The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Theater (1720), by Sir John Falstaffe This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Theater (1720) Author: Sir John Falstaffe Release Date: June 7, 2005 [eBook #15999] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THEATER (1720)*** E-text prepared by David Starner, Linda Cantoni, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) The Augustan Reprint Society, Series Four: No. 1, May, 1948 THE THEATRE SIR JOHN FALSTAFFE 1720 With an Introduction by John Loftis GENERAL EDITORS RICHARD C. BOYS, University of Michigan EDWARD NILES HOOKER, University of California, Los Angeles H.T. SWEDENBERG, JR., University of California, Los Angeles ASSISTANT EDITOR W. EARL BRITTON, University of Michigan ADVISORY EDITORS EMMETT L. AVERY, State College of Washington BENJAMIN BOYCE, University of Nebraska LOUIS I. BREDVOLD, University of Michigan CLEANTH BROOKS, Yale University JAMES L. CLIFFORD, Columbia University ARTHUR FRIEDMAN, University of Chicago SAMUEL H. MONK, University of Minnesota ERNEST MOSSNER, University of Texas JAMES SUTHERLAND, Queen Mary College, London Lithoprinted from copy supplied by author by Edwards Brothers, Inc. Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. 1948 INTRODUCTION _The Theatre_, by "Sir John Falstaffe", is according to its author a continuation of Richard Steele's periodical of the same name. Shortly after Steele brought his paper to a close on April 5, 1720, the anonymous author who called himself "Falstaffe" appropriated his title; or if we prefer Falstaffe's own account of the matter, he was bequeathed the title upon the decease of Steele's "Sir John Edgar". At any rate, the new series of _Theatres_ was begun on April 9, 1720, and continued to appear twice a week for eleven numbers until May 14. On Tuesdays and Saturdays Falstaffe entertained the town with a pleasant essay in the tradition established by _The Tatler_. But the paper of April 9, the first of the new _Theatres_, was only nominally the first of a series; Falstaffe, who numbered the paper "sixteen", had already written fifteen papers called _The Anti-Theatre_ in answer to Steele's _Theatre_. The demise of Steele's periodical merely afforded him an opportunity of changing his title; his naturally became inappropriate when Steele's paper was discontinued and the shorter title was probably thought to be more attractive to readers. Falstaffe made no attempt to pass his papers off as the work of his famous rival, to gain popularity for them through the reputation of Steele. Indeed, the antagonism which existed between the two men would have made such an act of deception an unlikely one. Steele's _The Theatre_, his last periodical, had been written for a controversial purpose; by his own admission he wrote it to arouse support for himself in a dispute in which he was engaged with the Lord Chamberlain, the Duke of Newcastle. Steele, who by the authority of a Royal Patent was governor of the Company of Comedians acting in Drury Lane, insisted that his authority in the theatre was not respected by the Lord Chamberlain, the officer of the Royal Household traditionally charged with supervision of theatrical matters. Newcastle intervened in the internal affairs of Drury Lane and, when Steele protested, expelled him from the theatre. Steele could do nothing but submit, though he retaliated with a series of bitter attacks on the Duke in _The Theatre_. Newcastle found defenders, of whom one of the strongest was Falstaffe, who wrote in direct opposition to Steele's "Sir John Edgar", openly attempting to provoke that knight to a journalistic contest. But Edgar gave scant attention to his essays, though they were vigorously written and presented strong arguments in defense of the Lord Chamberlain's intervention in Drury Lane affairs. Steele acknowledged the first number of _The Anti-Theatre_ (it appeared on February 15, 1720) in the fourteenth number of his own paper, praising Falstaffe for his promise not to "intrude upon the private concerns of life" in the debate which was to follow, but thereafter he all but ignored his new rival. With the exception of a brief allusion in _The Theatre_, No. 17 (an allusion which Falstaffe was quick to take up), Steele made no more references to the other periodical. For a time Falstaffe continued to answer the arguments Steele advanced in protest against the Lord Chamberlain's action, but finding that he was unable to provoke a response, he gave up the debate. After his ninth number of March 14, he had little more to say about Steele or Drury Lane. Falstaffe, however, did not stop writing when he ceased defending Newcastle's action. _The Anti-Theatre_ continued to come out twice a week until the fifteenth number appeared on Monday, April 4. And in that paper there was no indication that the periodical was to end or was to be changed in any way. But on the day after, April 5, Steele issued _The Theatre_, No. 28, signed with his own name, which he announced would be the last in the series. As no more _Anti-Theatres_ were known to have appeared after the fifteenth, it has generally been assumed (though as we now know, erroneously) that Falstaffe took his cue from Edgar and abandoned his own series. But there has long been some reason to believe that Falstaffe did not cease writing completely after the fifteenth _Anti-Theatre_. Though nothing was known of his later work, a newspaper advertisement of his _The Theatre_ was noted. But lacking any more definite information, scholars have doubted the existence of the periodical. A volume in the Folger Shakespeare Library, however, removes the doubt. There, bound with a complete set of the original _Theatre_ by Sir John Edgar, are the ten numbers of the later _Theatre_ which are reproduced here. These papers include the entire run of Falstaffe's "continuation" with the exception of one number, the nineteenth, which has apparently been lost. So far as is known, the copies in the Folger are unique. The continuation of _The Theatre_ bears little trace of the controversial bitterness present in Steele's paper of that name or in some of the early numbers of _The Anti-Theatre_. Except in the mock will in No. 16, there is no reference to Steele's dispute with Newcastle in the entire series. Nor, in spite of the title, is there any discussion of theatrical matters. As a source of information about the stage, it is virtually without value. But if it be accepted as merely another of the gracefully written series of literary essays which were so abundant in the early eighteenth century, its value and charm are apparent. The unidentified author was an accomplished scholar, and he wrote on a variety of subjects which have not lost their appeal. The interest aroused by the essays is perhaps inseparable from our historical interest in the life and manners of the time, but it is none the less genuine. Perhaps nowhere more than in the personal essays about subjects of contemporary importance--of which these are examples--is there a more pleasing record of the social and intellectual life of a period. Of the ten essays reproduced here, probably the first (No. 16) is the only one which contains allusions which will not be generally understood by scholars. In this paper, in the account of the death of Sir John Edgar and in the transcript of Edgar's will, there are references to Steele's dispute with Newcastle over the control of Drury Lane Theatre. Falstaffe facetiously recalls several points which were debated in the journalistic war provoked by Steele's loss of his governorship, but in themselves the points are of too little significance to merit explanation. The several allusions to the South Sea Bubble in these essays will be easily recognized. In Nos. 21, 22, and 26, Falstaffe considers the absurdities engendered by the Bubble (as he had previously in _The Anti-Theatre_, Nos. 10, 11, 12, and 14), exhibiting a healthy distrust of the fever of stock-jobbing then at its height. Though less extreme than Steele in his criticism of the South Sea Company, Falstaffe shows himself to have understood several months in advance of the crash the fundamental unsoundness of the wave of speculation produced by the company's policies. The essay on duelling (No. 17) was probably suggested to Falstaffe by a bill then pending in Parliament to make the practice unlawful. No other of his essays resembles more closely those of his predecessor, Steele, who during a lifetime of writing carried on a personal campaign to arouse opposition to duelling. In Steele's own _Theatre_, there are two essays devoted to the subject (Nos. 19 and 26). One of the most interesting of Falstaffe's papers is his twenty-fourth: his discussion of the recently published memoirs of the deaf and dumb fortuneteller, Duncan Campbell, memoirs which we know to have been written by Daniel Defoe. And from Falstaffe's conspicuous reference to _Robinson Crusoe_ in the paper, it seems evident that he also knew the identity of the author. What we have then is, in effect, a contemporary review of Defoe's book. Maintaining an air of seriousness, Falstaffe examines the extravagant assertions made so confidently by Defoe, ironically suggesting the implausibility and absurdity of some of them. Falstaffe's matter-of-fact comments are well adapted to exposing the incredibility of the similarly matter-of-fact narrative of Defoe. Who Sir John Falstaffe was we do not know. No clue to his identity has been discovered. But from the essays themselves we learn something of his tastes and predilections. A strong interest in classical antiquity is apparent in numerous allusions to ancient history and mythology, allusions particularly plentiful in _The Anti-Theatre_; an intelligent reverence for the writings of Shakespeare may be observed in a series of admiring references; and from his repeated remarks about Spain and Spanish literature, both in _The Anti-Theatre_ and in _The Theatre_, we may probably conclude that he had some special knowledge of that country and its literature. But all of this can be but speculation. We know nothing positively about Falstaffe except that he wrote a series of engaging essays. Falstaffe's _Theatre_ is reproduced, with permission, from the papers in the Folger Shakespeare Library. John Loftis Princeton University Numb. XVI THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. _I am Myself, but call me What you please._ South. in Oroon. Saturday, _April 9. 1720._ Men, that like myself, set up for being Wits, and dictating to the World in a censorial Way, should like Oracles endeavour to be barely heard, but never have it distinguish'd from whence the Voice comes. _Faith_ and _Reputation_ have ever been built on _Doubt_ and _Mystery_, and sometimes the Art of being _unintelligible_ does not a little advance the Credit of a Writer. There are many Reasons why we, who take upon Us the Task of Diurnal or Weekly Lucubrations, should be like the River _Nilus_, sending abroad fertile Streams to every Quarter, and still keeping our Heads undiscover'd. But why should I be compell'd to give Reasons for every thing? _Were Reasons as plenty as Blackberries_, as my worthy Ancestor was wont to say, _I would not give a Reason upon Compulsion_. I have confess'd to the World I am a _Knight_ (nor am I asham'd to own it, tho' 'tis a Condescension as Knighthood goes;) and my Name is _John Falstaffe_; must they have too a Tree of my Pedigree, and a Direction to my Lodgings? 'Tis ill-Manners to pluck the Masque off, when we would not be known: besides that, Curiosity has lost Men many a Blessing, and plung'd the Discoverers into signal Calamities; as witness _Oedipus_, and the Oracle, _Lot's_ Wife, _Orpheus_ and _Eurydice_, and several other _true_ and _ancient_ Histories, which I have something else to do than think of at present. It was an Opinion growing apace in the Town, that Sir _John Edgar_ and I were one and the same Man: but from what Tract or Circumstance this Notion sprung, I can neither learn nor guess. I mounted the Stage as the Adversary, and he accepted my Challenge: upon which I attack'd him with such Weapons as Men of Learning commonly use against one another, yet he declin'd the Combat. I was by This in Generosity compell'd to desist from pursuing him, yet every now and then I took upon me to reprimand him, when I observ'd him too free in the Use of certain Figures in Rhetorick, which are the common Dialect of a Part of the Town famous for _good Fish_ and _Female Orators_. Thus he continued his Course of Writing, sometimes very obscure, sometimes too plain: according as either Vapours, or Spleen, or Love, or Resentment, or _French_ Wine predominated; which I, by my Skill in Natural Philosophy observing, thought it advisable to leave him to himself, till the Court of Chancery should appoint him a proper Guardian. I cannot deny, but that we shook Hands behind the Curtain, and have been very good Friends for these eight Papers last, have been merry without any Gall, he regarding me as a Gentleman Philosopher, and I looking upon him as an inoffensive Humorist. I confess that it contributes much to my Peace of Soul, that we were reconcil'd before his Departure from this Stage of Business and of Life. The Reader will hereby understand that Sir _John_ is dead: It is for this Reason that I appear in his Dress, that I assume his _Habit de Guerre_, for Sir John chose me, from among all Men living, to be his sole Executor. The Printer had no _black Letter_ by him, otherwise this Paper (as in Decency it ought) should have appear'd in Mourning: however I shall use as much Ceremony as the Time will allow; and, as _Hob_ did in the Farce by the Man that hang'd himself, _I take up his Cloak, and am chief Mourner_. We never can do the Memory of a Great Man more Justice, than by being particular in his Conduct and Behaviour at the Point of Death. Sir _John_, tho' a Wit, took no Pains to shew it at his latest Hour, that is, he did not dye like one of those _prophane_ Wits, who bid the Curtains be drawn, and said _the Farce of Life was ended_. This is making our Warfare too slight and ludicrous: He departed with more Grace, and, like the memorable Type of his Prudence, _Don Quixote de la Mancha_, where he perceiv'd his Sand was running out, he repented the Extravagance of his _Knight-Errantry_, and ingenuously confess'd his _Family Name_. He seem'd entirely dispos'd to dye in his Wits, and no doubt, did so: tho' by Intervals, 'tis thought he was a little delirious, talk'd of taking Coach to _Fishmongers_ Hall, broke into imperfect Sentences about _Annuities_ and _South-Sea_, and mutter'd something to himself of making Dividends of _Ten per Cent_ at least _six times a Year_. If Sir _John_ appear'd by all the Actions of his Life a Friend to Mankind, he certainly did so in a great Measure at his Death, by the charitable Disposition of what he died possess'd. I have given an Abridgment of his Will, that the World may see he left his Legacies only where they were truly wanted: Neither Favour nor Prejudice had any Influence over him in his last Minutes, but he had nothing more at Heart than the Necessities of his Legatees. '_In Nomini Domini_, Amen. I _John Edgar_, &c. _Knight_, being sound in Body, but imperfect of Mind and Memory, do make this my last Will, &c. '_Item_, As to such personal Estate which I have the good Fortune to leave behind me, I give and dispose thereof, as follows: And, best, I give and bequeath all and singular my _Projects_ to the Society of _Stockjobbers_, Share and Share alike, because I am sure they will be never the better for them. '_Item_, I give and bequeath all my Right, Property and Share in the _transparent Bee-hive_ to my indulgent Friend and Patron, his Grace the Duke of ----, because he has taken such a particular Fancy to it. '_Item_, I give and bequeath the full _Profit_ of all those _Plays_ which I have _Intentions of writing_, if it shall happen that I live to the Poor of the Parish in which I shall dye: desiring it may be distributed by my Executor, and _not come into the Hands of the_ Church-wardens. '_Item_, I give and bequeath my _Goosequilt_, with which I demolish'd _Dunkirk_, to such Person as shall appear most strenuous for the Delivery of _Port Mahon_ and _Gibraltar_ to the _Spaniards_. 'And as to such _Qualifications_ wherewith I am endow'd, which have always serv'd me in the Nature of _personal Estate_, I dispose thereof as follows; First, I give and bequeath my _Politicks_ to the Directors of the _Academy_ of _Musick_, my _Religion_ to the Bishop of B----, my _Eloquence_ to the most distrest Author in _Grubstreet_, who writes the _full Accounts_ of _Murthers & Rapes_, and _Fires_, and my _Obscurity_ to somebody that is inclin'd to turn _Casuist in Divinity_. '_Item_, I give my _Beauty_ to Mr. _Dennis_, because he had a Mind to steal it from me while I was alive. '_Item_, I give my _Wits_ to my Friends at _Button's_, my _Good Manners_ to the _Deputy Governors_ of _Drury Lane_ Theatre; and my _Charity_ to the _married_ and _unmarried Ladies_ of the said Theatre; and lest Disputes should arise about the Distribution thereof, it being too little for them All, my Desire is, that they be determin'd in their Shares by Lot. 'And I make and appoint Sir _John Falstaffe_, Knight, my full and whole Executor, and residuary Legatee, desiring him to continue my Paper of the _Theatre_, but after his own Stile and Method; and desiring likewise that the Sum of Forty Shillings may be given to the Boys of the _Charity School_ of St. _Martin_ in the Fields, to write me an _Elegy_ any Time within _Eighteen_ Years after my Decease.' He left several other Legacies to the Theatrical _Viceroys_, whose Interest he had always so much at Heart, such as, his _Humility_, his _Learning_ and _Judgment_ in _Dramatick Poetry_; but these being Things _which they always lived without_, and which we are assur'd, _they will never claim_, we thought it needless to insert them. * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XVII. THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. --_Animasque in vulnere ponunt._ Virg. Tuesday, _April 12. 1720._ The Incident of a late _Prize_ fought at one of our Theatres, has given me some Occasion to amuse myself with the Rise, and Antiquity of _Duelling_; and to enquire what Considerations have given it such Credit, as to make it practicable as well in all Countries, as in all Times. Religion and Civil Policy have ever declar'd against the Custom of receiving _Challenges_, and deny that any Man has a Right, by a Tryal at _Sharps_, to destroy his Fellow-Creature. History, 'tis true; both sacred and prophane, is full of Instances of these sort of Combats: but very few are recorded to have happen'd between Friends, none on the light and idle Misconstruction of Words, which has set most of our modern _Tilters_ at Work. The _Athenians_ made it penal by a Law so much as to call a Man a _Murtherer_: and the Detestation of Antiquity is so plain to this inhuman Kind of Proceeding, that when _Eteocles_ and _Polynices_ had kill'd each other upon the important Quarrel of disputed Empire, the Government order'd the Challenger's Body to be thrown out as a Prey to the Dogs and Birds, and made it Death for any one to sprinkle Dust over it, or give it the least honorary Marks of Interment. The _Duelling_ so much in Fashion for a few late Centuries is so scandalous to _Christianity_ and _common Understanding_, and grounded upon none of those specious Occasions which at first made it warrantable, that it is high Time the Wisdom of Commonwealths should interpose to discountenance and abrogate a pernicious Liberty, whose Source springs alone from Folly and Intemperance. Sir _Walter Raleigh_ has very wisely observ'd in his _History_ of the _World_, that _the acting of a private Combat, for a private Respect, and most commonly a frivolous One, is not an Action of Virtue, because it is contrary to the Law of God, and of all Christian Kings: neither is it difficult, because even and equal in Persons and Arms: neither for a publick Good, but tending to the contrary, because the Loss or Mutilation of an able Man, is also a Loss to the Commonweal_. Yet vile and immoral as this Custom is, it has so far prevail'd as to make way for a _Science_, and is pretended, like Dancing, to be taught By _Rule_ and _Book_. The Advertisements, which are of great Instruction to curious Readers, inform us, that a late Baronet had employ'd his Pen in laying down the _solid_ Art of _Fighting_ both on _Foot_ and _Horseback_: by reading of which Treatise any Person might in a short time attain to the Practice of it, either for the Defence of Life upon a just Occasion, or Preservation of Honour, in any accidental Scuffle or Quarrel. That is, if I may have Permission, without being challeng'd, to divest the Title of its Pomp, this solid Art would soon put one in a Capacity of killing one's Man, and standing a fair Chance of bequeathing one's Cloaths and Neck to the Hangman. It is observable, that Mr. _Bysshe_, in his Collection of agreeable and sublime Thoughts, for the Imitation of future Poets, when he comes to the Topick of _Honour_, ingeniously refers his Readers to the Word _Butcher_; tacitly implying that the Thoughts upon both Heads have a _Coherence_, as the Terms themselves are _synonomous_. In short, your Practitioners in Duelling are so barbarous in their Nature; that their whole Study is picking up Occasions to be engaged in a Quarrel. They are a sort of _Quixots_, whose heads are so full of mischievous Chivalry, that they will mistake the _Sails_ of a _Wind-mill_ for the _Arms_ of a _Gyant_; and it is fifty to one, if the most innocent Motions, Looks, or Smiles, are not, by their Prepossessions, construed Airs of Defiance, Offence, or Ridicule. There is a Passage in _Hamlet_, which never fails of raising Laughter in the Audience; 'tis where the Clowns are preparing a Grave for _Ophelia_, and descanting on the Unreasonableness of her being buried in Christian Burial, _who willfully sought her own Salvation. Will you ha' the Truth or on't?_ says one of them wisely, _if this had not been a Gentlewoman, she should have been buried out of_ Christian Burial. _Why there though say'st it_; replies his Fellow, _and the more is the Pity that great Folk should have Countenance in this World to drown, or hang themselves more than us poor Folk_. The Application is so easy, that I shall leave it for everyone to make it for himself. Next to my first Wish, that _Duelling_ were totally restrain'd, methinks, I could be glad that our young hot _Bravo's_ would not be altogether _brutal_, but quarrel mathematically, and with some Discretion. I would recommend the Caution, which _Shakespear_ has prescrib'd by an Example, of offering and accepting a Challenge. In one of his Plays, there is an hereditary Quarrel betwixt two Families, and the Servants on each Side are so zealous in their Masters Cause, that they never meet without a Desire of fighting, yet are shy of giving the Occasion of Combat. The transcribing a short Passage will give the best Idea of their Conduct. Samp. _I will bite my Thumb at them, which is a Disgrace to them if they bear it._ Abra. _Do you bite your Thumb at Us, Sir?_ Samp. _I do bite my Thumb, Sir._ Abra. _Do you bite your Thumb at Us, Sir?_ Samp. _Is the Law on our Side, if I say, Ay?_ Greg. _No._ Samp. _No, Sir; I do not bite my Thumb at you, Sir; but I bite my Thumb, Sir._ The most beneficial Things to a Commonwealth will have some of its Members who will think them a Grievance. I have just now receiv'd the following Letter from a _Fencing-Master_, who is very apprehensive of Business falling off, if the _Act_ against _Duelling_ should take place. "Sir, "As you are both a Knight and a Gentleman (which now-a-days don't always meet in one Man) I will make bold to Expostulate with you upon a Bill depending in the House of Commons, I mean that against _Duelling_. Every good Subject has a right of dissenting to any Bill propos'd, either by petition, or Pamphlet, before it passes into a Law; and this concerns the Honour of all Orders of Men from the Prince to the private Gentleman. I make free to tell you in a Word, if this passes, there's an End of _good Manhood_ in the King's Dominions. How must all the Important Quarrels, which happen in Life, among men of Honour, be decided? Must a heedless sawcy Coxcomb frown, or tread upon a Gentleman's Toes with Impunity? No, I suppose, the great Cause of Honour must be determined by the womanish Revenge of Scolding; and when two Peers or Gentlemen have had some manly Difference, they must chuse their _Seconds_ from _Billingsgate_ or the _Bar_--Consider, Sir, how many brave Gentleman have comfortably kept good Company, and had their Reckoning always paid, only by shewing a _broad Blade_, and cherishing a fierce Pair of _Whiskers_. Good Manners must certainly die with Chivalry; for what keeps all the pert Puppies about Town in Awe, but the Fear of being call'd to Account? Don't you know that there are a Set of impertinent Wretches, who are always disturbing publick Assemblies with Riots and Quarrels, only upon a presumption of being hinder'd from fighting, by the Crowd? There will be no end of such Grievances, if this Law takes Place. Besides, Sir, I hope it will be consider'd, what will become of us Brothers of the Blade; the Art we profess will grow of no Use to Mankind; and, of Consequence, we shall be expos'd to Poverty and Disgrace. Consider, Sir, how many bright Qualifications must go to the finishing one of us; we require Parts as elegant, generous, and manly, as any Profession whatsoever; therefore, I hope, that some publick Spirit in the House of Commons, who is a Lover of his Country, and a Friend to Arts and Sciences, will start up and distinguish himself against this Bill. You know that our Profession is justly call'd the Noble _Science_ of _Defence_, and makes a considerable Branch of the _Mathematicks_; if the Ignorant should gain this Point against us, they won't stop here; no doubt, their Design is to attack all Arts and Sciences, and beat them one by one quite out of the Nation; the _Assault_, 'tis true, seems only made against us; but wise Men foresee that all Learning is in Danger. Our Adversaries are upon the _Longe_ with their Swords just at our Breasts, I desire therefore your Advice and Assistance, in what _Guard_ we must stand to _parry_ this fatal _Thrust_. Yours, "FLANKANADE." * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XVIII. THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. _Totum hominem Deus adsumit, quia totus ab ipso est; Et totum redimit quem sumpserat, omne reducens Quicquid homo est, istud Tumulis, ast istud Abysso._ Prudent. [Greek: Phthenxomai hois themis osti, thuras d' epithesthe bebelois.] Orpheus. Saturday, _April 16. 1720._ The Person, who confines himself to the Task of writing a Paper of Entertainment, is not thereby obliged to be continually ludicrous in his Composition, or to expect that his Readers should always be upon the broad Grin. The _rational_, as well as _risible_, Faculties are to be exercised; and if I think fit to be too precisely serious to Day, my good-natur'd Customers will give me an Indulgence, and believe that I will make it up to them with Mirth on _Tuesday_. As I devoted the spare Hours of yesterday to Meditation, I could not help reflecting, what little Notion we have at this Time of _Prodigies_ and _Phenomena_, that are not in the common Course of Nature. We are grown _Epicureans_ in our Principles, and force our selves to believe, that it is Fear, Superstition, or Ignorance, to fancy that Providence sends the World a Warning in extraordinary Appearances: We buoy our selves up, that we only want such a Portion of Philosophy to account for what startles the Grossness of Sense, and to know that such Appearances must have their Cause in Nature, tho' we cannot readily determine where to fix it. This brings to my Mind, when _Glendour_ was boasting in the Play, that at his Nativity the Heavens were full of fiery Shapes, and the Foundation of the Earth shook like a Coward; _Hotspur_ reply'd humourously, _Why so it would have done at the same Season, if your Mother's Cat had but kitten'd, tho' your self had never been born_. If we are to think so slightly of these uncommon Accidents, since the Fashion of the Times will call them so, I would fain be resolved in one Point, how it comes to pass, that the Birth and Death of so many eminent Persons, and of Consequence to the World, have been mark'd and usher'd in with such a Pomp of Prodigies. The same great Poet, whom I but now quoted, observes finely, that, _When Beggars die, there are no Comets seen: The Heav'ns themselves blaze forth the Death of Princes._ The whole Concurrence of Historians, even of the most undoubted Authority, have struck in, and espoused this Opinion. They are not all Fools and superstitious Dotards, nor tied by any Obligations to record a Set of Miracles, which in their own private Thoughts they counted absurd, and laugh'd at. Every Pen, that has touch'd the Circumstance of _Julius Caesar's_ Death, has consented to relate the Strange Things, which both foresaw and foretold his Assassination. _Shakespear_ has communicated these Terrors to his Audience with the utmost Art: The Night is attended with Thunder and Lightning; and _Caesar_ comes forth in his Night-gown, reflecting on the Unquietness of the Season, and ordering the Priests to do present Sacrifice: _Calphurnia_ immediately follows him; and the Undauntedness of his Spirit, attack'd by the Tenderness of his Wife's Tears, gives an Occasion for the following Recital. Caesar, _I never stood on Ceremonies; Yet now they fright me: There is one within, Besides the Things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid Sights seen by the Watch. A Lioness hath whelped in the Streets; And Graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their Dead: Fierce fiery Warriours fight upon the Clouds, (In Ranks and Squadrons, and right Forms of War) Which drizzled Blood upon the_ Capitol. _The Noise of Battle hurried in the Air, Horses did neigh, and dying Men did groan, And Ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the Streets. O_ Caesar! _These Things are beyond all Use, And I do fear them_. The Poet, tho' he has adorned this Description by his Art, has been careful to collect its Substance from the Historians. Every Particular is preserved to us by the _Heathen_ Writers; and not a _Heathen_, that we know of, did ever dispute the Truth of it. The Love and Esteem which the Generality bore to the Person of _Caesar_, the Reverence which they paid to the Dignity of his Character, and the important Services which he had done the Commonwealth, contributed not only to convince them of these Prodigies, but to make some effort, that the Gods had received him into their Number. The Use, which I intended from this Subject, is, that as _Christians_, who have more invaluable Obligations to remember, we should suffer our Faith and Gratitude to extend as least as far as the _Pagans_ did. There was a dread Time (for the Commemoration whereof a Day is annually set a-part) _when the Sun was eclipsed, and Darkness was over all the Land; when the Vail of the Temple was rent asunder from the Top to the Bottom; when the Earth quaked, and Rocks were split; when the Graves were opened, and the Bodies of Saints, which slept in Death, arose and walked_. Let _Atheists_ alone, and _Freethinkers_ disbelieve the Terrors of that Hour. 'Twas fit that Nature should feel such Convulsions, when the Lord of Life suffered such Indignities. I almost fear least my Readers should suspect that I am usurping the Province of the Pulpit, and therefore I shall continue this Discourse in the Words of a Poet, who will ever be esteemed in the _English_ Tongue. When _Adam_ is doom'd to be turn'd out of Paradise, _Milton_ has by a happy Machinery supposed, that the Angel _Michael_ is dispatched down to pronounce the Sentence, and mitigate it by shewing _Adam_ in Vision, what should happen to his Posterity. Amongst the rest, the _Incarnation_ is shadowed out; and the Angel tells him, that the _Messiah_ shall spring from _his_ Loins, and make a Satisfaction for the Punishment, which _he_ by his Transgression had earned on himself and his Race. _For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd, Seis'd on by Force, judg'd, and to Death condemn'd, A shameful and accurst, nail'd to the Cross By his own Nation, slain for bringing Life; But to the Cross He nails thy Enemies The Law that is against thee, and the sins Of all Mankind, with him there crucified, Never to hurt them more, who rightly trust In this his Satisfaction: So he dies, But soon revives; Death over him no Power Shall long usurp: e'er the third dawning Light Return, the Stars of Morron shall see him rise Out of his Grave, fresh as the dawning Light, The Ransom paid, which Man from Death redeems._ I cannot better conclude the Triumph of this Promise, than by the Speech, in which _Adam_ expresses his Joy and Wonder at these glad Tidings. _'O Goodness infinite! Goodness immense, That all this Good of Evil shall produce, And Evil turn to Good; more wonderful Than that, which by Creation first brought forth Light out of Darkness! Full of doubt I stand, Whether I should repent me now of Sin By me done and committed, or rejoice Much more, that much more Good thereof shall spring._ * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XX. THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. _Tristius baud illis monstrum, nec saevior ulla Pestis, & ira Deum_, Stygiis _sese extulit oris._ Virg. Saturday, _April 23. 1720._ It is very odd to consider, yet very frequently to be remark'd, that tho' we have all so many Passions and Appetites pushing for the Government of us, and every one of us has a Portion of Reason, that, if permitted, would regulate our Conduct: yet we are obstinate not to be directed by that Reason, and give the Rein and Regulation of our Actions over to the Passions and Appetites of other People. This is putting our selves upon the Foot of _Epicurus's_ Deities, who were too indolent to look after the World themselves, and left the Task of Providence to Chance and Second Causes. I grant, it is very necessary that our Misconduct should be assisted, and set right by wiser Judgment; but the Danger is, and especially among the Female Sex, into what Hands this Power of Direction is committed. The Trust of Friendship is so often betrayed, and the Duty of the Office postponed to private Interest, that it is a Question whether we are not safer, while we give a Loose to our own extravagant Excursions. The Institution of _Douegnas_, or Governesses in _Spain_, we do not doubt, was a Design well befitting the Caution of that wise and reserved Nation; but the Corruption of the Persons intrusted, soon brought them into so much Disreputation, that they became the Objects of hatred and Scandal. Don _Francisco de Quevedo_, in his general Satires, has set these Vermin in such a Light, as gives a shrewd Suspicion of their having been mischievous in his own Family. He dreams that he is got within the Confines of Death, and, among the other visionary Figures presented, he is encountred by an old _Governante_. _How's this_! says he, in a great Amazement, _Have ye any of those Cattle in this Country? Let the Inhabitants pray heartily for Peace then; and all little enough to keep them quiet_. In short, he makes the old Gentlewoman acquaint him, that she had been Eight Hundred Years in Hell, upon a Design to erect an Order of the _Governantes_; but the Right Worshipful _Satanic_ Commissioners were not as yet come to any Resolution upon the Point: For, they said, if your _Governantes_ should come once to settle there, there would be no Occasion for any other Tormentors, and the Devils themselves would be but so many _Jacks out of Office_. _I have been_, says she, _too in_ Purgatory _upon the same Project, but there so soon as ever they set Eyes upon me, all the Souls cried out unanimously_, Libera nos, Domine. _And as for_ Heaven, _That's no Place for Quarrels, Slanders, Disquiets, Heart-burnings, and consequently none for_ Me. These are the _Douegna's_ which the Suspicions of the _Spaniards_ at first intended as Spies upon the Conduct of their Wives and Daughters. We have a Species of _Governantes_ among us in _England_, who being admitted into a Familiarity in Families, by Policy improve it into Friendship: this Friendship lets them into a Degree of Trust, which they are diligent to turn into the best Advantage; and having always little servile Ends of their own to obtain, their surest Step is to sow Dissention, and strengthen their own Interest, by alienating the Affections of the Wife from her Husband; whose _Bread_ they are eating at the same Time, that they are undermining his _Quiet_ in the nearest Concerns of Life. Making a Visit the other Day to my Friend _Gellius_, who happened to be abroad, I found the Partner of his Bosom _Clarissa_, and her eternal Companion _Drusilla_, all in Tears. I was not received with that open Familiarity, which was used to be shewn me; and I observed something in them of that kind of Reserve, which is common with People who are under some great Affliction. I at first apprehended, that some fatal Accident had happen'd to the Person or Circumstances of my Friend; but, upon Inquiry, I was set easy as to these Fears, tho' they would give me no Hint, by which I might guess at the Cause of their Disquietude. Finding them in a Disposition so unapt for Mirth, I took my Leave; judging, it could be no worse than some little domestick Misunderstanding, occasion'd, perhaps, by a disagreeable Command on the Side of the Husband, or some Contradiction on the Side of the Wife. But my Man, who is very intimate with all the Servants, has since let me into the Secret. It seems, there is a strange Union of Souls between these two Ladies; from what Affinity of Disposition, or mysterious Impulse, is a Secret only known to Nature and themselves. They love and hate alike; their Sympathies and Antipathies are the same; and all Joys are tasteless to the One, without the Company and Participation of the Other. Their Affection is of that tender, that delicate Nature, that the smallest Jealousie, the least Unkindness blasts it. It happen'd one Day, that _Clarissa_ was more than commonly civil to her Husband: There was something past between them, that look'd like Fondness, and this in the Presence of _Drusilla_: Who can express the Passions that struggled in the Female Rival's Soul? Despair, Rage, Jealousie, and Anguish at once possess'd her; and it was now Time to retire to Sleep; the Lady with her Husband withdrew to Bed, and the jealous Friend likewise committed her self to her Pillow, tho' not to Rest. Her Soul was busied with the bitter Reflexion of what had past, and what further Endearments might be practis'd. Unable to compose her self, she resolves to rise, and pretends Sickness: _Clarissa_ is disturbed from the Embraces of her Husband; nor is suffer'd to go back to the Bed of Wedlock, till she has promis'd her disgusted Friend, by a forc'd Indifference to restrain the Liberties of the inamour'd _Gellius_. The learned Times, I find, were not unacquainted with these _Female Intimacies_: And by the Names they affix'd to the Persons practising them, which I shall forbear to mention, 'tis plain they put none of the best Constructions on their Familiarities. _Plato_, I remember, offers at a Reason in Nature for such Conversations. He tells us, that at first Mankind were made with _Two_ Heads, _Four_ Arms, _Four_ Legs, and so every Way double: that of these, there were _three_ Sorts; some, double Men; some, double Women; and some Hermaphrodites. _Jupiter_, upon an Offence committed, split them all into _Two's_; from whence arises in Mankind that Desire of a Companion, as his other half to perfect his Being. The Consequence of this Division was, that they, who in their original State were _double Men_, are still fond of the _Ganymede's_ with smooth Chins; and they, who were at first _double Women_, are at this Day enamoured of their own Sex, and _Platonicks_ as to any Commerce with Ours. I have heard so much to the Disadvantage of these _Inamorata's_, that I consider a Man, who is link'd to such a Wife, in the State of the _Lover_ and his _Two Mistresses_ in the _Fable_. The one, who was a little turned in Years, pulled out all his _black_ Hairs, to make him look nearer to her Standing: and the other, who was in her Bloom, pick'd out all the _grey_ ones, that the World might not suspect she had an Old Man; 'till between them, they made him as bald as Father _Time_ himself. I shall conclude with the Story of an unfortunate Gentleman, who had suffer'd heavily in this Way, and went abroad to avoid his Slavery. As he was travelling from _Madrid_ to _Valladolid_, he found himself belated, and wanted to take up his Night's Quarters in some middle Place. He was informed, the nearest Way would bring him to a small Village, call'd _Douegnas_; which with us would be the Village of _Governesses_. _But is there no other Place_, said he, _within some reasonable Distance, either short of, or beyond it_? They told him, No, unless it were at a _Gallows_. _Nay, there shall be my Quarters then_, said he, _I am resolved; for a Thousand_ Gibbets _are not so bad to me as One_ Douegna. * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XXI. THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. [Greek: Kronides phrenas exeleto Zeus]. Homer. Tuesday, _April 26. 1720._ The Writer who attempts either to divert, or instruct the Town, has, perhaps, a worse Chance of succeeding now, than in any Age before. The Conversation of the World is changed, Gaiety and Mirth are banished from Society, and the buisy Affair of Avarice has taken up the Thoughts of every Company; if a Man in a Coffee-House takes up a _News-Paper_, the first Thing he turns to is the Price of the _Stocks_; if he looks over the _Advertisements_, it is in Quest of some new _Project_; when he has finished his Enquiry, and mixes in Conversation, you hear him expatiate upon the Advantage of some favourite Project, or curse his Stars for missing the lucky Moment of buying as he intended at the Rise of the South-Sea. Another complains of the Roguery of some Broker or Director, whom he intrusted; this I have heard canvass'd over and over, with so many Aggravations of Meanness and Knavery against each other, that, I confess, I shall never see a poor Malefactor go to suffer Death for robbing another of ten Pounds upon the High-Way, but I shall look with Compassion on his Condition, and perhaps reflect secretly upon the Partiality of publick Justice. I know so many little infamous Frauds, so many Breaches of Honour, and Friendship, in the Conduct of these Persons, that I should think it a Piece of Justice to expose them, could I imagine it would bring them to Shame or Amendment; but I shall leave them to work their Way to _Wealth_ and _Contempt_, which I presume they will be very well contented with; nor envy any Man the Merit of his Poverty and good Nature. But I cannot forbear admiring the Nature of Projects, and by what furious Impulse Mankind is carried into them: No Person asks the Question, whether they be for the Good of the Nation; for, it seems to me, that no Man cares, provided he gets by them himself. We use our Country like our Step-Mother, we have no natural Affection for her, we are Foreigners to her Blood, and when we have sucked her dry, we make no Returns of Gratitude in her Necessities, but turn her loose to shift for her self; I think this the Case, if you consider the Condition of a rising Project, which every Man that's concerned in, intends to get out of, and declares he will not trust too long. I have very little Capacity, or Inclination, to argue upon this Subject; and being a little indolent withal, I shall take the Liberty of entertaining to Day with a Story, that lies ready at my elbow; and which I declare before-hand, has no significant Meaning in it, that I know of: If the Sagacity of my Readers can make more of it than my self, in God's Name, let them please themselves with the Application. There is a small _Island_ on the Coast of _Denmark_, in which there are five Towns; the Lord of this Place was very poor, rather because he coveted much, than that he wanted any Thing. God has afflicted the Inhabitants with a general Inclination in them all to be _Projectors_, so that the Land seemed to be infested with as many Monsters as there were Men: So prodigious was the natural Proneness to projecting in that Country, that the very sucking Babes cried out _Project_, before they could say _Papa_ or _Mamma_; the whole island was a confused Chaos, for Man and Wife, Father and Son, Neighbour and Neighbor, were ever jangling about their Projects, and they were as intoxicated with them as if they had been drunk with Wine. The Lord of this Place ordered a general Examination of all _Projects_. Legions of _Projectors_ assembled before his Palace with Skrips and Scrolls of Paper stuck in their Girdles, run through their Button-holes, and peeping through their Pockets. The Lord having made known his Wants, demanded their Assistance; and they all at once laying hold of their Papers, and crowding till they had almost stifled one another, in an Instant heap'd up four Tables with their Memoirs. The first Paper he cast his Eyes on was, _How to raise an unmeasurable Treasure by Subscription of all that Men are worth, and yet inrich them by taking it away. The first Part_, quoth the Lord, _of taking from all Men, I like; but as to the second, which is to inrich them by taking it away, I am dubious of, yet let them look to that_. He looked over a Multitude of others. In the mean Time the Projectors quarrelled, each approving his own Scheme, and condemning the rest; and they grew so Scurrilous, they called one another _Sons of Projectors_ instead of _Sons of Whores_. The Lord commanded Peace, and being tempted with their Offers, receiv'd and allow'd several of their Proposals: Whereupon they all swore they would stand by him in all Extremities. A few Days after, the Lord's Servants came out, and cried the Palace was on Fire in three several Places, and the Wind blew high. The Lord was in a great Consternation; the Projectors gathered about him, bid him sit still, and be easy, and they would set all to Rights in a Moment; Upon which they fell to Work, and laid their Hands on all they found in the House, casting every Thing of Value out at the Windows; others with Sledges threw down a Tower; others cried the Fire would cease, as soon as it had Vent, and fell to unroofing the House; and so destroy'd the whole Structure they were called to save. None endeavoured to extinguish the Fire; they were all busy in confounding every Thing they could grasp. At length the Smoak decreased, and the Lord, going out, perceived that the common People had master'd the Fire, while the Projectors had demolished his Palace, and destroyed his Furniture: Incens'd and raging at this Sight, he cried out, _Rogues, you are worse than the Fire, and so are all your Projects; it were better I had been burnt, than to have given Ear to your destructive Counsels. You overturn a whole House, least a Corner of it should fall; you feed a Prince with his own Limbs, and pretend to maintain him, when he is devouring himself. Villains, justly did the Fire come to burn me, for suffering you to live; but, when it perceived me in the Power of Projectors, it ceased, concluding I was already consumed. Fire is the most merciful of Projectors, for Water quenches it; but you increase in spight of all the Elements_. Princes may be poor; but when they once have to do with Projectors, they cease to be Princes, to avoid being poor. * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XXII THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. _Quos_ Jupiter _vult perdere, dementat prius._ Saturday, _April 30. 1720._ It is common with Authors of my Rank to give themselves Airs of Consequence, when they assume a Right of correcting, or reforming, the Vices, or Follies of the Age. The late Sir _John Edgar_, of obscure Memory, pretended to define a Sort of Men whom he called _wrong-headed_, and has told two or three Stories by Way of Examples, from whence he wou'd have you think, that a Slip of Memory, is an Error in Judgment; as you may see in his Instance of the Foot Soldier, who robbed the Gentleman, and forgetting that he had put the Things into his own Pockets, afterwards changed Coats with the Gentleman, and by that Means put him again in Possession of whatever he before had robbed him. Without any Malice to Sir _John's_ Remaines, I shall beg Leave to observe, that the Term _wrong-headed_ more properly belongs to him, who has an ill Turn of thinking, and judging, than to him who commits a careless Oversight, which is common to Men of the best Parts. My Reason for introducing this, is, from some Reflections that I have made on the Subject of my last Paper; by which it appears to me that there are Multitudes of this Sort of People in the World, pursuing Fortune in a very giddy Way. I suppose it will be thought ridiculous, to call him _wrong-headed_, who by any Artifice shall improve his Estate; yet when the Misfortunes of others, and those by much the greater Number, and a Decay of Trade are put in Ballance against that Artifice, I doubt this Charge must be somewhere, tho' I am not cunning enough to tell where. As I see but little Company, and retire for my Ease and the Improvement of my Studies; I was deeply ingaged in Thought the other Night upon this Topick, and in made such a strong Impression upon me, that it produced a very odd Dream. As it is the Weakness of Women, and old Men, to be fond of telling their Dreams to their Friends, I hope my Readers will excuse me this Infirmity of my Age. Methought, I saw a Lady of a middle Age, large Stature, and in the Fulness of her Beauty, stand before me, magnificently dress'd; I had not Leisure to peruse her, before she began to walk about, skip and dance, and used so many odd Gestures, that she appeared to me little better than mad. I had the Curiosity to approach, to observe what she might be, when upon contemplating her Features, her Dress, and her Air, I fancied, I had seen her exact Likeness in several Maps and Drawings in _Metzo-Tinto_, where her Form was made use of to express _Britannia_. This gave me a Tenderness and Compassion for her Condition; I ask'd her many Questions, by her Replies to which I perceived her Head was a little turned, and her Notions of Things extravagant. She owned, she had forsaken all those ingenious and industrious Arts, which she had practised long to the Wonder of her Neighbours, with the Reputation of a discreet and vertuous Matron, and now was resolved to turn _Rope-Dancer_. This was no sooner said, but she falls to work, to setting up her Tackle with proper Supporters; and to my very great Astonishment fixed one End of her Rope in _France_, and t'other in _Holland_. The Inhabitants of these Countries flock'd to behold her, watching and wishing for her Fall, and every one ready to receive her; she tottered strangely, and seemed ready to come down every Minute; upon which those below stretch'd out their Hands in Order to pull her down, and shewed Joy, and Disappointment, in their Looks alternately, as often as she stumbled or recovered. She begg'd for a Pole to poise her, but no body wou'd lend her one; and looked about in vain for help. There appeared at some Distance a Man in a broad Hat, and short Cloak, with a swarthy Complexion, and black Whiskers, who seemed altogether unconcern'd at what shou'd happen; to her in her Frights she gave him many a Look, as if she silently begg'd his Assistance, but whether she had done him any Injury, or that her Pride would not suffer her to turn Petitioner, she seemed ashamed to call to him for Help. Thus she went on tottering, 'till she tore all her Garments, so that her Robes appeared like the ragged Colours in _Westminster-Hall_; at length seeing her Danger, he reached her out a Pole, and then she shewed a tolerable Skill and Agility; which the People perceiving, who were towards France, they resolved to let go the Rope that she might slip down to their Side, and this gave me such Pain for her Safety, that I waked with a Start of Consternation. Tho' there was nothing in this but a Dream, it cannot be imagined how concerned I was, that it did not last till I could be satisfied whether she fell, or no. I was grave for at least an Hour after, and reflected on the Policy of those, who forsake a safe and profitable Path, for vain and dangerous Flights; I fancied my self a Politician too, and imagined I knew what a Nation of _Projectors_ must bring their Country to. I shall here make a Digression, without giving any Reason for it; for since I am not bound to the Unities of Time, and Place, as we are in Poetry, I stand in no Awe of the peevish Criticks. Three _French_ Men were travelling into _Spain_, over the Mountains of _Biscay_: One of them trundled before him a _Wheelbarrow_, with Implements for grinding _Knives_ and _Scissors_; another carried a Load of _Mouse-Traps_ and _Bellows_; and the third had a Box of Combs and _Pins_. A poor _Spaniard_, who was travelling into _France_ on Foot, with his Cloak on his Shoulder, met them half Way on the Ascent of a craggy Hill. They sate down to rest in the Shade, and began to confer Notes. They asked the _Spaniard_, whither he was going? He replied, into _France_. What to do? says one of the _Frenchmen_: To seek my Fortune, replies the _Spaniard_: He was asked again, what Trade he was of? He answered, of no Trade at all: of late, says he, we _Spaniards_ have been bred to no Trades; but those of us that are poor, and honest, either beg or borrow; those, that are not, rob or cheat, as they do in other Countries. How did you live in your own Country? says one of the _Frenchmen_. Oh! says the _Spaniard_, very well for a while; I had a great many thousand Pistoles left me by my Ancestors. What have you done with them? says one of the _Frenchmen_: I put them into a _Policy_, says the _Spaniard_, where I was to have a great Interest for them. And what became of that Policy? says one of the _Frenchmen_. The _Spaniard_ replied, that at first the Interest was paid, and then Things went merrily enough; but that in a little Time the Body _Politick_ became _Bankrupt_, and paid neither Principal nor Interest. And did all the Adventurers lose their Money? says one of the _Frenchmen_. All, replies the _Spaniard_, except those that were concerned in the Management: and is Money plenty in _Spain_ now? says one of the _Frenchmen_. Never so scarce, answers the _Spaniard_; for all Degrees of Men, all Artificers, and Mechanicks left off their Trades, and put their Effects into this Policy, that they might live at their Ease; and now they're all ruined; and of all the immense Sums that were put into this damned Policy, there is not the hundredth Part to be found, and that is in the Hands of those few that cheated the rest; but whether it be sunk again into the Bowels of the Earth, or where it is gone, we cannot tell. At this one of the _French_ Men smiled, and told the _Spaniard_, he could let him into the Secret; _while your Nation was in Pursuit of this imaginary Mountain of Gold_, says he, _and all your People neglected their Employments; we, with such Trumpery as these, have drawn away the Wealth of your_ Indian _Mines; we sell our Ware in your Country, and carry your Money back to our own; By which Means we inrich our own Country, and impoverish yours: Of all the Treasures that come into_ Spain, _you enjoy only the Name; for while you are busy in Chimera's, our Industry drains all the Treasure from you; and take this with you, that_ all Projects must end like the Searches for the Philosopher's Stone, that is, in Smoke, where the _Interest_ is paid out of the _Principal Stock_, and is not supported by any industrious _Traffick_. * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XXIII THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. _Est genus hominum, qui esse primos se omnium rerum volunt, Nec sunt:--_ Ter. Tuesday, _May 3. 1720._ I find by a long Conversation with the World, and from Remarks I have made on different Times and Sexes, that there is a Desire, or rather an Ambition, implanted in all humane Creatures of being thought agreeable; but 'tis no unpleasant Study to observe what different Methods are taken of obtaining this one universal End. The Ladies seem to have laid it up as a Maxim on their Side, that their Beauty is to be the greatest Merit; for which Reason no Art, or Industry, is wanting to cultivate that Jewel; and there is so great an Adoration paid to it by all Mankind, that 'tis no Wonder they should neglect the Qualifications of the Mind, Things merely speculative, for those Graces and Ornaments which command Respect, and whose Dominion is owned as soon as seen. Upon the Foot of this Observation, some of our Sex, who are of the Order of the _Beau Garcons_, being equal to the Ladies in their Understandings, employ all their Care and Capacity in decorating the Outside; and have a Notion that he's the most ingenious Man, who makes the cleanest Figure, and is best dress'd for the Assembly or Drawing-Room. Among these pretty Triflers, a good Embroidery on their Clothes, or a Sword Knot of a new Invention, raises more Emulation than a Piece of new Wit does among the bad Poets; in their View of Things, a Man of Sense is a very insignificant Creature; and if, with the _Eclat_ of their Dress, or Equipage, they can draw the Eyes of the Vulgar, they are in That arrived at the Top of their Glory; since all they wish for is to be taken Notice of. There is another Order of _fine Gentlemen_ among Us, who study other Accomplishments than That of Dress, by which they labour to recommend themselves to Company. The prevailing Artifice of their Conduct is, in every Stage of Action, to appear Great, and insinuate themselves to be thought the _Favourites_ only of the _Great_. These nice Oeconomists, being equipped with one Thread-bare Suit, a _German_ Wig, guilty of few or no Curls, and happy in a single Change of Linnen, seem to despise all superfluous Ornaments of Garniture, and have no Time on their Hands, but what is spent in devising how to get rid, as they would have you suppose, of a Multitude of Engagements. There is a certain veteran Beau of my Acquaintance, who is highly caressed upon the Credit of his Intimacy with Persons of Quality whom he never spoke to; he has a Knot of vain young Fellows attendant upon him, whom he is to introduce into great Company; and he has dropt some Hints, as if he would use his Interest to recommend some of them to Employments at Court. These are, for the most part, young Men stept into suddain great Fortunes, whose Rank and Conversation being at a such a Distance from Title, they fancy that Men of Quality are not made of the same Materials with other Men. This industrious merry old Gentleman has a peculiar Happiness in telling, and making, a Story; and, in the winding up or Catastrophe of it, never fails to surprize and please you, therefore he diverts, as well as amuses his Company. It is to these Talents that he chiefly owes his Subsistance, for he is very little beholding to Fortune, or his Family. I am pleased to hear him relate the Adventures, that his very good Friend King _Charles_ the _Second_ and He have met with together; the Sword he wears (which, it must be confessed, looks something _antique_) was given to him on the Day of the Battle at _Worcester_ by that Monarch. This Weapon being reverenced by the Youths his Followers, one of them sollicited hard to purchase it. For ten Guineas, and to oblige a Friend, our Humorist was prevailed upon to part with it. Next Day he purchas'd exactly such another Peice of Antiquity for _Eighteen Pence_ in _Monmouth_ Street, and has been so obliging, from Time to Time, to sell at least ten of these Weapons to young Fellows well affected to the Royal Family, and all presented to him by the same Monarch with whom he was so conversant. The Furniture of his Apartment is not very costly, as may be judged by his Circumstances; a Gentleman visiting him one Morning, sat down upon a Stool, which being decrepit and crazy, he was apprehensive of a Fall; and therefore throwing it aside with so much Negligence that its whole Frame had like to have been dissolved, the old Gentleman begged him to use it with more Respect, for he valued it above all he was worth beside, it being made out of a Piece of the _Royal Oak_. His Visitant, who was a Man of Fortune, immediately had a Desire to be in Possession of such a Treasure: Over a Bottle he let him know his Inclination, and the good-natur'd old Gentleman, who could refuse nothing to so dear a Friend, was prevailed upon to accept of a _Gold Watch_ in Exchange for his _Stool_. It was immediately sent down to the Mansion-house in the Country, where it is to be seen finely incased, and is shewn to all Strangers as the most valuable Rarity of the Family. _Tom Varnish_, who is a Pupil of our old Humourists, is a good Proficient in his Way of Conversation: Whenever you see him, he's just come from visiting some great Person of Quality. If a Game at _Hombre_ be proposed, and you are settling your Way of Play, he says, _We never play it so at the Dutchess's_. If you ask him to take a Glass of Wine at a Tavern with you, he is always engaged in a _Parti quarre_; and then he speaks all the _French_ he is Master of. If he has an Amour, it is with a Woman of Quality. He sits in the Side Box the first Act of the Play, and stays no longer, for some Reasons best known to himself. It happened once, that a Person sat next to him, who, by his Star and Garter, he knew to be of the first Rank: _Tom_, seeing some of his Acquaintance in the middle Gallery, thought it would be for his Reputation to be seen to talk with this Gentleman; therefore, observing when the Eyes of his Acquaintance were upon him, he drew his Lips near my Lord's Ear, and asked him _what a Clock it was_; my Lord answered him; then _Tom_ look'd up again, and smiled; and when he talked with his Friends next, told them, that his Lordship had informed him of some Changes designed at Court, not yet made publick; and therefore they must pardon him if he did not communicate. He did not come off so well upon another Occasion; for having boasted of a great Intimacy with a certain Foreign Minister, _Tom_ was asked by some Gentlemen to go one Evening to his Assembly: He willingly accepted the Party, thinking by their Means to get Admittance: They, on the contrary, expected to be introduced by him; when they came into his Excellency's House, the Porter, who had dress'd himself in his great Coat, which was richly laced, and having a good Wig, well powder'd, was coming down to take his Post; _Tom_ seeing the Richness of the Habit, fancied it was a Robe worn by Foreigners, mistook the _Porter_ for the Embassador, and, making several low Bows, began to address him with, _May it please your Excellency_. The Fellow answered, Sir, if you'd speak with my Lord, I'll call one of his Gentlemen to you; this raised a Laugh against him by his Companions, and _Tom_ walked off defeated in his Vanity, tho' he would fain have laid the Mistake on a sudden Absence of Thought, and asserted, that he had frequently conversed with the Ambassador. My old Friend, the Humourist, who is liberal of Talk in his Wine, I must confess, sometimes lets his Vain-Glory bring his Discourse under some Suspitions; especially, when upon the Strain of his Intimacy with King _Charles_. He tells how that Prince, seeing him one Morning in the Park, obliged him to take a Breakfast with him at _Whitehall_: As soon as they were got into the Lodgings, the King called for _Kate_, meaning the Queen, made her salute his Friend, and asked her how she could entertain them. The Queen, he says, seeing a Stranger, made some little Hesitations: But at last, _My Dear_, says she, _we have nothing but a Rib of cold Beef at present, for yesterday, you know, was Washing-Day_. In short, he tells this Story with so much Gravity, that you must either consent to believe it, or be obliged to fight him, for suspecting the Truth of it. * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XXIV THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. _Hic est quem quaeris, ille quem requiris_, Tota _notus in_ Urbe. Mart. Saturday, _May 7. 1720._ I have more than once declar'd, that, as I set up for a publick Spirit, and am for countenancing every Thing which may give either Profit or Delight to my Countrymen, no Essay, tending to the Improvement of any Art or Science, shall want my Approbation or Encouragement. This may seem a very inconsiderable Assistance from a Person, whose Fortune, and Figure in Life, have not made him Great enough to be a profitable Patron to the Ingenious: But I have found, in many Instances, that the Approbation of a _grave_ Man, and such I am esteemed, has some Weight with the _Many_; since, it is observ'd, that, in Works of Learning, not Half of Mankind judge for themselves, and of Those who do, we may presume to say, that at least Half judge amiss. It is a trite Observation, but not unserviceable in Life, that _a Man had as good be out of the World, as out of the Fashion_. This lays me under an Obligation and Necessity of looking out for every Thing _new_, that starts into the Publick. The Papers, which are mighty Helps to Intelligence of this Kind, have been big with advertising the History of the _Life_ and _Adventures_ of Mr. _Duncan Campbell_: And finding, by the Information of these Diurnal Oracles, that his Majesty _has received it very graciously_, I was induced to subscribe for this _remarkable_ Treatise. I must confess, I think it a Work of immense Erudition, full of curious Disquisitions into speculative Philosophy, comprehending a large Fund of Philological Learning, and furnished with some Remarks, that have escaped the Pens of former Authors, who have writ in any Faculty whatsoever. Man's Life is so short, it has been the settled Opinion of the Wise, that this Prosecution of any single Subject would be sufficient to take up all his Time. For this Reason, and especially in the Summer Season, when I make shift to retire from this Metropolis of Noise and Business, I contract my Speculations and Studies under one Head. To this End my great Care is, to collect a small Parcel of useful Books, that may all contribute to one and the same Purpose. As my Pleasure lies chiefly in searching after Truth, and Authors, whose Aim is to inform the Mind, or reform the Morals, I have determined carefully to peruse once more these _Memoirs_, relating to the celebrated Mr. _Campbell_. They are penn'd with a particular Air of Sincerity, and such a strict Regard to Truth and Matter of Fact, that they seem a Copy, in this Point, from _Lucian's true History_. I have therefore, to satisfy my Readers of the Judgment which I make of Books, concluded to accompany my Reflections over this Author, with reading, at proper Intervals, the Surprizing Adventures of _Robinson Crusoe_, the Travels of _Aaron Hill_ Esq., into _Turkey_, the History of the _Empires_ in the _Sun_ and _Moon Worlds_, _Psalmonaazar's_ History of the Island of _Formosa_, and, that great Promoter of Christien Piety, the _Tale of a Tub_. As I have taken upon me to animadvert upon this Treatise, containing the Adventures and profound Skill of Mr. _Campbell_, I shall continue to do it with the Impartiality of a true Critick. I have allowed the Author's Excellencies, and am therefore at Liberty to observe upon his Errors. He tells us, that _Lapland_ receives its Name from the _Finland_ Word _Lapp_, that is _Exiles_, and from the _Swedish_ Word _Lap_, signifying _Banished_. I am very loath my Countrymen should be deceived in such Matters of Language: And therefore I think my self obliged to let them know, that this Region derives its Name from the _Lappi_ or _Lappones_, the original Inhabitants of it, who were People of a rude and blockish Behaviour: The Word _Lappon_, being equivalent to _barbarous_, and _ignorant_, without the Knowledge of _Arts_ or _Letters_: And hence it comes, that this Clime has been ever so proper for the Reception of _Witches_, and Propagation of the _Conjuring_ Trade. There is likewise one Circumstance, that, I own, a little shocks my Belief, in Relation to a young Lady, who, he says, was _bewitch'd_: nor do I think told it with that clean Regard to the Lady's Character, which Occurrences of this Nature require. He says, she was in as bad a Condition, as He who was possessed with a _whole Legion of Devils_: (An Account, which must of course alarm her Lovers, and may, possibly, prevent her of good Match.) When he has related the miraculous Cure made upon Her, by Mr. _Campbell's_ taking her up into his _Bed-chamber_, he adds, that she stood upright, drank a Glass of Wine, and evacuated a great deal of Wind. This Charge of Immodesty upon a young Lady unmarried, is what I can by no Means allow: nor does the _uncleanly_ Term become the Pen of a _chast_ and _polite_ Writer. But the Lady shall be vindicated from this Aspersion; for if you consult all Authors, both Ancient and Modern, no _Virgin_ was ever thought capable of such an _Indecency_. Nor can I forbear condemning his Want of Judgment, in refering you to the Lady for the Truth of this: since it is putting his Reputation upon a Circumstance, which is not consistent with her Modesty to admit. There is another Passage in his Book of singular Mystery: he is pleased to observe that Things are sometimes foretold by _smelling_, and That by Persons who are endued with a _Second-Sight_. This smelling of Futurity would be of notable Use to Statesmen: which brings to my Mind, that somewhere in an Old Play, the Politician cries, _I smell a Plot_. The Vulgar too have an Expression, when they speak of a Man they don't like, of _smelling the Rogue_, and _smelling him out_. These Phrases, no doubt, had their Original from this Kind of Prediction; and the terms remain, tho' the Gift be in great Part lost among Men. If this Gentleman could again teach the Learned to arrive at it, it would be attended with its Inconveniences, as well as Benefits; for we should have our _Politicians_ running their Noses into every private Circumstance of Life, and a _Set of State Beagles_ ever upon the Scent for new Treasons and Conspiracies: on the contrary, this Advantage might be derived, that an Invasion, which was never intended, seen, or heard of, might be _smelt out_ by their _unerring Sagacity_. Our Author proceeds to observe that Children, _Horses_, and _Cows_, have the _Second Sight_ as well as Men and Women; yet at the same Time takes no Notice of _Hogs_, whom a great Part of the World have allowed to be gifted with Second Sight, and to be able to foretel Storms, and _windy Weather_. This appears to me like Prejudice, and does not consist with the Candour of an unbias'd Author: it looks as if he were carried away with the Humour of his Country, who are observed to be no Favourers of _Pork_, and therefore will allow _Hogs_ no Share in _Divination_. Indeed, but that I am afraid of being suspected of too much Learning, or that I would invalidate the Testimonies of this Author, I should be bold to say, that no Part of the _Brute_ Creation have the Benefit of _Second Sight_: and that they have neither Organs, nor Reason, to discern, or distinguish Phantoms, from material Bodies: and therefore the old _Rabins_ very subtly conjectured, that the _Ass_, which carried _Balaam_, was not a real Ass, but the _Devil in Disguise_, and subject to the _Magical_ Power of the _Prophet_. * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XXV THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. _When the Married shall marry, Then the Jealous will be sorry; And tho' Fools will be talking, To keep their Tongues walking, No Man runs well, I find, But with's Elbows behind._ Nostrad. _in_ Quev. Tuesday, _May 10. 1720._ Upon the Perusal of my Motto, I believe my Readers will be puzzled to comprehend what it is I aim at: It seems to be a perfect Riddle, and if you read it backward like a _Witches_ Prayer, it will be as easily understood. Yet let no Man condemn it for that trifling Objection, that he does not understand it: for, I can assure the World, that it is an old _Prophecy_, which comprehends many Secrets of Destiny, Stars, and Fate. Tho' the Vulgar, whose Eyes are shut against these Mysteries, may endeavour to explode all _Divination_; yet when the Prophecy comes to be fulfilled, they will confess their own Ignorance, and give an implicit Belief to such _Revelations_, as are delivered to the Publick by those wise Men, who by their Art pry into the Cabinet of Futurity, and make to themselves _Spectacles_ of the _Planets_, by which they are enabled to read the darkest Page in the Book of _Doomesday_. Having, in my last, given some Account of my intended Summer Library, it cannot appear strange, if I should already have anticipated a Part of my Pleasure, and dipped into some of the promising Authors I mentioned. The witty _Quevedo_, in one of his visionary Prospects of Hell, fancies, he sees an _Astrologer_ creeping upon all Four; with a pair of Compasses betwixt his Teeth; his Spheres, and Globes about him; his _Jacob's_ Staff before him; and his Eyes fixed upon the Stars, as if he were taking a Height, or making an Observation. The Student, after gazing awhile, started up of a sudden, and wringing his Hands, _Good Lord_! says he, _what an unlucky Dog was I! If I had come into the World but one_ Half Quarter _of an_ Hour _sooner, I had beene saved: for just then_ Saturn _shifted, and_ Mars _was lodged in the_ House of Life. Another Proficient in the same Art, who was very loth to go to Hell before his Time, had his Tormentors be sure he was dead: _for_, says he, _I am a little doubtful of it my self; in Regard that I had_ Jupiter _for my_ Ascendant, _and_ Venus _in the_ House of Life, _and no_ malevolent Aspect _to cross me. So that by the Rules of_ Astrology, _I was to live, precisely_, a Hundred and one Years, two Months, six Days, four Hours, and three Minutes. It is plain from such Instances, and many more of equal Demonstration, had I Leisure to collect them, that the Stars dispose of us as they please, and have an Influence on every Action of our Lives. They are particularly busy in the Affairs of Women, and She that, by a too great Love of Society, has been kind to others besides her own Husband, might have been an Example of Discretion and Modesty, had she been born a Minute sooner, or later, and had a more _continent_ Planet for her _Ascendent_. I hope, this will be sufficient to vindicate the Science from all Suspicions of Imposture. I can assure my Readers, that I my self saw a _Prophecy_ about _two_ Months _after_ the Battle of _Hockstadt_, which exactly described that great Event in all its Circumstances. The same Prophecy foretold, that in seven Years _Lewis_ the _Fourteenth_ should not have Ground enough to make him a Grave; and tho' this did not exactly come to pass, it cannot be imputed to the _Ignorance_ of the Astrologer, but to those _Counsels_ and _Events_ which would not suffer the Prophecy to take Place. I am my self a considerable Proficient in this Study, and have told several Things that have greatly surprized the Hearers. I am consulted chiefly by the Ladies, who come to my Lodgings by _Two's_ and by _Three's_; and it is pleasant to hear them titter, and laugh among themselves, before they venture to knock at my Door. The young Things come in blushing, and express all the Fears and Confusions natural to Youth and Innocence: Immediately I examine them: One tells me, she desires to know _when she shall be married_; another is as importunate to learn _when she shall be a Widow_: I interrupt them, by telling one, I know that _she_ is a _married Woman_; and the other, that _she_ shall soon be _married_. I proceed to ask them several Questions, which they are very ingenious in answering: And then I tell them a hundred Things, every one of which they knew to a Tittle before-hand. The Result is, that they go away frighted and amazed at my profound Skill; and I often over-hear them saying, that _He certainly must deal with the Devil, or he could not have told us such and such Circumstances_. But the Excellency of my Skill consists in giving an Account of things lost: I would not have the Reader suppose that I descend to the trifling Study of consulting Fate, about _who_ stole a _Spoon_, or _what_ became of a straggling _Thimble_, Things of which the Stars take no Cognizance. These Toys I leave to the Six-penny _Philomaths_ of _Moorfields_, and the _Astrologers_ of _Grub-street_: My Enquiries are a little more sublime. I account for Things which some lose, and no other finds; of this Nature are the _Maidenheads_ of _Women_, and the _Honour_ of _Great Men_. They, who are short-sighted in the Sciences, cannot see they fly up to the _Moon_, from whence they never return, as the learned _Ariosta_ discovered before me: And therefore it is an Absurdity in our Language, and ought to be corrected, when we say of Things which we cannot account for, _I know no more than the_ Man _in the_ Moon. Astrology consists of many Branches, which the Learned, who have travelled thro' the Spheres, very well know; and every Proficient takes the Road which he likes best. A Student, now living, has made great Discoveries concerning the Duration of this _Earthly Globe_; and tho' by his Art he found out, it could not last above _Ten_ Years, yet being a good Protestant, and to shew his great Trust in Government Securities, he purchased an Annuity for _Ninety and Nine_ Years, and, 'tis thought, means to leave the _Reversion_ of it to the Poor till _Doomesday_. * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XXVI. THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. _--Jam nunc debentia dici Pleraq; differat, & praesens in tempus omittat._ Hor. Saturday, _May 14. 1720._ My first Entertainment in a Morning is to throw my Eyes over the Papers of the Day, by which I am informed, with very little Trouble, how Things are carried in the great World. I look upon the printed News to be the Histories of the Times, in which the candid and ingenious Authors, out of a strict Regard to Truth, deliver Facts in such ambiguous Terms, that when you read of a Battle betwixt Count _Mercy_, and the Marquis _De Lede_, you may give the Victory to that Side, which your private Inclination most favours. I have seen in one Paragraph the precise number of the _kill'd_ and _wounded_ adjusted; and in the next, the Author seems doubtful in his Opinion, whether there has been any Battle fought. In Domestick Affairs, our Writers are somewhat more bold in their Intelligence; and relate Things with a greater Air of Certainty, when they lie most under the Suspition of delivering false History. Thus it happens, that I have seen a great Fortune _married_ in the _Evening Post_ two Years after her _Death_; and a Man of Quality has had an _Heir laid to him_, before he himself, or the Town, ever knew that he was married. Thus they _kill_ and _marry_ whom they please, knowing well, that every Circumstance, whether true, or false, serves to fill up a _Paragraph_. As nothing can effect the Safety, and Welfare of the People, so much as the _Resolutions_ of our _House_ of _Commons_, I read over the _Votes_ with a diligent Concern. 'Tis there that every Man aggrieved is to find Redress; from their Proceedings is it, that Peace abroad, or Unity at home, must be expected: and should they be byass'd, or deceived, their Error must involve Millions in Misfortunes. _Horace's_ Observation has ever prevailed, and will continue to do so, while this is a World. _Delirant Reges, plectuntur Achivi._ I read a Resolution of that Honourable House lately, which gave me no little satisfaction, and which I had long expected from their Wisdom: viz. that all Methods of raising Money by _Voluntary Subscriptions_ are prejudicial to _Trade_. This is a Truth which every Man in Trade has already felt; and yet, tis amazing to observe how little Effect it has had upon the Publick. Whereas by this Resolution it should have been expected, that such prejudicial Subscriptions were worth nothing, the Price of these _Bubbles_ immediately rose, and their Reputation and Number of Subscribers encreased in a greater Proportion, than before they were under any Censure from the State: It is hard to account for this Paradox: either the Authority of Parliament has become a Jest, or we are under the strongest Infatuation that these Kingdoms ever felt. I am unwilling to publish the Reasons, which an intelligent Person gave me, for such Consequences: Because it would not do Honour to certain Persons, by whose Interest it is expected, that _Charters_ are to be obtain'd. As to the Great _Bubble_, which as open'd a Subscription, where every Man is to pay _five_ Times the Value of what he purchases, a Gentleman, who is very conversant in Trade, informs me, that the Foreigners, who have Original Stocks to a very great Value, have already sent Commissions to have it all sold, when it comes to this extravagant Price. By this Means, they will have Opportunities of draining the Nation of its current Coin. I suppose, it will be answer'd, that the _Exportation_ of _Coin_ is provided against by _Statutes_; it is granted; and so is the Exportation of _Wooll_: Yet we are all sensible, the Law is transgress'd every Day in this Point: And it must be allowed, that Money may be as easily _smuggled_ as any Commodity whatsoever. The Consequence of this will be, that a Circulation of _Paper_ must be set on Foot to supply the Want of _ready Money_: And then, as I have read in a very witty Author, _a_ Crown-Piece _will be shewn about as an_ Elephant, _and_ Guineas _will be stiled of_ Blessed Memory. Without being deeply learned in Trade, this appears to me a natural Consequence: Yet, notwithstanding all that can be said, I find the giddy Multitude resolute to forsake the profitable Paths of Industry, to grasp only at _Bubbles_ and _Shadows_. This calls to my Mind the Fable of _Jupiter_ and the _Old Woman_. The indulgent God gave the Woman a _Hen_, which laid a _Golden Egg_ every Day: She, not content with this slow Way of growing rich, and being curs'd with a foolish Avarice, thought a Mine of Golden Eggs must be lodged in the Hen's Belly: But, killing the Bird, she found only common Entrails, and lost at once the _expected Treasure_, and the Advantage which she reaped before, by its laying every Day. But it is Time to have done with these Discourses; the World is obstinate in the Pursuit of Follies, and not to be reclaimed either by the Authority of Parliaments, or good Sense: It is not so much the Consideration of this, as the Season being so far advanced, which now induces me to lay down my Pen. My Thoughts and Desires, I must own, are turn'd to Solitude and rural Pleasures. The Man, who desires to have his Body in Health, should rise from Table with some Remains of Appetite, and not be covetous of gorging to Satiety: So a Writer, who would not wish to surfeit the Town, should submit to give over Writing, before they begin to think he has harass'd them too long. The gay Part of the World are every Day retreating from the Field of Business; and going with their Families into Summer Quarters. I look upon my self in the State of a _Roman_ General, who has made a vigorous and successful Campaign, and is now returning Home to take his _Triumph_. I am retiring to the Village, in which my Family for some Ages have made no inconsiderable Figure, and know I shall be received not with the single Respect due to my Name and Quality, but as the Person who ingaged the late memorable Sir _John Edgar_. If Health and Fortune permit, next Season, I shall again propagate my Character in the Town; in the mean Time, to make my self the more conspicuous, I have ordered my _Lucubrations_ to be printed in a _small_ Volumn, and to have one of the Books sent down after me, which shall be chained in my Library, and go along with the _Mansion-House_ from Generation to Generation, as a lasting Monument in Honour of the Name and Erudition of Sir _John Falstaffe_. * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY ANNOUNCES ITS Publications for the Third Year (1948-1949) At least two items will be printed from each of the three following groups: Series IV: Men, Manners, and Critics Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720). Aaron Hill, Preface to _The Creation_; and Thomas Brereton, Preface to _Esther_. Ned Ward, Selected Tracts. Series V: Drama Edward Moore, _The Gamester_ (1753). Nevil Payne, _Fatal Jealousy_ (1673). Mrs. Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). Charles Macklin, _Man of the World_ (1781). Series VI: Poetry and Language John Oldmixon, _Reflections on Dr. Swift's Letter to Harley_ (1712); and Arthur Mainwaring, _The British Academy_ (1712). Pierre Nicole, _De Epigrammate._ Andre Dacier, Essay on Lyric Poetry. Issues will appear, as usual, in May, July, September, November, January, and March. 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THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY MAKES AVAILABLE Inexpensive Reprints of Rare Materials FROM ENGLISH LITERATURE OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES Students, scholars, and bibliographers of literature, history, and philology will find the publications valuable. _The Johnsonian News Letter_ has said of them: "Excellent facsimiles, and cheap in price, these represent the triumph of modern scientific reproduction. Be sure to become a subscriber; and take it upon yourself to see that your college library is on the mailing list." The Augustan Reprint Society is a non-profit, scholarly organization, run without overhead expense. By careful management it is able to offer at least six publications each year at the unusually low membership fee of $2.50 per year in the United States and Canada, and $2.75 in Great Britain and the continent. Libraries as well as individuals are eligible for membership. Since the publications are issued without profit, however, no discount can be allowed to libraries, agents, or booksellers. New members may still obtain a complete run of the first year's publications for $2.50, the annual membership fee. During the first two years the publications are issued in three series: I. Essays on Wit; II. Essays on Poetry and Language; and III. Essays on the Stage. PUBLICATIONS FOR THE FIRST YEAR (1946-1947) MAY, 1946: Series I, No. 1--Richard Blackmore's _Essay upon Wit_ (1716), and Addison's _Freeholder_ No. 45 (1716). JULY, 1946: Series II, No. 1--Samuel Cobb's _Of Poetry and Discourse on Criticism_ (1707). SEPT., 1946: Series III, No. 1--Anon., _Letter to A.H. Esq.; concerning the Stage_ (1698), and Richard Willis' _Occasional Paper_ No. IX (1698). NOV., 1946: Series I, No. 2--Anon., _Essay on Wit_ (1748), together with Characters by Flecknoe, and Joseph Warton's _Adventurer_ Nos. 127 and 133. JAN., 1947: Series II, No. 2--Samuel Wesley's _Epistle to a Friend Concerning Poetry_ (1700) and _Essay on Heroic Poetry_ (1693). MARCH, 1947: Series III, No. 2--Anon., _Representation of the Impiety and Immorality of the Stage_ (1704) and anon., _Some Thoughts Concerning the Stage_ (1704). PUBLICATIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR (1947-1948) MAY, 1947: Series I, No. 3--John Gay's _The Present State of Wit_; and a section on Wit from _The English Theophrastus_. With an Introduction by Donald Bond. JULY, 1947: Series II, No. 3--Rapin's _De Carmine Pastorali_, translated by Creech. With an Introduction by J.E. Congleton. SEPT., 1947: Series III, No. 3--T. Hanmer's (?) _Some Remarks on the Tragedy of Hamlet_. With an Introduction by Clarence D. Thorpe. NOV., 1947: Series I, No. 4--Corbyn Morris' _Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit_, etc. With an Introduction by James L. Clifford. JAN., 1948: Series II, No. 4--Thomas Purney's _Discourse on the Pastoral_. With an Introduction by Earl Wasserman. MARCH, 1948: Series III, No. 4--Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch. The list of publications is subject to modification in response to requests by members. From time to time Bibliographical Notes will be included in the issues. Each issue contains an Introduction by a scholar of special competence in the field represented. The Augustan Reprints are available only to members. They will never be offered at "remainder" prices. GENERAL EDITORS RICHARD C. BOYS, University of Michigan EDWARD NILES HOOKER, University of California, Los Angeles H.T. SWEDENBERG, JR., University of California, Los Angeles ADVISORY EDITORS EMMETT L. AVERY, State College of Washington LOUIS I. BREDVOLD, University of Michigan BENJAMIN BOYCE, University of Nebraska CLEANTH BROOKS, Louisiana State University JAMES L. CLIFFORD, Columbia University ARTHUR FRIEDMAN, University of Chicago SAMUEL H. 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