see them in the same dangerous condition before our eyes at home; else how is it possible, that on the twenty-ninth of the last month, there should have been a battle fought in our very streets of London, and nobody at this end of the town have heard of it? I protest, I who make it my business to inquire after adventures, should never have known this, had not the following account been sent me enclosed in a letter. This, it seems, is the way of giving out orders in the Artillerycompany; and they prepare for a day of action with so little concern, as only to call it, 'An Exercise of Arms.' 'An Exercise at Arms of the Artillery-company, to be performed on Wednesday, June the twenty-ninth, 1709, under the command of Sir Joseph Woolfe, Knight and Alderman, General; Charles Hopson Esquire, present Sheriff, Lieutenant-general; Captain Richard Synge, Major; Major John Shorey, Captain of Grenadiers; Captain William Grayhurst, Captain John Butler, Captain Robert Carellis, Captains. 'The body marched from the Artillery-ground, through Moorgate, Coleman-street, Lothbury, Broad-street, Finch-lane, Corn-hill, Cheapside, St. Martin's, St. Ann's-lane, hault the pikes under the wall in Noble-street, draw up the firelocks facing the Goldsmith's-hall, make ready and face to the left, and fire, and so ditto three times. Beat to arms, and march round the hall, as up Lad-lane, Gutter-lane, Honey-lane, and so wheel to the right, and make your salute to my lord, and so down St. Ann's-lane, up Aldersgatestreet, Barbican, and draw up in Red-cross-strect, the right at St. Paul's-alley in the rear. March : off Lieutenant-general with half the body up Beech-lane he sends a subdivision up King'shead-court, and takes post in it, and marches two divisions round into Red-lion-market, to defend that pass, and succour the division in King's-head-court; but keeps in White-crossstreet, facing Beech-lane, the rest of the body ready drawn up. Then the General marches up Beech-lane, is attacked, but forces the division in the court into the market, and enters with three divisions while he presses the Lieutenantgeneral's main body; and at the same time the three divisions force those of the revolters out of the market, and so all the Lieutenant-general's body retreats into Chiswell-street, and lodges two divisions in Grub-street; and as the General marches on, they fall on his flank, but soon made to give way: but having a retreating-place in Red-lion-court, but could not hold it, being put to flight through Paul's-alley, and pursued by the General's grenadiers, while he marches up and attacks their main body, but are opposed again by a party of men as lay in Black-raven-court; but they are forced also to retire soon in the utmost confusion, and at the same time, those brave divisions in Paul's-alley ply their rear with grenadoes, that with precipitation they take to the rout along Bunhill-row: so the General marches into the Artillery-ground, and being drawn up, finds the revolting party to have found entrance, and makes a show as if for a battle, and both armies soon engage in form, and fire by platoons.' Much might be said for the improvement of this system; which, for its style and invention, may instruct Generals and their historians, both in fighting a battle, and describing it when it was over. These elegant expressions, dittoand so-but soon-but having-but could notbut are-but they finds the party to have found,' &c. do certainly give great life and spirit to the relation. Indeed, I am extremely concerned for the Lieutenant-general, who by his overthrow and defeat, is made a deplorable instance of the fortune of war and vicissitudes of human affairs. He, alas! has lost, in Beech-lane and Chiswell-street, all the glory he lately gained in and about Holborn and St. Giles's. The art of subdividing first and dividing afterwards, is new and surprising; and according to this method, the troops are disposed in King's-head-court, and Red-lion-market: nor is the conduct of these leaders less conspicuous in their choice of the ground or field of battle. Happy was it, that the greatest part of the achievements of this day was to be performed near Grubstreet, that there might not be wanting a sufficient number of faithful historians, who, being eye-witnesses of these wonders, should impartially transmit them to posterity! But then it can never be enough regretted, that we are left in the dark as to the name and title of that extraordinary hero, who commanded the divisions in Paul's-alley; especially because those divisions are justly styled brave, and accordingly were to push the enemy along Bunhill-row, and thereby occasion a general battle. But Pallas appeared in the form of a shower of rain, and prevented the slaughter and desolation which were threatened by these extraordinary preparations. Hi motus animorum, atque hæc certamina tanta VIRG. Georg. iv. 86. 'Yet all those dreadful deeds, this doubtful fray, A cast of scatter'd dust will soon allay.' Will's Coffee-house, July 13. DRYDEN. It was Some part of the company keep up the old way of conversation in this place, which usually turned upon the examination of nature, and an inquiry into the manners of men. There is one in the room so very judicious, that he manages impertinents with the utmost dexterity. diverting this evening to hear a discourse between him and one of these gentlemen. He told me, before that person joined us, that he was a questioner, who, according to his description, is one who asks questions, not with a design to receive information, but an affectation to show his uneasiness for want of it. He went on in asserting, that there are crowds of that modest ambition, as to aim no farther than to demonstrate that they are in doubt. By this time Will Whynot was sat down by us. So, gentlemen,' says he, 'in how many days think you shall we be masters of Tournay? Is the account of the action of the Vivarois to be depended upon? Could you have imagined England had so much money in it as you see it has produced? Pray, Sirs, what do you think? Will the duke of Savoy make an irruption into France? But,' says he, time will clear all these mysteries.' His answer to himself gave me the altitude of his head, and to all his questions I thus answered very satisfactorily. Sir, have you heard that this Slaughterford* * A fellow hanged for the murder of his sweetheart. Have But, never owned the fact for which he died? the news-papers mentioned that matter? pray, can you tell me what method will be taken to provide for these Palatines? But this, as you say, time will clear.' 'Ay, ay,' says he, and whispers me, they will never let us into these things beforehand.' I whispered him again, We shall know it as soon as there is a proclamation.'-He tells me in the other ear, 'You are in the right of it.' Then he whispered my friend, to know what my name was then made an obliging bow, and went to examine another table. This led my friend and me to weigh this wandering manner in many other incidents, and he took out of his pocket several little notes or tickets to solicit for votes to employments: as, Mr. John Taplash, having served all offices, and being reduced to great poverty, desires your vote for singingclerk of this parish. Another has had ten children, all whom his wife has suckled herself; therefore humbly desires to be a school-master." There is nothing so frequent as this way of application for offices. It is not that you are fit for the place, but because the place would be convenient for you, that you claim a merit to it. But commend me to the great Kirleus, who has lately set up for midwifery, and to help child-birth, for no other reason, but that he is himself the • Unborn Doctor.' The way is, to hit upon something that puts the vulgar upon the stare, or touches their compassion, which is often the weakest part about us. I know a good lady, who has taken her daughters from their old dancingmaster, to place them with another, for no other reason, but because the new man has broke his leg, which is so ill set, that he can never dance more. |
