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"There has lately been found an human tooth in a "catacomb, which has engaged a couple of convents “in a law-suit; each of them pretending, that it be"longed to the jaw-bone of a saint, who was of their "order. The college have sat upon it thrice, and I "find there is a disposition among them to take it out "of the possession of both the contending parties, by "reason of a speech, which was made by one of the ❝cardinals, who, by reason of its being found out of "the company of any other bones, asserted, that it "might be one of the teeth, which was coughed out by Elia, an old woman, whose loss is recorded in "Martial.

"I have nothing remarkable to communicate to you "of state affairs, excepting only, that the pope has "lately received an horse from the German ambas"sador, as an acknowledgment for the kingdom of "Naples, which is a fief of the church. His holiness "refused this horse from the Germans ever since the "Duke of Anjou has been possessed of Spain; but

as they lately took care to accompany it with a body "of ten thousand more, they have at last overcome his "holines's modesty, and prevailed upon him to ac66 cept the present. I am,

"SIR,

“Your most obedient,

"Humble servant,

P. S. Marforio is

very much yours.

"PASQUIN."

No. CXXX. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7.

At me

Cum magnis vixisse invita fatebitur usque

Invidia......................

HOR.

Sheer-lane, Feb. 6.

I FIND some of the most polite Latin authors, who wrote at a time, when Rome was in its glory, speak with a certain noble vanity of the brightness and splendor of the age, in which they lived. Pliny often compliments his emperor Trajan upon this head; and when he would animate him to any thing great, or dissuade him from any thing that was improper, he insinuates, that it is befitting or unbecoming the "clari"tas & nitor seculi," that period of time which was made illustrious by his reign. When we cast our eyes back on the history of mankind, and trace them through their several successions to their first original, we sometimes see them breaking out in great and menorable actions and towering up to the utmost heights of virtue and knowledge; when, perhaps, if we carry our observations to a little distance, we see them sunk into sloth and ignorance, and altogether lost in darkness and obscurity. Sometimes the whole species is asleep for two or three generations, and then again awakens into action, flourishes in heroes, philosophers, and poets, who do honour to human nature, and leave such tracks of glory behind them as distinguish the years, in which they acted their part, from the ordinary course of time. Methinks a man cannot without a secret satisfaction, consider the glory of the present age, which will shine as bright as any other in the history of mankind. It is still big with great events, and has already produced changes and revolutions, which will be as much admired by posterity, as any that have happened in the " days of our fathers, or " in the old times before them." We have seen

kingdoms divided and united, monarchs erected and deposed, nations transferred from one sovereign to another; conquerors raised to such a greatness, as has given a terror to Europe, and thrown down by such a fall, as has moved their pity.

But it is still a more pleasing view to an Englishman, to see his own country give the chief influence to so illustrious an age, and stand in the strongest point of light amidst the diffused glory that surrounds it.

If we begin with learned men, we may observe, to the honour of our country, that those, who make the greatest figure in most arts and sciences are universally allowed to be of the British nation; and, what is more remarkable, that men of the greatest learning are among the men of the greatest quality.

A nation may indeed abound with persons of such uncommon parts and worth, as may make them rather a misfortune than a blessing to the public. Those, who singly might have been of infinite advantage to the age they live in, may by rising up together in the same crisis of time, and by interfering in their pursuits of honour, rather interrupt, than promote the service of their country. Of this we have a famous

instance in the republic of Rome, when Cæsar, Pompey, Cato, Cicero, and Brutus, endeavoured to recommend themselves at the same time to the admiration of their con-temporaries. Mankind was not able to provide for so many extraordinary persons at once, or find out posts suitable to their ambition and abilities. For this reason they were all as miserable in their deaths, as they were famous in their lives, and occasioned not only the ruin of each other, but also that of the commonwealth.

It is therefore a particular happiness to a people, when the men of superior genius and character are so justly disposed in the high places of honour, that each of them moves in a sphere which is proper to

him, and requires those particular qualities in which he excels.

If I see a general commanding the forces of his country, whose victories are not to be paralleled in story, and who is as famous for his negociations as his victories; and at the same time see the management of a nation's treasury in the hands of one, who has always distinguished himself by a generous contempt of his own private wealth, and an exact frugality of that which belongs to the public; I cannot but think a people under such an administration may promise themselves conquests abroad, and plenty at home. If I were to wish for a proper person to preside over the public councils, it should certainly be one as much admired for his universal knowledge of men and things, as for his eloquence, courage, and integrity, in the exerting of such extraordinary talents.

Who is not pleased to see a person in the highest station in the law, who was the most eminent in his profession, and the most accomplished crator at the bar? or at the head of the fleet a commander, under whose conduct the common enemy received such a blow, as he has never been able to recover?

Were we to form to ourselves the idea of one, whom we should think proper to govern a distant kingdom, consisting chiefly of those who differ from us in religion, and are influenced by foreign politics, would it not be such a one as had signalized himself by an uniform and unshaken zeal for the protestant interest, and by his dexterity in defeating the skill and artifice of its enemies? In short if we find a great man popular for his honesty and humanity, as well as famed for his learning and great skill in all the languages of Europe; or a person eminent for those qualifications, which make men shine in public assemblies, or for that steadiness; constancy, and good sense, which carry a man to the desired point through all the op

position of tumult and prejudice, we have the happiness to behold them all in posts suitable to their cha

racters.

Such a constellation of great persons, if I may so speak, while they shine out in their own distinct capacities, reflect a lustre upon each other, but in a more particular manner on their sovereign, who has placed them in those proper situations, by which their virtues become so beneficial to all her subjects. It is the anniversary of the birth-day of this glorious Queen, which naturally led me into this field of contemplation, and instead of joining in the public exultations, that are made on such occasions, to entertain my thoughts with the more serious pleasure of ruminating upon the glories of her reign.

While I behold her surrounded with triumphs, and adorned with all the prosperity and success, which Heaven ever shed on a mortal, and still considering herself as such; though the person appears to me exceeding great, that has these just honours paid to her, yet I must confess, she appears much greater in that she receives them with such a glorious humility, and shews she has no farther regard for them, than as they arise from these great events, which have made her subjects happy. For my own part, I must confess, when I see private virtues in so high a degree of perfection, I am not astonished at any extraordinary success that attends them, but look upon public triumphs as the natural consequences of religious retirements.

ADVERTISEMENT.

"FINDING some persons have mistaken Pas"quin, who was mentioned in my last, for one who has "been pillored at Rome; I must here advertise them, "that it is only a maimed statue so called, on which "the private scandal of that city is generally pasted. "Marforio is a person of the same quality, who is

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