If Wit is to be meaſured by the Circumſtances of Time and Place, there is no [211] Man has generally ſo little of that Talent, as he who is a Wit by Profeſſion. What he ſays, inſtead of ariſing from the Occaſion, has an Occaſion invented to bring it in. Thus he is new for no other Reaſon, but that he talks like no Body elſe; but has taken up a Method of his own, without Commerce or Dialogue with other People. The lively Jaſper Dactyle is one of this Character. He ſeems to have made a Vow to be witty to his Life's End. When you meet him, What do you think, ſays he, I have been entertaining my ſelf with? Then out comes a premeditated Turn; to which 'tis to no Purpoſe to anſwer, for he goes on in the ſame Strain of Thought he deſigned without your ſpeaking. Therefore I have a general Anſwer to all he can ſay; as, Sure there never was any Creature had ſo much Fire! Spondee, who is a Critick, is ſeldom out of this fine Man's Company. They have no Manner of Affection for each other, but keep together, like Novell and Oldfox in the Plain-Dealer, becauſe they ſhow each other. I know ſeveral of Senſe who can be diverted with this Couple; but I ſee no Curioſity in the Thing, except it be, that Spondee is dull and ſeems dull; but Da⯑ctyle is heavy with a brisk Face. It muſt be own'd alſo, that Dactyle has almoſt Vigour enough to be a Coxcomb; but Spondee by the Lowneſs of his Conſtitution, is only a Block⯑head.

We have no Particulars of Moment ſince our laſt, except it be, that the Copy of the following Original Letter came by the Way of Oſtend. It is ſaid to have been found in the Cloſet of Monſieur Chamillard, the late Se⯑cretary of State of France, ſince his Diſgrace. It was ſigned by Two Brothers of the fa⯑mous [212] Cavalier, who led the Cevennois, and had a Perſonal Interview with the King, as well as a Capitulation to lay down his Arms, and leave the Dominions of France. There are many other Names to it; among whom, is the Chief of the Family of the Marquis Guiſ⯑card. It is not yet known, whether Monſieur Chamillard had any real Deſign to favour the Proteſtant Intereſt, or only thought to place himſelf at the Head of that People, to make himſelf conſiderable enough to oppoſe his Ene⯑mies at Court, and reinſtate himſelf in Power there.

THE Vigilance, the Anxiety, the Tender⯑neſs, which I have for the good People of England, I am perſwaded will in Time be much commended; but I doubt whether they will ever be rewarded. However, I muſt go on chearfully in my Work of Reformation: That being my great Deſign, I am ſtudious to prevent my Labour's increaſing upon me; therefore am particularly obſervant of the Temper and Incli⯑nations of Childhood and Youth, that we may not give Vice and Folly Supplies from the grow⯑ing Generation. It is hardly to be imagined how uſeful this Study is, and what great Evils or Benefits ariſe from putting us in our tender Years to what we are fit, or unfit: Therefore on Tueſday laſt (with a Deſign to ſound their Incli⯑nations) I took Three Lads who are under my Guardianſhip, a rambling, in a Hackney-Coach, to ſhow them the Town, as the Lions, the Tombs, Bedlam, and the other Places which are Entertainments to raw Minds, becauſe they ſtrike forcibly on the Fancy. The Boys are Bro⯑thers, one of Sixteen, the other of Fourteen, the other of Twelve. The Firſt was his Father's Darling, the Second his Mother's, and the Third is mine, who am their Uncle. Mr. William is a Lad of true Genius; but being at the upper End of a great School, and having all the Boys below him, his Arrogance is inſupportable. If I begin to ſhow a little of my Latin, he imme⯑diately interrupts: Uncle, under Favour, that which you ſay is not underſtood in that Manner. [215] Brother, ſays my Boy Jack, You do not ſhow your Manners much in contradicting my Unkle Iſaac. You queer Cur, ſays Mr. William, Do you think my Uncle takes any Notice of ſuch a dull Rogue as you are? Mr. William goes on; He is the moſt ſtupid of all my Mother's Chil⯑dren: He knows nothing of his Book: When he ſhould mind that, he is hiding or hoard⯑ing his Taws and Marbles, or laying up Far⯑things. His Way of Thinking is, Four and twen⯑ty Farthings make Sixpence, and Two Sixpences a Shilling, Two Shillings and Sixpence Half a Crown, and Two Half-Crowns Five Shillings. So within theſe Two Months, the cloſe Hunks has ſcrap'd up Twenty Shillings, and we'll make him ſpend it all before he comes Home. Jack immediately claps his Hands into both Pockets, and turns as pale as Aſhes. There is nothing touches a Parent (and ſuch I am to Jack) ſo near⯑ly, as a provident Conduct. This Lad has in him the true Temper for a good Husband, a kind Fa⯑ther, and an honeſt Executor. All the great People you ſee make conſiderable Figures on the Change, in Court, and ſometimes in Senates, are ſuch as in Reality have no greater Faculty than what may be called Humane Inſtinct, which is a natural Tendency to their own Preſervation, and that of their Friends, without being capable of ſtriking out of the Road for Adventures. There's Sir William Scrip was of this Sort of Capacity from his Childhood: He has bought the Country round him, and makes a Bargain better than Sir Harry Wildfire with all his Wit and Humour. Sir Harry never wants Money but he comes to Scrip, laughs at him half an Hour, and then gives Bond for t'other Thou⯑ſand. The cloſe Men are incapable of placing Merit any where but in their Pence, and there⯑fore gain it; while others, who have larger Ca⯑pacities. [216] are diverted from the Purſuit by Enjoy⯑ments, which can be ſupported only by that Caſh which they deſpiſe; and therefore are in the End, Slaves to their Inferiors both in Fortune and Underſtanding. I once heard a Man of ex⯑cellent Senſe obſerve, That more Affairs in the World failed by being in the Hands of Men of too large Capacities for their Buſineſs, than by being in the Conduct of ſuch as wanted Abili⯑ties to execute them. Jack therefore being of a plodding Make, ſhall be a Citizen; and I de⯑ſign him to be the Refuge of the Family in their Diſtreſs, as well as their Jeſt in Proſperity. His Brother Will ſhall go to Oxford with all Speed, where, if he does not arrive at being a Man of Senſe, he will ſoon be informed wherein he is a Coxcomb. There is in that Place ſuch a true Spirit of Raillery and Humour, that if they can't make you a wiſe Man, they will certainly let you know you are a Fool, which is all my Couſin wants to ceaſe to be ſo. Thus ha⯑ving taken theſe Two out of the Way, I have Leiſure to look at my Third Lad. I obſerve in the young Rogue a natural Subtilty of Mind, which diſcovers it ſelf rather in forbearing to declare his Thoughts on any Occaſion, than in any viſible Way of exerting himſelf in Diſ⯑courſe. For which Reaſon I will place him where, if he commits no Faults, he may go fur⯑ther than thoſe in other Stations, though they excel in Virtues. The Boy is well faſhioned, and will eaſily fall into a graceful Manner; wherefore, I have a Deſign to make him a Page to a great Lady of my Acquaintance; by which Means he will be well skill'd in the common Modes of Life, and make a greater Progreſs in the World by that Knowledge, than with the greateſt Qualities without it. A good Mien in a Court will carry a Man greater Lengths than [217] a good Underſtanding in any other Place. We ſee a World of Pains taken, and the beſt Years of Life ſpent, in collecting a Set of Thoughts in a College for the Conduct of Life; and after all, the Man ſo qualified ſhall heſitate in his Speech to a good Suit of Clothes, and want common Senſe before an agreeable Woman. Hence it is, that Wiſdom, Valour, Juſtice, and Learning, can't keep a Man in Countenance that is poſſeſſed with theſe Excellencies, if he wants that infe⯑rior Art of Life and Behaviour, call'd Good Breeding. A Man endow'd with great Perfecti⯑ons without this, is like one who has his Pockets full of Gold, but always wants Change for his ordinary Occaſions.

Will. Courtly is a living Inſtance of this Truth, and has had the ſame Education which I am gi⯑ving my Nephew. He never ſpoke a Thing but what was ſaid before, and yet can converſe with the wittieſt Men without being ridiculous. Among the Learned, he does not appear igno⯑rant; nor with the Wiſe, indiſcreet. Living in Converſation from his Infancy, makes him no where at a Loſs; and a long Familiarity with the Perſons of Men, is in a Manner of the ſame Ser⯑vice to him, as if he knew their Arts. As Cere⯑mony is the Invention of wiſe Men to keep Fools at a Diſtance, ſo good Breeding is an Expedient to make Fools and wiſe Men Equals.

The Suſpenſion of the Playhouſe has made me have nothing to ſend you from hence; but cal⯑ling here this Evening, I found the Party I uſu⯑ally ſit with, upon the Buſineſs of Writing, and examining what was the handſomeſt Style in which to addreſs Women, and write Letters of Gallantry. Many were the Opinions which were immediately declared on this Subject: Some were for a certain Softneſs; ſome for I [218] know not what Delicacy; others for ſomething inexpreſſibly Tender: When it came to me, I ſaid there was no Rule in the World to be made for writing Letters, but that of being as near what you ſpeak Face to Face as you can; which is ſo great a Truth, that I am of Opinion, Wri⯑ting has loſt more Miſtreſſes than any one Mi⯑ſtake in the whole Legend of Love. For when you write to a Lady for whom you have a ſolid and honourable Paſſion, the great Idea you have of her, join'd to a quick Senſe of her Abſence, fills your Mind with a Sort of Tenderneſs, that gives your Language too much the Air of Complaint, which is ſeldom ſucceſsful. For a Man may flat⯑ter himſelf as he pleaſes, but he will find, that the Women have more Underſtanding in their own Affairs than we have, and Women of Spirit are not to be won by Mourners. He that can keep handſomely within Rules, and ſupport the Car⯑riage of a Companion to his Miſtreſs, is much more likely to prevail, than he who lets her ſee, the whole Reliſh of his Life depends upon her. If poſſible therefore divert your Miſtreſs, rather than ſigh to her. The pleaſant Man ſhe will de⯑ſire for her own Sake; but the languiſhing Lo⯑ver has nothing to hope from, but her Pity. To ſhew the Difference, I produced two Letters [...] Lady gave me, which had been writ by two Gen⯑tlemen, who pretended to her, but were bot [...] kill'd the next Day after the Date at the Batt [...] of Almonza. One of them was a mercurial ga [...] humour'd Man; the other a Man of a ſerious, b [...] a great and gallant Spirit. Poor Jack Careleſ [...] This is his Letter: You ſee how it is folded: T [...] Air of it is ſo negligent, one might have re [...] half of it by peeping into it, without breaking [...] open. He had no Exactneſs.

Now for Colonel Conſtant's Epiſtle; you ſee it is folded and directed with the utmoſt Care.

The beloved Lady is a Woman of a ſenſible Mind; but ſhe has confeſs'd to me, that after all her true and ſolid Value for Conſtant, ſhe had much more Concern for the Loſs of Careleſs. Thoſe noble and ſerious Spirits have ſomething equal to the Adverſities they meet with, and con⯑ſequently leſſen the Objects of Pity. Great Acci⯑dents ſeem not cut out ſo much for Men of fami⯑liar Characters, which makes them more eaſily pitied, and ſoon after beloved. Add to this, that the Sort of Love which generally ſucceeds, is a Stranger to Awe and Diſtance. I asked Romana, Whether of the Two ſhe ſhould have choſen had they ſurvived? She ſaid, She knew ſhe ought to have taken Conſtant; but believed, ſhe ſhould have choſen Careleſs.

Letters from Lisbon of the 9th Inſtant, N. S. ſay, That the Enemy's Army, having block'd up Olivenza, was poſted on the Guadiana. The Portugueſe are very apprehenſive that the Garri⯑ſon of that Place, tho' it conſiſts of five of the beſt Regiments of their Army, will be obliged to ſurrender, if not timely relieved, they not being ſupplied with Proviſions for more than Six [221] Weeks. Hereupon their Generals held a Coun⯑cil of War on the 4th Inſtant, wherein it was concluded to advance towards Badajos. With this Deſign the Army decamped on the 5th from Jerumena, and marched to Cancaon. 'Tis hoped, that if the Enemy follow their Motions, they may have Opportunity to put a ſufficient Quantity of Proviſion and Ammunition into Olivenza.

IN my Diſſertation againſt the Cuſtom of ſin⯑gle Combat, it has been objected, that there is not Learning, or much Reading, ſhown therein, which is the very Life and Soul of all Treatiſes; for which Reaſon, being always eaſy to receive Admonitions, and reform my Errors, I thought fit to conſult this learned [222] Board on the Subject. Upon propoſing ſome Doubts, and deſiring their Aſſiſtance, a very hopeful young Gentleman, my Relation, who is to be called to the Bar within a Year and an half at fartheſt, told me, That he had ever ſince I firſt mentioned Duelling turned his Head that Way; and that he was principally moved thereto, becauſe he deſigned to follow the Cir⯑cuits in the North of England and the South of Scotland, and to reſide moſtly at his own Eſtate at Landbadernawz in Cardiganſhire. The Nor⯑thern Britains and the Southern Scots are a warm People, and the Welſh a Nation of Gentlemen; ſo that it behov'd him to underſtand well the Science of Quarrelling. The young Gentleman proceeded admirably well, and gave the Board an Account, that he had read Fitzherbert's Grand Abridgment, and had found, that Duelling is a very ancient Part of the Law: For when a Man is ſued, be it for his Life or his Land, the Perſon that joins the Iſſue, whether Plaintiff or Defendant, may put the Trial upon the Duel. Further he argued, under Favour of the Court, that when the Iſſue is joined by the Duel in Treaſon or other Capital Crimes, the Parties accuſed and Accuſer muſt fight in their own proper Perſons: But if the Diſpute be for Lands, you may hire a Champion at Hockley in the Hole, or any where elſe. This Part of the Law we had from the Saxons; and they had it, as alſo the Trial by Ordeal, from the Lapland⯑ers. It is indeed agreed, ſaid he, the Southern and Eaſtern Nations never knew any Thing of it; for though the ancient Romans would ſcold, and call Names filthily, yet there is not an Ex⯑ample of a Challenge that ever paſſed amongſt them.

His quoting the Eaſtern Nations, put another Gentleman in Mind of an Account he had from [223] a Boatſwain of an Eaſt-India Man; which was, that a Chineſe had tricked and bubbled him, and that when he came to demand Satisfaction the next Morning, and like a true Tar of Honour called him Son of a Whore, Lyar, Dog, and o⯑ther rough Appellatives uſed by Perſons conver⯑ſant with Winds and Waves; the Chineſe, with great Tranquility, deſired him not to come Abroad faſting, nor put himſelf in a Heat, for it would prejudice his Health. Thus the Eaſt knows no⯑thing of this Gallantry.

There ſate at the Left of the Table a Perſon of a venerable Aſpect, who aſſerted, That half the Impoſitions which are put upon theſe Ages, have been tranſmitted by Writers who have given too great Pomp and Magnificence to the Ex⯑ploits of the ancient Bear-Garden, and made their Gladiators, by fabulous Tradition, greater than Gorman and others of Great-Britain. He informed the Company, that he had ſearched Authorities for what he ſaid, and that a learned Antiquary, Humphrey Scarecrow Eſq of Hockley in the Hole, Recorder to the Bear-Garden, was then writing a Diſcourſe on the Subject. It ap⯑pears by the beſt Accounts, ſays this Gentle⯑man, that the high Names which are uſed among us with ſo great Veneration, were no other than Stage-fighters, and Worthies of the ancient Bear-Garden. The renowned Hercules always carried a Quarterſtaff, and was from thence called Claviger. A learned Chronolo⯑giſt is about proving what Wood this Staff was made of, whether Oak, Aſh, or Crab-Tree. The firſt Trial of Skill he ever performed, was with one Cacus, a Deer-Stealer; the next was with Typhonus, a Giant of Forty Foot Four Inches. Indeed it was unhappily recorded, that meeting at laſt with a Sailor's Wife, ſhe made his Staff of Proweſs ſerve her own Uſe, and dwindle [224] away to a Diſtaff: She clapt him on an old Tar-Jacket of her Husband's; ſo that this great Hero drooped like a ſcabbed Sheep. Him his Contemporary Theſeus ſucceeded in the Bear-Garden, which Honour he held for many Years: This grand Duelliſt went to Hell, and was the only One of that Sort that ever came back again. As for Achilles and Hector, (as the Ballads of thoſe Times mention) they were pretty Smart Fellows; they fought at Sword and Buckler; but the former had much the better of it; his Mother, who was an Oyſter-Woman, having got a Black-Smith of Lemnos to make her Son's Wea⯑pons. There's a Pair of truſty Trojans in a Song of Virgil's, that were famous for handling their Gauntlets, Dares, and Entellus; and indeed it does appear, they fought no Sham Prize. What Arms the great Alexander uſed, is uncertain; however, the Hiſtorian mentions, when he at⯑tack'd Thaleſtris, it was only at ſingle Rapier; but the Weapon ſoon failed; for it was always obſerved, that the Amazons had a Sort of En⯑chantment about them, which made the Blade of the Weapon, though never of ſo good Metal, at every home Puſh loſe its Edge and grow fee⯑ble.

The Roman Bear-Garden was abundantly more magnificent than any Thing Greece could boaſt of; it flouriſhed moſt under thoſe Delights of Man⯑kind, Nero and Domitian: At one Time it's re⯑corded, 400 Senators enter'd the Liſt, and thought it an Honour to be cudgelled and quarterſtaffed. I obſerve, the Laniſtae were the People chiefly em⯑ployed, which makes me imagine our Bear-Gar⯑den copied much after this, the Butchers being the greateſt Men in it.

Thus far the Glory and Honour of the Bear-Garden ſtood ſecure, till Fate, that irreſiſtible Ruler of ſublunary Things, in that univerſal [225] Ruin of Arts and politer Learning, by thoſe ſa⯑vage People the Goths and Vandals, deſtroyed and levelled it to the Ground. Then fell the Gran⯑deur and Bravery of the Roman State, till at laſt the Warlike Genius (but accompanied with more Courteſie) revived in the Chriſtian World under thoſe puiſſant Champions, St. George, St. Dennis, and other dignified Heroes: One kill'd his Dra⯑gon, another his Lion, and were all afterwards canonized for it, having red Letters before them to illuſtrate their Martial Temper. The Spaniſh Nation, it muſt be own'd, were devoted to Gal⯑lantry and Chivalry above the reſt of the World. What a great Figure does that great Name, Don Quixot, make in Hiſtory? How ſhines this glo⯑rious Star in the Weſtern World? O renown'd Hero! O Mirror of Knighthood!

I am forced to break off abruptly, being ſent for in Haſte, with my Rule, to meaſure the De⯑gree of an Affront, before the Two Gentlemen (who are now in their Breeches and Pumps ready to engage behind Mountague-Houſe) have made a Paſs.

It is an unreaſonable Objection I find againſt my Labours, that my Stock is not all my own, and therefore the kind Reception I have met with is not ſo deſerved as it ought to be. But I hope, though it be never ſo true, that I am obliged to my Friends for laying their Caſh in my Hands, ſince I give it them again when they pleaſe, and leave them at their Liberty to call it Home, it will not hurt me with my gen⯑tle Readers. Ask all the Merchants who act upon Conſignments, Where is the Neceſſity (if they anſwer readily what their Correſpondents [226] draw) of their being wealthy themſelves? Ask the greateſt Bankers, If all the Men they deal with were to draw at once, what would be the Conſequence? But indeed a Country Friend has writ me a Letter which gives me great Mortifi⯑cation; wherein I find I am ſo far from expect⯑ing a Supply from thence, that ſome have not heard of me, and the reſt do not underſtand me. His Epiſtle is as follows:

It is ſo; and hereby you may ſee how ſmall an Appearance the prettieſt Things ſaid in Com⯑pany make when in Print.

A Mail from Lisbon has brought Advices of June the 12th, from the King of Portugal's Army encamped at Torre Allegada, which inform us, That the General of the Army called a Court-Martial on the 4th at the Camp of Gerumhena, where it was reſolved to march with a Deſign to attempt the Succour of Olivenza. Accordingly the Army moved on the 5th, and marched to⯑wards Badajos. Upon their Approach, the Mar⯑quis de Bay detached ſo great a Party from the Blockade of Olivenza, that the Marquis das Mi⯑nas, at the Head of a large Detachment, cove⯑red a great Convoy of Proviſions towards Oli⯑venza, which threw in their Stores, and march⯑ed back to the main Army, without Moleſtation from the Spaniards. They add, That each Army muſt neceſſarily march into Quarters within Twenty Days.

AN Anſwer to the following Letter being ab⯑ſolutely neceſſary to be diſpatched with all Expedition, I muſt treſpaſs upon all that come with Horary Queſtions into my Antichamber, to give the Gentleman my Opinion.

My Patient has put his Caſe with very much Warmth, and repreſented it in ſo lively a Man⯑ner, that I ſee both his Torment and Tormenter with great Perſpicuity. This Order of Platonick Ladies are to be dealt with in a peculiar Manner from all the reſt of the Sex. Flattery is the ge⯑neral Way, and the Way in this Caſe; but it is not to be done groſly. Every Man that has Wit, and Humour, and Raillery, can make a good Flatterer for Woman in general; but a Platoune is not to be touched with Panegyrick: She will tell you, it is a Senſuality in the Soul to be delight⯑ed that Way. You are not therefore to com⯑mend, but ſilently conſent to all ſhe does, and ſays. You are to conſider in her, the Scorn of you is not Humour, but Opinion.

There were ſome Years ſince a Set of theſe Ladies who were of Quality, and gave out, That Virginity was to be their State of Life during this mortal Condition, and therefore reſolved to join their Fortunes, and erect a [232] Nunnery. The Place of Reſidence was pitched upon; and a pretty Situation, full of natural Falls and Riſings of Waters, with ſhady Coverts, and flowry Arbours, was approved by Seven of the Founders. There were as many of our Sex who took the Liberty to viſit thoſe Manſions of intended Severity; among others, a famous Rake of that Time, who had the grave Way to an Excellence. He came in firſt; but upon ſeeing a Servant coming towards him, with a Deſign to tell him, this was no Place for him or his Companions, up goes my grave Impudence to the Maid: Young Woman, ſaid he, if any of the Ladies are in the Way on this Side of the Houſe, pray carry us on the other Side towards the Gardens: We are, you muſt know, Gen⯑tlemen that are travelling England; after which we ſhall go into Foreign Parts, where ſome of us have already been. Here he bows in the moſt humble Manner, and kiſſed the Girl, who knew not how to behave to ſuch a Sort of Carriage. He goes on: Now you muſt know we have an Ambition to have it to ſay, That we have a Proteſtant Nunnery in England: But pray Mrs. Betty—Sir, ſhe replied, my Name is Suſan, at your Service. Then I hear⯑tily beg your Pardon—No Offence in the leaſt (ſays ſhe) for I have a Couſin-German whoſe Name is Betty. Indeed, ſaid he, I pro⯑teſt to you that was more than I knew, I ſpoke at Random: But ſince it happens that I was near in the Right, give me Leave to preſent this Gentleman to the Favour of a civil Salute. His Friend advances, and ſo on, till that they had all ſaluted her. By this Means, the poor Girl was in the middle of the Crowd of theſe Fellows at a Loſs what to do, without Cou⯑rage to paſs through 'em; and the Platonicks, at ſeveral Peep-holes, pale, trembling, and fret⯑ting. [233] Rake perceiv'd they were obſerv'd, and therefore took Care to keep Suky in Chat with Queſtions concerning their Way of Life; when appeared at laſt Madonella, a Lady who had writ a fine Book concerning the Recluſe Life, and was the Projectrix of the Foundation. She approaches into the Hall; and Rake, knowing the Dignity of his own Mien and Aſpect, goes Deputy from his Company. She begins; Sir, I am obliged to follow the Servant, who was ſent out to know, What Affair could make Stran⯑gers preſs upon a Solitude which we, who are to inhabit this Place, have devoted to Hea⯑ven and our own Thoughts? Madam, replies Rake, (with an Air of great Diſtance, mixed with a certain Indifference, by which he could diſſemble Diſſimulation) your great Intention has made more Noiſe in the World than you deſign it ſhould; and we Travellers, who have ſeen many foreign Inſtitutions of this Kind, have a Curioſity to ſee, in its firſt Rudiments, this Seat of Primitive Piety; for ſuch it muſt be called by future Ages, to the Eternal Honour of the Founders. I have read Madonella's excel⯑lent and ſeraphick Diſcourſe on this Subject. The Lady immediately anſwers, If what I have ſaid could have contributed to raiſe any Thoughts in you that may make for the Advancement of intellectual and divine Converſation, I ſhould think my ſelf extremely happy. He immediate⯑ly fell back with the profoundeſt Veneration; then advancing, Are you then that admired La⯑dy? If I may approach Lips which have utter⯑ed Things ſo ſacred—He ſalutes her. His Friends followed his Example. The Devoted within ſtood in Amazement where this would end, to ſee Madonella receive their Addreſs and their Company. But Rake goes on—We [234] would not tranſgreſs Rules; but if we may take the Liberty to ſee the Place you have thought fit to chuſe for ever, we would go into ſuch Parts of the Gardens as is conſiſtent with the Severi⯑tics you have impoſed on your ſelves. To be ſhort, Madonella permitted Rake to lead her into the Aſſembly of Nuns, followed by his Friends, and each took his Fair One by the Hand, after due Explanation, to walk round the Gardens. The Converſation turned upon the Lillies, the Flow⯑ers, the Arbors, and the growing Vegetables; and Rake had the ſolemn Impudence, when the whole Company ſtood round him, to ſay, That he ſincerely wiſhed Men might riſe out of the Earth like Plants; and that our Minds were not of Neceſſity to be ſullied with carnivorous Appetites for the Generation, as well as Sup⯑port of our Species. This was ſpoke with ſo eaſie and fixed an Aſſurance, that Madonella an⯑ſwer'd, Sir, under the Notion of a pious Thought, you deceive your ſelf in wiſhing an Inſtitution foreign to that of Providence: Theſe Deſires were implanted in us for reverend Purpoſes, in preſerving the Race of Men, and giving Oppor⯑tunities for making our Chaſtity more Heroick. The Conference was continued in this Celeſtial Strain, and carried on ſo well by the Managers on both Sides, that it created a Second and a Second Interview; and, without entring into further Particulars, there was hardly one of them but was a Mother or Father that Day Twelve⯑month.

Any unnatural Part is long taking up, and as long laying aſide; therefore Mr. Sturdy may aſ⯑ſure himſelf, Platonica will fly for ever from a forward Behaviour; but if he approaches her according to this Model, ſhe will fall in with the Neceſſities of mortal Life, and condeſcend [235] to look with Pity upon an unhappy Man, impri⯑ſoned in ſo much Body, and urged by ſuch vio⯑lent Deſires.

The Evils of this Town increaſe upon me to ſo great a Degree, that I am half afraid I ſhall not leave the World much better than I found it. Several worthy Gentlemen and Criticks have applied to me, to give my Cenſure of an Enor⯑mity which has been revived (after being long oppreſſed) and is called Punning. I have ſeveral Arguments ready to prove, that he cannot be a Man of Honour who is guilty of this Abuſe of Humane Society. But the Way to expoſe it, is, like the Expedient of curing Drunkenneſs, ſhow⯑ing a Man in that Condition: Therefore I muſt give my Reader Warning, to expect a Collection of theſe Offences; without which Preparation, I thought it too adventurous to introduce the very Mention of it in good Company; and hope, I ſhall be underſtood to do it, as a Divine men⯑tions Oaths and Curſes, only for their Condem⯑nation. I ſhall dedicate this Diſcourſe to a Gen⯑tleman my very good Friend, who is the Janus of our Times, and whom, by his Years and Wit, you would take to be of the laſt Age; but by his Dreſs and Morals, of this.

Laſt Night arrived Two Mails from Holland, which bring Letters from the Hague of the 28th Inſtant, N. S. with Advice, That the Enemy lay encamped behind a ſtrong Retrenchment, with the Marſh of Remieres on their Right and Left, extending it ſelf as far as Bethune: La Baſſee is in their Front, Lens in their Rear, and their Camp is ſtrengthened by another Line from Lens to Douay. The Duke of Marlborough cauſed an [236] exact Obſervation to be made of their Ground, and the Works by which they were covered, which appeared ſo ſtrong, that it was not thought proper to attack them in their preſent Poſture. However, the Duke thought fit to make a Feint as if he deſign'd it; His Grace accordingly march⯑ing from the Abbey at Looze, as did Prince Eu⯑gene from Lampret, and advanced with all poſſi⯑ble Diligence towards the Enemy. To favour the Appearance of an intended Aſſault, the Ways were made, and Orders diſtributed in ſuch a Manner, that none in either Camp could have Thoughts of any Thing but charging the Enemy by Break of Day the next Morning: But ſoon af⯑ter the Fall of the Night of the 26th, the whole Army faced towards Tournay, which Place they inveſted early in the Morning of the 27th. The Mareſchal Villars was ſo confident that we de⯑ſigned to attack him, that he had drawn great Part of the Garriſon of the Place, which is now inveſted, into the Field: For which Reaſon, it is preſumed it muſt ſubmit within a ſmall Time; which the Enemy cannot prevent, but by coming out of their preſent Camp, and hazarding a ge⯑neral Engagement. Theſe Advices add, That the Garriſon of Mons had marched out under the Command of Mareſchal d' Arco; which, with the Bavarians, Walloons, and the Troops of Co⯑logne, have join'd the grand Army of the Enemy.

MY Brother has made an Excurſion into the Country, and the Work againſt Saturday lies upon me. I am very glad I have got Pen and Ink in my Hand; for I have for ſome Time longed for his Abſence, to give a Right Idea of Things, which I thought he put in a very odd Light, and ſome of them to the Diſadvantage of my own Sex. It is much to be lamented, that it is neceſſary to make Diſcourſes, and publiſh Treatiſes, to keep the horrid Creatures, the Men, within the Rules of common Decency. Turning over the Papers of Memorials or Hints for the enſuing Diſcourſes, I find a Letter ſubſcribed by Mr. Truman.

This Offence gives me Occaſion to expreſs my ſelf with the Reſentment I ought, on People who take Liberties of Speech before that Sex of [238] whom the honoured Names of Mother, Daugh⯑ter, and Siſter, are a Part: I had like to have named Wife in the Number; but the ſenſeleſs World are ſo miſtaken in their Sentiments of Pleaſure, that the moſt amiable Term in Hu⯑mane Life is become the Deriſion of Fools and Scorners. My Brother and I have at leaſt Fif⯑ty Times quarrell'd upon this Topick. I ever argue, That the Frailties of Women are to be imputed to the falſe Ornaments which Men of Wit put upon our Folly and Coquetry. He lays all the Vices of Men upon Women's ſecret Ap⯑probation of Libertine Characters in them. I did not care to give up a Point; but now he is out of the Way, I cannot but own I believe there is very much in what he aſſerted: For if you will believe your Eyes, and own, that the wick⯑edeſt and the wittieſt of them all marry one Day or other; Is it poſſible to believe, that if a Man thought he ſhould be for ever incapable of being received by a Woman of Merit and Ho⯑nour, he would perſiſt in an abandon'd Way, and deny himſelf the Poſſibility of enjoying the Happineſs of well-govern'd Deſires, orderly Sa⯑tisfactions, and honourable Methods of Life? If our Sex were wiſe, a Lover ſhould have a Cer⯑tificate from the laſt Woman he ſerved, how he was turned away, before he was received into the Service of another: But at preſent any Va⯑gabond is welcome, provided he promiſes to enter into our Livery. It is wonderful, that we will not take a Footman without Credentials from his laſt Maſter; and in the greateſt Con⯑cern of Life, we make no Scruple of falling into a Treaty with the moſt notorious Offender in his Behaviour againſt others. But this Breach of Commerce between the Sexes, proceeds from an unaccountable Prevalence of Cuſtom, by which a Woman is to the laſt Degree reproach⯑able [239] for being deceived, and a Man ſuffers no Loſs of Credit for being a Deceiver.

Since this Tyrant Humour has gained Place, Why are we repreſented in the Writings of Men in ill Figures for Artifice in our Carriage, when we have to do with a profeſſed Impoſtor? When Oaths, Imprecations, Vows, and Adorations, are made uſe of as Words of Courſe, What Arts are not neceſſary to defend us from ſuch as glory in the Breach of 'em? As for my Part, I am re⯑ſolved to hear all, and believe none of 'em; and therefore ſolemnly declare, no Vow ſhall deceive me, but that of Marriage: For I am turned of Twenty, and being of a ſmall Fortune, ſome Wit. and (if I can believe my Lovers and my Glaſs) Handſome, I have heard all that can be ſaid towards my Undoing, and ſhall therefore, for Warning-ſake, give an Account of the Of⯑fers that have been made me, my Manner of re⯑jecting 'em, and my Aſſiſtances to keep my Re⯑ſolution.

In the Sixteenth Year of my Life, I fell into the Acquaintance of a Lady extremely well known in this Town for the quick Advancement of her Husband, and the Honours and Diſtinctions which her Induſtry has procured him, and all who belong to her. This excellent Body ſate next to me for ſome Months at Church, and took the Liberty (which ſhe ſaid her Years and the Zeal ſhe had for my Welfare gave her Claim to) to aſſure me, that ſhe obſerved ſome Parts of my Behaviour which would lead me into Errors, and give Encouragement to ſome to entertain Hopes I did not think of. What made you (ſaid ſhe) look through your Fan at that Lord, when your Eyes ſhould have been turned upward, or cloſed in Attention upon better Objects? I bluſhed, and pretended Fifty odd Excuſes;—but confounded my ſelf the more. She wanted [240] nothing but to ſee that Confuſion, and goes on: Nay, Child, do not be troubled that I take No⯑tice of it, my Value for you made me ſpeak it; for though he is my Kinſman, I have a near⯑er Regard to Virtue than any other Conſidera⯑tion. She had hardly done ſpeaking, when this noble Lord came up to us, and lead her to her Coach.

My Head ran all that Day and Night on the exemplary Carriage of this Woman, who could be ſo virtuouſly impertinent, as to admoniſh one ſhe was hardly acquainted with. However it ſtruck upon the Vanity of a Girl that it may poſſibly be, his Thoughts might have been as favourable of me, as mine were amorous of him, and as unlikely Things as that have hap⯑pened, if he ſhould make me his Wife. She never mentioned this more to me; but I ſtill in all publick Places ſtole Looks at this Man, who eaſily obſerved my Paſſion for him. It is ſo hard a Thing to check the Return of a⯑greeable Thoughts, that he became my Dream, my Viſion, my Food, my Wiſh, my Tor⯑ment.

That Miniſter of Darkneſs, the Lady Semphro⯑nia, perceived too well the Temper I was in, and would one Day after Evening Service needs take me to the Park. When we were there, my Lord paſſes by; I fluſhed into a Flame. Mrs. Di⯑ſtaff, (ſaid ſhe) You may very well remember the Concern I was in upon the firſt Notice I took of your Regard to that Lord, and for⯑give me, who had a tender Friendſhip for your Mother (now in her Grave) that I am vigi⯑lant of your Conduct. She went on with much Severity, and after great Solicitation, prevailed on me to go with her into the Country, and there ſpend the enſuing Summer out of the Way of a Man ſhe ſaw I loved, and one whom [241] ſhe perceived meditated my Ruin, by frequent⯑ly deſiring her to introduce him to me; which ſhe abſolutely refuſed, except he would give his Honour that he had no other Deſign but to marry me. To her Country-Houſe a Week or Two after we went: There was at the far⯑ther End of her Garden a Kind of Wilderneſs, in the Middle of which ran a ſoft Rivu⯑let by an Arbour of Jeſſamin. In this Place I uſually paſſed my retired Hours, and read ſome Romantick or Poetical Tale till the Cloſe of the Evening. It was near that Time in the Heat of Summer, when gentle Winds, ſoft Murmurs of Water, and Notes of Nightingals had given my Mind an Indolence, which ad⯑ded to that Repoſe of Soul, Twilight and the End of a warm Day naturally throws up⯑on the Spirits. It was at ſuch an Hour, and in ſuch a State of Tranquility I ſat, when, to my unexpreſſible Amazement, I ſaw my Lord walking towards me, whom I knew not till that Moment to have been in the Country. I could obſerve in his Approach the Perplexity which attends a Man big with Deſign; and I had, while he was coming forward, Time to reflect that I was betrayed; the Senſe of which gave me a Reſentment ſuitable to ſuch a Baſe⯑neſs: But when he entered into the Bower where I was, my Heart flew towards him, and, I confeſs, a certain Joy came into my Mind, with an Hope, that he might then make a Declaration of Honour and Paſſion. This threw my Eye upon him with ſuch Tender⯑neſs, as gave him Power, with a broken Ac⯑cent, to begin. Madam,—You will won⯑der—For it is certain, you muſt have ob⯑ſerved—though I fear you will miſinter⯑pret the Motives—But by Heaven, and all that's Sacred! If you could—Here he [242] made a full Stand. And I recovered Power to ſay, The Conſternation I am in you will not, I hope, believe—An helpleſs innocent Maid—Beſides that, the Place—He ſaw me in as great Confuſion as himſelf; which attributing to the ſame Cauſes, he had the Audaciouſneſs to throw himſelf at my Feet, talk of the Stilneſs of the Evening, and then ran into Deifications of my Perſon. Pure Flames, Conſtant Love, Eter⯑nal Raptures, and a Thouſand other Phraſes drawn from the Images we have of Heaven, which ill Men uſe for the Service of Hell, were run over with uncommon Vehemence. After which, he ſeized me in his Arms: His Deſign was too evident. In my utmoſt Diſtreſs, I fell upon my Knees—My Lord, pity me, on my Knees—On my Knees in the Cauſe of Virtue, as you were lately in that of Wickedneſs. Can you think of deſtroying the Labour of a whole Life, the Purpoſe of a long Education, for the baſe Service of a ſudden Appetite; to throw one that loves you, that doats on you, out of the Com⯑pany and Road of all that is virtuous and Praiſe⯑worthy? Have I taken in all the Inſtructions of Piety, Religion and Reaſon, for no other End, but to be the Sacrifice of Luſt, and abandoned to Scorn? Aſſume your ſelf, my Lord, and do not attempt to vitiate a Temple Sacred to Inno⯑cence, Honour, and Religion. If I have inju⯑red you, ſtab this Boſom, and let me die, but not be ruined by the Hand I love. The Ardency of my Paſſion made me incapable of uttering more; and I ſaw my Lover aſtoniſhed and re⯑formed by my Behaviour: When ruſhed in Sem⯑phronia. Ha! Faithful baſe Man, could you then ſteal out of Town, and lurk like a Robber about my Houſe for ſuch brutiſh Purpoſes!

[243] My Lord was by this Time recovered, and fell into a violent Laughter at the Turn which Sem⯑phronia deſigned to give her Villany. He bowed to me with the utmoſt Reſpect: Mrs. Diſtaff, ſaid he, be careful hereafter of your Company; and ſo retired. The Friend Semphronia congra⯑tulated my Deliverance with a Flood of Tears.

This Nobleman has ſince very frequently made his Addreſſes to me with Honour, but I have as often refuſed them; as well knowing, that Fa⯑miliarity and Marriage will make him, on ſome ill-natured Occaſion, call all I ſaid in the Arbour a Theatrical Action. Beſides that, I glory in con⯑temning a Man, who had Thoughts to my Diſ⯑honour. If this Method were the Imitation of the whole Sex, Innocence would be the only Dreſs of Beauty; and all Affectation by any other Arts to pleaſe the Eyes of Men, would be baniſhed to the Stews for ever. The Conqueſt of Paſſion gives Ten times more Happineſs than we can reap from the Gratification of it; and ſhe that has got over ſuch a one as mine, will ſtand among Beaux and Pretty Fellows, with as much Safety as in a Summer's Day among Graſs-hoppers and Butterflies.

P. S. I have Ten Millions of Things more againſt Men, if I ever get the Pen again.

Our laſt Advices from the Hague, dated the 28th Inſtant, N. S. ſay, That on the 2 [...]th a Squadron of Dutch Men of War ſailed out of the Texel to join Admiral Baker at Spithead. The 26th was obſerved as a Day of Faſt⯑ing and Humiliation, to implore a Bleſſing on the Arms of the Allies this enſuing Cam⯑paign. Letters from Dreſden are very parti⯑cular in the Account of the Gallantry and Magnificence in which that Court has ap⯑peared [244] ſince the Arrival of the King of Den⯑mark. No Day has paſſed in which publick Shews have not been exhibited for his En⯑tertainment and Diverſion: The laſt of that Kind which is mentioned is a Carouſal, where⯑in many of the Youth of the firſt Quality, dreſſed in the moſt ſplendid Manner, ran for the Prize. His Daniſh Majeſty condeſcen⯑ded to the ſame; but having obſerved that there was a Deſign laid to throw it in his Way, paſſed by without attempting to gain it. The Court of Dreſden was preparing to accompany his Daniſh Majeſty to Potſdam, where the Expectation of an Interview of three Kings had drawn together ſuch Mul⯑titudes of People, that many Perſons of Di⯑ſtinction will be obliged to lie in Tents as long as thoſe Courts continue in that Place.

HAving taken upon me to cure all the Di⯑ſtempers which proceed from Affections of the Mind, I have laboured, ſince I firſt kept this publick Stage, to do all the Good I could, and have perfected many Cures at my own Lodg⯑ings; carefully avoiding the common Method of Mountebanks, to do their moſt eminent Opera⯑tions [245] in Sight of the People; but muſt be ſo juſt to my Patients as to declare, they have teſtified under their Hands their Senſe of my poor Abili⯑ties, and the Good I have done them, which I publiſh for the Benefit of the World, and not out of any Thoughts of private Advantage.

I have cured fine Mrs. Spy of a great Im⯑perfection in her Eyes, which made her eter⯑nally rolling them from one Coxcomb to ano⯑ther in publick Places, in ſo languiſhing a Man⯑ner, that it at once leſſened her own Power, and her Beholders Vanity. Twenty Drops of my Ink, placed in certain Letters on which ſhe attentively looked for half an Hour, have re⯑ſtored her to the true Uſe of her Sight; which is, to guide, and not miſlead us. Ever ſince ſhe took this Liquor, which I call, Bickerſtaff's Circumſpection-Water, ſhe looks right forward, and can bear being looked at for half a Day without returning one Glance. This Water has a peculiar Vertue in it, which makes it the only true Coſmetick or Beauty-Waſh in the World: The Nature of it is ſuch, that if you go to a Glaſs, with a Deſign to admire your Face, it im⯑mediately changes it into downright Deformity. If you conſult it only to look with a better Countenance upon your Friends, it immediately gives an Alacrity to the Viſage, and new Grace to the whole Perſon. There is indeed a great deal owing to the Conſtitution of the Perſon to whom it is applied: It is in vain to give it when the Patient is in the Rage of the Diſtemper; a Bride in her firſt Month, a Lady ſoon after her Husband's being Knighted, or any Perſon of either Sex who has lately obtained any new good Fortune or Preferment, muſt be prepared ſome Time before they uſe it. It has an Ef⯑fect upon others, as well as the Patient, when it is taken in due Form. Lady Petulant has by [246] the Uſe of it cured her Husband of Jealouſy, and Lady Gad her whole Neighbourhood of Detra⯑ction.

The Fame of theſe Things, added to my being an old Fellow, makes me extreamly acceptable to the Fair Sex. You would hardly believe me, when I tell you there is not a Man in Town ſo much their Delight as my ſelf. They make no more of viſiting me, than going to Madam d'Epingle's. There were two of them, namely, Damia and Clidamira, (I aſſure you Women of Diſtinction) who came to ſee me this Morning in their Way to Prayers, and being in a very diverting Humour, (as Innocence always makes People chea ful) they would needs have me, according to the Diſtinction of pretty and very pretty Fellows, inform them, if I thought either of them had a Title to the very Pretty a⯑mong thoſe of their own Sex; and if I did, which was the more deſerving of the Two?

To put them to the Tryal, Look ye, ſaid I, I muſt not raſhly give my Judgment in Matters or this Importance; pray let me ſee you dance: I play upon the Kit. They immediately fell back to the lower End of the Room (You may be ſure they curt'ſy'd low enough to me): And began. Never were Two in the World ſo equally match⯑ed, and both S [...]ars to my Nameſake Iſaac. Never was Man in ſo dange ous a Condition as my ſe f, when they began to expand their Charms. Oh! Ladies, Ladies, cried I, not half that Air, you'll fire the Houſe. Both ſmiled; for by the by, there's no carrying a Metaphor too far, when a Lady's Charms are ſpoke of. Some Body, I think, has called a fine Woman dancing, a Brandiſhed Torch of Beauty. Theſe Rivals moved with ſuch an agreeable Freedom, that you would believe their Geſture was the neceſ⯑ſary Effect of the Muſick, and not the Product of Skill and Practice. Now Clidamira came on [247] with a Crowd of Graces, and demanded my Judg⯑ment with ſo ſweet an Air—And ſhe had no ſooner carried it, but Damia made her utterly forgot by a gentle ſinking, and a Rigadoon Step. The Conteſt held a full half Hour; and I pro⯑teſt, I ſaw no manner of Difference in their Per⯑fections, till they came up together, and expected [...] Sentence. Look ye Ladies, ſaid I, I ſee no Preference in the leaſt in your Performance; but you Clidamira ſeem to be ſo well ſatisfied that I ſhall determine for you, that I muſt give it to Damia, who ſtands with ſo much Diffidence and Fear, after ſhowing an equal Merit to what ſhe pretends to. Therefore, Clidamira, you are a pretty; but, Damia, you are a very pretty Lady. For, ſaid I, Beauty loſes its Force, if not accom⯑panied with Modeſty. She that has an humble Opinion of her ſelf, will have every Body's Ap⯑plauſe, becauſe ſhe does not expect it; while the vain Creature loſes Approbation through too great a Senſe of deſerving it.

Being of a very ſpare and hective Conſtitu⯑tion, I am forced to make frequent Journies of a Mile or Two for freſh Air; and indeed by this laſt, which was no further than the Village of Chelſea, I am further convinced of the Neceſſity of travelling to know the World. For as it is uſual with young Voyagers, aſſoon as they land upon a Shore, to begin their Accounts of the Nature of the People, their Soil, their Go⯑vernment, their Inclinations, and their Paſſions; ſo really I fancied I could give you an immedi⯑ate Deſcription of this Village, from the Five Fields where the Robbers lie in wait, to the Coffee-houſe where the Literari ſit in Council. A great Anceſtor of ours by the Mother's Side, Mr. Juſtice Overdo, (whoſe Hiſtory is [248] written by Ben Johnſon) met with more Enor⯑mities by walking incog. than he was capable of correcting; and found great Mortifications in obſerving alſo Perſons of Eminence, whom he before knew nothing of. Thus it fared with me, even in a Place ſo near the Town as this. When I came into the Coffee-houſe, I had not Time to ſalute the Company, before my Eye was diverted by Ten Thouſand Gimcracks round the Room and on the Sieling. When my firſt Aſtoniſhment was over, comes to me a Sage of a thin and meagre Countenance; which Aſpect made me doubt, whether Read⯑ing or Fretting had made it ſo Philoſophick: But I very ſoon perceived him to be of that Sect which the Ancients call Gingiviſtae; in our Language, Tooth-Drawers. I immediately had a Reſpect for the Man; for theſe practical Phi⯑loſophers go upon a very rational Hypotheſis, not to cure, but take away the Part affected. My Love of Mankind made me very benevo⯑lent to Mr. Salter, for ſuch is the Name of this eminent Barber and Antiquary. Men are uſual⯑ly, but unjuſtly, diſtinguiſhed rather by their Fortunes, than their Talents, otherwiſe this Per⯑ſonage would make a great Figure in that Claſs of Men which I diſtinguiſh under the Title of Odd Fellows. But it is the Misfortune of Per⯑ſons of great Genius, to have their Faculties diſſipated by Attention to too many Things at once. Mr. Salter is an Inſtance of this: If he would wholly give himſelf up to the String, inſtead of playing Twenty Beginnings to Tunes, he might before he dies play Roger de Caubly quite out. I heard him go through his whole Round, and indeed I think he does play the merry Chriſt-Church Bells pretty juſtly; but he confeſs'd to me, he did that rather to ſhow he was Orthodox, than that he valued himſelf up⯑on [249] the Muſick it ſelf. Or if he did proceed in his Anatomy, Why might not he hope in Time to cut off Legs, as well as draw Teeth? The Particularity of this Man put me into a deep Thought, whence it ſhould proceed, that of all the lower Order, Barbers ſhould go further in hitting the Ridicul us, than any other Set of Men. Watermen brawl, Coblers ſing: But why muſt a Barber be for ever a Po⯑litician, a Muſician, an Anatomiſt, a Poet, and a Phyſician? The learned Voſſius ſays, his Bar⯑ber uſed to comb his Head in Iambicks. And indeed in all Ages, one of this uſeful Profeſſion, this Order of Coſmetick Philoſophers, has been celebrated by the moſt eminent Hands. You ſee the Barber in Don Quixot is one of the princi⯑pal Characters in the Hiſtory, which gave me Satisfaction in the Doubt, why Don Saltero writ his Name with a Spaniſh Termination: For he is deſcended in a right Line, not from John Tra⯑deſcan, as he himſelf aſſerts, but from that me⯑morable Companion of the Knight of Mancha. And I hereby certify all the worthy Citizens who travel to ſee his Rarities, that his double⯑barrelled Piſtols, Targets, Coats of Mail, his Sclopeta, and Sword of Toledo, were left to his Anceſtor by the ſaid Don Quixot, and by the ſaid Anceſtor to all his Progeny down to Don Saltero. Though I go thus far in favour of Don Saltero's great Merit, I cannot allow a Liberty he takes of impoſing ſeveral Names (without my Licence) on the Collections he has made, to the Abuſe of the good People of England; one of which is particularly calculated to de⯑ceive Religious Perſons, to the great Scandal of the Well-diſpoſed, and may introduce Hetero⯑dox Opinions. He ſhows you a Straw-Hat, which I know to be made by Madge Peskad, within Three Miles of Bedford; and tells you. [250] it is Pontius Pilate's Wife's Chambermaid's Siſter's Hat. To my knowledge of this very Hat, it may be added, that the Covering of Straw was ne⯑ver uſed among the Jews, ſince it was deman⯑ded of them to make Bricks without it. There⯑fore this is really nothing, but under the ſpeci⯑ous Pretence of Learning and Antiquity, to im⯑poſe upon the World. There are other Things which I cannot tolerate among his Rarities; as, the China Figure of a Lady in the Glaſs-Caſe; the Italian Engine for the Impriſonment of thoſe who go Abroad with it: Both which I hereby order to be taken down, or elſe he may expect to have his Letters Patents for making Punch ſuperſeded, be debarred wearing his Muff next Winter, or ever coming to London without his Wife. It may perhaps be thought I have dwelt too long upon the Affairs of this Operator; but I deſire the Reader to remember, that it is my Way to conſider Men as they ſtand in Merit, and not according to their Fortune or Figure; and if he is in a Coffee-houſe at the Reading hereof, let him look round, and he will find there may be more Characters drawn in this Account than that of Don Saltero; for half the Politicians about him, he may obſerve, are, by their Place in Nature, of the Claſs of Tooth-Drawers.

THere is an Habit or Cuſtom which I have put my Patience to the utmoſt Stretch to have ſuffered ſo long, becauſe ſeveral of my in⯑timate Friends are in the Guilt; and that is, the Humour of taking Snuff, and looking dirty a⯑bout the Mouth by Way of Ornament.

My Method is to dive to the Bottom of a Sore before I pretend to apply a Remedy. For this Reaſon, I ſat by an eminent Story-teller and Poli⯑tician who takes half an Ounce in five Seconds, and has mortgaged a pretty Tenement near the Town, meerly to improve and dung his Brains with this prolifick Powder. I obſerved this Gentleman t'other Day in the midſt of a Story diverted from it by looking at ſomething at a Diſtance, and I ſoftly hid his Box. But he re⯑turns to his Tale, and looking for his Box, he cries, And ſo Sir—Then when he ſhould have taken a Pinch; As I was ſaying, ſays he—Has no Body ſeen my Box? His Friend beſeeches him to finiſh his Narration. Then he proceeds; And [...] Sir—Where can my Box be? Then turn⯑ing to me; Pray Sir, Did you ſee my Box? Yes Sir, ſaid I, I took it to ſee how long you could live without it. He reſumes his Tale; and I took Notice, that his Dulneſs was much more regular and fluent than before. A Pinch ſup⯑plied the Place of, As I was ſaying, And ſo Sir; and he went on currently enough in that Style [252] which the Learned call the Inſipid. This Obſer⯑vation eaſily led me into a Philoſophick Reaſon for taking Snuff, which is done only to ſupply with Senſations the Want of Reflection. This I take to be an [...], a noſtrum; upon which I hope to receive the Thanks of this Board. For as it is natural to lift a Man's Hand to a Sore, when you fear any Thing coming at you; ſo when a Perſon feels his Thoughts are run out, and has no more to ſay, it is as natural to ſupply his weak Brain with Powder at the neareſt Place of Acceſs, viz. the Noſtrils. This is ſo evident, that Nature ſuggeſts the Uſe according to the Indigence of the Perſons who uſe this Medicine, without being prepoſſeſſed with the Force of Fa⯑ſhion or Cuſtom. For Example; the Native Hi⯑bernians, who are reckoned not much unlike the ancie t Baeotians, take this Specifick for Empti⯑neſs in the Head, in greater Abundance than any other Nation under the Sun. The learned Sotus, as ſparing as he is in his Words, would be ſtill more ſilent if it were not for this Powder.

However low and poor, the taking Snuff ar⯑gues a Man to be in his own Stock of Thought, or Means to employ his Brains and his Fingers, yet there is a poorer Creature in the World than He, and this is a Borrower of Snuff; a Fellow that keeps no Box of his own, but is always ask⯑ing others for a Pinch. Such poor Rogues put me always in Mind of a common Phraſe among School-Boys when they are compoſing their Ex⯑erciſe, who run to an upper Scholar, and cry, Pray give me a little Senſe. But of all Things, com⯑mend me to the Ladies who are got into this pretty Help to Diſcourſe. I have been this Three Years perſwading Sagiſſa to leave it off; but ſhe talks ſo much, and is ſo Learned, that ſhe is above Con⯑tradiction. However, an Accident t'other Day brought that about, which my Eloquence never [253] could accompliſh: She had a very pretty Fellow in her Cloſet, who ran thither to avoid ſome Company that came to viſit her. She made an Excuſe to go in to him for ſome Implement they were talking of. Her eager Gallant ſnatched a Kiſs; but being unuſed to Snuff, ſome Grains from off her upper Lip made him ſneeze aloud, which alarm'd the Viſitants, and has made a Diſ⯑covery, that profound Reading, very much In⯑telligence, and a general Knowledge of who and who's together, cannot fill up her vacant Hours ſo much, but that ſhe is ſometimes obliged to deſcend to Entertainments leſs intellectual.

I know no Manner of News for this Place, but that Cynthio, having been long in Deſpair for the inexorable Clariſſa, lately reſolved to fall in Love the good old Way of Bargain and Sale, and has pitched upon a very agreeable young Woman. He will undoubtedly ſucceed; for he accoſts her in a Strain of Familiarity, without breaking thro' the Deference that is due to Woman whom a Man would chuſe for his Life. I have hardly ever heard rough Truth ſpoken with a better Grace than in this his Letter.

Having taken a Reſolution when Plays are acted next Winter by an entire good Company, to publiſh Obſervations from Time to Time on the Performance of the Actors, I think it but juſt to give an Abſtract of the Laws of Action, for the Help of the leſs learned Part of the Audience, [255] that they may rationally enjoy ſo refined and in⯑ſtructive a Pleaſure as a juſt Repreſentation of humane Life. The great Errors in Playing are admirably well expoſed in Hamlet's Direction to the Actors who are to play in his ſuppoſed Tra⯑gedy; by which we ſhall form our future Judg⯑ments on their Behaviour, and for that Reaſon you have the Diſcourſe as follows:

It would be a ve y great Obligation, and an Aſſiſtance to my Treatiſe upon Punning, if any one would pleaſe to inform in what Claſs, a⯑mong the Learned who play with Words, to place the Author of the following Letter.

Letters from Bruſſels of the 2d of July, N. S. ſay, That the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene having received Advice, That the Mar⯑ſhal Villars had drawn a conſiderable Body out of the Garriſon of Tournay to reinforce his Army, marched towards that Place, and came before it early in the Morning of the 27th. As ſoon as they came into that Ground, the Prince of Naſ⯑ſau was ſent with a ſtrong Detachment to take Poſt at St. Amand; and at the ſame Time my Lord Orkney received Orders to poſſeſs himſelf of Mortagne; both which were ſucceſsfully exe⯑cuted; whereby we are Maſters of the Scheld and the Scarp. Eight Men were drawn out of each Troop of Dragoons and Company of Foot in the Garriſon of Tournay, to make up the Re⯑inforcement which was order'd to join Marſhal Villars; but upon Advice that the Allies were [258] marching towards Tournay, they endeavoured to return into the Town; but were intercepted by the Earl of Orkney, by whom that whole Body was killed or taken. Theſe Letters add, That 1200 Dragoons (each Horſeman carrying a Foot-Soldier behind him) were detached from Mons to throw themſelves into Tournay; but upon Ap⯑pearance of a great Body of Horſe of the Allies, retired towards Condé. We hear, That the Gar⯑riſon does not conſiſt of more than 3500 Men. Of the 60 Battalions deſign'd to be employ'd in this Siege, 7 are Engliſh, viz. Two of Guards, and the Regiments of Argyle, Temple, Evans and Meredith.

MANY Affairs calling my Brother into the Country, the Care of our Intelligence with the Town is left to me for ſome Time; therefore you muſt expect the Advices you meet with in this Paper to be ſuch, as more immediately and naturally fall under the Conſideration of our Sex: Hiſtory therefore written by a Woman, you will eaſily imagine to conſiſt of Love in all its Forms, both in the Abuſe of, and Obe⯑dience to that Paſſion. As to the Faculty of Wri⯑ting it ſelf, it will not, it is hoped, be demanded, that Stile and Ornament ſhall be ſo much con⯑ſulted, as Truth and Simplicity; which latter Qualities we may more juſtly pretend to be⯑yond [259] the other Sex. While therefore the Ad⯑miniſtration of our Affairs is in my Hands, you ſhall from Time to Time have an exact Account of all falſe Lovers, and their ſhallow Pretences for breaking off; of all Termagant Wives who make Wedlock a Yoke; of Men who affect the Entertainments and Manners ſuitable only to our Sex, and Women who pretend to the Conduct of ſuch Affairs as are only within the Province of Men. It is neceſſary further to advertiſe the Reader, that the uſual Places of Reſort being ut⯑terly out of my Province or Obſervation, I ſhall be obliged frequently to change the Dates of Pla⯑ces, as Occurrences come into my Way. The fol⯑lowing Letter I lately received from Epſom.

This Day appear'd here a Figure of a Perſon, whoſe Services to the Fair Sex have reduced him to a Kind of Exiſtence, for which there is no Name. If there be a Condition between Life and Death, without being abſolutely dead or living, his State is that. His Aſpect and Complexion in his robuſt Days gave him the il⯑luſtrious Title of Africanus: But it is not only from the warm Climates in which he has ſer⯑ved, nor from the Diſaſters in which he has ſuf⯑fered, that he deſerves the ſame Appellation with that renowned Roman; but the Magnanimity with which he appears in his laſt Moments, is what gives him the undoubted Character of Hero. Cato ſtabbed himſelf, and Hannibal drank Poi⯑ſon; but our Africanus lives in the continual Puncture of aching Bones and poiſoned Juices. The Old Heroes fled from Torments by Death, and this Modern lives in Death and Torments, with an Heart wholly bent upon a Supply for remaining in them. An ordinary Spirit would ſink under his Oppreſſions; but he makes an Advantage of his very Sorrow, and raiſes an Income from his Diſeaſes. Long has this Wor⯑thy been converſant in Bartering, and knows that when Stocks are loweſt, it is the Time to buy. Therefore, with much Prudence and Tranquility, he thinks, that now he has not a Bone ſound, but a Thouſand nodous Parts for which the Anatomiſt have not Words, and more Diſeaſes than the College ever heard of, it is the only Times to purchaſe an Annuity for Life. Sir Thomas told me, it was an Entertain⯑ment more ſurprizing and pleaſant than can be imagined, to ſee an Inhabitant of neither World without Hand to lift, or Leg to move, ſcarce Tongue to utter his Meaning, ſo keen upon [264] biting the whole World, and making Bubbles at his Exit. Sir Thomas added, that he would have bought Twelve Shillings a Year of him, but that he feared there was ſome Trick in it, and belie⯑ved him already dead: What! Says that Knight, Is Mr. Partridge, whom I met juſt now going on both his Legs firmer than I can, allowed to be quire dead; and ſhall Africanus, without one Limb that can do its Office, be pronounced alive.

What heightened the Tragi-Comedy of this Market for Annuities was, that the Ob⯑ſervation of it provoked Monocalus (who is the moſt Eloquent of all Men) to many excel⯑lent Reflections, which he ſpoke with the Vehemence and Language both of a Game⯑ſter and an Orator. ‘"When I caſt (ſaid that delightful Speaker) my Eye upon thee, thou unaccountable Africanus, I cannot but call my ſelf as unaccountable as thou art; for cer⯑tainly we were born to ſhew what Contra⯑dictions Nature is pleaſed to form in the ſame Species. Here am I, able to eat, to drink, to ſleep, and do all Acts of Nature, except begetting my Like; and yet by an unintelligible Force of Spleen and Fancy, I every Moment imagine I am dying. It is utter Madneſs in thee to provide for Supper; for I'll bet you Ten to One, you don't live till half an Hour after Four; and yet I am ſo diſtracted as to be in Fear every Moment, though I'll lay Ten to Three, I drink Three Pints of burnt Claret at your Funeral Three Nights hence. After all, I envy thee; thou that haſt no Senſe of Death, art happier than one that always fears it."’ The Knight had gone on, but that a Third Man ended the Seene by applauding the Knight's Eloquence [265] and Philoſophy, in a Laughter too violent for his own Conſtitution, as much as he mock'd that of Africanus and Monoculus.

This Day arrived Three Mails from Holland, with Advices relating to the Poſture of Affairs in the Low-Countries, which ſay, That the Con⯑federate Army extends from Luchin, on the Cauſeway between Tournay and Liſle, to Epain near Mortagne on the Scheld. The Marſhal Vil⯑lars remains in his Camp at Lens; but it is ſaid, he detached Ten Thouſand Men under the Com⯑mand of the Chevalier de Luxemburg, with Or⯑ders to form a Camp at Crepin on the Haine, be⯑tween Condé and St. Guillain, where he is to be joined by the Elector of Bavaria with a Body of Troops, and after their Conjunction, to attempt to march into Brabant. But they write from Bruſſels, That the Duke of Marlborough having it equally in his Power to make Detachments to the ſame Parts, they are under no Apprehenſions from theſe Reports for the Safety of their Coun⯑try. They further add from Bruſſels, that they have good Authority for believing, That the French Troops under the Conduct of Marſhal de Bezons are retiring out of Spain.

IT may be thought very unaccountable, that I who can never be ſuppoſed to go to White's, ſhould pretend to talk to you of Matters proper for, or in the Stile of, that Place. But though I never viſit theſe publick Haunts, I converſe with thoſe that do; and for all they pretend ſo much to the contrary, they are as talkative as our Sex, and as much at a Loſs to entertain the preſent Company, without ſacrificing the laſt, as we our ſelves. This Reflection has led me into the Con⯑ſideration of the Uſe of Speech; and made me look over in my Memory all my Acquaintance of both Sexes, to know to which I may more juſtly impute the Sin of ſuperfluous Diſcourſe, in Re⯑gard to Converſation, without entring into it as it reſpects Religion.

I foreſee my Acquaintance will immediately, upon ſtarting this Subject, ask me, How I ſhall celebrate Mrs. Alſe Copſwood, the Yorkſhire Hun⯑treſs, who is come to Town lately, and moves as if ſhe were on her Nag, and going to take a Five-Bar Gate; and is as loud as if ſhe were fol⯑lowing her Dogs? I can eaſily anſwer that; for ſhe is as ſoft as Damon, in Compariſon of her Brother-in-Law Tom. Bellfrey, who is the moſt accompliſh'd Man in this Kingdom for all Gen⯑tleman-like Activities and Accompliſhments. It is allow'd, that he is a profeſs'd Enemy to the [267] Italian Performers in Muſick. But then for our own native Manner, according to the Cuſtoms and known Uſages of our Iſland, he is to be pre⯑ferr'd, for the Generality of the Pleaſure he be⯑ſtows, much before thoſe Fellows, though they ſing to full Theatres. For what is a Theatrical Voice to that of a Fox-hunter? I have been at a Muſical Entertainment in an open Field, where it amaz'd me to hear to what Pitches the chief Maſters would reach. There was a Meeting near our Seat in Staffordſhire, and the moſt emine t of all the Counties of England were at it. How wonderful was the Harmony between Men and Dogs! Robin Cartail of Bucks was to anſwer to Jowler; Mr. Tinbreaſt of Cornwal was appointed to open with Sweetlips, and Beaux Slimber, a Lon⯑doner, undertook to keep up with Trips, a Whelp juſt ſet in: Tom. Bellfrey and Ringwood were cou⯑pled together, to fill the Cry on all Occaſions, and be in at the Death of the Fox, Hare, or Stag; for which both the Dog and the Man were excel⯑lently ſuited, and loved one another, and were as much together as Baniſter and King. When Jowler firſt alarm'd the Field, Cartail repeated every Note; Sweetlips's Treble ſucceeded, and ſhook the Wood; Tinbreaſt eccho'd a Quarter of a Mile beyond it. We were ſoon after all at a Loſs, till we rid up, and found Trips and Slimber at a Default in Half Notes: But the Day and the Tune was recovered by Tom. Bellfrey and Ring⯑wood, to the great Joy of us all, tho' they drown⯑ed every other Voice: For Bellfrey carries a Note Four Furlongs, Three Rood, and Six Paces, fur⯑ther than any other in England.

I fear the Mention of this will be thought a Digreſſion from my Purpoſe about Speech: But I anſwer, No. Since this is uſed where Speech rather ſhould be employ'd, it may come in o Conſideration in the ſame Chapter: For Mr. Bell⯑frey [268] being at a Viſit where I was, viz. his Cou⯑ſin's (Lady Dainty's) in Soho, was asked, What Entertainments they had in the Country? Now Bellfrey is very ignorant, and much a Clown; but confident withal. In a Word, he ſtruck up a Fox-Chaſe: Lady Dainty's Dog, Mr. Sippet, as ſhe calls him, ſtarted and jump'd out of his La⯑dy's Lap, and fell a barking. Bellfrey went on, and call'd all the neighbouring Pariſhes into the Square. Never was Woman in ſuch Confuſion as that delicate Lady. But there was no ſtop⯑ping her Kinſman. A Room full of Ladies fell into the moſt violent Laughter: My Lady look'd as if ſhe was ſhrieking; Mr. Sippet in the Mid⯑dle of the Room, breaking his Heart with bark⯑ing, but all of us unheard. As ſoon as Bell⯑frey became ſilent, up gets my Lady, and takes him by the Arm to lead him off: Bellfrey was in his Boots. As ſhe was hurrying him away, his Spurs takes hold of her Petticoat; his Whip throws down a Cabinet of China: He cries, What! Are your Crocks rotten? Are your Petti⯑coats ragged? A Man can't walk in your Houſe for Trincums.

Every County of Great Britain has One Hun⯑dred or more of this Sort of Fellows, who Roar inſtead of Speaking. Therefore if it be true, that we Women are alſo given to greater Flu⯑ency of Words than is neceſſary, ſure ſhe that diſturbs but a Room or a Family is more to be to⯑lerated, than one who draws together Pariſhes and Counties, and ſometimes (with an Eſtate that might make him the Bleſſing and Ornament of the World around him) has no other View and Ambition, but to be an Animal above Dogs and Horſes, without the Reliſh of any one En⯑joyment, which is peculiar to the Faculties of hu⯑mane Nature. I know it will here be ſaid, that talking of meer Country Squires at this Rate, is, [269] as it were, to write againſt Valentine and Orſon. To prove any Thing againſt the Race of Men, you muſt take 'em as they are adorn'd with Edu⯑cation, as they live in Courts, or have received Inſtructions in Colleges.

But I am ſo full of my late Entertainment by Mr. Bellfrey, that I muſt defer purſuing this Sub⯑ject to another Day; and wave the proper Obſer⯑vations upon the different Offenders in this Kind, ſome by profound Eloquence on ſmall Occa⯑ſions, others by degrading Speech upon great Circumſtances. Expect therefore to hear of the Whiſperer without Buſineſs, the Laugher with⯑out Wit, the Complainer without receiving In⯑juries, and a very large Crowd, which I ſhall not foreſtall, who are common (though not com⯑monly obſerv'd) Impertinents, whoſe Tongues are too voluble for their Brains, and are the ge⯑neral Deſpiſers of us Women, though we have their Superiors, the Men of Senſe, for our Ser⯑vants.

There has arriv'd no Mail ſince our laſt; ſo that we have no Manner of Foreign News, ex⯑cept we were to give you, for ſuch, the many Speculations which are on Foot concerning what was imported by the laſt Advices. There are, it ſeems, Sixty Battalions and Seventeen Squa⯑drons appointed to ſerve in the Siege of Tour⯑nay; the Garriſon of which Place conſiſts but of Eleven Battalions and Four Squadrons. Let⯑ters of the 29th of the laſt Month from Berlin have brought Advice, That the Kings of Den⯑mark, Pruſſia, and his Majeſty Auguſtus, were within few Days to come to an Interview at Potſdam. Theſe Letters mention, That Two Poliſh Princes of the Family of Sapicha and Lubermirsky, lately arriv'd from Paris, confirm [270] the Reports of the Miſery in France for Want of Proviſions, and give a particular Inſtance of it, which is, That on the Day Monſieur Rouille re⯑turned to Court, the Common People gather'd in Crowds about the Dauphin's Coach, crying, Peace and Bread, Bread and Peace.

I Find among my Brother's Papers the follow⯑ing Letter verbatim, which I wonder how he could ſuppreſs ſo long as he has, ſince it was ſent him for no other End, but to ſhow the good Effect his Writings have already had upon the ill Cuſtoms of the Age.

I fear the Word Bear is hardly to be under⯑ſtood among the polite People; but I take the Meaning to be, That one who enſures a Real Value upon an Imaginary Thing, is ſaid to ſell a Bear, and is the ſame Thing as a Promiſe a⯑mong Courtiers, or a Vow between Lovers. I have writ to my Brother to haſten to Town; and hope, that printing the Letters directed to him, which I knew not how to anſwer, will bring him ſpeedily; and therefore I add alſo the following:

In Purſuance of my laſt Date from hence, I am to proceed on the Accounts I promiſed of ſeveral Perſonages among the Men, whoſe con⯑ſpicuous Fortunes, or Ambition in ſhewing their Follies, have exalted them above their Fellows: The Levity of their Minds is viſible in their every Word and Geſture, and there [...]s not a Day paſſes but puts me in Mind of Mr. Wycherley's Character of a Coxcomb He is ugly all over with the Affectation of the fine Gentleman. Now though the Women may put on Softneſs in their [274] Looks, or affected Severity, or impertinent Gaie⯑ty, or pert Smartneſs, their Self-Love and Admi⯑ration cannot, under any of theſe Diſguiſes, ap⯑pear ſo invincible as that of the Men. You may eaſily take Notice, that in all their Actions there is a ſecret Approbation, either in the Tone of their Voice, the Turn of their Body, or Caſt of their Eye, which ſhows that they are extremely in their own Favour.

Take one of your Men of Buſineſs, he ſhall keep you half an Hour with your Hat off, enter⯑taining you with his Conſideration of that Af⯑fair you ſpoke of to him laſt, till he has drawn a Crowd that obſerves you in this Grimace. Then when he is publick enough, he immediately runs into Secrets, and falls a whiſpering. You and he make Breaks with Adverbs; as, But however, thus far; and then you whiſper again, and ſo on, till they who are about you are diſperſed, and your buſy Man's Vanity is no longer gratified by the Notice taken of what Importance he is, and how inconſiderable you are; for your Pretender to Buſineſs is never in Secret, but in Publick.

There is my dear Lord No-where, of all Men the moſt gracious and moſt obliging, the Terror of all Valets de Chambre, whom he oppreſſes with good Breeding, in enquiring for my good Lord, and for my good Lady's Health. This imi⯑table Courtier will whiſper a Privy-Counſellor's Lacquey with the utmoſt Goodneſs and Conde⯑ſcention, to know when they next ſit; and is throughly taken up, and thinks he has a Part in a Secret, if he knows that there is a Secret. What it is he will whiſper you, that Time will diſcover; then he ſhrugs, and calls you back a⯑gain—Sir, I need not ſay to you. That theſe Things are not to be ſpoken of—And hark'ee, No Names, I would not be quoted. What adds to the Jeſt is, that his Emptineſs has its Moods and Seaſons, [275] and he will not condeſcend to let you into theſe his Diſcoveries, except he is in very good Hu⯑mour, or has ſeen ſome Body in Faſhion talk to you. He will keep his Nothing to himſelf, and paſs by and overlook as well as the beſt of 'em; not obſerving that he is inſolent when he is gra⯑cious, and obliging when he is haughty. Show me a Woman ſo inconſiderable as this frequent Character.

But my Mind (now I am in) turns to many no leſs obſervable: Thou dear Will. Shoeſtring! I profeſs my ſelf in Love with thee? How ſhall I ſpeak thee? How ſhall I addreſs thee? How ſhall I draw thee? Thou dear Outſide! Will you be combing your Wig, Playing with your Box, or Picking your Teeth? Or chuſeſt thou rather to be Speaking; to be ſpeaking for thy only Purpoſe in Speaking, to ſhew your Teeth? Rub 'em no longer, dear Shoeſtring: Do not premeditate Mur⯑der: Do not for ever Whiten: Oh! That for my Quiet and his own they were rotten.

But I will forget him, and give my Hand to the courteous Umbra; He is a fine Man indeed, but the ſoft Creature bows below my Apron-String before he takes it; yet after the firſt Ce⯑remonies, he is as familiar as my Phyſician, and his Inſignificancy makes me half ready to com⯑plain to him of all I would to my Doctor. He is ſo courteous, that he carries half the Meſſages of Ladies Ails in Town to their Midwives and Nurſes. He underſtands too the Art of Medi⯑cine as far as to the Cure of a Pimple or a Raſh. On Occaſions of the like Importance, he is the moſt aſſiduous of all Men living, in conſulting and ſearching Precedents from Family to Fami⯑ly; then he ſpeaks of his Obſequiouſneſs and Diligence in the Style of real Services. If you ſneer at him, and thank him for his great Friend⯑ſhip, he bows, and ſays, Madam, all the good [276] Offices in my Power, while I have any Knowledge or Credit, ſhall be at your Service. The Conſide⯑ration of ſo ſhallow a Being, and the intent Ap⯑plication with which he purſues Trifles, has made me carefully reflect upon that Sort of Men we uſually call an Impertinent: And I am, upon mature Deliberation, ſo far from being offended with him, that I am really obliged to him; for though he will take you aſide, and talk half an Hour upon Matters wholly inſignificant with the moſt ſolemn Air, yet I conſider, that theſe Things are of Weight in his Imagination, and he thinks he is communicating what is for my Service. If therefore it be a juſt Rule, to judge of a Man by his Intention, according to the Equity of Good⯑breeding, he that is impertinently kind or wiſe, to do you Service, ought in Return to have a pro⯑portionable Place both in your Aff ction and E⯑ſteem; ſo that the courteous Umbra deſerves the Favour of all his Acquaintance; for though he never ſerv'd 'em, he is ever willing to do it, and believes he does it.

As impotent Kindneſs is to be returned with all our Abilities to oblige; ſo impotent Malice is to be treated with all our Force to depreſs it. For this Reaſon, Fly-Blow (who is received in all the Families in Town through the Degeneracy and Iniquity of their Manners) is to be treated like a Knave, tho' he is one of the weakeſt of Fools: He has by Rote, and at Second hand, all that can be ſaid of any Man of Figure, Wit, and Virtue in Town. Name a Man of Worth, and this Creature tells you the worſt Paſſage of his Life. Speak of a beautiful Woman, and this Puppy will whiſper the next Man to him, tho' he has nothing to ſay of her. He is a Fly that feeds on the ſore Part, and would have nothing to live on, if the whole Body were in Health. You may know him by the Frequency of pro⯑nouncing [277] the Particle But; for which Reaſon I never hear him ſpoke of with common Charity, without uſing my But againſt him: For a Friend of mine ſaving the other Day, Mrs. Diſtaff has Wit, good Humour, Virtue and Friendſhip; this Oaf added, But ſhe is not handſome. Cox⯑comb! The Gentleman was ſaying what I was, not what I was not.

The Approaches before Tournay have been car⯑ried on with great Succeſs; and our Advices from the Camp before that Place of the 11th Inſtant ſay, That they had already made a Lodgment on the Glacis. Two Hundred Boats were come up the Scheld with the heavy Artillery and Ammu⯑nition, which would be employed in diſmount⯑ing the Enemy's Defences, and rais'd on the Bat⯑teries the 15th. A great Body of Miners are ſum⯑moned to the Camp to countermine the Works of the Enemy. We are convinced of the Weakneſs of the Garriſon, by a certain Account, That they call'd a Council of War, to conſult whether it was not adviſable to march into the Citadel, and leave the Town defenceleſs. We are aſſured, That when the Confederate Army was advan⯑cing towards the Camp of Marſhal Villars, that General diſpatch'd a Courier to his Maſter with a Letter, giving an Account of their Approach, which concluded with the following Words: The Day begins to break, and your Majeſty's Army is already in Order of Battle. Before Noon, I hope to have the Honour of congratulating your Majeſty on the Succeſs of a great Action; and you ſhall be very well ſatisfied with the Marſhal Villars.

AS I am call'd forth by the immenſe Love I bear to my Fellow Creatures, and the warm Inclination I feel within me, to ſtem, as far I can, the prevailing Torrent of Vice and Ignorance; ſo I cannot more properly purſue that noble Impulſe, than by ſetting forth the Excellence of Virtue and Knowledge in their native and beautiful Colours. For this Reaſon I made my late Excurſion to Oxford, where thoſe Qualities appear in their higheſt Luſtre, and are the only Pretences to Honour and Di⯑ſtinction. Superiority is there given in Propor⯑tion to Men's Advancement in Wiſdom and Learning; and that juſt Rule of Life is ſo uni⯑verſally received among thoſe happy People, that you ſhall ſee an Earl walk bear-headed to the Son of the meaneſt Artificer, in Reſpect to ſeven Years more Worth and Knowledge than the Nobleman is poſſeſs'd of. In other Places they bow to Men's Fortunes, but here to their Underſtandings. It is not to be expreſs'd, how pleaſing the Order, the Diſcipline, the Regula⯑rity of their Lives, is to a Philoſopher, who has, by many Years Experience in the World, learn'd to contemn every Thing but what is re⯑ver'd in this Manſion of ſelect and well-taught Spirits. The Magnificence of their Palaces, the Greatneſs of their Revenues, the Sweetneſs of their Groves and Retirements, ſeem equally a⯑dapted [279] for the Reſidence of Princes and Philoſo⯑phers; and a Familiarity with Objects of Splen⯑dour, as well as Places of Receſs, prepares the Inhabitants with an Equanimity for their future Fortunes, whether humble or illuſtrious. How was I pleas'd when I look'd round at St. Mary's, and could, in the Faces of the ingenious Youth, ſee Miniſters of State, Chanſellors, Biſhops, and Judges. Here only is Humane Life! Here only the Life of Man is a Rational Being! Here Men underſtand and are employed in Works worthy their noble Nature. This tranſitory Being paſſes away in an Employment not unworthy a future State, the Contemplation of the great Decrees of Providence. Each Man lives as if he were to anſwer the Queſtions made to Job, Where waſt thou when I laid the Foundations of the Earth? Who ſhut up the Sea with Doors, and ſaid, Hither⯑to ſhalt thou come, and no further? Such Specu⯑lations make Life agreeable, make Death wel⯑come.

But alas! I was torn from this noble Society by the Buſineſs of this dirty mean World, and the Cares of Fortune: For I was oblig'd to be in London againſt the 7th Day of the Term, and accordingly govern'd my ſelf by my Oxford Al⯑manack, and came laſt Night; but find, to my great Aſtoniſhment, that this ignorant Town began the Term on the 24th of the laſt Month, in Oppoſition to all the Learning and Aſtronomy of the famous Univerſity of which I have been ſpeaking; according to which, the Term cer⯑tainly was to commence on the 1ſt Inſtant. You may be ſure, a Man who has turn'd his Studies as I have, could not be miſtaken in Point of Time; for knowing I was come to Town in Term, I examin'd the paſſing Moments very narrowly, and called an eminent Aſtronomer to my Aſſiſtance. Upon very ſtrict Obſervation [280] we ſound, that the Cold has been ſo ſevere this laſt Winter, (which is allow'd to have a benum⯑ming Quality) that it retarded the Earth in mo⯑ving round from Chriſtmas to this Seaſon full Seven Days and Two Seconds. My Learned Friend aſſured me further, That the Earth had lately received a Shog from a Comet that croſs'd its Vortex, which, if it had come Ten Degrees nearer us, had made us loſe this whole Term. I was indeed once of Opinion, That the Grego⯑rian Computation was the moſt regular, as be⯑ing Eleven Days before the Julian; but am now fully convinc'd, that we ought to be Seven Days after the Chancellor and Judges, and Eighteen before the Pope of Rome; and that the Oxonion Computation is the beſt of the Three.

Theſe are the Reaſons which I have gather'd from Philoſophy and Nature; to which I can add other Circumſtances in Vindication of the Account of this Learned Body who publiſh'd this Almanack.

It is notorious to Philoſophers, that Joy and Grief can haſten and delay Time. Mr. Lock is of Opinion, That a Man in great Miſery may ſo far loſe his Meaſures, as to think a Minute an Hour; or in Joy, make an Hour a Minute. Let us examine the preſent Caſe by this Rule, and we ſhall find, that the Cauſe of this general Mi⯑ſtake in the Britiſh Nation, has been the great Succeſs of the laſt Campaigne, and the follow⯑ing Hopes of Peace. Stocks ran ſo high at the Change, that the Citizens had gain'd Three Days of the Courtiers; and we have indeed been ſo happy this Reign, that it the Univerſity did not rectify our Miſtakes, we ſhould think our ſelves but in the Second Year of Her pretent Majeſty. It would be endleſs to enumerate the many Da⯑mages that have happened by this Ignorance of [281] the Vulgar. All the Recognizances within the Dioceſe of Oxford have been forfeited, for not appearing on the Firſt Day of this Fictitious Term. The Univerſity has been Nonſuited in their Action againſt the Bookſellers for printing Clarendon in Quarto. Indeed what gives me the moſt quick Concern, is the Caſe of a poor Gentleman my Friend, who was t'other Day taken in Execution by a Set of ignorant Bai⯑liffs. He ſhould, it ſeems, have pleaded in the firſt Week of Term; but being a Maſter of Arts of Oxford, he would not recede from the Oxonian Computation. He ſhew'd Mr. Broad the Almanack, and the very Day when the Term began; but the mercileſs ignorant Fel⯑low, againſt all Senſe and Learning, would hur⯑ry him away. He went indeed quietly enough; but he has taken exact Notes of the Time of Arreſt, and ſufficient Witneſſes of his being car⯑ried into Gaol; and has, by Advice of the Recorder of Oxford, brought his Action; and we doubt not but we ſhall pay 'em off with Da⯑mages, and blemiſh the Reputation of Mr. Broad. We have one convincing Proof, which all that frequent the Courts of Juſtices are Witneſſes of: The Dog that comes conſtantly to Weſtminſter on the Firſt Day of the Term, did not appear till the Firſt Day according to the Oxford Al⯑manack; whoſe Inſtinct I take to be a better Guide than Men's erroneous Opinions, which are uſually byaſs'd by Intereſt. I judge in this Caſe, as King Charles II. victual'd his Navy, with the Bread which one of his Dogs choſe of ſeveral Pieces thrown before him, rather than truſt to the Aſſeverations of the Victuallers. Mr. Cowper, and other learned Council, have already urg'd the Authority of this Almanack in Behalf of their Clients. We ſhall therefore go on with all Speed in our Cauſe; and doubt not, but Chancery will give at the End what [280] [...] [281] [...] [282] we loſt in the Beginning, by protracting the Term for us till Wedneſday come Se'nnight: And the Univerſity Orator ſhall for ever pray, &c.

The Subject of Duels has, I find, been ſtarted with ſo good Succeſs, that it has been the fre⯑quent Subject of Converſation among polite Men; and a Dialogue of that Kind has been tranſmit⯑ted to me verbatim, as follows. The Perſons concern'd in it are Men of Honour, and Expe⯑rience in the Manners of Men, and have fallen upon the trueſt Foundation, as well as ſearch'd the Bottom of this Evil.

LEtters from the City of London give an Ac⯑count of a very great Conſternation that [...]ace is in at preſent, by reaſon of a late Enquiry [...]ade at Guildhall, Whether a Noble Perſon has [...]rts enough to deſerve the Enjoyment of the [...]reat Eſtate of which he is poſſeſs'd? The City [...] apprehenſive, that this Precedent may go fur⯑ [...]er than was at firſt imagin'd. The Perſon a⯑ [...]inſt whom this Inquiſition is ſet up by his Re⯑ [...]tions, is a Peer of a neighbouring Kingdom, [...]d has in his Youth made ſome few Bulls, by [...]hich it is inſinuated, that he has forfeited his [...]oods and Chattels. This is the more aſtoniſh⯑ [...]g, in that there are many Perſons in the ſaid [...]ity who are ſtill more guilty than his Lord⯑ [...]ip, and who, though they are Ideots, do not [...]nly poſſeſs, but have alſo themſelves acquired [...]reat Eſtates, contrary to the known Laws of [...]is Realm, which veſts their Poſſeſſions in the Crown.

There is a Gentleman in the Coffee-houſe at [...]is Time exhibiting a Bill in Chancery againſt [...]s Father's younger Brother, who by ſome [...]range Magick has arrived at the Value of half [...] Plumb, as the Citizens call an Hundred Thou⯑ [...]nd Pounds; and in all the Time of growing up [...] that Wealth, was never known in any of his [...]rdinary Words or Actions to diſcover any Proof [290] of Reaſon. Upon this Foundation my Friend ha [...] ſet forth, that he is illegally Maſter of his Cof⯑fers, and has writ two Epigrams to ſignify his own Pretenſions and Sufficiency for ſpending that Eſtate. He has inſerted in his Plea ſome Things which I fear will give Offence, for he pretends to argue, that tho' a Man has a little of the Knave mix'd with the Fool, he is neverthe⯑leſs liable to the Loſs of Goods; and makes the Abuſe of Reaſon as juſt an Avoidance of an E⯑ſtate as the total Abſence of it. This is what can never paſs; but witty Men are ſo full of them⯑ſelves, that there is no perſwading 'em; and my Friend will not be convinc'd, but that upon quo⯑ting Solomon, who always uſed the Word Fool as a Term of the ſame Signification with Unjuſt, and makes all Deviation from Goodneſs and Virtue to come under the Notion of Folly, I ſay he doubts not, but by the Force of this Autho⯑rity, let his Ideot Uncle appear never ſo great a Knave, he ſhall prove him a Fool at the ſame Time.

This Affair led the Company here into an Exa⯑mination of theſe Points; and none coming here but Wits, what was aſſerted by a young Lawyer, that a Lunatick is in the Care of the Chancery, but a Fool in that of the Crown, was received with general Indignation. ‘'Why that? ſays old Renault. Why that? Why muſt a Fool be a Courtier more than a Madman? This is the Iniquity of this dull Age: I remember the Time when it went on the mad Side; all your Top Wits were Scowrers, Rakes, Roarers, and Demoliſhers of Windows. I knew a mad Lord who was drunk five Years together, and was the Envy of that Age; who is faintly imi⯑tated by the dull Pretenders to Vice and Mad⯑neſs in this. Had he lived to this Day, there had not been a Fool in Faſhion in the whole [291] Kingdom. When Renault had done ſpeaking, a very worthy Man aſſumed the Diſcourſe. This is (ſaid he) Mr. Bickerſtaff, a proper Ar⯑gument for you to treat in your Article from this Place; and if you would ſend your Pacolet into all our Brains, you would find, that a little Fibre or Valve, ſcarce diſcernable, makes the Diſtinction between a Politician and an Ideot. We ſhould therefore throw a Veil upon thoſe unhappy Inſtances of humane Nature, who ſeem to breath without the Direction of Rea⯑ſon and Underſtanding, as we ſhould avert our Eyes with Abhorrence from ſuch as live in per⯑petual Abuſe and Contradiction to theſe noble Faculties. Shall this unfortunate Man be di⯑veſted of his Eſtate, becauſe he is tractable and indolent, runs in no Man's Debt, invades no Man's Bed, nor ſpends the Eſtate he owes his Children and his Character; when one who ſhews no Senſe above him, but in ſuch Practi⯑ces, ſhall be eſteem'd in his Senſes, and poſſibly may pretend to the Guardianſhip of him who is no Ways his Inferior, but in being leſs wick⯑ed? We ſee old Age brings us indifferently in⯑to the ſame Impotence of Soul, wherein Nature has plac'd this Lo [...]d.'’

There is ſomething very fantaſtical in the Di⯑ſtribution of Civil Power and Capacity among Men. The Law certainly gives theſe Perſons in⯑to the Ward and Care of the Crown, becauſe that is beſt able to protect 'em from Injuries, and the Impoſitions of Craft and Knavery; that the Life of an Ideot may not ruin the Intail of a noble Houſe, and his Weakneſs may not fruſtrate the Induſtry or Capacity of the Founder of his Family. But when one of bright Parts, as we ſay, with his Eyes open, and all Men's Eyes upon him, de⯑ſtroys thoſe Purpoſes, there is no Remedy. Folly and Ignorance are puniſh'd! Folly and Guilt are [292] tolerated! Mr. Lock has ſomewhere made a [...] ⯑ſtinction between a Madman and a Fool: A Fo [...] is he that from right Principles makes a wro [...] Concluſion; but a Madman is one who draws [...] juſt Inference from falſe Principles. Thus th [...] Fool who cut off the Fellow's Head that lay aſlee [...] and hid it, and then waited to ſee what he wou [...] ſay when he awak'd and miſs'd his Head-piece was in the Right in the firſt Thought, that a Ma [...] would be ſurprized to find ſuch an Alteration i [...] Things ſince he fell aſleep; but he was a littl [...] miſtaken to imagine he could awake at all afte [...] his Head was off. A Madman fancies himſelf a Prince; but upon his Miſtake, he acts ſuitably [...] that Character; and tho' he is out in ſuppoſion he has Principalities, while he drinks Gruel, and lies in Straw, yet you ſhall ſee him keep the Port of a diſtreſſed Monarch in all his Words and Actions. Theſe Two Perſons are equally taken into Cuſtody: But what muſt be done to half this good Company, who every Hour of their Life are knowingly and wittingly both Fools and Madmen, and yet have Capacities both of form⯑ing Principles, and drawing Concluſions, with the full Uſe of Reaſon?

This Evening ſome Ladies came to viſit my Siſter Jenny; and the Diſcourſe, after very ma⯑ny frivolous and publick Matters, turned up⯑on the main Point among the Women, the Paſ⯑ſion of Love. Sappho, who always leads on this Occaſion, began to ſhow her Reading, and told us, That Sir John Suckling and Milton had, upon a parallel Occaſion, ſaid the tendereſt Things ſhe had ever read. The Circumſtance, ſaid ſhe, is ſuch as gives us a Notion of that Protecting Part which is the Duty of Men in their honourable Deſigns upon, or Poſſeſſion of [293] [...]omen. In Suckling's Tragedy of Brennoralt, [...]e makes the Lover ſteal into his Miſtreſs's Bed⯑ [...]amber, and draw the Curtains; then, when [...]is Heart is full of her Charms, as ſhe lies ſleep⯑ [...]g, inſtead of being carried away by the Vio⯑ [...]ce of his Deſires into Thoughts of a warmer [...]ature, Sleep, which is the Image of Death, [...]ives this generous Lover Reflections of a diffe⯑ [...]ent Kind, which regard rather her Safety than [...]is own Paſſion. For, beholding her as ſhe lies [...]eeping, he utters theſe Words:

When Milton makes Adam leaning on his Arm, beholding Eve, and lying in the Contemplation of her Beauty, he deſcribes utmoſt Tender⯑neſs and Guardian Affection in one Word:

This is that Sort of Paſſion which truly de⯑ſerves the Name of Love, and has ſomething more generous than Friendſhip it ſelf; for it has a conſtant Care of the Object beloved, ab⯑ſtracted from its own Intereſts in the [...]oſſeſ⯑ſion of it. Sappho was proceeding on the Sub⯑ject, when my Siſter produced a Letter ſent to her in the Time of my Abſence, in Celebration of the Marriage State, which is the Condition [294] wherein only this Sort of Paſſion reigns in [...] Authority. The Epiſtle is as follows:

I obſerved Sappho began to redden at this Epiſtle; and turning to a Lady, who was play⯑ing with a Dog ſhe was ſo fond of, as to carry him Abroad with her; Nays, ſays ſhe, I cannot blame the Men if they have mean Ideas of our Souls and Affections, and wonder ſo many are brought to take us for Companions for Life, when they ſee our Endearments ſo triflingly placed: For, to my knowledge, Mr. Truman would give half his Eſtate for half the Affection you have ſhown to that Shock: Nor do I believe you would be aſhamed to confeſs, that I ſaw you cry, when he had the Cholick laſt Week [295] with lapping ſour Milk. What more could you do for your Lover himſelf? What more! replied the Lady. There is not a Man in England for whom I could lament half ſo much. Then ſhe ſtifled the Animal with Kiſſes, and call'd him, Beau, Life, Dear, Monſieur, Pretty Fellow, and what not, in the Hurry of her Impertinence. Sappho roſe up; as ſhe always does at any Thing. The obſerves done, which diſcovers in her own. Sex a Levity of Mind, which renders 'em iucon⯑ſiderable in the Opinion of ours.

Letters from the Hague of the 16th Inſtant, N. S. ſay, That the Siege of Tournay went on with all imaginable Succeſs; and that there has been no manner of Stop given to the Attempts of the Confederates ſince they undertook it, ex⯑cept that by an Accident of Firing a Piece of Ordnance it burſt, and kill'd 15 or 16 Men. The French Army is ſtill in the Camp of Lens, and goes on in improving their Intrenchments. When the laſt Advices came away, it was believed the Town of Tournay would be in the Hands of the Confederates by the End of this Month. Advi⯑ces from Bruſſels inform us, That they have an Account of a great Action between the Male⯑contents in the Vivarez, and the French King's Forces under the Command of the Duke of Ro⯑quelaure, in which Engagement there were Eighteen Hundred Men Kill'd on the Spot. They add, That all Sorts of People who are un⯑der any Oppreſſion or Diſcontent do daily join the Vivarois; and that their preſent Body of Men in Arms conſiſted of Six Thouſand. This ſudden Inſurrection has put the Court of France under great Difficulties; and the King has gi⯑ven Orders, That the main Body of his Troops in Spain ſhall withdraw into his own Domini⯑ons, [296] where they are to be quartered in ſuch Coun⯑tries as have of late diſcovered an Inclination to take up Arms: The Calamities of that Kingdom, being ſuch, that the People are not by any Means to be kept in Obedience, except by the Terror of Military Execution. What makes the Diſtreſ⯑ſes ſtill greater, is, That the Court begins to be doubtful of their Troops, ſome Regiments in the Action of the Cevennes having faced about againſt their Officers; and after the Battle was over, join'd the Malecontents. Upon receiving Advice of this Battle, the Duke of Berwick de⯑tached Twelve Battalions into thoſe Parts, and began to add new Works to his Intrenchments near Brianzon, in order to defend his Camp, af⯑ter being weakened by ſending ſo great a Rein⯑forcement into the Cevennes. Letters from Spain ſay, That the Dutcheſs of Anjou was lately deli⯑vered of a Second Son. They write from Madrid of the 25th of June, That the Blockade of Oli⯑venza was continued; but acknowledge, that the late Proviſions which were thrown into the Place, make them doubt whether they ſhall be Maſters of it this Campaign; though it is at preſent ſo cloſely blocked up, that it appears impracticable to ſend in any more Stores or Succours. They are preparing with all Expedition to repair the Fortifications of Alicant, for the Security of the Kingdom of Valencia.

THere is no one Thing more to be lamented in our Nation, than their general Affecta⯑tion of every Thing that is Foreign; nay, we carry it ſo far, that we are more anxious for our own Countrymen when they have croſſed the Seas, than when we ſee them in the ſame dan⯑gerous Condition before our Eyes at Home: Elſe how is it poſſible, that on the 29th of the laſt Month, there ſhould have been a Battle fought in our very Streets of London, and no Body at this End of the Town have heard of it. I pro⯑teſt, I, who make it my Buſineſs to enquire after Adventures, ſhould never have known this, had not the following Account been ſent me inclo⯑ſed in a Letter. This, it ſeems, is the Way of giving out of Orders in the Artillery Company; and they prepare for a Day of Action with ſo little Concern, as only to call it, An Exerciſe of Arms.

Much might be ſaid for the Improvement of this Syſtem; which, for its Style and Invention, may inſtruct Generals and their Hiſtorians, both in fighting a Battle, and deſcribing it when 'tis over. Theſe elegant Expreſſions, Ditto—And ſo—But ſoon—But having—But could not—But are—But they—Finds the Party to have found, &c.—do certainly give great Life and Spirit to the Relation.

Indeed I am extremely concerned for the Lieu⯑tenant-General, who, by his Overthrow and De⯑feat, is made a deplorable Inſtance of the For⯑tune of War, and Viciſſitudes of humane Affairs. He, alas! has loſt in Beech-Lane and Chiſwel-ſtreet, all the Glory he lately gain'd in and about Hol⯑born and St. Giles's. The Art of Subdividing firſt, and Dividing afterwards, is new and ſur⯑priſing; and according to this Method, the Troops are diſpoſed in Kings-Head-Court and Red-Lion-Market: Nor is the Conduct of theſe Leaders leſs conſpicuous in their Choice of the [300]Ground or Field of Battle. Happy was it, that the greateſt Part of the Atchievements of this Day was to be performed near Grub-ſtreet, that there might not be wanting a ſufficient Number of faithful Hiſtorians. who being Eye-Witneſſes of theſe Wonders, ſhould impartially tranſmit them to Poſterity: But then it can never be e⯑nough regretted, that we are left in the Dark as to the Name and Title of that extraordinary Hero who commanded the Diviſions in Paul's-Alley; eſpecially becauſe thoſe Diviſions are juſt⯑ly ſtyled Brave, and accordingly were to puſh the Enemy along Bunhill-Row, and thereby occa⯑ſion a general Battle. But Pallas appeared in the Form of a Shower of Rain, and prevented the Slaughter and Deſolation which were threat⯑ned by theſe extraordinary Preparations.

Some Part of the Company keep up the old Way of Converſation in this Place, which uſual⯑ly turned upon the Examination of Nature, and an Enquiry into the Manners of Men. There is one in the Room ſo very judicious, that he manages Impertinents with the utmoſt Dexteri⯑ty. It was diverting this Evening to hear a Diſcourſe between him and one of theſe Gen⯑tlemen. He told me before that Perſon join'd us, that he was a Queſtioner, who, according to his Deſcription, is one who asks Queſtions, not with a Deſign to receive Information, but an Affectation to ſhow his Uneaſineſs for Want of it. He went on in aſſerting, that there are Crowds of that modeſt Ambition, as to aim no further than to demonſtrate that they are in Doubt. By this Time Will. Why-not was [301] fate down by us. So Gentlemen, (ſays he) In how many Days, think you, ſhall we be Maſters of Tournay? Is the Account of the Action of the Vivarois to be depended upon? Could you have imagined England had ſo much Money in it as you ſee it has produced? Pray Sirs, What do you think? Will the Duke of Savoy make an Irrup⯑tion into France? But (ſays he) Time will clear all theſe Myſteries. His Anſwer to himſelf gave me the Altitude of his Head, and to all his Queſtions I thus anſwered very ſatisfactori⯑ly—Sir, have you heard that this Slaughter⯑ford never own'd the Fact for which he died? Have the News-Papers mentioned that Matter? But, pray, Can you tell me what Method will be taken to provide for theſe Palatines? But this, as you ſay, Time will clear. Ay, ay, ſays he, and whiſpers me, They will never let us into theſe Things before-hand. I whiſpered him again, We ſhall know it as ſoon as there is a Proclama⯑tion—He tells me in t'other Ear, You are in the Right of it. Then he whiſpered my Friend to know what my Name was; then made an obliging Bow, and went to examine ano⯑ther Table. This led my Friend and me to weigh this wandring Manner in many other In⯑cidents, and he took out of his Pockets ſeveral little Notes or Tickets to ſollicit for Votes to Employments: As, ‘"Mr. John Taplaſh having ſerved all Offices, and being reduced to great Poverty, deſires your Vote for Singing-Clerk of this Pariſh. Another has had Ten Chil⯑dren, all whom his Wife has ſuckled her ſelf; therefore humbly deſires to be a Schoolma⯑ſter.'’

There is nothing ſo frequent as this Way of Application for Offices. It is not that you are fit for the Place, but becauſe the Place would be convenient for you, that you claim a Merit to it. [300] [...] [301] [...] [302] But commend me to the great Kirleus, who has lately ſet up for Midwiſery, and to help Child⯑birth, for no other Reaſon, but that he is himſelf the Unborn Doctor. The Way is to hit upon ſomething that puts the Vulgar upon the Stare, or that touches their Compaſſion, which is often the weakeſt Part about us. I know a good Lady, who has taken her Daughters from their old Dancing-maſter, to place them with another, for no other Reaſon, but becauſe the new Man has broke his Leg, which is ſo ill ſet, that he can never dance more.

As it is a frequent Mortification to me to re⯑ceive Letters, wherein People tell me, without a Name, they know I meant them in ſuch and ſuch a Paſſage; ſo that very Accuſation is an Ar⯑gument, That there are ſuch Beings in Humane Life, as fall under our Deſcription, and our Diſ⯑courſe is not altogether fantaſtical and ground⯑leſs. But in this Caſe I am treated as I ſaw a Boy was t'other Day, who gave out pocky Bills: Every plain Fellow took it that paſs'd by, and went on his Way without further Notice: At laſt came one with his Noſe a little abridg'd; who knocks the Lad down, with a, Why you Son of a W—e, do you think I am p—d? But Shake⯑ſpear has made the beſt Apology for this Way of Talking againſt the Publick Errors: He makes Jaques, in the Play, call'd, As you like it, ex⯑preſs himſelf thus:

We have received, by Letters of the 18th In⯑ſtant from the Camp before Tournay, an Account, That we were in a fair Proſpect of being Maſters of the Town within ſeven Days after that Date. Our Batteries had utterly overthrown thoſe of the Enemy. On the 16th Inſtant, N. S. Gene⯑ral Schuylemburgh had made a Lodgment on the Counterſcarp of the Tenaille; which Poſt was ſo weakly defended, that we loſt but Six Men in gaining it. So that there ſeems Reaſon to hope, that the Citadel will alſo be in the Hands of the Confederates about the 6th of Auguſt, O. S. Theſe Advices inform us further, That Mar⯑ſhal Villars had ordered large Detachments to make Motions towards Douay and Condé. The ſwift Progreſs of this Siege has ſo much alarmed the other Frontier Towns of France, that they were throwing down ſome Houſes in the Suburbs of Valenciennes, which they think may ſtand commodiouſly for the Enemy in caſe that Place ſhould be inveſted. The Elector of Cologue is making all imaginable Haſte to remove from hence to Rheims.

LOoking over ſome old Papers, I found a little Treatiſe, written by my Great-Grandfather, concerning Bribery, and thought his Manner of treating that Subject not unworthy my Remark. He there has a Digreſſion concerning a Poſſibi⯑lity, that in ſome Circumſtances a Man may re⯑ceive an Injury, and yet be conſcious to himſelf that he deſerves it. There are abundance of fine Things ſaid on the Subject; but the whole wrap'd up in ſo much Jingle and Pun, (which was the Wit of thoſe Times) that it is ſcarce in⯑telligible; but I thought the Deſign was well enough in the following Sketch of the old Gen⯑tleman's Poetry: For in this Caſe, where Two are Rivals for the ſame Thing, and propoſe to obtain it by Preſents, he that attempts the Judge's Ho⯑neſty, by making him Offers of Reward, ought not to complain when he loſes his Cauſe by a bet⯑ter Bidder. The good old Dogrel runs thus:

The Diſcourſe happen'd this Evening to fall upon Characters drawn in Plays, and a Gentle⯑man remark'd, That there was no Method in the World of knowing the Taſte of an Age, or Period of Time ſo good, as by the Obſervations of the Perſons repreſented in their Comedies. There were ſeveral Inſtances produced, as Ben. Johnſon's bringing in a Fellow ſmoaking as a Piece of Foppery; but, ſaid the Gentleman, (who entertain'd us on this Subject) this Matter is no where ſo obſervable as in the Difference of the Characters of Women on the Stage in the laſt Age, and in this. It is not to be ſuppoſed that it was a Poverty of Genius in Shakeſpear, that his Women made ſo ſmall a Figure in his Dialogues; but it certainly is, that he drew Women as they then were in Life; for that Sex had not in thoſe Days that Freedom in Conver⯑ſation; and their Characters were only, that they were Mothers, Siſters, Daughters, and Wives. There were not then among the Ladies, ſhining Wits, Politicians, Virtuoſae, Free-Thinkers, and Diſputants; nay, there was then hardly ſuch a Creature ev'n as a Coquet: But Vanity had quite another Turn, and the moſt conſpicuous [306] Woman at that Time of Day was only the beſt Houſewife. Were it poſſible to bring into Life an Aſſembly of Matrons of that Age, and intro⯑duce the learned Lady Woodby into their Com⯑pany, they would not believe the ſame Nation could produce a Creature ſo unlike any Thing they ever ſaw in it.

But theſe Ancients would be as much aſtoniſh'd to ſee in the ſame Age ſo illuſtrious a Pattern to all who love Things Praiſe-worthy, as the di⯑vine Aſpaſia. Methinks, I now ſee her walking in her Garden like our firſt Parent, with unaf⯑fected Charms, before Beauty had Spectators, and bearing celeſtial conſcious Virtue in her Aſ⯑pect. Her Countenance is the lively Picture of her Mind, which is the Seat of Honour, Truth, Compaſſion, Knowledge, and Innocence.

In the Midſt of the moſt ample Fortune, and Veneration of all that behold and know her, without the leaſt Affectation, ſhe conſults Re⯑tirement, the Contemplation of her own Being, and that ſupreme Power which beſtowed it. Without the Learning of Schools, or Knowledge of a long Courſe of Arguments, ſhe goes on in a ſteady Courſe of uninterrupted Piety and Vir⯑tue, and adds to the Severity and Privacy of the laſt Age all the Freedom and Eaſe of this. The Language and Mien of a Court ſhe is poſſeſſed of in the higheſt Degree; but the Simplicity and humble Thoughts of a Cottage, are her more welcome Entertainments. Aſpaſia is a Female Philoſopher, who does not only live up to the Reſignation of the moſt retired Lives of the ancient Sages, but alſo to the Schemes and Plans which they thought beautiful, tho' inimi⯑table. This Lady is the moſt exact Oeconomiſt, without appearing buſie; the moſt ſtrictly vir⯑tuous, [307] without taſting the Praiſe of it; and ſhuns Applauſe with as much Induſtry, as others do Reproach. This Character is ſo particular, that it will very eaſily be fixed on her only, by all that know her: But I dare ſay, ſhe will be the laſt that finds it out.

But, alas! If we have One or Two ſuch La⯑dies, How many Dozens are there like the reſt⯑leſs Polugloſſa, who is acquainted with all the World but her ſelf; who has the Appearance of all, and Poſſeſſion of no one Virtue: She has indeed in her Practice the Abſence of Vice, but her Diſ⯑courſe is the continual Hiſtory of it; and it is apparent, when ſhe ſpeaks of the criminal Grati⯑fications of others, that her Innocence is only a Reſtraint, with a certain Mixture of Envy. She is ſo perfectly oppoſite to the Character of Aſpa⯑ſia, that as Vice is terrible to her only as it is the Object of Reproach, ſo Virtue is agreeable only as it is attended with Applauſe.

It is now Twelve a Clock at Noon, and no Mail come in; therefore I am not without Hopes, that the Town will allow me the Liberty which my Brother News-Writers take, in giving them what may be for their Information in ano⯑ther Kind, and indulge me in doing an Act of Friendſhip, by publiſhing the following Account of Goods and Moveables.

Theſe are the hard Shifts we Intelligencers are forced to; therefore our Readers ought to ex⯑cuſe us, if a Weſterly Wind blowing for a Fort⯑night together, generally fills every Paper with an Order of Battle; when we ſhow our Mar⯑tial Skill in each Line, and, according to the [310] Space we have to fill, we range our Men in Squa⯑drons and Battalions, or draw out Company by Company, and Troop by Troop; ever obſer⯑ving, that no Muſter is to be made, but when the Wind is in a croſs Point, which often hap⯑pens at the End of a Campaign, when half the Men are deſerted or killed. The Courant is ſometimes Ten deep, his Ranks cloſe: The Poſt-Boy is generally in Files, for greater Exactneſs; and the Poſt-Man comes down upon you rather after the Turkiſh Way, Sword in Hand, Pell-mell, without Form or Diſcipline; but ſure to bring Men enough into the Field; and where-ever they are raiſed, never to loſe a Battle for Want of Numbers.

I Write from hence at preſent to complain, That Wit and Merit are ſo little encouraged by People of Rank and Quality, that the Wits of the Age are obliged to run within Temple-Bar for Patronage. There is a deplorable In⯑ſtance of this in the Caſe of Mr. D—y, who has dedicated his inimitable Comedy, called, The Modern Prophets, to a worthy Knight, to whom, it ſeems, he had before communicated his Plan, which was, To Ridicule the Ridiculers of our eſta⯑bliſh'd Doctrine. I have elſewhere celebrated the Contrivance of this excellent Drama; but was [311] not, till I read the Dedication, wholly let into the Religious Deſign of it. I am afraid it has ſuf⯑fered Diſcontinuance at this gay End of the Town, for no other Reaſon but the Piety of the Purpoſe. There is however in this Epiſtle the true Life of Panegyrical Performance; and I do not doubt but, if the Patron would part with it, I can help him to others with good Pretenſions to it; viz. of Uncommon Underſtanding, who would give him as much as he gave for it. I know perfectly well a Noble Perſon to whom theſe Words (which are the Body of the Pane⯑gyrick) would fit to a Hair.

[312] It is wonderful to ſee how many Judges [...] theſe fine Things ſpring up every Day by th [...] Riſe of Stocks, and other elegant Methods [...] abridging the Way to Learning and Criticiſm [...] But I do hereby forbid all Dedications to any Per⯑ſons within the City of London, except Sir Fran⯑cis, Sir Stephen, and the Bank, will take Epigrams and Epiſtles as Value received for their Notes; and the Eaſt-India Companies accept of Heroick Poems for their Seal'd Bonds. Upon which Bot⯑tom, our Publiſhers have full Power to treat with the City in Behalf of us Authors, to enable Tra⯑ders to become Patrons and Fellows of the Royal Society, as well as receive certain Degrees of Skill in the Latin and Greek Tongues, according to the Quantity of the Commodities which they take off our Hands.

The Learned have ſo long laboured under the Imputation of Dryneſs and Dulneſs in their Ac⯑counts of their Phaenomena, that an ingenious Gentleman of our Society has reſolved to write a Syſtem of Philoſophy in a more lively Method, both as to the Matter and Language, than has been hitherto attempted. He read to us the Plan upon which he intends to proceed. I thought his Account, by Way of Fable of the Worlds about us, had ſo much Vivacity in it, that I could not forbear tranſcribing his Hypotheſis, to give the Reader a Taſte of my Friend's Treatiſe, which is now in the Preſs.

We were upon the Heroick Strain this Even⯑ing, and the Queſtion was, What is the True Sublime? Many very good Diſcourſes happen'd thereupon; after which a Gentleman at the Table, who is, it ſeems, writing on that Sub⯑ject, aſſum'd the Argument; and tho' he ran thro' many Inſtances of Sublimity from the an⯑cient Writers, ſaid, He had hardly known an Occaſion wherein the true Greatneſs of Soul, which animates a General in Action, is ſo well repreſented, with Regard to the Perſon of whom it was ſpoken, and the Time in which it was writ, as in a few Lines in a modern Poem: There is (continued he) nothing ſo forc'd and conſtrain'd, as what we frequently meet with in Tragedies; to make a Man under the Weight of a great Sorrow, or full of Meditation upon what he is ſoon to execute, caſt about for a Si⯑mile to what he himſelf is, or the Thing which he is going to act: But there is nothing more proper and natural for a Poet, whoſe Buſineſs is to deſcribe, and who is Spectator of one in that Circumſtance when his Mind is working upon a great Image, and that the Idea's hurry upon his Imagination; I ſay, there is nothing ſo natural, as for a Poet to relieve and clear himſelf from the Burthen of Thought at that Time, by uttering his Conception in Simile and Metaphor. The higheſt Act of the Mind of Man, is to poſſeſs it ſelf with Tranquility in eminent Danger, and to have its Thoughts ſo free, as to act at that Time without Perplexity. The ancient Authors have compared this ſedate Courage to a Rock that remains immoveable [315] amidſt the Rage of Winds and Waves; but that is too ſtupid and inanimate a Similitude, and could do no Credit to the Hero. At other Times they are all of 'em wonderfully obliged to a Lybian Lion, which may give indeed very agreeable Terrors to a Deſcription; but is no Compliment to the Perſon to whom it is appli⯑ed: Eagles, Tygers, and Wolves, are made Uſe of on the ſame Occaſion, and very often with much Beauty; but this is ſtill an Honour done to the Brute, rather than the Hero. Mars, Pal⯑las, Bacchus, and Hercules, have each of 'em furniſh'd very good Similes in their Time, and made, doubtleſs, a greater Impreſſion on the Mind of a Heathen, than they have on that of a modern Reader. But the ſublime Image that I am talking of, and which I really think as great as ever enter'd into the Thought of Man, is in the Poem call'd, The Campaign; where the Si⯑mile of a miniſtring Angel ſets forth the moſt ſedate and the moſt active Courage, engaged in an Uproar of Nature, a Confuſion of Ele⯑ments, and a Scene of Divine Vengeance. Add to all, That theſe Lines compliment the General and his Queen at the ſame Time, and have all the natural Horrors, heighten'd by the Image that was ſtill freſh in the Mind of every Rea⯑der.

The whole Poem is ſo exquiſitely Noble and Poetick, that I think it an Honour to our Na⯑tion and Language. The Gentleman concluded his Critick on this Work, by ſaying, that he eſteemed it wholly new, and a wonderful At⯑tempt to keep up the ordinary Idea's of a March of an Army, juſt as they happen'd in ſo warm and great a Style, and yet be at once Familiar and Heroick. Such a Performance is a Chroni⯑cle as well as a Poem, and will preſerve the Me⯑mory of our Hero, when all the Edifices and Statues erected to his Honour are blended with common Duſt.

Letters from the Hague of the 23d Inſtant, N. S. ſay, That the Allies were ſo forward in the Siege of Tournay, that they were preparing for a general Aſſault, which, it was ſuppoſed, would be made within a few Days. Deſerters from the Town gave an Account, That the Garriſon was carrying their Ammunition and Proviſions into the Citadel, which occaſion'd a Tumult among the Inhabitants of the Town. The French Army had laid Bridges over the Scarp, and made a Motion as if they intended to paſs that River; but tho' they are joined by the Reinforcement expected from Germany, it was not believed they would make any Attempt towards relieving Tournay. Letters from Brabant ſay, There has been a Diſcovery made of a De⯑ſign to deliver up Antwerp to the Enemy. The States of Holland have agreed to a general Na⯑turalization of all Proteſtants who ſhall fly into [317] their Dominions; to which Purpoſe, a Procla⯑mation was to be iſſued within few Days.

They write from France, That the great Mi⯑ſery and Want under which that Nation has ſo long laboured, has ended in a Peſtilence, which began to appear in Burgundy and Dauphin [...]. They add, That in the Town of Mazon, Three Hundred Perſons had died in the Space of Ten Days. Letters from Liſle of the 24th Inſtant adviſe, That great Numbers of Deſerters came daily into that City, the moſt Part of whom are Dragoons. We are adviſed from France, That the Loire having overflowed its Banks, hath laid the Country under Water for 300 Miles to⯑gether.

THIS Day, paſſing through Covent-Garden, I was ſtopp'd in the Piazza by Pacolet, to obſerve what he called the Triumph of Love and Youth. I turned to the Object he pointed at; and there I ſaw a gay gilt Chariot drawn by freſh prancing Horſes; the Coachman with a new Cockade, and the Lacques with Inſolence and Plenty in their Countenances. I asked im⯑mediately, What young Heir or Lover own'd that glittering Equipage? But my Companion interrupted: Do not you ſee there the mourning Aeſculapius? The Mourning! ſaid I. Yes Iſaac, ſaid Pacolet, He is in deep Mourning, and is the languiſhing hopeleſs Lover of the divine Hebe, the Emblem of Youth and Beauty. The excellent and [318] learned Sage you behold in that Furniture, is th [...] ſtrongeſt Inſtance imaginable, that Love is th [...] moſt powerful of all Things:

You are not ſo ignorant as to be a Stranger to the Character of Aeſculapius, as the Patron and moſt ſucceſsful of all who profeſs the Art of Me⯑dicine. But as moſt of his Operations are owing to a natural Sagacity or Impulſe, he has very little troubled himſelf with the Doctrine of Drugs; but has always given Nature more Room to help her ſelf, than any of her learned Aſſiſtants; and conſequently has done greater Wonders than is in the Power of Art to perform: For which Reaſon he is half deify'd by the People; and has ever been juſtly courted by all the World, as if he were a Seventh Son.

It happen'd, that the charming Hebe was re⯑duced, by a long and violent Fever, to the moſt extreme Danger of Death; and when all Skill fail'd, they ſent for Aeſculapius. The renowned Artiſt was touch'd with the deepeſt Compaſſion to ſee the faded Charms and faint Bloom of Hebe; and had a generous Concern in beholding a Strug⯑gle, not between Life, but rather between Youth and Death. All his Skill and his Paſſion tended to the Recovery of Hebe, beautiful even in Sickneſs: But, alas! the unhappy Phyſician knew not, that in all his Care he was only ſharpening Darts for his own Deſtruction. In a Word, his Fortune was the ſame with that of the Statuary, who fell in Love with the Image of his own making; and the unfortunate Aeſculapius is become the Patient of her whom he lately recovered. Long before this Diſaſter, Aeſculapius was far gone in the unneceſ⯑ſary and ſuperfluous Amuſements of old Age, in increaſing unweildy Stores, and providing, in the midſt of an Incapacity of Enjoyment of what he had, for a Supply of more Wants than he had Calls for in Youth it ſelf. But theſe low Conſiderations [319] are now no more, and Love has taken Place of Avarice, or rather is become an Avarice of ano⯑ther Kind, which ſtill urges him to purſue what he does not want. But behold the Matamorphoſis; the anxious mean Cares of an Uſurer are turned into the Languiſhments and Complaints of a Lover. Behold, ſays the aged Aeſculapius, I ſub⯑mit, I own, great Love, thy Empire: Pity, Hebe, the Fop you have made: What have I to do with Guilding but on Pills? Yet, O Fair! For thee I ſit amidſt a Crowd of painted Deities on my Chariot, button'd in Gold, claſp'd in Gold, with⯑out having any Value for that beloved Metal, but as it adorns the Perſon, and laces the Hat of thy dying Lover. I ask not to live, O Hebe! Give me but gentle Death: Euthanaſia, Eutha⯑naſia, that is all I implore. When Aeſculapius had finiſhed his Complaint, Pacolet went on in deep Morals on the Incertainty of Riches with this remarkable Exclamation; O Wealth! How im⯑potent art thou? And how little doſt thou ſup⯑ply us with real Happineſs, when the Uſurer himſelf can forget thee for the Love of what is as foreign to his Felicity as thou art?

The Company here, who have all a delicate Taſte of Theatrical Repreſentations, had made a Gathering to purchaſe the Moveables of the neighbouring Play-houſe, for the Encourage⯑ment of one which is ſetting up in the Hay-Mar⯑ket. But the Proceedings at the Auction (by which Method the Goods have been ſold this Evening) have been ſo unfair, that this generous Deſign has been fruſtrated; for the Imperial Mantle made for Cyrus was miſſing, as alſo the Chariot and Two Dragons: But upon Examina⯑tion it was found, that a Gentleman of Hamp⯑ſhire had clandeſtinely bought them both, and is gone down to his Country Seat; and that on [320] Saturday laſt he paſſed through Staines attired in that Robe, and drawn by the ſaid Dragons, aſ⯑ſiſted by Two only of his own Horſes. This Theatrical Traveller has alſo left Orders with Mr. Hall to ſend the faded Rainbow to the Scowrers, and when it comes home, to diſpatch it after him. At the ſame Time C— R— Eſq is invited to bring down his Setting Sun himſelf, and be Box-keeper to a Theatre erected by this Gentleman near Southampton. Thus there has been nothing but Artifice in the Manage⯑ment of this Affair; for which Reaſon I beg Pardon of the Town, that I inſerted the Inven⯑tory in my Paper, and ſolemnly proteſt, I knew nothing of this artful Deſign of vending theſe Ra⯑rities: But I meant only the Good of the World in that and all other Things which I divulge.

And now I am upon this Subject, I muſt do my ſelf Juſtice in Relation to an Article in a former Paper, wherein I made Mention of a Perſon who keeps a Puppet-Show in the Town of Bath; I was tender of naming Names, and only juſt hinted, that he makes larger Promiſes, when he invites People to his Dramatick Repre⯑ſentations, than he is able to perform: But I am credibly informed, that he makes a prophane lewd Jeſter, whom he calls Punch, ſpeak to the Diſhonour of Iſaac Bickerſtaff with great Familiarity; and before all my learned Friends in that Place, takes upon him to diſ⯑pute my Title to the Appellation of Eſquire. I think I need not ſay much to convince all the World, that this Mr. Powell (for that is his Name) is a pragmatical and vain Perſon to pre⯑tend to argue with me on any Subject. Mecum certaſſe feretur; that is to ſay, It will be an Ho⯑nour to him to have it ſaid he contended with me; but I would have him to know, that I can look beyond his Wires, and know very well the [321] whole Trick of his Art, and that it is only by theſe Wires that the Eye of the Spectator is cheated, and hinder'd from ſeeing that there is a Thread on one of Punch's Chops, which draws it up, and lets it fall at the Diſcretion of the ſaid Powell, who ſtands behind and plays him, and makes him ſpeak ſawcily of his Betters. He! To pretend to make Prologues againſt me!—But a Man never behaves himſelf with Decency in his own Caſe; therefore I ſhall command my ſelf, and never trouble me further with this little Fellow, who is himſelf but a tall Puppet, and has not Brains enough to make even Wood ſpeak as it ought to do: And I, that have heard the Groaning Board, can deſpiſe all that his Puppets ſhall be able to ſpeak as long as they live. But, Ex quovis Ligno non fit Mercurius. He has pretended to write to me alſo from the Bath, and ſays, He thought to have deferred gi⯑ving me an Anſwer till he came to his Books; but that my Writings might do well with the Wa⯑ters: Which are pert Expreſſions that become a School-boy, better than one that is to teach others: And when I have ſaid a civil Thing to him, he cries, Oh! I thank you for that—I am your humble Servant for that. Ah! Mr. Powell, theſe ſmart Civilities will never run down Men of Learning: I know well enough your Deſign is to have all Men Automata, like your Puppets; but the World is grown too wiſe, and can look through theſe thin Devices. I know you deſign to make a Reply to this; but be ſure you ſtick cloſe to my Words; for if you bring me into Diſcourſes concerning the Government of your Puppets, I muſt tell you, I neither am, nor have been, nor will be, at Leiſure to anſwer you. It is really a burning Shame this Man ſhould be tolerated in abuſing the World with ſuch Repreſentations of Things: But his Parts [322] decay, and he is not much more alive than Par⯑tridge.

I muſt beg Pardon of my Readers that for this Time I have, I fear, huddled up my Diſcourſe, having been very buſy in helping an old Friend of mine out of Town. He has a very good Eſtate, is a Man of Wit; but he had been Three Years abſent from Town, and can't bear a Jeſt; for which Reaſon I have, with ſome Pains, con⯑vinc'd him, that he can no more live here than if he were a downright Bankrupt. He was ſo fond of dear London, that he began to fret only inwardly; but being unable to laugh and be laugh'd at, I took a Place in the Northern Coach for him and his Family; and hope he is got to Night ſafe from all Sneerers in his own Parlour.

This Morning we received by Expreſs, the a⯑greeable News of the Surrender of the Town of Tournay on the 28th Inſtant, N. S. The Place was aſſaulted at the Attacks of General Schuylemberg, and that of General Lottum, at the ſame Time. The Action at both thoſe Parts of the Town was very obſtinate, and the Allies loſt a conſiderable Number at the Beginning of the Diſpute; but the Fight was continued with ſo great Bravery, that the Enemy obſerving our Men to be Maſters of all the Poſts which were neceſſary for a general Attack, beat the Cha⯑made, and Hoſtages were receiv'd from the Town, and others ſent from the Befiegers, in order to come to a formal Capitulation for the Surrender of the Place. We have alſo this Day received Advice, That Sir John Leak, who lies off of Dunkirk, had intercepted ſeveral Ships la⯑den with Corn from the Baltick; and that the [223] Dutch Privateers had fallen in with others, and carried them into Holland. The French Letters adviſe, That the young Son to the Duke of An⯑jou lived but Eight Days.

THE other Day I took a Walk a Mile or Two⯑out of Town, and ſtrolling wherever Chance led me, I was inſenſibly carried into a By-Road, along which was a very agreeable Quickſet, of an extraordinary Height, which ſurrounded a very delicious Seat and Garden. From one Angle of the Hedge, I heard a Voice cry, Sir, Sir—This rais'd my Curioſity, and I heard the ſame Voice ſay, but in a gentle Tone, Come forward, come forward. I did ſo, and one through the Hedge called me by my Name, and bad me go on to the Left, and I ſhould be admitted to viſit an old Acquaintance in Diſtreſs. The Laws of Knight Errantry made me obey the Summons without Heſitation; and I was let in at the Back-Gate of a lovely Houſe by a Maid-Servant, who carried me from Room to Room, till I came into a Gallery; at the End of which, I ſaw a fine Lady dreſſed in the moſt ſumptuous Habit, as if ſhe were going to a Ball, but with the moſt abject and diſconſolate Sorrow in her Face [324] that I ever beheld. As I came near, ſhe burſt into Tears, and cry'd, Sir, Do not you know the unhappy Teraminta? I ſoon recollected her whole Perſon: But (ſaid I) Madam, The Sim⯑plicity of Dreſs, in which I have ever ſeen you at your good Father's Houſe, and the Chearful⯑neſs of Countenance with which you always appeared, are ſo unlike the Faſhion and Temper you are now in, that I did not eaſily recover the Memory of you. Your habit was then decent and modeſt, your Looks ſerene and beautiful: Whence then this unaccountable Change? No⯑thing can ſpeak ſo deep a Sorrow as your preſent Aſpect; yet your Dreſs is made for Jollity and Re⯑velling. It is (ſaid ſhe) an unſpeakable Pleaſure to meet with one I know, and to bewail my ſelf to any that is not an utter Stranger to Humanity.

When your Friend my Father died, he left me to a wide World, with no Defence againſt the Inſults of Fortune, but rather, a Thouſand Snares to intrap me in the Dangers to which Youth and Innocence are expoſed, in an Age wherein Honour and Virtue are become mere Words, and uſed only as they ſerve to be⯑tray thoſe who underſtand them in their native Senſe, and obey them as the Guides and Mo⯑tives of their Being. The wickedeſt of all Men living, the abandoned Decius, who has no Know⯑ledge of any good Art or Purpoſe of Humane Life, but as it tends to the Satisfaction of his Ap⯑petites, had Opportunities of frequently ſeeing and entertaining me at a Houſe where mixed Company boarded, and where he placed him⯑ſelf for the baſe Intention which he has ſince brought to paſs. Decius ſaw enough in me to raiſe his brural Deſires, and my Circumſtances gave him Hopes of accompliſhing them. But a l the glittering Expectations he could lay be⯑fore me, joined by my private Terrors of Po⯑verty [325] it ſelf, could not for ſome Months prevail upon me; yet however I hated his Intention, I ſtill had a ſecret Satisfaction in his Courtſhip, and always expoſed my ſelf to his Solicitations. See here the Bane of our Sex! Let the Flatte⯑ry be never ſo apparent, the Flatterer never ſo ill thought of, his Praiſes are ſtill agreeable, and we contribute to our own Deceit. I was there⯑fore ever fond of all Opportunities and Pretences of being in his Company. In a Word, I was at laſt ruined by him, and brought to this Place, where I have been ever ſince immur'd; and from the fatal Day after my Fall from Inno⯑cence, my Worſhipper became my Maſter and my Tyrant.

Thus you ſee me habited in the moſt gorge⯑ous Manner, not in Honour of me as a Wo⯑man he loves, but as this Attire charms his own Eye, and urges him to repeat the Gratifi⯑cation he takes in me, as the Servant of his brutiſh Luſts and Appetites. I know not where to fly for Redreſs; but am here pining away Life in the Solitude and Severity of a Nun, but the Conſcience and Guilt of an Harlot. I live in this lewd Practice with a Religious Awe of my Miniſter of Darkneſs, upbraided with the Support I receive from him, for the ineſtimable Poſſeſſion of Youth, of Innocence, of Honour, and of Conſcience. I ſee, Sir, my Diſcourſe grows painful to you, all I beg of you is, to paint in ſo ſtrong Colours, as to let Decius ſee I am diſcovered to be in his Poſſeſſion, that I may be turned out of this deteſtable Scene of regular Iniquity, and either think no more, or ſin no more. If your Writings have the good Effect of gaining my Enlargement, I promiſe you I will atone for this unhappy Step, by pre⯑ferring an innocent laborious Poverty, to all the guilty Affluence the World can offer me.

To ſhow that I do not bear an irreconcilable Hatred to my mortal Enemy, Mr. Powell at Bath, I do his Function the Honour to publiſh to the World, that Plays repreſented by Puppets are permitted in our Univerſities, and that Sort of Drama is not wholly thought unworthy the Critick of learned Heads: But as I have been converſant rather with the greater Ode, as I think the Criticks call it, I muſt be ſo humble as to make a Requeſt to Mr. Powell, and deſire him to apply his Thoughts to anſwering the Difficulties with which my Kinſman, the Au⯑thor of the following Letter, ſeems to be em⯑barraſſed.