at

hopes at least to have brother's fare, without It seems wonderful, that they who were so refined as to prosessing that he gives himself up with pleasure to take care, that to complete the honour done to the be devoured for the preservation of his fellows. victorious officer, no power should be known above

him in the empire on the day of his triumph, but St. James's Coffee-house, August 31.

that the consuls themselves should be but guests

at his table that evening, could not take it into Letters from the Hague of the sixth of September, thought to make the man of chief note among his N. S. say, that the govenor of the citadel of Tournay prisoners one of the company.

This would have having offered their highnesses the Duke of Marl- improved the gladness of the occasion; and the victor borough and the Prince of Savoy to surrender that had made a much greater figure, in that no other man place on the thirty-first of the last month, on terms appeared unhappy on his day, than because no other which were not allowed them by those princes, hos- man appeared great. tilities were thereupon renewed; but that on the But we will wave at present such important incithird the place was surrendered, with a seeming dents, and turn our thoughts rather to the familiar condition granted to the besieged, above that of part of human life, and we shall find, that the great being prisoners of war: for they were forthwith to be business we contend for is in a less degree what those conducted to Conde, but were to be exchanged for Romans did on more solemn occasions, to triumph prisoners of the allies, and particularly those of over our fellow-creatures; and there is hardly a man Warneton were mentioned in the demand. Both to be found, who would not rather be in pain to appear armies having stretched towards Mons with the happy, than be really happy and thought miserable. utmost diligence, that of the allies, though they This men attempt by sumptuous equipages, splendid passed the much more difficult road, arrived first houses, numerous servants, and all the cares and before that town, which they have now actually pursuits of an ambitious or fashionable life. invested; and the quarter-master-general was, Bromeo and Tabio are particularly ill-wishers to the time of despatching these letters, marking the each other, and rivals in happiness. There is no way ground for the encampment of the covering army. in nature so good to procure the esteem of the one,

as to give him little notices of certain secret points, To the book sellers, or others whom this advertisement wherein the other is uneasy. Gnatho has the skill may concern.

of doing this, and never applauds the improvements Mr. Omicron, the unborn poet, gives notice, that be making, but he adds, Now this very thing was my

Bromeo has been many years making, and ever will he writes all treatises, as well in verse as prose, thought, when Tabio was pulling up his underwood, being a ninth son, and translates out of all languages, yet he never would hear of it; but now your gardens without learning or study. If any bookseller will treat for his pastoral on the

are in this posture, he is ready to hang himself, siege and surrender of the citadel of Tournay, he Well

, to be sincere, that situation of his can never

make an agreeable seat; he may make his house and must send in his proposals before the news of a capitulation for any other town.

appurtenances what he pleases, but he cannot remove The undertaker for either play-house, may have

them to the same ground where Bromeo's stands;

and of all things under the sun, a man that is happy an opera written by him ; or, if it shall suit their

at second-hand is the most monstrous. It is a design, a satire upon operas; both ready for next winter.

very strange madness,' answers Bromeo, 'if a man on these occasions can think of any end but pleasing

himself. As for my part, if things are convenient, I No. 63.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1709.

hate all ostentation. There is no end of the folly of

adapting our affairs to the imagination of others.” White's Chocolate-house, September 2. Upon which, the next thing he does is to enlarge

whatever he hears his rival has attempted to imitate ON THE ENJOYMENT OF LIFE WITH REGARD TO

him in ; but their misfortune is, that they are in

their time of life, in their estates, and in their I HAVE ever thought it the greatest diminution to understandings, equal; so that the emulation may the Roman glory imaginable, that in their institution continue to the last day of their lives. As it stands of public triumphs, they led their enemies in chains now, Tabio has heard, that Bromeo has lately purwhen they were prisoners. It is to be allowed that chased two hundred a-year in the annuities since he doing all honour to the superiority of heroes above the last settled the account of their happiness, in which rest of mankind, must needs conduce to the glory and he thought himself to have the balance. This may advantage of a nation ; but what shocks the imagination seem a very fantastical way of thinking in these men; to reflect upon is, that an unhappy man, who was no but there is nothing so common, as a man's endeaway inferior to the victor but by the chance of war, vouring rather to go farther than some other person should be led like a slave at the wheels of his chariot. towards an easy fortune, than to form any certain Indeed, these other circumstances of a triumph, that standard that would make himself happy. it was not allowed in a civil war, lest one part should be in tears, while the other was making acclamations;

Will's Coffee-house, September 2. that it should not be granted, except such a number Mr. Dactyle has been this evening very profuse in were slain in battle; that the general should be his eloquence upon the talent of turning things into disgraced who made a false muster of his dead; ridicule: and seemed to say very justly, that there these, I say, had great and politic ends in their being was generally in it something too disingenuous for the established, and tended to the apparent benefit of society of liberal men, except it were governed by the commonwealth. But this behaviour to the con- the circumstances of persons, time, and place. This quered had no foundation in nature or policy, only talent,' continued he, is to be used as a man does to gratify the insolence of a haughty people, who his sword, not to be drawn but in his own defence, triumphed over barbarous nations, by acting what or to bring pretenders and impostors in society to a was fit only for those very barbarians to practise, true light. But we have seen this faculty so mis

OTHERS.

a

taken, that the burlesque of Virgil himself has passed, in dying hard. But you, sir, to show a good eramong men of little taste, for wit; and the noblest ample to your brethren, have not only confessed, but thoughts that can enter into the heart of man levelled of your own accord mended the indictment. Nay, with ribaldry and baseness: though by the rules of you have been so good nature l as to discover beauties justice, no man ought to be ridiculed for any imper- in it, which, I will assure you, he that drew it never fection, who does not set up for eminent sufficiency dreamed of. And, to make your civility the more in that way wherein he is defective. Thus cowards, accomplished, you have honoured him with the title who would hide themselves by an affected terror in of your kinsman, which, though derived by the left. their mien and dress; and pedants, who would hand, he is not a little proud of. My brother, fer show the depth of their knowledge by a supercilious such Obadiah is, being at present very busy about gravity, are equally the objects of laughter. Not that nothing, has ordered me to return you his sincere they are in themselves ridiculous, for their want of cou- thanks for all these favors ; and, as a small token of rage, or weakness of understanding; but that they seem his gratitude, to communicate to you the followjog insensible of their own places in life, and unhappily piece of intelligence, which he thinks, belongs méte rank themselves with those whose abilities, compared properly to you, than to any other of our modera to their defects, make them contemptible. At the historians. same time, it must be remarked, that risibility being • Madonella, who, as it was thought, had long the effect of reason, a man ought to be expelled from since taken her flight towards the etherial mansinns, sober company who laughs without it.' Ha! ha! still walks it seems, in the regions of mortality, says Will Truby, who sat by, 'will any man pretend where she has found by deep reflections on the to give me laws when I should laugh, or tell me what revolution mentioned in yours of June the twentsI should laugh at ? Look ye,' answered Humphry third, that where early instructions have been Slyboots, you are mightily mistaken ; you may, if wanting to imprint true ideas of things on the tendes you please, 'make what noise you will, and nobody souls of those of her sex, they are never after able to can hinder an English gentleman from putting his arrive at such a pitch of perfection, as to be abere face into what posture he thinks fit; but take my the laws of matter and motion; laws which are esp word for it, that motion which you now make with siderably enforced by the principles usually imbibed your mouth open, and the agitation of your stomach in nurseries and boarding schools. To remedy this which you relieve by holding your sides, is not evil, she has laid the scheme of a college for young laughter : laughter is a more weighty thing than you | damsels; where (instead of scissars, needles, and imagine; and I will tell you a secret, you never did samplers) pens, compasses, quadrants, books, manulaugh in your life: and truly I am afraid you never scripts, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, are to take up will, except you take great care to be cured of those their whole time. Only on holidays the students convulsive fits.' Truby left us, and when he will, for moderate exercise, Le allowed to divert had got two yards from us, Well,' said he, 'you themselves with the use of some of the lightest and are strange fellows !' and was immediately taken with most voluble weapons ; and proper care will be taken another fit.

to give them at least a superficial tincture of the The Trubies are a well-natured family, whose ancient and modern Amazonian tactics. Of these particular make is such, that they have the same military performances, the direction is undertaken pleasure out of good-will, which other people have by Epicene, the writer of Memoirs from the Mediin that scorn which is the cause of laughter : there- terranean,' who, by the help of some artificial poisons fore their bursting into the figures of men, when laugh- conveyed by smells, has within these few weeks ing, proceeds only from a general benevolence they are brought many persons of both sexes to an untimely born with ; as the Slyboots smile only on the greatest fate; and, what is more surprising, has, contrary to occasion of mirth ; which difference is caused rather her profession, with the same odours, revived others from a different structure of their organs, than that who had long since been drowned in the whirlpools one is less moved than the other. I know Sourly of Lethe. Another of the professors is to be a frets inwardly, when Will Truby laughs at him ; certain lady who is now publishing two of the but when I meet him, and he bursts out, I know it choicest Saxon novels, which are said to have been is out of his abundant joy to see me, which he in as great repute with the ladies of Queen Emma's expresses by that vociferation which is in others court, as the Memoirs from the New Atalantis' are laughter. But I shall defer considering this subject with those of ours. I shall make it my business to at large, until I come to my treatise of oscitation, enquire into the progress of this learned institution, laughter, and ridicule.

and give you the first notice of their Philosophical

Transactions, and Searches after Nature.'
From my own Apartment, September 2.

*Yours, &c. The following letter being a panegyric upon me

• TOBIAR GREESHAT.' for a quality which every man may attain-an ac- St. James's Coffee-house, September 2. knowledgment of his faults; I thought it for the

This day we received advices by way of Ostend, good of my fellow-writers to publish it,

which give an account of an engagement between

the French and allies, on the eleventh instant, N. S. 'SIR,

Marshall Bouffiers arrived in the enemy's camp on • It must be allowed, that Esquire Bickerstaff is the fifth, and acquainted Marshall Villars, that he did of all authors the most ingenuous. There are few, not come in any character, but to receire his convery few, that will own themselves in a mistake, mands for the King's service, and communicate to though all the world see them to be in downright him his orders upon the present posture of affairs

You will be pleased, sir, to pardon this on the ninth, both armies advanced towards each expression, for the same reason for which you once other, and cannonaded all the ensuing day, until the desired us to excuse you, when you seemed any evening, and stood on their arms all that night. On thing dull. Most writers, like the generality of the day of battle the cannonading was renewet about Paul Lorraine's saints, seem to place a peculiar vanity seven : the Duke of Argyle had orders to attack the

wood Sart on the right, which he executed so a party of the enemy's horse, which was sent out to successfully, that he pierced through it, and won a observe the march of the confederates. The French considerable post. The Prince of Orange had the moved from Quiverain on Sunday in the morning, same good fortune in a wood on the left; after which and inclined to the right from thence all that day. the whole body of the confetlerates, joined by the The ninth, the Monday following, they continued forces from the siege, marched up and engaged the their march, until, on Tuesday the tenth, they posenemy, who were drawn up at some distance from sessed themselves of the woods of Dour and Blaugies. these woods. The dispute was very warm for some As soon as they came into that ground, they threw time; but towards noon, the French beg to give up intrenchments with all expedition. The allies ground from one wing to the other; which advantage arrived within few hours after the enemy was posted ; being observed by our general, the whole army was but the Duke of Marlborough thought fit to wait urged on withfresh vigour, and in a few hours the day for the arrival of the reinforcement which he exended with the entire defeat of the enemy.

pected from the siege of Tournay. Upon notice that these troops were so far advanced as to be depended

on for an action the next day, it was accordingly No. 64.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1709. resolved to engage the enemy. Quæ caret ora cruore nostro? Hor. 1 Od. ii. 36.

It will be necessary for understanding the greatness

of the action, and the several motions made in the What coast, encircled by the briny flood,

time of the engagement, that you have in your mind, Boasts not the glorious tribute of our blood.

an idea of the place. The two armies, on the eleventh From my own Apartment, September 5.

instant, were both drawn up before the woods of

Dour, Blaugies, Sart, and Jansart; the army of the WHEN I lately spoke of triumphs, and the bo- Prince of Savoy on the right before that of Blaugies ; haviour of the Romans on those occasions, I knew, by the forces of Great Britain in the centre on his left; my skill in astrology, that there was a great event those of the high allies, with the wood Sart, as well approaching to our advantage; but, not having yet as a large interval of plain ground, and Jansart on the takeu upon me to tell fortunes, I thought fit to defer left of the whole. The enemy were intrenched in the the mention of the battle near Mons until it hap- paths of the woods, and drawn up behind two inpened ; which moderation was no small pain to me : trenchments over-against thein, opposite to the armies but I should wrong my art, if I concealed that some of of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, my aerial intelligencers had signified to me the news there were also two lines intrenched in the plains of it even from Paris, before the arrival of Lieutenant-over-against the army of the States. This was the Colonel Graham in England. All nations, as well as posture of the French and confederate forces when persons, have their good and evil genius attending ihe signal was given, and the whole line moved on to them; but the kingdom of France has three, the last of the charge. which is neither for it nor against it in reality ; but The Dutch army, commanded by the Prince of has for some months past acted an ambiguous part, Hesse, attacked with the most undaunted bravery ; and attempted to save its ward from the incursions and, after a very obstinate resistance, forced the first of its powerful enemies, by little subterfuges and intrenchment of the enemy in the plain between Sart tricks, which a nation is more than undone when it and Jansart ; but were repulsed in their attack on the is reduced to practise. Thus, instead of giving second, with great slaughter on both sides. The exact accounts and representations of things, they Duke of Marlborough, while this was transacting on tell what is indeed true, but at the same time a the left, had with very much difficulty marched falsehood, when all the circumstances come to be through Sart, and beaten the enemy from the several related. Pacolet was at the court of France on intrenchments they had thrown up in it. As soon Priday night last, when this genius of that kingdom as the Duke had marched into the plain, he observed came thither in the shape of a post-boy, and cried the main body of the enemy drawn up and intrenched out, that Mons was relieved, and the Duke of in the front of his army. This situation of the enemy, Marlborough marched. Pacolet was much astonished in the ordinary course of war, is usually thought an at this account, and imediately changed luis form, advantage hardly to be surmounted; and might apand flew to the neighbourhood of Mons, from whence pear impracticable to any, but that army which hail he found the allies had really marched ; and began just overcome greater difficulties. The Duke comto enquire into the reasons of this sudden change, manded the troops to form, but to forbear charging and half feared he had heard a truth of the posture until further order. In the mean time he visited the of the French affairs, even in their own country. left of our line, where the troops of the States had But, upon diligent enquiry among the aerials who been engaged. The slaughter on this side had been attended those regions, and consultation with the very great, and the Dutch, incapable of making neighbouring peasants, he was able to bring me the further progress, except they were suddenly reinfollowing account of the motions of the armies since furced. The right of our line was attacked soon they retired from about that place, and the action after their coming upon the plain ; but they drove which followed thereupon.

back the enemy with such bravery, that the victory On Saturday the seventh of September, N. S. the began to incline to the allies by the precipitate reconfederate army was alarmed in their camp at treat of the French to their works, from whence they Havre, by intelligence, that the enemy were marching were immediately beaten. The Duke, upon observing to attack' the Prince of Hesse. Upon this advice, this advantage on the right, commanded the Earl of the Duke of Marlborough commanded that the troops Orkney to march with a sufficient number of batshould immediately move; which was accordingly talions, to force the enemy from their intrenchments performed, and they were all joined on Sunday the on the plain between the woods of Sart and Jansart ; eighth at noon. On that day, in the morning, it which being performed, the horse of the allies marched appeared that, instead of being attacked, the ad into the plains, covered by their own foot, and forming vanced guard of the detachment, commanded by the themselves in good order; the cavalry of the enemy Prince of Hesse, had dispersed and taken prisoners attempted no more but to cover the foot in their re

a

treat. The allies made so good use of the beginning white wolf-dog ; the other a black nimble greyhound, of the victory, that all their troops moved on with not very sound, and supposed to be gone to the Bath, fresh resolution, until they saw the enemy fly before by instinct, for cure. The man of the inn from them towards Conde and Maubeuge ; after whom, whence they ran, being now there, is desired, if he proper detachments were sent, who made a terrible meets either of them, to tie them up. Several others slaughter in the pursuit.

are lost about Tunbridge and Epsom ; which whoever In this action, it is said, Prince Eugene was will maintain may keep. wounded, as also the Duke of Aremberg, and lieutenant-general Webb. The Count of Oxenstern, Colonel Lalo, and Sir Thomas Pendergrass were No. 65.] THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1709. killed. This wonderful success, obtained under all the

Quicquid agunt hominesdifficulties that could be opposed in the way of an

nostri est farrago libelli. Jur. Sat. i. 65, 86. army, must be acknowledged as owing to the genius, Whatever good is done, whatever ill. courage, and conduct of the Duke of Marlborough, a By human kind, shall this collection fill. consummate hero; who has lived not only beyond the time in which Caesar said he was arrived at a

Will's Coffee-house, September 7. satiety of life and glory ; but also been so long the I CAME hither this evening, and expected nothing subject of panegyric, that it is as hard to say any else but mutual congratulations in the company, ea thing new in his praise, as to add to the merit which the late victory ; but found our room, which ene requires such eulogiums.

would have hoped to have seen full of good humor Will's Coffee-house, September 5.

and alacrity upon so glorious an occasion, full of sou: The following letter being very explanatory of the animals, enquiring into the action, in doubt of what true design of our lucubrations, and at the same

had happened, and fearful of the success of thes time an excellent model for performing it, it is countrymen. It is natural to believe easily what we

wish heartily; and a certain rule, that they are it absolutely necessary, for the better understanding our works, to publish it.

friends to a glad occasion who speak all they can

against the truth of it; who end their argument TO ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, ESQUIRE,

against our happiness, that they wish it otherwise. “SIR,

When I came into the room, a gentleman was de 'Though I have not the honour to be of the family claiming : If,' says he, we have so great and comof the Staffs, nor related to any branch of it, yet í plete a victory, why have we not the names of the applaud your wholesome project of making wit use

prisoners ? Why is not an exact relation of the core ful.

duct of our generals laid before the world? Why do * This is what has been, or should have been, in- we not know where and whom to applaud ? li we tended by the best comedies. But nobody, I think,

are victorions, why do we not give an account of our before you, thought of a way to bring the stage, as it captives and our slain ? But we are to be satisfied were,

into the coffee-house, and there attack those with general notices we are conquerors, and to believe gentlemen who thought themselves out of the reach

Sure this is approving the despotic way of of raillery, by prudently avoiding its chief walks and treating the world, which we pretend to fight against, districts. I smile when I see a solid citizen of if we sit down satisfied with such contradictory acthreescore read the article from Will's coffee-house, counts, which have the words of triumph, but do not and seem to be just beginning to learn his alphabet bear the spirit of it.. I whispered Mr. Greenbat, of wit in spectacles; and to hear the attentive table ‘Pray, what can that dissatisfied man be? He is,' sometimes top him with pertinent queries, which he answered he, 'a character you have not yet perhaps is puzzled to answer, and then join in commending observed. You have heard of battle-painters, hare it the sincerest way, by freely owning he does not mentioned a battle-poet ; but this is a battle-critic. understand it.

He is a fellow that lives in a government so gentle, • In pursuing this design, you will always have a that, though it sees him an enemy, suffers his malice, large scene before you, and can never be at a loss for

because they know his impotence. He is to examine characters to entertain a town so plentifully stocked

the weight of an advantage before the company wil with them. The follies of the finest minds, which a

allow it. "Greenhat was going on in his explanation, philosophic surgeon knows how to dissect, will best

when Sir George England thought fit to take up the employ your skill; and of this sort, I take the liberty discourse in the following manner : to send you the following sketch.

Gentlemen, The action you are in so great doubt • Cleontes is a man of good family, good learning, to approve of, is greater than ever has been performed entertaining conversation, and acute wit. He talks in any age: and the value of it I observe from your well, is master of style, and writes not contemptibly dissatisfaction: for battle-critics are like all others; in verse. Yet all this serves but to make him po

you are the more offended, the more you ought to be, litely ridiculous; and he is above the rank of com

and are convinced you ought to be, pleased. Had mon characters, only to have the privilege of being this engagement happened in the time of the old laughed at by the best. His family makes him proud Romans, and such things been acted in their service, and scornful; his learning, assuming and absurd ;

there would not be a foot of the wood which was and his wit, arrogant and satirical. He mixes some

pierced but had been consecrated to some deity, or of the best qualities of the head with the worst of the made memorable by the death of him who expired heart. Every body is entertained by him, while in it for the sake of his country. It had been said on nobody esteems him.'

some monument at the entrance; Here the Duke “I am sir, your most affectiouate monitor,

of Argyle drew his sword, and said · March. Here • JOSIAH COUPLET'

Webb, after having accomplished fame for gallantry, Lost, from the Cocoa-tree, in Pall-Mall, two Irish who was wounded at the beginning of the day, and

exposed himself like a common soldier. Here Rivett, dogs, belonging to the pack of London; one a tall carried off as dead, returned to the field, and

it so.

6

6

received his death. Medals had been struck for our he was told, he saw something that provoked him to general's behaviour when he first came into the plain. tell them, they were a company of sharpers. Pre. Here was the fury of the action, and here the hero sently Tallboy fell on him, and, being too hard at stood as fearless as if invulnerable. Such certainly fisty-cuffs, drove him out of doors. The valiant Pert had been the cares of that state for their own honour, followed, and kicked him in his turn; which the and in gratitude to their heroic subjects. But the esquire resented, as being nearer his match; so wood intrenched, the plain made more impassable challenged him; but differing about time and place, than the wood, and all the difficulties opposed to the friends interposed, for he had still money left, and most gallant army and the most intrepid leaders persuaded them to ask pardon for provoking them to that ever the sun shone upon, are treated by the beat him, and they asked his for doing it. The talk of some in this room as objections to the merit house, consulting whence Humphry could have his of our general and our army ; 'but,' continued he, 'I information, concluded it must be from some malileave all the examination of this matter, and a proper cious commoner; and, to be revenged, beau Bogg discourse on our sense of public actions, to my watched their haunts, and in a shop where some of friend Mr. Bickerstaff; who may let beaux and them were at play with ladies, showed dice which he gamesters rest, until he has examined into the reasons found, or pretended to find, upon them; and, deof men's being malecontents, in the olly nation claring how false they were, warned the company to that suffers professed enemies to breathe in open take care who they played with. By this seeming air.'

candour, he cleared his reputation; at least to fools From my own Apartment, September 7.

and some silly women; but it was still blasted by the

esquire's story with thinking men: however, he The following letters are sent to me from relations ; gained a great point by it; for the next day he got and though I do not know who and who are intended, the company shut up with himself and fellow-memI publish them. I have only writ nonsense, if there bers, and robbed them at discretion. is nothing in them; and done a good action, if they I cannot express to you with what indignation I alarm any heedless men against the fraternity of the behold the noble spirit of gentlemen degenerated to Knights, whom the Greeks call Párxans.

that of private cut-purses. It is in vain to hope

a remedy, while so many of the fraternity get and *MR. BICKERSTAFF, Buth, August 30.

enjoy estates of twenty, thirty, and fifty thousand 'It is taken very ill by several gentlemen here, pounds, with impunity, creep into the best converthat you are so little vigilant, as to let the dogs run sations, and spread the infectious villainy through from their kennels to this place. Had you done the nation, while the lesser rogues that rob for your duty, we should have had notice of their arri- hunger or nakedness, are sacrificed by the blind, val; but the sharpers are now become so formid- and, in this respect, partial and defective law. able here, that they have divided themselves into Could you open men's eyes against the occasion of nobles and commons ; beau Bogg, beau Pert, all this, the great corrupter of our manners and Rake, and Tallboy, are of their upper house ; broken morality, the author of more bankrupts than the captains, ignorant attornies, and such other bank- war, and sure bane of all industry, frugality, and rupts from industrious professions, compose their good nature ; in a word, of all virtues ; I mean, lower order. Among these two sets of men there public or private play at cards or dice ; how willingly happened here lately some unhappy differences. Es- would I contribute my utmost, and possibly send quire Humphry came down among us with four you some memoirs of the lives and politics of some hundred guineas; his raw appearance, and certain of the fraternity of great figure, that might be of use signals in the good-natured muscles of Humphry's to you in setting this in a clear light against next countenance, alarmed the societies ; for sharpers are session ; that all who care for their country or posas skilful as beggars in physiognomy, and know as terity, and see the pernicious effects of such a public Well where to hope for plunder, as the others to ask vice, may endeavour its destruction by some effectual for alms. Pert was the man exactly fitted for taking laws. In concurrence of this good design, with Humphrey, as a fine gentleman; for a raw fool

I remain, is ever enamoured with his contrary, a coxcomb;

• Your humble servant, &c.' and a coxcomb is what the booby, who wants experience, and is unused to company, regards as the

'MR. BICKERSTAFF,

Friday, Sept. 2. first of men. He ever looks at him with envy, and 'I heartily join with you in your laudable design would certainly be such, if he were not oppressed by against the Myrmidons, as well as your late insihis rusticity or bashfulness. There arose an entire nuations against Coxcombs of Fire; and I take this friendship by this sympathy between Pert and Hum- opportunity to congratulate you on the success of phrey, which ended in stripping the latter. We your labours, which I observed yesterday in one of now could see this forlorn youth for some days the hottest fire-men in town ; who not only affects a moneyless, without sword, and one day without his soft smile, but was seen to be thrice contradicted hat, and with secret melancholy pining for his snuff without showing any sign of impatience. These, I box; the jest of the whole town, but most of those say, so happy beginnings, promise fair, and on this who robbed him.

account I rejoice you have undertaken to unkennel the At last fresh bills came down, when immediately curs : a work of such use, that I admire it so long their countenances cleared up, ancient kindness and escaped your vigilance; and exhort you, by the confamiliarity renewed, and to dinner he was invited by cern you have for the good people of England, to the fraternity. You are to know, that while he was pursue your design : and, that these vermin may in his days of solitude, a commoner, who was ex- not flatter themselves that they pass undiscovered, I cluded from his share of the prey, had whispered desire you would acquaint Jack Haughty, that the the esquire, that he was bit, and cautioned him of whole secret of his bublling his friend with the Venturing again. However, hopes of recovering his Swiss at the Thatched-house is well known, as also snuff-box, which was given him by his aunt, made his sweetening the knight ; and I shall acknowledge him fall to play after dinner ; yet, mindful of what the favour. • Your most humble servant, &c.' THE TATLER, No. 15.

Q