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Light, and let him know how much all his friends were out of countenance for him. The women sat in terror of hearing something that should shock their modesty, and all the gentlemen in as much pain out of compassion to the ladies, and perhaps resentment for the indignity which was offered in coming into their presence in so disrespectful a manner. Wine made him say nothing that was rude, therefore he is forgiven, upon condition he never will hazard his offending more in this kind. As I just now hinted, I own myself of the " Society for Reformation of Manners."* We have lower instruments than those of the family of Bickerstaff for punishing great crimes and exposing the abandoned. Therefore, as I design to have notices from all public assemblies, I shall take upon me only indecorums, improprieties, and negligences, in such as should give us better examples. After this declaration, 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 ensuing paper; for, merely as a well-bred man, I cannot bear these enormities.

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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 at present. But it is wonderful there should be so few writers, when the art is become merely mechanic, 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 has just now offered for sale, to wit, Instructions to Vanderbank: A Sequel to the Advice to the Poets: A Poem, occasioned by the glorious success of her Majesty's arms under the command of the Duke of Marlborough, the last year in Flanders."+ Here you are to understand that the author, finding the poets would rot take his advice, troubles himself no more about them; but has met with one Vanderbank, who works in arras, and makes very good tapestry hangings: therefore, in order to celebrate the hero of the age, he claps together all that can be said of a man that makes hangings:

Then artist, who does nature's face express
In silk and gold, and scenes of action dress;

"This Society began in 1690; an account of the proess made in suppressing profaneness and debauchery by means was published yearly. The last account is from

Dec. 1737 to Dec. 1738. The total number of persons pro

secuted by this Society, in or near London, during these forty-four years, is calculated at about 101,683, &c." Such as are curious, may see a fuller account of it, in Stow's Survey of London, edit. 1755, vol. i. p. 144.

Dost figur'd arras animated leave,
Spin a bright story, or a passion weave;
By mingling threads, canst mingle shade and light,
Delineate triumphs, or describe a fight?

Well, what shall this workman do? why, to show how great an hero the poet intends, he provides him a very good horse:

Champing his foam, and bounding on the plain, Arch his high neck, and graceful spread his mane. Now as to the intrepidity, the calm courage, the constant application of the hero, it is not necessary to take that upon yourself: 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.

Let fame and victory in inferior sky
Hover with balanc'd wings, and smiling fly
Above his head, &c.

A whole poem of this kind may be ready against an ensuing campaign, as well as a space left in the canvass of a piece of tapestry for the principal figure, while the under-parts are working; so that in effect, the adviser copies after the man he pretends to direct. 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 jig of the thing is, as I said, finding out all that can be said in his way whom you employ to set forth your worthy. Waller and Denham had worn out the expedience 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 them. Well, that thought is worn out also; therefore he directs his genius to the loom, and will have a new set of hangings 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 manufactory: as, suppose an ingenious gentle man should write a poem of advice to a Calico printer; do you think there is a girl in Eng land that would wear any thing but the "Tak ing of Lisle," or, "The Battle of Oudenarde?" They would certainly be all the fashion until the heroes abroad had cut out some more patterns. I should fancy small skirmishes might do for under-petticoats, provided 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 epigram to a young virgin who knits very well (it is 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 Bur

+ By Sir Richard Blackmore. See Spect. Nos. 6. 339. Tat. No. 14. contains a very proper apology for this raillery.gundy's last campaign in the clock of a stockThis man was inimitable in his way; no persou ever represented nature more happily in works of tapestry.

ing. It were endless to enumerate the many hands and trades that may be employed by

Tuesday, April 18, 1709.

Quicquid agunt homines

nets, of so useful a turn as this adviser. 1 | No. 4.]
shail think of it; and, in this time of taxes,
all consult a great critic employed in the
custom-hɔuse, in order to propose what tax
may be proper to be put upon knives, seals,
rings, hangings, wrought beds, gowns, and pet-
ticoats, where any of these commodities bear
mottoes, or are worked upon poetical grounds.

*

P.

Dostri est farrago libelli. Juv. Sat. i. 85, 86. Whate'er men do, or say, or think, or dream, Our motley paper seizes for its theme. 'IT is usual with persons who mount the stage for the cure or information of the crowd about them, to make solemn professions of theit St. James's Coffee-house, April 15. being wholly disinterested in the pains they Letters from Turin of the third instant, N. S. take for the public good. At the same time, inform us, that his royal highness employs those very men who make harangues in plush all his address in alarming the enemy, and doublets, and extol their own abilities and geperplexing their speculations concerning his nerous inclinations, tear their lungs in vending real designs the ensuing campaign. Contracts a drug, and show no act of bounty, except it are entered into with the merchants of Milan be, that they lower a demand of a crown to six, for a great number of mules to transport his nay, to one penny. We have a contempt for provisions and ammunition. His royal high-such paltry barterers, and have therefore, all ness has ordered the train of artillery to be along informed the public, that we intend to conveyed to Susa before the twentieth of the give them our advices for our own sakes, and next month. In the mean time, all accounts are labouring to make our lucubrations come agree, that the enemy are very backward in to some price in money, for our more convenient their preparations, and almost incapable of de- support in the service of the public. It is cerfending themselves against an invasion, by reatain, that many other schemes have been proson of the general murmurs of their own peo-treatise he had writ, which he called, 'The posed to me; as a friend offered to show me a ple; which, they find, are no way to be quieted whole Art of Life; or, The Introduction to but by giving them hopes of a speedy peace. great Men, illustrated in a Pack of Cards.' When these letters were despatched the marshal de Thesse was arrived at Genoa, where he But, being a novice at all manner of play, I has taken much pains to keep the correspond- want of money, to set up my coach, and pracdeclined the offer. Another advised me, for ents of the merchants of France in hopes that tise physic; but, having been bred a scholar, I measures will be found out to support the credit feared I should not succeed that way neither, and commerce between that state and Lyons: but the late declaration of the agents of Mon- therefore, resolved to go on in my present prosieur Bernard, that they cannot discharge theject. But you are to understand that I shall demands made upon them, has quite dispirited all those who are engaged in the remittances

of France.

the weight of my politic news only, but, as my not pretend to raise a credit to this work upon Latin sentence in the title-page informs you, shall take any thing that offers for the subject of my discourse. Thus, new persons, as well as new things, are to come under my consideration; as, when a toast or wit is first pronounced such, you shall have the freshest advice of their preferment, from me, with a description of the beauty's manners, and the wit's style; as also,

From my own Apartment, April 15. It is a very natural passion in all good members 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 bene-in whose places they are advanced. For this fit of my near kinsman Mr. John Bickerstaff. town is never good-natured enough to raise one I protest to you, the gentleman has not spoken without depressing another. But it is my deto me to desire this favour; but I have a re-sign to avoid saying any thing of any person spect for him, as well in regard to consanguinity, as that he is an intimate friend of that famous and heroic actor, Mr. George Powel; who formerly played Alexander the Great in all places, though he is lately grown so reserved, as to act it only on the stage.||

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which ought justly to displease; but shall endeavour, by the variety of the matter and style, to give entertainment for men of pleasure, without offence to those of business."

White's Chocolate-house, April 18.

All hearts at present pant for two ladies only, who have for some time engrossed 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 no thing extraordinary in any one of those par

ticulars, but the whole woman irresistible: Cla- | formance was done in Italian; and a great critic rissa 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 represented by the last great painter Italy has sent us, Mr. Jervas. Clarissa is by that skilful hand placed in a manner that looks artless, and innocent of the torments she gives; Chloe is drawn with a liveliness that shows she is conscious of, but not affected with, 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 a ribbon, 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 admirers of Chloe are eternally gay and wellpleased: those of Clarissa, melancholy and 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 proceed in my narration; so that the progress of the loves of Clarissa and Chloe, together with the bottles that are drunk 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.

Will's Coffee-house, April 18. Letters from the Hay-market inform us, that on Saturday night last the Opera of Pyrrhus and Demetrius was performed with great applause. This intelligence is not very acceptable 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 suspense of them for three hours together, and being given up to the shallow satisfaction of the eyes and ears only, seems to arise rather from the degeneracy of our understanding, thau an improvement of our divisions. 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 per

fell into fits in the gallery, at seeing, not only time and place, but languages and nations confused in the most incorrigible manner. Hi spleen is so extremely moved on this occasio that he is going to publish a treatise agains operas, 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 a this kind were first introduced. He has upo this occasion considered the nature of sound. 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 turnips an all other vegetables neither cried, sung, nor said, but sold, with an accent and tone neither natural to man nor beast. This piece seems to be taken from the model of that excellent discourse of Mrs. Manly+ the school-mistress, conceruing samplers. Advices from the upper end of Piccadilly say, that May-fair is utterly 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 machines, landed at the King's-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 sat 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 boatman, and committed by justice Wrathful; which has, it seems, put a stop to the diversions of the theatre of Blackheath. But there goes down another Diana and a Patient Grizzel next tide from Billingsgate.

It is credibly reported, that Mr. D―yş nas agreed with Mr. Penkethman to have his play acted before that audience as soon as it has had its first sixteen days run in Drury-lane.

St. James's Coffee-house, April 18. They write from Saxony, of the thirteenth instant, N. S. that the grand general of the crown of Poland, was so far from entering into a treaty with king Stanislaus, that he had writ

John Dennis, who criticised the tragedy of Cato, &c. + See in Dr. King's Works, vol. ii. 8vo. edit. 1776, " An Essay on the invention of Samplers, by Mrs. Arabella Manly, school-mistress at Hackney."

See the presentment of May Fair by the Grand Jury of Westminster, an. 1708, in Stow's Survey, &c. edit. 6. 1755; vol. ii. p. 178. It was entirely abolished in the year 1709 Shepherd's-market, near Curzon-street, was built on the spot where it was held, and the surrounding district is styled

May fair.

Tom D'Urfey.

ten circular letters, wherein he exhorted the | minister has entered into a firm league with Palatines to join against him; declaring that this was the most favourable conjuncture for asserting their liberty.

Letters from the Hague of the twentyhird instant, N. S. say, they have advices from Vienna which import that his electoral highness of Hanover 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 campaign. Upon this representation, the emperor has given orders to several regiments to march towards the Rhine; and despatched expresses to the respective princes of the empire to de're an augmentation of their forces.

These letters add, that an express arrived at the Hague on the twentieth instant with adrice that the enemy having made a detachment from Tournay of fifteen hundred horse, Each trooper carrying a foot soldier behind him, n order to surprise the garrison of Alost; the allies, upon notice of their march, sent out a trong body of troops from Ghent, which engaged the enemy at Asche, and took two hundred of them prisoners, obliging the rest to retire without making any further attempt. On the twenty-second in the morning, a fleet of merchant ships, coming from Scotland, 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 completed the augmentation of their respective companies. Those of Wirtemberg and Prussia are expected on the frontiers within a few days; and the auxiliaries from Saxony, as also a battalion of Holstein, and another of Wolfenbuttle, are advancing thither with all expedition. On the twenty-first 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 public. His grace the duke of Marlborough and prince Eugene continue at the Hague.

From my own Apartment, April 18.

I have lately been very studious for intelligence, 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 understand, 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

In this allegorical paper, by Felicia is meant Britain.

The

the ablest and best men of the nation, to carry on the cause of liberty, to the encouragement of religion, virtue, and honour. Those person at the helm are so useful, and in themselves, of such weight, that their strict alliance must needs tend to the universal prosperity of the people. Camillo, it seems, presides over the deliberations of state; and is so highly valued by all men for his singular probity, courage, affability, and love of mankind, 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 liberty and happiness, and the least provident for their security. next member of their society is Horatio,+ who makes all the public despatches. 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 himself to this council; a man of most undaunted resolution, and great knowledge in maritime 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 particular distinction; a nobleman who has the most refined taste of the true pleasures and elegance of life, joined to an indefatigable industry in business; a man eloquent in assemblies, agreeable in conversation, and dexterous in all manner of public negotiations. These letters add, that Verono,¶ who is also of this council, has lately set sail to his government of Patricia, with design to confirm the affections of the people in the interests of his queen. This minister is master of great abilities, 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, makes the people enjoy the utmost tranquillity in the midst of a war, and gives them undoubted hopes of a secure peace from their vigilance and integrity.

ADVERTISEMENT.

tioners, &c. this Paper may be had of them, Upon the humble petition of running stafor the future, at the price of one penny.**

* Lord John Somers, President of the Council.

↑ Sidney, Earl of Godolphin, Lord High Treasurer.
↑ Edward Russel, Earl of Orford.
At La Hogue, in 1692.

William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, Lord Steward of the Household.

Thomas, Earl of Wharton, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The preceding papers had been given gratis.

B

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This was long ago a witty author's lamentation, but the evil still continues; and if a man of any delicacy were to attend the discourses of the young fellows of this age, he 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 gallantry: 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 agreeable 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 public 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, 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 encouragement to persevere; but he has a devotion, rather than love, for his mistress,

and says,

'Only tell her that I love,

Leave the rest to her and fate;
Some kind planet from above
May, perhaps, her passion move;
Lovers on their stars must wait.'*

his real character is, a little thief that squints.
for ask Mrs. Meddle, who is a confident of
spy upon all the passions in town, and she wil
tell you that the whole is a game of cross pur-
poses. 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 squint-
ing little thief (who is always in a double ac-
tion,) that do but observe Clarissa next time
you see her, and you will find, when her eyes
have made their soft tour round the company,
she makes no stay on him they say she is t
marry, but rests two seconds of a minute on
Wildair, who neither looks nor thinks on her
or any woman else.
However, Cynthio had a
bow from her the other day, upon which he is
very much come to himself; and I heard him
send his man of an errand yesterday, without
any manner of hesitation; a quarter of an hour
after which he reckoned twenty, remember...
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 that he hath not
forgot that he spoke to me yesterday.

Will's Coffec-house, April 20.

This week being sacred to holy things, and no public diversions allowed, there has been taken notice of, even here, a little treatise, called, 'A Project for the Advancement of Religion: 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 undervalue it with good-breeding. The author must certainly be a man of wisdom as well as piety, and have spent much time in the exer cise 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 reasonings, shows it was written by one whose virtue sits easy about him, and to whom vice is thoroughly It was said by one of the comcontemptible. pany, alluding to that knowledge of the world "The man writes the author seems to have, much like a gentleman, and goes to heaven with a very good mien."

But the stars I am so intimately acquainted with, that I can assure him he will never have her; for, would you believe it? though Cynthio has wit, good sense, fortune, and his very being depends upon her, the termagant for whom he sighs 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 unnappy man, whom I mentioned in my first narrative, pleases himself with a vain imagination, St. James's Coffee-house, April 20. that with the language of his eyes, now he has found who she is, he shall conquer her, though Letters from Italy say, that the marquis de her eyes are intent upon one who looks from Prie, upon the receipt of an express from the her; which is ordinary with the sex. It is court of Vienna, went immediately to the palace certainly a mistake in the ancients, to draw of cardinal Paulucci, minister of state to his the little gentleman LOVE as a blind boy; for holiness, and demanded, in the name of bis imperial majesty, that king Charles should forth

These verses are part of a song by Lord Cutts, Steele's early patron. See them entire in Nichols's "Select Collecon, 1780," vol. ii. p. 327

* First published by Swift, 1709.

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