Page images
PDF
EPUB

mantle made for Cyrus was missing, as also the chariot and two dragons: but upon examination it was found, that a gentleman of Hampshire had clandestinely bought them both, and is gone down to his country seat; and that on Saturday last he passed through Staines, attired in that robe, and drawn by the said dragons, assisted by two only of his own horses. This theatrical traveller has also left orders with Mr. Hall* to send the faded rain bow to the scourer's, and when it comes home, to dispatch it after him. At the same time Christopher Richt, esquire, is invited to bring down his settingsun himself, and be box-keeper to a theatre erected by this gentleman near Southampton. Thus there has been nothing but artifice in the management of this affair; for which reason I beg pardon of the town, that I inserted the inventory in my paper; and solemnly protest, I knew nothing of this artful design of vending these rarities: but I meant only the good of the world, in that, and all other things which I divulge.

And now I am upon this subject, I must do myself justice in relation to an article in a former paper, wherein I made mention of a person who keeps a puppet-show in the town of Bath; I was tender of naming names, and only just hinted, that he makes larger promises, when he invites people to his dramatic representations, than he is able to perform: but I am credibly informed, that he makes a

* A noted auctioneer of those times.

+ The patentee of Drury-lane play-house, which was shut up about this time by an order from the Lord Chamberlain.

All the papers and passages about Powel, the puppetshow-man, relate to the controversy between Hoadly and Off pring Blackall, bishop of Exeter, on which they were intended as a banter; it is needless to say that the wit and raillery is employed on the side of Hoadly.

[blocks in formation]

prophane, lewd jester, whom he calls Punch, speak to the dishonour of Isaac Bickerstaff with great familiarity; and, before all my learned friends in that place, takes upon him to dispute my title to the appellation of esquire. I think I need not say much to convince all the world, that this Mr. Powel, for that is his name, is a pragmatical and vain person, to pretend to argue with me on any subject. Mecum certasse feretur; that is to say, It will be an honour to him to have it said he contended with me: but I would have him to know, that I can look beyond his wires, and know very well the whole trick of his art; and that it is only by these wires that the eye of the spectator is cheated, and hindered from seeing that there is a thread on one of Punch's chops, which draws it up, and lets it fall at the discretion of the said Powel, who stands behind and plays him, and makes him speak saucily of his betters. He to pretend to make prologues against me! But a man never behaves himself with decency in his own case; therefore, I shall command myself, and never trouble me further with this little fellow, who is himself but a tall puppet, and has not brains enough to make even wood speak as it ought to do and I, that have heard the groaning board, can despise all that his puppets shall be able to speak as long as they live. But, Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius. Every log of wood will not make a Mercury." He has pretended to write to me also from the Bath, and says he thought to have deferred giving me an answer until he came to his books; but that my writings might do well with the waters which are pert expressions, that become a school-boy better than one that is to teach others: and when I have said a civil thing to him, he cries, "Oh! I thank you for thatI am your humble servant for that." Ah! Mr. Powel, these smart

:

66

civilities will never run down men of learning: I know well enough your design is to have all men automata, like your puppets; but the world is grown too wise, and can look through these thin devices. I know your design to make a reply to this: but be sure you stick close to my words; for if you bring me into discourses concerning the government of your puppets, I must tell you, "I neither am, nor have been, nor will be, at leisure to answer you." It is really a burning shame this man should be tolerated in abusing the world with such represen→ tations of things: but his parts decay, and he is not much more alive than Partridge.

From my own Apartment, July 14.

I must beg pardon of my readers, that for this time I have, I fear, huddled up my discourse, having been very busy in helping an old friend of mine out of town. He has a very good estate, and is a man of wit; but he has been three years absent from town, and cannot bear a jest; for which reason I have, with some pains, convinced him, that he can no more live here than if he were a downright bankrupt. He was so fond of dear London, that he began to fret, only inwardly; but being unable to laugh and be laughed at, I took a place in the northern coach for him and his family; and hope he is got to-night safe from all sneerers in his own parlour.

St. James's Coffee-house, July 20.

This morning we received by express the agree able news of the surrender of the town of Tournay on the twenty-eighth instant, N. S. The place was assaulted by the attacks of General Schuylemberg, and that of General Lottum, at the same time. The action at both those parts of the town was very

obstinate, and the allies lost a considerable number in the beginning of the dispute; but the fight was continued with so great bravery, that the enemy, observing our men to be masters of all the posts which were necessary for a general attack, beat the chamade, and hostages were received from the town, and others sent from the besiegers, in order to come to a formal capitulation for the surrender of the place. We have also this day received advice, that Sir John Leake, who lies off Dunkirk, had intercepted several ships laden with corn from the Baltic; and that the Dutch privateers had fallen in with others, and carried them into Holland. The French letters advise, that the young son to the Duke of Anjou lived but eight days.

N° 45. SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1709.

Credo pudicitiam Saturno rage moratam

In terris

JUV. Sat, VI. 1,

"In Saturn's reign, at nature's early birth,
"There was that thing call'd chastity on earth."

White's Chocolate-house, July 22.

DRYDEN.

THE other day I took a walk a mile or two out of town, and strolling wherever chance led me, I was insensibly carried into a by-road, along which was

very agreeable quickset, of an extraordinary height,

which surrounded a very delicious seat and garden, From one angle of the hedge, I heard a voice cry、 "Sir, Sir!". -This raised my curiosity, and I heard the same voice say, but in a gentle tone, "Come forward, come forward!" I did so, and one through the hedge called me by my name, and bid me go on to the left, and I should be admitted to visit an old acquaintance in distress. The laws of knight-errantry made me obey the summons without hesitation; and I was let in at the back-gate of a lovely house by a maid-servant, who carried me from room to room until I came into a gallery; at the end of which, I saw a fine lady, dressed in the most sumptuous habit, as if she were going to a ball, but with the most abject and disconsolate sorrow in her face that I ever beheld. As I came near, she burst into tears, and cried, "Sir, do not you know the unhappy Teraminta?" I soon recollected her whole person: "But," said I, "madam, the simplicity of dress, in which I have ever seen you at your good father's house, and the chearfulness of countenance with which you always appeared, are so unlike the fashion and temper you are now in, that I did not easily recover the memory of you. Your habit was then decent and modest, your looks serene and beautiful: whence then this unaccountable change? Nothing can speak so deep a sorrow as your present aspect; (yet your dress is made for jollity and revelling!"-" It is," said she, "an unspeakable pleasure to meet with one I know, and to bewail myself to any that is not an utter stranger to humanity.

"When your friend my father died, he left me to a wide world, with no defence against the insults of fortune; but rather, a thousand snares to entrap me in the dangers to which youth and innocence are exposed, in an age wherein honour and virtue are

« PreviousContinue »