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ADDISON.

C'.

No 11. TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1710-11.

Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas.

with the rest of mankind, but to look upon them. myself to furnish every day but to make them Under this class of men are comprehended all con- easy in this particular, I will promise them faithtemplative tradesmen, titular physicians, fellows fully to give it over as soon as I grow dull. This f of the Royal Society, Templars that are not given know will be matter of great raillery to the small to be contentious, and statesmen that are out of wits; who will frequently put me in mind of my business: in short, every one that considers the promise, desire me to keep my word, assure me that world as a theatre, and desires to form a right it is high time to give over, with many other little 3.dgment of those who are the actors on it. pleasantries of the like nature, which men of a There is another set of men that I must likewise little smart genius cannot forbear throwing out ay a claim to, whom I have lately called the against their best friends, when they have such an blanks of society, as being altogether unfurnished handle given them of being witty. But let them with ideas, till the business and conversation of remember that I do hereby euter my caveat against the day has supplied them. I have often consi-this piece of raillery. dered these poor souls with an eye of great commiseration, when I have heard them asking the first man they have met with, whether there was any news stirring and by that means gathering together materials for thinking. These needy persons do not know what to talk of, till about twelve o'clock in the morning; for by that time, they are JUV. Sat. ii. 63. pretty good judges of the weather, know which The doves are censur'd, while the crows are spar'd. way the wind sits, and whether the Dutch mail be come in. As they lie at the mercy of the first man ARIETTA is visited by all persons of both sexes, they meet, and are grave or impertinent all the who have any pretence to wit and gallantry. She day long, according to the notions which they have is in that time of life which is neither affected imbibed in the morning, I would earnestly intreat with the follies of youth, or infirmities of age : them not to stir out of their chambers till they and her conversation is so mixed with gaiety and have read this paper, and do promise them that 1 prudence, that she is agreeable both to the old and will daily instil into them such sound and whole-the young. Her behaviour is very frank, without some sentiments, as shall have a good effect on being in the least blameable; as she is out of the their conversation for the ensuing twelve hours. track of any amorous or ambitious pursuits of her But there are none to whom this paper will be own, her visitants entertain her with accounts of more useful than to the female world. I have themselves very freely, whether they concern their often thought there has not been sufficient pains passions or their interests. I made her a visit this taken in finding out proper employments and di-afternoon, having been formerly introduced to the Versions for the fair ones. Their amusements seem honour of her acquaintance, by my friend Will contrived for them, rather as they are women, Honeycomb, who has prevailed upon her to admit than as they are reasonable creatures; and are me sometimes into her assembly, as a civil inofmore adapted to the sex than to the species. The fensive man. I found her accompanied with one toilet is their great scene of business, and the right person only, a common-place talker, who, upon adjusting of their hair the principal employment my entrance, arose, and after a very slight civility of their lives. The sorting of a suit of ribands is sat down again; then turning to Arietta, pursued reckoned a very good morning's work; and, if his discourse, which I found was upon the old topic they make an excursion to a mercer's or a toy- of constancy in love. He went on with great fashop, so great a fatigue makes them unfit for any cility in repeating what he talks every day of his thing else all the day after. Their more serious life; and with the ornaments of insignificant laughs occupations are sewing and embroidery, and their and gestures, enforced his arguments by quotations greatest drudgery the preparations of jellies and out of plays and songs, which allude to the persweetmeats. This, I say, is the state of ordinary juries of the fair, and the general levity of women. women; though I know there are multitudes of Methought he strove to shine more than ordinarily those of a more elevated life and conversation, in his talkative way, that he might insult my sithat move in an exalted sphere of knowledge and lence, and distinguish himself before a woman of virtue, that join all the beauties of the mind to Arietta's taste and understanding. She had often the ornaments of dress, and inspire a kind of awe an inclination to interrupt him, but could find no and respect, as well as love, into their male be- opportunity, till the larum ceased of itself; which holders. I hope to increase the number of these it did not till he had repeated and murdered the by publishing this daily paper, which I shall al-celebrated story of the Ephesian Matron. Ways endeavour to make an innocent, if not an Arietta seemed to regard this piece of raillery improving entertainment, and by that means at as an outrage done to her sex; as indeed I have least divert the minds of my female readers from always observed that women, whether out of a greater trifles. At the same time, as I would fain nicer regard to their honour, or what other reason give some finishing touches to those which are al-I cannot tell, are more sensibly touched with ready the most beautiful pieces in human nature, those general aspersions which are cast upon their I shall endeavour to point out all those imperfec- sex, than men are by what is said of theirs. tions that are the blemishes, as well as those virtues When she had a little recovered herself from which are the embellishments, of the sex. In the the serious anger she was in, she replied in the meanwhile, I hope these my gentle readers, who following manner:

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have so much time on their hands, will not grudge Sir, when I consider how perfectly new all throwing away a quarter of an hour in a day on you have said on this subject is, and that the story this paper, since they may do it without any hin- you have given us is not quite two thousand years old, I cannot but think it a piece of presumption

drance to business.

I know several of my friends and well-wishers to dispute it with you: but your quotations put are in great pain for me, lest I should not be able me in mind of the fable of the lion and the man. to keep up the spirit of a paper which I oblige The man, walking with that noble animal, showed

him, in the ostentation of human superiority, a sign | In the midst of these good offices, she would som of a man killing a lion. Upon which, the lion times play with his hair, and delight in the opp said very justly, "We lions are none of us paint-sition of its colour to that of her fingers: then ope ers, else we could show a hundred men killed by his bosom, then laugh at him for covering it. Sh lions, for one lion killed by a man." You men was, it seems, a person of distinction, for she ever are writers, and can represent us women as unbe-day came to him in a different dress, of the mos coming as you please in your works, while we are beautiful shells, bugles, and bredes. She likewis unable to return the injury. You have twice or brought him a great many spoils which her othe thrice observed in your discourse, that hypocrisy lovers had presented to her, so that his cave wa is the very foundation of our education; and that richly adorned with all the spotted skins of beasts an ability to dissemble our affections is a professed and most party-coloured feathers of fowls, which part of our breeding. These, and such other re- that world afforded. To make his confinement flections, are sprinkled up and down the writings more tolerable, she would carry him in the dusk of all ages, by authors, who leave behind them of the evening, or by the favour of moon-light, to memorials of their resentment against the scorn of unfrequented groves and solitudes, and show him particular women, in invectives against the whole where to lie down in safety, and sleep amidst the sex. Such a writer, I doubt not, was the cele-falls of waters and melody of nightingales. Her brated Petronius, who invented the pleasant ag-part was to watch and hold him awake in her gravations of the frailty of the Ephesian lady; arms, for fear of her countrymen, and wake him but when we consider this question between the on occasions to consult his safety. In this manner sexes, which has been either a point of dispute or did the lovers pass away their time, till they had raillery, ever since there were men and women, learned a language of their own, in which the let us take facts from plain people, and from such voyager communicated to his mistress, how happy as have not either ambition, or capacity to em- he should be to have her in his country, where she bellish their narrations with any beauties of ima-should be clothed in such silks as his waistcoat was gination. I was the other day amusing myself with made of, and be carried in houses drawn by horses, Ligon's Account of Barbadoes; and, in answer without being exposed to wind or weather. All to your well-wrought tale, I will give you (as this he promised her the enjoyment of, without it dwells upon my memory) out of that honest such fears and alarms as they were there tormented traveller, in his fifty-fifth page, the history of Inkle with. In this tender correspondence these lovers and Yarico. lived for several months, when Yarico, instructed "Mr. Thomas Inkle, of London, aged twenty by her lover, discovered a vessel on the coast, to years, embarked in the Downs, in the good ship which she made signals; and in the night, with called the Achilles, bound for the West Indies, on the utmost joy and satisfaction, accompanied him the 16th of June, 1647, in order to improve his to a ship's crew of his countrymen, bound for Barfortune by trade and merchandise. Our adven-badoes. When a vessel from the main arrives in turer was the third son of an eminent citizen, who that island, it seems, the planters come down to the had taken particular care to instil into his mind shore, where there is an immediate market of the an early love of gain, by making him a perfect Indians and other slaves, as with us of horses and master of numbers, and consequently giving him a oxen.

quick view of loss and advantage, and preventing "To be short, Mr. Thomas Inkle, now coming the natural impulses of his passion, by preposses into English territories, began seriously to reflect sion towards his interests. With a mind thus turn- upon his loss of time, and to weigh with himself ed, young Inkle had a person every way agree-how many days interest of his money he had lost able, a ruddy vigour in his countenance, strength during his stay with Yarico. This thought made in his limbs, with ringlets of fair hair loosely flow-the young man pensive, and careful what account ing on his shoulders. It happened, in the course he should be able to give his friends of his voyage. of the voyage, that the Achilles, in some distress, Upon which consideration, the prudent and frugal put into a creek on the main of America, in search young man sold Yarico to a Barbadian merchant; of provisions. The youth who is the hero of my notwithstanding that the poor girl, to incline him story, among others, went on shore on this occasion. to commiserate her condition, told him that she From their first landing they were observed by a was with child by him; but he only made use of party of Indians, who hid themselves in the woods that information, to rise in his demands upon the for that purpose. The English unadvisedly marched purchaser."

STEELE.

R.

No 12. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1710-11.

a great distance from the shore into the country, I was so touched with this story (which I think and were intercepted by the natives, who slew the should be always a counterpart to the Ephesian greatest number of them. Our adventurer escaped, Matron) that I left the room with tears in my eyes, among others, by flying into a forest. Upon his which a woman of Arietta's good sense did, I am coming into a remote and pathless part of the sure, take for greater applause, than any compli wood, he threw himself, tired and breathless, on a ments I could make her. little hillock, when an Indian maid rushed from a thicket behind him. After the first surprise, they appeared mutually agreeable to each other. If the European was highly charmed with the limbs, features, and wild graces of the naked American; the American was no less taken with the dress, complexion, and shape of an European, covered from head to foot. The Indian grew immediately Ar my coming to London, it was some time before enamoured of him, and consequently solicitous for I could settle myself in a house to my liking. I his preservation. She therefore conveyed him to was forced to quit my first lodgings by reason of a cave, where she gave him a delicious repast of an officious landlady, that would be asking me fruits, and led him to a stream to slake his thirst. every morning how I had slept. I then fell into * A true and exact history of Barbadoes, &c. by Richard an honest family, and lived very happily for above a week; when my landlord, who was a jolly good

Ligon, gent. fol. 1073.

-Veteres avias tibi de pulmone revello.
PERS. Sat. v. 92.

I root th' old woman from thy trembling heart.

SC

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natured man, took it into his head that I wanted Jam mistaken if he ventures to go to bed by himcompany, and therefore would frequently come self this twelvemonth. Indeed they talked so into my chamber, to keep me from being alone.tong, that the imaginations of the whole assembly This I bore for two or three days; but telling me were manifestly crazed, and, I am sure, will be one day that he was afraid I was melancholy, the worse for it as long as they live. I heard one The thought it was high time for me to be gone, and of the girls, that had looked upon me over her accordingly took new lodgings that very night. shoulder, asking the company how long I had been About a week after, I found my jolly landlord, in the room, and whether I did not look paler who, as I said before, was an honest hearty man, than I used to do. This put me under some aphad put me into an advertisement of the Daily prehensions that I should be forced to explain myCourant, in the following words: Whereas a me-self, if I did not retire: for which reason I took lancholy man left his lodgings on Thursday last in the candle in my hand, and went up into my the afternoon, and was afterwards seen going to chamber, not without wondering at this unaccountwards Islington: if any one can give notice of able weakness in reasonable creatures, that they him to R. B. fishmonger in the Strand, he shall be should love to astonish and terrify one another. well rewarded for his pains.' As I am the best Were I a father, I should take a particular care man in the world to keep my own counsel, and my to preserve my children from these little horrors landlord the fishmonger not knowing my name, and imaginations, which they are apt to contract this accident of my life was never discovered to when they are young, and are not able to shake this very day. off when they are in years. I have known a solI am now settled with a widow woman, who dier that has entered a breach affrighted at his has a great many children, and complies with my own shadow, and look pale up on a little scratchhumour in every thing. I do not remember that ing at his door, who the day before had marched we have exchanged a word together these five up against a battery of car non. There are inyears; my coffee comes into my chamber every stances of persons who have been terrified, even morning without asking for it; if I want fire to distraction, at the figure of a tree, or the shaking point to my chimney, if water to my basin; upon of a bulrush. The truth of it is, I look upon a which my landlady nods, as much as to say she sound imagination as the greatest blessing of life, takes my meaning, and immediately obeys my sig-next to a clear judgment and a good conscience. nals. She has likewise modelled her family so In the mean time, since there are very few whose well, that when her little boy offers to pull me by minds are not more or less subject to these dreadthe coat, or prattle in my face, his eldest sister im- ful thoughts and apprehensions, we ought to arm mediately calls him off, and bids him not disturb ourselves against them by the dictates of reason the gentleman. At my first entering into the fa- and religion, to pull the old woman out of our mily, I was troubled with the civility of their rising hearts,' (as Persius expressess it in the motto of my up to me every time I came into the room; but paper,) and extinguish those impertinent notions my landlady observing, that upon these occasions which we imbibed at a time that we were not I always cried Pish, and went out again, has for- able to judge of their absurdity Or if we believe, bidden any such ceremony to be used in the house; as many wise and good men have done, that there so that at present I walk into the kitchen or par- are such phantoms and apparitions as those I have lour, without being taken notice of, or giving any been speaking of, let us endeavour to establish to interruption to the business or discourse of the ourselves an interest in Him who holds the reins family. The maid will ask her mistress (though I of the whole creation in his hands, and moderates amby) whether the gentleman is ready to go to them after such a manner, that it is i empossible for dinner, as the mistress (who is indeed an excellent one being to break loose upon another, without housewife) scolds at the servants as heartily before his knowledge and permission. my face as behind my back. In short, I move up and down the house, and enter into all companies with the same liberty as a cat, or any other domestic animal, and am as little suspected of telling Any thing that I hear or see.

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For my own part, I am apt to join a in opinion with those who believe that all the regitions of nature swarm with spirits: and that we have multitudes of spectators on all our actions, vevhen we think ourselves most alone: but instead of terrifying myself with such a notion, I am wonderfully pleased to think that I am always engat ked with such an innumerable society, in searching out the wonders of the creation, and joining in the same consort of praise and adoration.

Iremember last winter there were several young girls of the neighbourhood sitting about the fire with my landlady's daughters, and telling stories of spirits and apparitions. Upon my opening the door the young women broke off their discourse, but my landlady's daughters telling them that it Milton has finely described this mixed comwas nobody but the gentleman (for that is the munion of men and spirits in Paradise; and had me that I go by in the neighbourhood as well as doubtless his eye upon a verse in old Hesiod, which in the family) they went on without minding me is almost word for word the same with his third I seated myself by the candle that stood on a line in the following passage:

table at one end of the room: and pretending to read a book that I took out of my pocket, heard several dreadful stories of ghosts, as pale as ashes, that had stood at the feet of a bed, or walked er a church-yard by moon-light: and of others that had been conjured into the Red-sea, for disurbing people's rest, and drawing their curtains at midnight, with many other old women's fables] of the like nature. As one spirit raised another, I observed that at the end of every story the whole company closed their ranks, and crowded about the fire. I took notice in particular of a little voy, who was so attentive to every story, that I

-Nor think, though men were none,

That heav'n would want spectators, God want praise:
Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen both when we wake and when we sleep;
All these with ceaseless praise his works behold
Both day and night. How often from the steep
Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or responsive cach to other's note,
Singing their great Creator? Oft in bands,
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk,
With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds,
In full harmonic number join'd, their songs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to heav'n.'
ADDISON.

In his Paradise Lost

C.

No 13. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1710-11.

MART.

was thought proper to discard him: and it is verily believed to this day, that had he been brought upon the stage another time, he would certainly have done mischief. Besides, it was objected against the first lion, that he reared himself/so high upon his hinder paws, and walked in so erect a posture, that he looked more like an old man than a lion.

Die mihi, si fueris tu leo, qualis eris? Were you a lion, how would you behave? THERE is nothing that of late years has afforded The second lion was a tailor by trade, who be matter of greater amusement to the town than longed to the playhouse, and had the character or Signior Nicolini's combat with a lion in the a mild and peaceable man in his profession. If Haymarket, which has been very often exhibited the former was too furious, this was too sheepish to the general satisfaction of most of the nobility for his part; insomuch, that after a short modest and gentry in the kingdom of Great Britain. Upon walk upon the stage, he would fall at the first the first rumour of this intended combat, it was touch of Hydaspes, without grappling with him, confidently affirmed, and is still believed, by many and giving him an opportunity of showing his va in both galleries, that there would be a tame lion riety of Italian trips. It is said, indeed, that he sent from the Tower every opera night, in order once gave him a rip in his flesh-colour doublet; to be killed by Hydaspes; this report, though alto- but this was only to make work for himself, in his gether groundles, so universally prevailed in the private character of a tailor. I must not omit that upper regions of the playhouse, that some of the it was this second lion who treated me with so most refined politicians in those parts of the audi- much humanity behind the scenes. ence, gave it out in whisper, that the lion was a The acting lion at present is, as I am informed, cousin-german of the tiger who made his appear a country gentleman, who does it for his diversion, ance in King William days, and that the stage but desires his name may be concealed. He says, would be supplied with lions at the public ex- very handsomely, in his own excuse, that he does pense, during the whole session. Many likewise not act for gain that he indulges an innocent were the conjectures of the treatment which this pleasure in it and that it is better to pass away lion was to meet with from the hands of Signior an evening in this manner than in gaming and Nicolini; some supposed that he was to subdue drinking: but at the same time says, with a very him in recitativo, as Orpheus used to serve the agreeable raillery upon himself, that if his name wild beasts in his time, and afterwards to knock should be known, the ill-natured world might call him on the head; some fancied that the lion would him, the ass in the lion's skin.' This gentlenot pretend to lay his paws upon the hero, by man's temper is made out of such a happy mixture reason of the receiverd opinion, that a lion will not of the mild and the choleric, that he outdoes both hurt a virgin. Several, who pretended to have his predecessors, and has drawn together greater seen the opera in aly, had informed their friends, audiences than have been known in the memory that the lion was to act a part in High Dutch, and of man. roar twice or thrice to a thorough-bass, before he fell at the feet of Hydaspes. To clear up a matter that was so va Lously reported, I have made it my business to examine whether this pretended lion is really the savage he appears to be, or only a counterfeit.

I must not conclude my narrative, without taking notice of a groundless report that has been raised to a gentleman's disadvantage, of whom I must declare myself an admirer; namely that Signior Nicolini and the lion have been seen sitting peaceably by one another, and smoking a pipe together But before I communicate my discoveries, I behind the scenes; by which their enemies would must acquaint the reader, that upon my walking insinuate, that it is but a sham combat which they behind the scenes last winter, as I was thinking on represent upon the stage: but upon inquiry I find, something else, I accidentally Justled against a that if any such correspondence has passed between monstrous animal that extremely startled me, and, them, it was not till the combat was over, when upon my nearer survey of it, appeared to be a the lion was to be looked upon as dead, according lion rampant. The lion seeing me very much sur-to the received rules of the drama. Besides this is prised, told me, in a gentle voice, that I might what is practised every day in Westminster-hall, come by him if I pleased; 'for,' says he, 'I do where nothing is more usual than to see a couple ot intend to hurt any body. I thanked him very of lawyers, who have been tearing each other to kindly, and passed by him: and in a little time pieces in the court, embracing one another as soon after saw him leap upon the stage, and act his part as they are out of it. with very great applause. It has been observed I would not be thought, in any part of this relaby several, that the lion has changed his manner tion, to reflect upon Signior Nicolini, who in actof acting twice or thrice since his first appearance; ing this part only complies with the wretched taste which will not seem strange, when I acquaint my of his audience: he knows very well, that the lion reader that the lion has been changed upon the has many more admirers than himself; as they say audience three several times. The first lion was a of the famous equestrian statue on the Pont-Neuf candle-snuffer, who, being a fellow of a testy cho- at Paris, that more people go to see the horse than leric temper, overdid his part, and would not suffer the king who sits upon it. On the contrary, it himself to be killed so easily as he ought to have gives me a just indignation to see a person whose done; beside, it was observed of him that he grew action gives new najesty to kings, resolution to more surly every time he came out of the lion; and having dropped some words in ordinary conversation, as if he had not fought his best, and that he suffered himself to be thrown upon his back in the scuffle, and that he would wrestle with Mr. Nicolini for what he pleased, out of his lion's skin, it

See No. 405; and Tat. No. 115.

heroes, and softness to lovers, thus sinking from the greatness of his behaviour, and degraded into the character of a London 'Prentice. I have often wished that our tragedians would copy after this great master in action. Could they make the same use of their arms and legs, and inform their faces with as significant looks and passions, how glorious would an English tragedy appear with that action

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which is capable of giving dignity to the forced warning of my bell, morning and evening, to go thoughts, cold cenceits, and unnatural expressions to a puppet-show set forth by one Powell under of an Italian opera! In the mean time, I have the Piazzas. By this means I have not only lost related this combat of the lion, to show what are my two customers, whom I used to place for sixat present the reigning entertainments of the po-pence a piece, over against Mrs. Rachael Eyeliter part of Great Britain. bright, but Mrs. Rachael herself is gone thither also. There now appear among us none but a few ordi nary people, who come to church only to say their prayers, so that I have no work worth speaking of but on Sundays. I have placed my son at the Piazzas, to acquaint the ladies, that the bell rings for church, and that it stands on the other side of the Garden; but they only laugh at the child.

Audiences have often been reproached by writers for the coarseness of their taste: but our present grievance does not seem to be the want of a good taste, but of common sense.

ADDISON.

No 14. FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1710-11.

--Teque his, Infelix, exue monstris.

C.

'I desire you would lay this before all the world, that I may not be made such a tool for the future, and that Punchinello may choose hours less canonical. As things are now, Mr. Powell has a full congregation, while we have a very thin house; which if you can remedy, you will very much oblige, 'SIR, yours, &c. taker of the masquerade. The following epistle I find is from the under

'SIR,

OVID. Met. iv. 590. Wretch that thou art! put off this monstrous shape. I was reflecting this morning upon the spirit and humour of the public diversions five and twenty years ago, and those of the present time; and lamented to myself, that, though in those days they neglected their morality, they kept up their goodI HAVE observed the rules of my mask" so caresense; but that the beau-monde, at present, is only fully (in not inquiring into persons,) that I cannot grown more childish, not more innocent, than the tell whether you were one of the company or not, former. While I was in this train of thought, an last Tuesday; but if you were not, and still design old fellow, whose face I have often seen at the to come, I desire you would, for your own enterplayhouse, gave me the following letter with these tainment, please to admonish the town, that all words: 'Sir, the Lion presents his humble service persons indifferently are not fit for this sort of dito you, and desired me to give this into your own version. I could wish, sir, you could make them understand, that it is a kind of acting to go in masquerade, and a man should be able to say or do things proper for the dress in which he appears. AVE read all your papers, and have stifled We have now and then rakes in the habit of Roayresentment against your reflections upon operas, man senators, and grave politicians in the dress of until that of this day, wherein you plainly insi-rakes. The misfortune of the thing is, that people ate, that Signior Nicolini and myself have a dress themselves in what they have a mind to be, correspondence more friendly than is consistent and not what they are fit for. There is not a girl ith the valour of his character, or the fierceness in the town, but let her have her will in going to of mine. I desire you would, for your own sake, a mask, and she shall dress as a shepherdess. But forbear such intimations for the future; and must let me beg of them to read the Arcadia, or some ay it is a great piece of ill-nature in you, to show other good romance, before they appear in any great an esteem for a foreigner, and to discou-such character at my house. The last day we prerage a Lion that is your own countryman. sented, every body was so rashly habited, that

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'From my den in the Haymarket, March 15.

I take notice of your fable of the lion and when they came to speak to each other, a nymph but am so equally concerned in that matter, with a crook had not a word to say but in the pert I shall not be offended to whichsoever of the style of the pit bawdry; and a man in the habit mals the superiority is given. You have misre-of a philosopher was speechless, till an occasion resented me, in saying that I am a country gen-offered of expressing himself in the refuse of the man, who act only for my diversion; whereas, tyring rooms. We had a judge that danced a miI still the same woods to range in which I nuet, with a quaker for his partner, while half a ce had when I was a fox-hunter, I should not dozen harlequins stood by as spectators: a Turk esign my manhood for a maintenance; and assure drank me off two bottles of wine, and a Jew eat you, as low as my circumstances are at present, I me up half a ham of bacon. If I can bring my so much a man of honour, that I would scorn design to bear, and make the maskers preserve be any beast for bread, but a lion. their characters in my assemblies, I hope you will allow there is a foundation laid for more elegant Thad no sooner ended this, than one of my land-present affords: and consequently that you will and improving gallantries than any the town at y's children brought me in several others, with give your approbation to the endeavours of

'Yours, &c.'

we of which I shall make up my present paper, ya baving a tendency to the same subject, the elegance of our present diversions.

'Covent Garden, March 13.

Barz been for twenty years under-sexton of t missed tolling in to prayers six times in all] parish or St. Paul's, Covent Garden, and have se years; which office I have performed to my

'SIR,

"Your most obedient humble servant."

I am very glad the following epistle obliges me to mention Mr. Powell a second time in the same

paper; for indeed there cannot be too great en couragement given to his skill in motions, provided he is under proper restrictions.

SIR,

ipat satisfaction, until this fortnight last past,' THE opera at the Haymarket, and that under the

ing which time I find my congregation take the

• See No. Th

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