BY ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, ESQ.

No. 1. [STEELE.

_Tuesday, April 12_, 1709.

Quicquid agunt homines ... nostri farrago libelli.

Juv., Sat. I. 85, 86.[55]

* * * * *

Though the other papers which are published for the use of the good

people of England have certainly very wholesome effects, and are

laudable in their particular kinds, yet they do not seem to come up to

the main design of such narrations, which, I humbly presume, should be

principally intended for the use of politic persons, who are so public

spirited as to neglect their own affairs to look into transactions of

State. Now these gentlemen, for the most part, being men of strong zeal

and weak intellects, it is both a charitable and necessary work to offer

something, whereby such worthy and well-affected members of the

commonwealth may be instructed, after their reading, what to think;

which shall be the end and purpose of this my paper: wherein I shall

from time to time report and consider all matters of what kind soever

that shall occur to me, and publish such my advices and reflections

every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in the week for the convenience

of the post.[56] I have also resolved to have something which may be of

entertainment to the fair sex, in honour of whom I have taken the title

of this paper. I therefore earnestly desire all persons, without

distinction, to take it in for the present gratis, and hereafter at the

price of one penny, forbidding all hawkers to take more for it at their

peril. And I desire my readers to consider, that I am at a very great

charge for proper materials for this work, as well as that before I

resolved upon it, I had settled a correspondence in all parts of the

known and knowing world. And forasmuch as this globe is not trodden upon

by mere drudges of business only, but that men of spirit and genius are

justly to be esteemed as considerable agents in it, we shall not, upon a

dearth of news, present you with musty foreign edicts, or dull

proclamations, but shall divide our relation of the passages which occur

in action or discourse throughout this town, as well as elsewhere, under

such dates of places as may prepare you for the matter you are to

expect, in the following manner:

All accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, shall be under

the article of White's Chocolate-house;[57] poetry, under that of Will's

Coffee-house;[58] learning, under the title of Grecian;[59] foreign and

domestic news, you will have from St. James's Coffee-house;[60] and what

else I shall on any other subject offer, shall be dated from my own

apartment.

I once more desire my readers to consider that as I cannot keep an

ingenious man to go daily to Will's under twopence each day merely

for his charges,[61] to White's under sixpence, nor to the Grecian

without allowing him some plain Spanish,[62] to be as able as others at

the learned table; and that a good observer cannot speak with even

Kidney[63] at St. James's without clean linen; I say, these

considerations will, I hope, make all persons willing to comply with my

humble request (when my gratis stock is exhausted) of a penny a piece;

especially since they are sure of some proper amusement, and that it is

impossible for me to want means to entertain them, having, besides the

helps of my own parts, the power of divination, and that I can, by

casting a figure, tell you all that will happen before it comes to pass.

But this last faculty I shall use very sparingly, and not speak of

anything until it is passed, for fear of divulging matters which may

offend our superiors.[64]

White's Chocolate-house, April 11.

The deplorable condition of a very pretty gentleman, who walks here at

the hours when men of quality first appear, is what is very much

lamented. His history is, that on the 9th of September, 1705, being in

his one and twentieth year, he was washing his teeth at a tavern window

in Pall Mall, when a fine equipage passed by, and in it a young lady,

who looked up at him; away goes the coach, and the young gentleman

pulled off his nightcap, and instead of rubbing his gums, as he ought to

do out of the window till about four o'clock, he sits him down, and

spoke not a word till twelve at night; after which, he began to inquire,

if anybody knew the lady. The company asked, "What lady?" But he said no

more until they broke up at six in the morning. All the ensuing winter

he went from church to church every Sunday, and from play-house to

play-house all the week, but could never find the original of the

picture which dwelt in his bosom. In a word, his attention to anything

but his passion, was utterly gone. He has lost all the money he ever

played for, and been confuted in every argument he has entered upon

since the moment he first saw her. He is of a noble family, has

naturally a very good air, and is of a frank, honest temper: but this

passion has so extremely mauled him, that his features are set and

uninformed, and his whole visage is deadened by a long absence of

thought. He never appears in any alacrity, but when raised by wine; at

which time he is sure to come hither, and throw away a great deal of wit

on fellows, who have no sense further than just to observe, that our

poor lover has most understanding when he is drunk, and is least in his

senses when he is sober.[65]

Will's Coffee-house, April 8.

On Thursday last[66] was presented, for the benefit of Mr.

Betterton,[67] the celebrated comedy, called "Love for Love."[68] Those

excellent players, Mrs. Barry,[69] Mrs. Bracegirdle,[70] and Mr.

Doggett,[71] though not at present concerned in the house, acted on that

occasion. There has not been known so great a concourse of persons of

distinction as at that time; the stage itself was covered with gentlemen

and ladies, and when the curtain was drawn, it discovered even there a

very splendid audience. This unusual encouragement, which was given to a

play for the advantage of so great an actor, gives an undeniable

instance, that the true relish for manly entertainments and rational

pleasures is not wholly lost. All the parts were acted to perfection;

the actors were careful of their carriage, and no one was guilty of the

affectation to insert witticisms of his own, but a due respect was had

to the audience, for encouraging this accomplished player. It is not now

doubted but plays will revive, and take their usual place in the opinion

of persons of wit and merit, notwithstanding their late apostacy in

favour of dress and sound. This place is very much altered since Mr.

Dryden frequented it; where you used to see songs, epigrams, and satires

in the hands of every man you met, you have now only a pack of cards;

and instead of the cavils about the turn of the expression, the elegance

of the style, and the like, the learned now dispute only about the truth

of the game. But, however the company is altered, all have shown a great

respect for Mr. Betterton: and the very gaming part of this house have

been so much touched with a sense of the uncertainty of human affairs

(which alter with themselves every moment) that in this gentleman, they

pitied Mark Antony of Rome, Hamlet of Denmark, Mithridates of Pontus,

Theodosius of Greece, and Henry the Eighth of England. It is well known

he has been in the condition of each of those illustrious personages for

several hours together, and behaved himself in those high stations, in

all the changes of the scene, with suitable dignity. For these reasons,

we intend to repeat this favour to him on a proper occasion, lest he who

can instruct us so well in personating feigned sorrows, should be lost

to us by suffering under real ones. The town is at present in very great

expectation of seeing a comedy now in rehearsal, which is the

twenty-fifth production of my honoured friend Mr. Thomas D'Urfey;[72]

who, besides his great abilities in the dramatic, has a peculiar talent

in the lyric way of writing, and that with a manner wholly new and

unknown to the ancient Greeks and Romans, wherein he is but faintly

imitated in the translations of the modern Italian operas.[73]

St. James's Coffee-house, April 11.

Letters from the Hague of the 16th say, that Major-General Cadogan[74]

was gone to Brussels, with orders to disperse proper instructions for

assembling the whole force of the allies in Flanders in the beginning of

the next month.[75] The late offers concerning peace were made in the

style of persons who think themselves upon equal terms. But the allies

have so just a sense of their present advantages, that they will not

admit of a treaty, except France offers what is more suitable to her

present condition. At the same time we make preparations, as if we were

alarmed by a greater force than that which we are carrying into the

field. Thus this point seems now to be argued sword in hand. This was

what a great general[76] alluded to, when being asked the names of those

who were to be plenipotentiaries for the ensuing peace, answered, with a

serious air, "There are about a hundred thousand of us." Mr. Kidney, who

has the ear of the greatest politicians that come hither, tells me,

there is a mail come in to-day with letters, dated Hague, April 19,

N.S., which say, a design of bringing part of our troops into the field

at the latter end of this month, is now altered to a resolution of

marching towards the camp about the 20th of the next. There happened the

other day, in the road of Scheveling, an engagement between a privateer

of Zealand and one of Dunkirk. The Dunkirker, carrying 33 pieces of

cannon, was taken and brought into the Texel. It is said, the courier of

Monsieur Rouillé[77] is returned to him from the Court of France.

Monsieur Vendôme being reinstated in the favour of the Duchess of

Burgundy, is to command in Flanders.

Mr. Kidney added, that there were letters of the 17th from Ghent, which

give an account, that the enemy had formed a design to surprise two

battalions of the allies which lay at Alost; but those battalions

received advice of their march, and retired to Dendermond.

Lieutenant-General Wood[78] appeared on this occasion at the head of

5000 foot, and 1000 horse, upon which the enemy withdrew, without making

any further attempt.

From my own Apartment.

I am sorry I am obliged to trouble the public with so much discourse

upon a matter which I at the very first mentioned as a trifle--viz. the

death of Mr. Partridge,[79] under whose name there is an almanack come

out for the year 1709, in one page of which it is asserted by the said

John Partridge, that he is still living, and that not only so, but that

he was also living some time before, and even at the instant when I writ

of his death. I have in another place, and in a paper by itself,

sufficiently convinced this man that he is dead, and if he has any

shame, I don't doubt but that by this time he owns it to all his

acquaintance: for though the legs and arms, and whole body of that man

may still appear and perform their animal functions; yet since, as I

have elsewhere observed, his art is gone, the man is gone. I am, as I

said, concerned, that this little matter should make so much noise; but

since I am engaged, I take myself obliged in honour to go on in my

lucubrations, and by the help of these arts of which I am master, as

well as my skill in astrological speculations, I shall, as I see

occasion, proceed to confute other dead men, who pretend to be in being,

that they are actually deceased. I therefore give all men fair warning

to mend their manners, for I shall from time to time print bills of

mortality; and I beg the pardon of all such who shall be named therein,

if they who are good for nothing shall find themselves in the number of

the deceased.[80]

[Footnote 55: This motto was repeated at the head of each of the first

40 numbers in the folio issue.]

[Footnote 56: These were the days on which the post left London for the

different parts of the country.]

[Footnote 57: White's Chocolate-house, five doors from the bottom of the

west side of St. James's Street, was established in 1698. It was burnt

on April 28, 1733, while kept by Mr. Arthur. Plate VI. of Hogarth's

"Rake's Progress" depicts gamblers engrossed in play in a room in this

house during the fire; see also Plate IV. Swift gives it a bad character

in his "Essay on Modern Education;" it had a strong character for

gambling (Timbs's "Clubs and Club Life in London," where, at p. 48,

there is a sketch of White's from an old drawing). The house became a

private club, as we now have it, about 1736.]

[Footnote 58: Will's Coffee-house, named after Will Urwin, its

proprietor, was the corner house on the north side of Russell Street,

Covent Garden, at the end of Bow Street. The present house, 21 Russell

Street, is probably part of the old building. Will's was ceasing to be

the resort of the wits in 1709; it was in its glory at the close of the

seventeenth century. The wits' room, where Dryden presided, was on the

first floor.]

[Footnote 59: The Grecian, in Devereux Court in the Strand, was probably

the most ancient coffee-house in or about London. In 1652 an English

Turkey merchant brought home with him a Greek servant, who first opened

a house for making and selling coffee. This man's name was Constantine,

and his house was much resorted to by lawyers, Greek scholars, and

Members of the Royal Society. (See Thoresby's Diary, i. 111, 117.) Foote

and Goldsmith afterwards frequented it. In Dr. King's "Anecdotes" there

is a story of two gentlemen friends who disputed at the Grecian

Coffee-house about the accent of a Greek word to such a length that they

went out into Devereux Court and drew swords, when one of them was

killed on the spot.]

[Footnote 60: The St. James's Coffee-house was the last house but one on

the S.W. corner of St. James's Street. It was frequented by Whig

statesmen, and was closed about 1806. Swift and Steele were at a supper

given by the keeper on the 19th November, 1710.]

[Footnote 61: Cf. the _Spectator_, No. 31: "Laying down my penny upon

the bar."]

[Footnote 62: Wine.]

[Footnote 63: A waiter. See Nos. 10, 26.]

[Footnote 64: This introduction was repeated in Nos. 2 and 3 of the

original issue.]

[Footnote 65: "The reader is desired to take notice of the article from

this place from time to time, for I design to be very exact in the

progress this unhappy gentleman makes, which may be of great instruction

to all who actually are, or who ever shall be, in love." (Original

folio.) For Viscount Hinchinbroke ("Cynthio"), see No. 5.]

[Footnote 66: April 7, 1709. Cibber acknowledges that Steele did the

stage very considerable service by the papers on the theatre in the

_Tatler_.]

[Footnote 67: For further particulars of Thomas Betterton (1635-1710),

see Nos. 71 and 167. Cibber says: "I never heard a line in tragedy come

from Betterton wherein my judgment, my ear and my imagination were not

fully satisfied.... The person of this excellent actor was suitable to

his voice, more manly than sweet, not exceeding the middle stature,

inclining to be corpulent; of a serious and penetrating aspect; his

limbs nearer the athletic than the delicate proportion; yet, however

formed, there arose from the harmony of the whole a commanding mien of

majesty."]

[Footnote 68: By Congreve, 1695.]

[Footnote 69: Mrs. Elizabeth Barry on this occasion spoke an epilogue,

written by Rowe. She was the daughter of Edward Barry, barrister, whose

fortunes were ruined by his attachment to Charles I. Tony Aston, in his

"Supplement to Cibber's Apology," says she was woman to Lady Shelton, of

Norfolk, his godmother; and Curll tells us that she was early taken

under the protection of Lady Davenant. She was certainly on the stage in

1673. At her first appearance there was so little hope of her success,

that at the end of the season she was discharged [from] the theatre. It

is probable that at this time she became acquainted with Lord Rochester,

who took her under his protection, and gave her instructions in her

theatrical performances. By his interest she seems to have been restored

to the stage, and, improving daily in her profession, she soon eclipsed

all her competitors, and in the part of Monimia in "The Orphan"

established her reputation, which was enhanced by her performance as

Belvidera in "Venice Preserved," and as Isabella in "The Fatal

Marriage." "In characters of greatness," says Cibber, "Mrs. Barry had a

presence of elevated dignity, her mien and motion superb, and gracefully

majestic; her voice full, clear, and strong, so that no violence of

passion could be too much for her, and when distress or tenderness

possessed her she subsided into the most affecting melody and softness.

In the art of exciting pity she had a power beyond all the actresses I

have yet seen, or what your imagination can conceive. In scenes of

anger, defiance, or resentment, while she was impetuous and terrible,

she poured out the sentiment with an enchanting harmony.... In tragedy

she was solemn and august, in comedy alert, easy, and genteel, pleasant

in her face and action, filling the stage with a variety of gesture. She

could neither sing nor dance, no not in a country dance. She adhered to

Betterton in all the revolutions of the theatre, which she quitted about

1707, on account of ill-health." She returned, however, for one night

with Mrs. Bracegirdle, April 7, 1709, and performed Mrs. Frail in "Love

for Love" for Betterton's benefit. She died at Acton in 1713. Mrs.

Barry, Mrs. Bracegirdle, Mr. Betterton, and Mr. Varbriggen were sworn as

Comedians in Ordinary to her Majesty, 30th Oct., 2 Anne (1703). On the

3rd March, 1692, Mrs. Barry received £25 for acting in "The Orphan"

before their Majesties, and on the 10th June, 1693, £25 for Caius

Marius. (Lord Chamberlain's Records, Warrant Books, No. 20, p. 151; No.

18, pp. 30, 242.)]

[Footnote 70: Mrs. Anne Bracegirdle was the daughter of Justinian

Bracegirdle, of Northamptonshire. By the imprudence of her father, who

ruined himself by becoming surety for some friends, she was early left

to the care of Betterton and his wife, whose attentions to her she

always acknowledged to be truly paternal. By them she was first

introduced to the stage, and, while very young, performed the page in

"The Orphan." Increasing in years, and in ability, she became the

favourite performer of the times. Cibber describes her in these terms:

"Mrs. Bracegirdle was now but just blooming in her maturity; her

reputation, as an actress, gradually rising with that of her person;

never any woman was in such general favour of her spectators, which, to

the last scene of her dramatic life, she maintained by not being

unguarded in her private character. This discretion contributed not a

little to make her the _Cara_, the darling of the theatre: for it will

be no extravagant thing to say scarce an audience saw her that were less

than half of them lovers, without a suspected favourite among them: and

though she might be said to have been the universal passion and under

the highest temptations, her constancy in resisting them served but to

increase the number of her admirers. And this perhaps you will more

easily believe, when I extend not my encomiums on her person beyond a

sincerity that can be suspected; for she had no greater claim to beauty

than what the most desirable brunette might pretend to. But her youth

and lively aspect threw out such a glow of health and cheerfulness,

that, on the stage, few spectators that were not past it, could behold

her without desire. There were two very different characters in which

she acquitted herself with uncommon applause: if anything could excuse

that desperate extravagance of love, that almost frantic passion of

Lee's Alexander the Great, it must have been when Mrs. Bracegirdle was

his Statira: as when she acted Millamant, all the faults, follies, and

affectation of that agreeable tyrant were venially melted down into so

many charms and attractions of a conscious beauty." In the theatrical

disputes of the times, she adhered to her benefactor Betterton, and

continued to perform with applause until 1707, when, on the preference

being given to Mrs. Oldfield in a contention between that actress and

Mrs. Bracegirdle, she left the stage, except for one night, when she

returned with Mrs. Barry to the theatre, and performed Angelica for

Betterton's benefit (the performance described in this number). She died

in 1748.]

[Footnote 71: Thomas Doggett died in 1721. In 1695 he created the

character of Ben in Congreve's "Love for Love." Afterwards he was

associated with Steele in the management of Drury Lane Theatre.]

[Footnote 72: D'Urfey's "Modern Prophets" was produced in 1709. Thomas

D'Urfey died in 1723, aged 70, leaving Steele a watch and chain, which

his friend wore at the funeral. He wrote many plays and songs. See also

Nos. 11, 43.]

[Footnote 73: See No. 4.]

[Footnote 74: William, First Earl Cadogan (1675-1726), was an able

officer who took a very prominent part in Marlborough's campaigns. In

January, 1709, he was made lieutenant-general, and he was dangerously

wounded at the siege of Mons. He was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower

of London in December.]

[Footnote 75: The news-paragraphs in the earlier numbers of the _Tatler_

are here preserved for the sake of completeness, but for the most part

the details recorded are not of permanent interest, and do not call for

comment. The reader may be reminded generally that in the spring of 1709

the French, after the battle of Oudenarde and the fall of Lille,

followed by a very severe winter, were driven to think of terms of

peace. The negotiations, however, fell through for the time, and the

campaign was begun in the Netherlands, where Marlborough and Prince

Eugene had an army of 110,000 men. The French were entrenched under

Villars between Douay and Béthune, and were strengthened by part of the

garrison of Tournay. Marlborough seized the opportunity of attacking the

half-defended town, which was obliged to surrender on July 29, after a

siege of nineteen days. The French then made a great effort, and brought

an army of 100,000 men into the field, with the result that the battle

of Malplaquet (Sept. 11) was a very bloody and hard-earned victory for

the allies. The subsequent fall of Mons brought the campaign to a

close.]

[Footnote 76: Marlborough.]

[Footnote 77: A merchant entrusted by Lewis XIV. to negotiate terms of

peace with the Dutch.]

[Footnote 78: General Wood played a distinguished part in the battles of

Donauwerth (1704) and Ramilies (1706).]

[Footnote 79: See the Introduction.]

[Footnote 80: "A Vindication of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq., against what is

objected to him by Mr. Partridge in his Almanack for the present year

1709. By the said Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq., London, printed in the year

1709." (Advertisement in folio issue.) In a pamphlet called "Predictions

for the Year 1712. By Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq.; in a Letter to the author

of the Oxford Almanack. Printed in the year 1712," this "Vindication" is

thus noticed: "I can't but express my resentment against a gentleman who

personated me in a paper called 'Mr. Bickerstaff's Vindication.' I'm

grieved to find the times should be so very wicked, that one impostor

should set up to reform another, and that a false Bickerstaff should

write against an imaginary Partridge. And I am heartily concerned that

one who shows so much wit, such extreme civility, and writes such a

gentlemanlike style, should prefix my name to writings in which there

appears so little solidity and no knowledge of the Arabian philosophy.

If this paper should be transmitted to posterity (as, perhaps, it might

have been by the authority of the name it wears in the front) it might

have been a lasting reflection upon me to the end of the world.... Till

seeing four volumes of writings--the collected edition of the

_Tatler_--pretended to be mine, and a serious philosopher's name

prefixed to papers as free from my solidity as they are full of wit, I

thought it high time to vindicate myself, and give the world a taste of

my writings; for I am now persuaded 'twill be more for my reputation to

convince than to despise mankind."]

No. 2. [STEELE.

From _Tuesday, April 12_, to _Thursday, April 14_, 1709.

* * * * *

Will's Coffee-house, April 13.

There has lain all this evening, on the table, the following poem. The

subject of it being matter very useful for families, I thought it

deserved to be considered, and made more public. The turn the poet[81]

gives it is very happy; but the foundation is from a real accident

which happened among my acquaintance.[82] A young gentleman of a great

estate fell desperately in love with a great beauty of very high

quality, but as ill-natured as long flattery and an habitual self-will

could make her. However, my young spark ventures upon her, like a man of

quality, without being acquainted with her, or having ever saluted her,

till it was a crime to kiss any woman else. Beauty is a thing which

palls with possession; and the charms of this lady soon wanted the

support of good humour and complaisancy of manners. Upon this my spark

flies to the bottle for relief from his satiety. She disdains him for

being tired with that for which all men envied him; and he never came

home, but it was: "Was there no sot that would stay longer? Would any

man living but you? Did I leave all the world for this usage?" To which

he: "Madam, split me, you are very impertinent!" In a word, this match

was wedlock in its most terrible appearances. She, at last weary of

railing to no purpose, applies to a good uncle, who gives her a bottle

of water. "The virtue of this powerful liquor," said he, "is such, that

if the woman you marry proves a scold (which, it seems, my dear niece,

is your misfortune, as it was your good mother's before you), let her

hold six spoonfuls in her mouth, for a full half hour after you come

home--" But I find I am not in humour for telling a tale, and nothing in

nature is so ungrateful as story-telling against the grain, therefore

take it as the author has given it you.

The MEDECINE.

#A Tale--for the Ladies.#

Miss Molly, a famed toast, was fair and young,

Had wealth and charms, but then she had a tongue

From morn to night, the eternal larum run,

Which often lost those hearts her eyes had won.

Sir John was smitten, and confessed his flame,

Sighed out the usual time, then wed the dame:

Possessed he thought of every joy of life,

But his dear Molly proved a very wife.

Excess of fondness did in time decline,

Madam loved money, and the knight loved wine.

From whence some petty discords would arise,

As, "You're a fool"; and, "You are mighty wise!"

Though he and all the world allowed her wit,

Her voice was shrill, and rather loud than sweet,

When she began,--for hat and sword he'd call.

Then, after a faint kiss, cry, "B'y, dear Moll:

Supper and friends expect me at the Rose."[83]

And, "What, Sir John, you'll get your usual dose!

Go, stink of smoke, and guzzle nasty wine,

Sure, never virtuous love was used like mine!"

Oft as the watchful bellman marched his round,

At a fresh bottle gay Sir John he found.

By four the knight would get his business done,

And only then reeled off, because alone;

Full well he knew the dreadful storm to come,

But armed with bordeaux, he durst venture home.

My lady with her tongue was still prepared,

She rattled loud, and he impatient heard:

"'Tis a fine hour? In a sweet pickle made!

And this, Sir John, is every day the trade.

Here I sit moping all the live-long night,

Devoured with spleen, and stranger to delight;

'Till morn sends staggering home a drunken beast,

Resolved to break my heart, as well as rest."

"Hey! Hoop! d'ye hear my damned obstreperous spouse!

What, can't you find one bed about the house!

Will that perpetual clack lie never still!

That rival to the softness of a mill!

Some couch and distant room must be my choice,

Where I may sleep uncursed with wife and noise."

Long this uncomfortable life they led,

With snarling meals, and each, a separate bed.

To an old uncle oft she would complain,

Beg his advice, and scarce from tears refrain.

Old Wisewood smoked the matter as it was,

"Cheer up!" cried he, "and I'll remove the cause.

"A wonderous spring within my garden flows,

Of sovereign virtue, chiefly to compose

Domestic jars, and matrimonial strife,

The best elixir t' appease man and wife;

Strange are th' effects, the qualities divine,

'Tis water called, but worth its weight in wine.

If in his sullen airs Sir John should come,

Three spoonfuls take, hold in your mouth--then mum:

Smile, and look pleased, when he shall rage and scold,

Still in your mouth the healing cordial hold;

One month this sympathetic medecine tried,

He'll grow a lover, you a happy bride.

But, dearest niece, keep this grand secret close,

Or every prattling hussy'll beg a dose."

A water-bottle's brought for her relief,

Not Nantz could sooner ease the lady's grief:

Her busy thoughts are on the trial bent,

And female-like, impatient for th' event:

The bonny knight reels home exceeding clear,

Prepared for clamour, and domestic war.

Entering, he cries, "Hey! where's our thunder fled?

No hurricane! Betty, 's your lady dead?"

Madam, aside, an ample mouthful takes,

Curtsies, looks kind, but not a word she speaks:

Wondering, he stared, scarcely his eyes believed,

But found his ears agreeably deceived.

"Why, how now, Molly, what's the crotchet now?"

She smiles, and answers only with a bow.

Then clasping her about,--"Why, let me die!

These nightclothes, Moll, become thee mightily!"

With that, he sighed, her hand began to press,

And Betty calls, her lady to undress;

"Nay, kiss me, Molly, for I'm much inclined."

Her lace she cuts, to take him in the mind.

Thus the fond pair to bed enamoured went,

The lady pleased, and the good knight content.

For many days these fond endearments passed,

The reconciling bottle fails at last;

'Twas used and gone: Then midnight storms arose,

And looks and words the union discompose.

Her coach is ordered, and post-haste she flies,

To beg her uncle for some fresh supplies;

Transported does the strange effects relate,

Her knight's conversion, and her happy state!

"Why, niece," says he, "I prithee apprehend

The water's water. Be thyself thy friend;

Such beauty would the coldest husband warm,

But your provoking tongue undoes the charm:

Be silent, and complying; you'll soon find,

Sir John, without a medecine, will be kind."

St. James's Coffee-house, April 13.

Letters from Venice say, the disappointment of their expectation to see

his Danish Majesty, has very much disquieted the Court of Rome. Our last

advices from Germany inform us, that the minister of Hanover has urged

the council at Ratisbon to exert themselves in behalf of the common

cause, and taken the liberty to say, that the dignity, the virtue, the

prudence of his electoral highness, his master, were called to the head

of their affairs in vain, if they thought fit to leave him naked of the

proper means to make those excellences useful for the honour and safety

of the Empire. They write from Berlin of the 13th, O.S., that the true

design of General Fleming's visit to that Court was, to insinuate, that

it will be for the mutual interest of the King of Prussia and King

Augustus to enter into a new alliance; but that the ministers of Prussia

are not inclined to his sentiments. We hear from Vienna, that his

Imperial Majesty has expressed great satisfaction in their high

mightinesses having communicated to him the whole that has passed in the

affair of a peace. Though there have been practices used by the agents

of France, in all the Courts of Europe, to break the good understanding

of the allies, they have had no other effect, but to make all the

members concerned in the alliance, more doubtful of their safety from

the great offers of the enemy. The Empire is roused by this alarm, and

the frontiers of all the French dominions are in danger of being

insulted the ensuing campaign: advices from all parts confirm, that it

is impossible for France to find a way to obtain so much credit, as to

gain any one potentate of the allies, or make any hope for safety from

other prospects.

From my own Apartment, April 13.

I find it of very great use, now I am setting up for a writer of news,

that I am an adept in astrological speculations; by which means, I avoid

speaking of things which may offend great persons. But at the same time,

I must not prostitute the liberal sciences so far, as not to utter the

truth in cases which do not immediately concern the good of my native

country. I must therefore boldly contradict what has been so assuredly

reported by the news-writers of England, that France is in the most

deplorable condition, and that their people die in great multitudes. I

will therefore let the world know, that my correspondent, by the way of

Brussels, informs me, upon his honour, that the gentleman who writes the

Gazette of Paris, and ought to know as well as any man, has told him,

that ever since the king has been past his 63rd year, or grand

climacteric, there has not one man died of the French nation who was

younger than his Majesty, except a very few, who were taken suddenly

near the village of Hochsted[84] in Germany; and some more, who were

straitened for lodging at a place called Ramilies, and died on the road

to Ghent and Bruges. There are also other things given out by the

allies, which are shifts below a conquering nation to make use of. Among

others, 'tis said, there is a general murmuring among the people of

France, though at the same time all my letters agree, that there is so

good an understanding among them, that there is not one morsel carried

out of any market in the kingdom, but what is delivered upon credit.

[Footnote 81: William Harrison (1685-1713) was a favourite with Swift

and Addison. He wrote verses, and a continuation of the _Tatler_, and

afterwards obtained office in the diplomatic service; but his health

soon broke down, and he died when 28.]

[Footnote 82: There is a similar story in Burton's "Anatomy of

Melancholy."]

[Footnote 83: The Rose Tavern, in Russell Street, adjoined Drury Lane

Theatre, and was a favourite resort during and after the play.]

[Footnote 84: The Battle of Blenheim.]

No. 3. [STEELE.

From _Thursday, April 14_, to _Saturday, April 16_, 1709.

* * * * *

Will's Coffee-house, April 14.

This evening, the comedy called "The Country Wife"[85] was acted in

Drury Lane, for the benefit of Mrs. Bignell.[86] The part which gives

name to the play was performed by herself. Through the whole action, she

made a very pretty figure, and exactly entered into the nature of the

part. Her husband in the drama, is represented to be one of those

debauchees who run through the vices of the town, and believe when they

think fit they can marry, and settle at their ease. His own knowledge of

the iniquity of the age, makes him choose a wife wholly ignorant of it,

and place his security in her want of skill how to abuse him. The poet,

on many occasions, where the propriety of the character will admit of

it, insinuates, that there is no defence against vice, but the contempt

of it: and has, in the natural ideas of an untainted innocent, shown the

gradual steps to ruin and destruction, which persons of condition run

into, without the help of a good education how to form their conduct.

The torment of a jealous coxcomb, which arises from his own false

maxims, and the aggravation of his pain, by the very words in which he

sees her innocence, makes a very pleasant and instructive satire. The

character of Horner, and the design of it, is a good representation of

the age in which that comedy was written; at which time love and

wenching were the business of life, and the gallant manner of pursuing

women was the best recommendation at Court. To which only it is to be

imputed, that a gentleman of Mr. Wycherley's character and sense,

condescends to represent the insults done to the honour of the bed,

without just reproof; but to have drawn a man of probity with regard to

such considerations, had been a monster, and a poet had at that time

discovered his want of knowing the manners of the Court he lived in, by

a virtuous character in his fine gentleman, as he would show his

ignorance, by drawing a vicious one to please the present audience. Mrs.

Bignell did her part very happily, and had a certain grace in her

rusticity, which gave us hopes of seeing her a very skilful player, and

in some parts, supply our loss of Mrs. Verbruggen.[87] I cannot be of

the same opinion with my friends and fellow-labourers, the Reformers of

Manners,[88] in their severity towards plays, but must allow that a good

play acted before a well-bred audience, must raise very proper

incitements to good behaviour, and be the most quick and most prevailing

method of giving young people a turn of sense and breeding. But as I

have set up for a weekly historian, I resolve to be a faithful one; and

therefore take this public occasion to admonish a young nobleman, who

came flustered into the box last night, and let him know, how much all

his friends were out of countenance for him. The women sat in terror of

hearing something that should shock their modesty, and all the gentlemen

in as much pain, out of compassion to the ladies, and perhaps resentment

for the indignity which was offered in coming into their presence in so

disrespectful a manner. Wine made him say nothing that was rude,

therefore he is forgiven, upon condition he will never hazard his

offending more in this kind. As I just now hinted, I own myself of the

Society for Reformation of Manners. We have lower instruments than those

of the family of Bickerstaff, for punishing great crimes, and exposing

the abandoned. Therefore, as I design to have notices from all public

assemblies, I shall take upon me only indecorums, improprieties, and

negligences, in such as should give us better examples. After this

declaration, if a fine lady thinks fit to giggle at church, or a great

beau come in drunk to a play, either shall be sure to hear of it in my

ensuing paper: for merely as a well-bred man, I cannot bear these

enormities.

After the play, we naturally stroll to this coffee-house, in hopes of

meeting some new poem, or other entertainment, among the men of wit and

pleasure, where there is a dearth at present. But it is wonderful there

should be so few writers, when the art is become merely mechanic, and

men may make themselves great that way, by as certain and infallible

rules, as you may be a joiner or a mason. There happens a good instance

of this, in what the hawker just now has offered to sale; to wit,

"Instructions to Vanderbank; a Sequel to the Advice to the Poets: A

Poem, occasioned by the Glorious Success of her Majesty's Arms, under

the Command of the Duke of Marlborough, the last Year in Flanders."[89]

Here you are to understand, that the author finding the poets would not

take his advice, he troubles himself no more about them; but has met

with one Vanderbank,[90] who works in arras, and makes very good

tapestry hangings. Therefore, in order to celebrate the hero of the age,

he claps me together all that can be said of a man that makes hangings, as:

_Then, artist, who dost Nature's face express

In silk and gold, and scenes of action dress;

Dost figured arras animated leave,

Spin a bright story, or a passion weave

By mingling threads; canst mingle shade and light,

Delineate triumphs, or describe a fight._

Well, what shall this workman do? Why, to show how great an hero the

poet intends, he provides him a very good horse:

_Champing his foam, and bounding on the plain,

Arch his high neck, and graceful spread his mane._

Now as to the intrepidity, the calm courage, the constant application of

the hero, it is not necessary to take that upon yourself; you may, in

the lump, bid him you employ raise him as high as he can, and if he does

it not, let him answer for disobeying orders:

_Let fame and victory in inferior sky,

Hover with ballanced wings, and smiling fly

Above his head, &c._

A whole poem of this kind may be ready against an ensuing campaign, as

well as a space left in the canvas of a piece of tapestry for the

principal figure, while the underparts are working: so that in effect,

the adviser copies after the man he pretends to direct. This method

should, methinks, encourage young beginners: for the invention is so

fitted to all capacities, that by the help of it a man may make a

receipt for a poem. A young man may observe, that the jig[91] of the

thing is, as I said, finding out all that can be said of his way [whom]

you employ to set forth your worthy. Waller and Denham had worn out the

expedient of "Advice to a Painter."[92] This author has transferred the

work, and sent his advice to the Poets; that is to say, to the turners

of verse, as he calls them. Well, that thought is worn out also,

therefore he directs his genius to the loom, and will have a new set of

hangings in honour of the last year in Flanders. I must own to you, I

approve extremely this invention, and it might be improved for the

benefit of manufactory: as, suppose an ingenious gentleman should write

a poem of advice to a calico-printer: do you think there is a girl in

England, that would wear anything but the taking of Lille, or the Battle

of Oudenarde? They would certainly be all the fashion, till the heroes

abroad had cut out some more patterns. I should fancy small skirmishes

might do for under-petticoats, provided they had a siege for the upper.

If our adviser were well imitated, many industrious people might be put

to work. Little Mr. Dactile, now in the room, who formerly writ a song

and a half, is a week gone in a very pretty work upon this hint: he is

writing an epigram to a young virgin who knits very well ('tis a

thousand pities he is a Jacobite); but his epigram is by way of advice

to this damsel, to knit all the actions of the Pretender and the Duke of

Burgundy last campaign in the clock of a stocking. It were endless to

enumerate the many hands and trades that may be employed by poets, of so

useful a turn as this adviser's. I shall think of it; and in this time

of taxes, shall consult a great critic employed in the custom-house, in

order to propose what tax may be proper to put upon knives, seals,

rings, hangings, wrought-beds, gowns and petticoats, where any of those

commodities bear mottoes, or are worked upon poetical grounds.

St. James's Coffee-house, April 15.

Letters from Turin of the 3rd instant, N.S., inform us, that his Royal

Highness employs all his address in alarming the enemy, and perplexing

their speculations concerning his real designs the ensuing campaign.

Contracts are entered into with the merchants of Milan, for a great

number of mules to transport his provisions and ammunition. His Royal

Highness has ordered the train of artillery to be conveyed to Susa

before the 20th of the next month. In the meantime, all accounts agree,

that the enemy are very backward in their preparations, and almost

incapable of defending themselves against an invasion, by reason of the

general murmurs of their own people; which, they find, are no way to be

quieted, but by giving them hopes of a speedy peace. When these letters

were dispatched, the Marshal de Thesse was arrived at Genoa, where he

has taken much pains to keep the correspondents of the merchants of

France in hopes, that measures will be found out to support the credit

and commerce between that state and Lyons. But the late declaration of

the agents of Monsieur Bernard, that they cannot discharge the demands

made upon them, has quite dispirited all those who are engaged in the

remittances of France.

From my own Apartment, April 15.

It is a very natural passion in all good members of the commonwealth, to

take what care they can of their families. Therefore I hope the reader

will forgive me, that I desire he would go to the play, called the

"Stratagem,"[93] this evening, which is to be acted for the benefit of

my near kinsman, Mr. John Bickerstaff.[94] I protest to you the

gentleman has not spoken to me to desire this favour; but I have a

respect for him, as well in regard to consanguinity, as that he is an

intimate friend of that famous and heroic actor, Mr. George Powell, who

formerly played Alexander the Great in all places, though he is lately

grown so reserved as to act it only on the stage.[95]

[Footnote 85: By Wycherley, first acted in 1683.]

[Footnote 86: Mrs. Bicknell (or Bignell) was born about 1695. It is not

clear whether she was married, or whether the name Bicknell was taken to

distinguish her from her sister, Mrs. Young, who was also an actress. We

first hear of her acting in 1706; she took parts in which sauciness and

coquetry were the chief features. Her last recorded appearance was on

the 2nd of April, 1723; and she died in May. She signed a petition "M.

Bicknell"; probably her name was Margaret, her mother's name. Steele

alludes to her as "pretty Mrs. Bignell" in No. 11, and as his friend in

the _Guardian_, No. 50. She was Miss Prue in Congreve's "Love for Love,"

and Miss Hoyden in Vanbrugh's "Relapse." In the _Spectator_ (No. 370)

Steele praises her dancing.]

[Footnote 87: Cibber writes thus of this actress: "Mrs. Mountford, whose

second marriage gave her the name of Verbruggen, was mistress of more

variety of humour than I ever knew in any one woman actress. This

variety, too, was attended with an equal vivacity, which made her

excellent in characters extremely different.... She was so fond of

humour, in what low part soever to be found, that she would make no

scruple of defacing her fair form to come heartily into it." She could

act admirably as a Devonshire lass, a pretty fellow, or a fine lady.

Mrs. Verbruggen's first husband, the actor Mountford, was killed by

Captain Hill, with the assistance of Lord Mohun, in 1692, because Hill,

who was making unsuccessful suit to Mrs. Bracegirdle was jealous of her

fellow-actor. Mountford was then in his thirty-third year. Mrs.

Mountford's second husband, John Verbruggen, is described by Tony Aston

as "nature without extravagance." ... "That rough diamond shone more

bright than all the artful polished brilliants that ever sparkled on our

stage." The same writer says of Mrs. Verbruggen: "She was all art, but

dressed so nice, it looked like nature. She was the most easy actress in

the world. Her maiden name was Percival."]

[Footnote 88: Various Societies for the Reformation of Manners were

founded in the reign of William III. An "Account" of these societies was

published in 1699, and Defoe often wrote on the subject. In 1708 the

Society for London and Westminster secured the conviction of 3299 "lewd

and scandalous" persons, guilty of Sunday trading swearing, drunkenness,

&c.]

[Footnote 89: See Steele's apology to Blackmore, author of this poem, in

No. 14. Sir Richard Blackmore (died 1729) was a Whig physician who wrote

epics on religious and other subjects, and was often at loggerheads with

the actors and wits. Though he was not a poet, Addison and Steele

praised him on account of the religious tone of his work (see

_Spectator_, Nos. 6, 339).]

[Footnote 90: Vanderbank, or as his father sometimes wrote his name,

Vandrebanc, was a son of Peter Vanderbank, a Parisian, who came into

England with Gascar the painter, about 1674, and died at Bradfield, in

Hertfordshire, in 1697. His father was admired for the softness of his

prints, and still more for the size of them, some of his heads being the

largest that had then appeared in England; but the prices he received by

no means compensated for the time employed on his works, and he was

reduced to want, and died at the house of Mr. Forester, his

brother-in-law. After his death, his widow sold his plates to one Brown,

a print-seller, who made a great profit by them. His eldest son had some

share in the theatre at Dublin; the youngest, William, was a poor

labourer, who gave an account of his father and the family to Vertue.

The person mentioned in this paper was probably his father's name-son,

and might be, as Walpole conjectures, an engraver. Whatever concern the

father might have had in any manufacture of tapestry, he could not be

the person meant here, for at this time he had been dead above ten

years. The suite of tapestry, in the Duke of Ancaster's sale, with

Vanderbank's name to it, mentioned by Walpole, must therefore be

supposed to belong to the son, who is said, upon the authority of the

French translator of the _Tatler_, to have represented nature very

happily in works of tapestry, and to have been a man inimitable in this

way. (See Walpole's "Anecdotes of Painting," 1782, vol. v. p. 166.)]

[Footnote 91: Trick (the early editions have "gigg").]

[Footnote 92: Waller wrote "Instructions to a Painter" and "Advice to a

Painter," and Denham "Directions to a Painter."]

[Footnote 93: Farquhar's "Beaux' Stratagem," 1707.]

[Footnote 94: Bickerstaff acted the part of the Captain in Mrs.

Centlivre's farce, "A Bickerstaff's Burying; or, Work for the Upholders"

(1713), which was dedicated to the "magnificent Company of Upholders,

whom the judicious Censor of Great Britain has so often condescended to

mention." In the "British Apollo," vol. ii. No. 107 (Feb. 27 to March 1,

1710), is a "New Prologue to 'Don Quixote' for Mr. Bickerstaff's Benefit

at the Theatre Royal, spoken by himself." The prologue ends:

"I need not from the ladies fear my doom,

When it shall thus be said, in my behalf,

He bears the awful name of BICKERSTAFF."

In the _Daily Courant_ for Feb. 4, 1710, there was advertised a

performance of the "Comical History of Don Quixote" at Drury Lane, "at

the desire of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq., for the benefit of his cousin,

John Bickerstaff."]

[Footnote 95: George Powell, actor and dramatist, gave way often to

drink. He died in 1714. Addison praised his acting of tragic parts in

No. 40 of the _Spectator_. See also No. 31. An order to the comedians in

Dorset Gardens forbade them acting till further order, because they had

allowed Powell to play after he was committed for drawing his sword on

Colonel Stanhope and Mr. Davenant. This is dated May 3, 10 Will. III.

(1698); but on May 4 there was another order for the comedians to resume

acting. (Lord Chamberlain's Records, Warrant Book No. 19, p. 80.)

Cibber's remarks on this incident will be found in his "Apology," chap.

x.]

No. 4. [STEELE.

From _Saturday April 16_, to _Tuesday, April 19, 1709_.

* * * * *

It is usual with persons who mount the stage for the cure or information

of the crowd about them, to make solemn professions of their being

wholly disinterested in the pains they take for the public good. At the

same time, those very men, who make harangues in plush doublets, and

extol their own abilities and generous inclinations, tear their lungs in

vending a drug, and show no act of bounty, except it be, that they lower

a demand of a crown, to six, nay, to one penny. We have a contempt for

such paltry barterers, and have therefore all along informed the public

that we intend to give them our advices for our own sakes, and are

labouring to make our lucubrations come to some price in money, for our

more convenient support in the service of the public. It is certain,

that many other schemes have been proposed to me; as a friend offered to

show me a treatise he had writ, which he called "The Whole Art of Life,

or the Introduction to Great Men, illustrated in a Pack of Cards." But

being a novice at all manner of play I declined the offer. Another

advised me, for want of money, to set up my coach and practise physic,

but having been bred a scholar, I feared I should not succeed that way

neither; therefore resolved to go on in my present project. But you are

to understand, that I shall not pretend to raise a credit to this work,

upon the weight of my politic news only, but, as my Latin sentence in

the title-page informs you, shall take anything that offers for the

subject of my discourse. Thus, new persons, as well as new things, are

to come under my consideration; as, when a toast, or a wit, is first

pronounced such, you shall have the freshest advice of their preferment

from me, with a description of the beauty's manner, and the wit's style;

as also, in whose places they are advanced. For this town is never

good-natured enough to raise one, without depressing another. But it is

my design, to avoid saying anything, of any person, which ought justly

to displease; but shall endeavour, by the variety of the matter and

style, to give entertainment for men of pleasure, without offence to

those of business.

White's Chocolate-house, April 18.

All hearts at present pant for two ladies only[96], who have for some

time engrossed the dominion of the town. They are indeed both exceeding

charming, but differ very much in their excellences. The beauty of

Clarissa is soft, that of Chloe piercing. When you look at Clarissa,

you see the most exact harmony of feature, complexion, and shape; you

find in Chloe nothing extraordinary in any one of those particulars, but

the whole woman irresistible. Clarissa looks languishing; Chloe,

killing. Clarissa never fails of gaining admiration; Chloe, of moving

desire. The gazers at Clarissa are at first unconcerned, as if they were

observing a fine picture. They who behold Chloe, at the first glance,

discover transport, as if they met their dearest friend. These different

perfections are suitably represented by the last great painter Italy has

sent us, Mr. Jervas.[97] Clarissa is, by that skilful hand, placed in a

manner that looks artless, and innocent of the torments she gives; Chloe

drawn with a liveliness that shows she is conscious, but not affected,

of her perfections. Clarissa is a shepherdess; Chloe, a country girl. I

must own, the design of Chloe's picture shows, to me, great mastery in

the painter; for nothing could be better imagined than the dress he has

given her, of a straw hat and riband, to represent that sort of beauty

which enters the heart with a certain familiarity, and cheats it into a

belief, that it has received a lover as well as an object of love. The

force of their different beauties is seen also in the effects it makes

on their lovers. The admirers of Chloe are eternally gay and

well-pleased: those of Clarissa, melancholy and thoughtful. And as this

passion always changes the natural man into a quite different creature

from what he was before, the love of Chloe makes coxcombs; that of

Clarissa, madmen. There were of each kind just now here. Here was one

that whistles, laughs, sings, and cuts capers, for love of Chloe.

Another has just now written three lines to Clarissa, then taken a turn

in the garden, then came back again, then tore his fragment, then called

for some chocolate, then went away without it.

Chloe has so many admirers in the room at present, that there is too

much noise to proceed in my narration, so that the progress of the loves

of Clarissa and Chloe, together with the bottles that are drank each

night for the one, and the many sighs which are uttered, and songs

written, on the other, must be our subject on future occasions.

Will's Coffee-house, April 18.

Letters from the Haymarket inform us, that on Saturday night last the

opera of "Pyrrhus and Demetrius"[98] was performed with great applause.

This intelligence is not very acceptable to us friends of the theatre;

for the stage being an entertainment of the reason and all our

faculties, this way of being pleased with the suspense of them for three

hours together, and being given up to the shallow satisfaction of the

eyes and ears only, seems to arise rather from the degeneracy of our

understanding, than an improvement of our diversions.[99] That the

understanding has no part in the pleasure is evident, from what these

letters very positively assert, to wit, that a great part of the

performance was done in Italian: and a great critic fell into fits in

the gallery, at feeling, not only time and place, but languages and

nations confused in the most incorrigible manner. His spleen is so

extremely moved on this occasion, that he is going to publish a treatise

against operas, which, he thinks, have already inclined us to thoughts

of peace, and if tolerated, must infallibly dispirit us from carrying on

the war. He has communicated his scheme to the whole room, and declared

in what manner things of this kind were first introduced. He has upon

this occasion considered the nature of sounds in general, and made a

very elaborate digression upon the London cries,[100] wherein he has

shown from reason and philosophy why oysters are cried,

card-matches[101] sung, and turnips and all other vegetables neither

cried, sung, nor said, but sold, with an accent and tone neither natural

to man or beast. This piece seems to be taken from the model of that

excellent discourse of Mrs. Manly the schoolmistress, concerning

samplers.[102] Advices from the upper end of Piccadilly say that Mayfair

is utterly abolished;[103] and we hear Mr. Pinkethman[104] has removed

his ingenious company of strollers to Greenwich: but other letters from

Deptford say, the company is only making thither, and not yet settled;

but that several heathen gods and goddesses, which are to descend in

machines, landed at the King's Head Stairs last Saturday. Venus and

Cupid went on foot from thence to Greenwich; Mars got drunk in the town,

and broke his landlord's head; for which he sat in the stocks the whole

evening; but Mr. Pinkethman giving security that he should do nothing

this ensuing summer, he was set at liberty. The most melancholy part of

all, was, that Diana was taken in the act of fornication with a boatman,

and committed by Justice Wrathful, which has, it seems, put a stop to

the diversions of the theatre of Blackheath. But there goes down another

Diana and a patient Grissel next tide from Billingsgate.[105]

St. James's Coffee-house, April 18.

They write from Saxony of the 13th instant, N.S., that the Grand General

of the Crown of Poland was so far from entering into a treaty with King

Stanislaus, that he had written circular letters, wherein he exhorted

the Palatinates to join against him; declaring, that this was the most

favourable conjuncture for asserting their liberty.

Letters from the Hague of the 23rd instant, N.S., say, they have advices

from Vienna, which import, that his Electoral Highness of Hanover had

signified to the Imperial Court, that he did not intend to put himself

at the head of the troops of the Empire, except more effectual measures

were taken for acting vigorously against the enemy the ensuing campaign.

Upon this representation, the Emperor has given orders to several

regiments to march towards the Rhine, and despatched expresses to the

respective princes of the Empire to desire an augmentation of their

forces.

These letters add, that an express arrived at the Hague on the 20th

instant, with advice, that the enemy having made a detachment from

Tournay of 1500 horse, each trooper carrying a foot-soldier behind him,

in order to surprise the garrison of Alost; the allies, upon notice of

their march, sent out a strong body of troops from Ghent, which engaged

the enemy at Asche, and took 200 of them prisoners, obliging the rest to

retire without making any further attempt. On the 22nd in the morning a

fleet of merchant ships coming from Scotland, were attacked by six

French privateers at the entrance of the Meuse. We have yet no certain

advice of the event: but letters from Rotterdam say, that a Dutch

man-of-war of forty guns, which was convoy to the said fleet, was taken,

as were also eighteen of the merchants. The Swiss troops, in the

service of the States, have completed the augmentation of their

respective companies. Those of Wirtemberg and Prussia are expected on

the frontiers within few days; and the auxiliaries from Saxony, as also

a battalion of Holstein, and another of Wolfembuttel, are advancing

thither with all expedition. On the 21st instant, the deputies of the

States had a conference near Woerden with the President Rouillé, but the

matter which was therein debated is not made public. His Grace the Duke

of Marlborough and Prince Eugene continue at the Hague.

From my own Apartment, April 18.

I have lately been very studious for intelligence, and have just now, by

my astrological flying-post, received a packet from Felicia,[106] an

island in America, with an account that gives me great satisfaction, and

lets me understand that the island was never in greater prosperity, or

the administration in so good hands, since the death of their late

valiant king. These letters import, that the chief minister has entered

into a firm league with the ablest and best men of the nation, to carry

on the cause of liberty, to the encouragement of religion, virtue, and

honour. Those persons at the helm are so useful, and in themselves of

such weight, that their strict alliance must needs tend to the universal

prosperity of the people. Camillo,[107] it seems, presides over the

deliberations of state; and is so highly valued by all men, for his

singular probity, courage, affability, and love of mankind, that his

being placed in that station has dissipated the fears of that people,

who of all the world are the most jealous of their liberty and

happiness. The next member of their society is Horatio,[108] who makes

all the public despatches. This minister is master of all the languages

in use to great perfection: he is held in the highest veneration

imaginable for a severe honesty, and love of his country: he lives in a

court, unsullied with any of its artifices, the refuge of the oppressed,

and terror of oppressors. Martio[109] has joined himself to this

council; a man of most undaunted resolution and great knowledge in

maritime affairs; famous for destroying the navy of the Franks,[110] and

singularly happy in one particular, that he never preferred a man who

has not proved remarkably serviceable to his country. Philander[111] is

mentioned with particular distinction; a nobleman who has the most

refined taste of the true pleasures and elegance of life, joined to an

indefatigable industry in business; a man eloquent in assemblies,

agreeable in conversation, and dextrous in all manner of public

negotiations. These letters add, that Verono,[112] who is also of this

council, has lately set sail to his government of Patricia, with design

to confirm the affections of the people in the interests of his queen.

This minister is master of great abilities, and is as industrious and

restless for the preservation of the liberties of the people, as the

greatest enemy can be to subvert them. The influence of these

personages, who are men of such distinguished parts and virtues, makes

the people enjoy the utmost tranquillity in the midst of a war, and

gives them undoubted hopes of a secure peace from their vigilance and

integrity.[113]

[Footnote 96: In a copy of the original edition of the _Tatler_, with

MS. notes written early in the last century, which was sold at Messrs.

Sotheby's, in April, 1887, the ladies here described were said to be

Mrs. Chetwine and Mrs. Hales respectively. Mrs. Hales was a maid of

honour who married Mr. Coke, vice-chamberlain, in July, 1709 (Luttrell's

"Brief Relation," vi. 462); "Mrs. Chetwine" was probably the wife of

William Richard Chetwynd, afterwards third Viscount Chetwynd, who

married Honora, daughter of John Baker, Consul at Algiers; or the wife

of his brother Walter, M.P. for Stafford, and Master of the Buckhounds.

In 1717, Lady M. W. Montagu, describing a week spent by a fashionable

lady, said, 'Friday, Mrs. Chetwynd's, &c.; a perpetual round of hearing

the same scandal' (Pope's Works, ix. 385).]

[Footnote 97: Charles Jervas, portrait painter (died 1739), became

principal painter to George I. and George II. He also made a translation

of "Don Quixote," first published in 1742.]

[Footnote 98: A translation of Owen McSwiney (1709) from the Italian of

Scarlatti.]

[Footnote 99: In the _Spectator_ (Nos. 1, 5, 13, &c.) Addison often

wrote against the Italian opera. In 1706, Dennis published "An Essay on

the Operas after the Italian Manner, which are about to be established

on the English Stage: with some reflections on the damage which they may

bring to the Public." He traces to the recent alterations in the

entertainments of the stage, the fact that familiar conversation among

all classes was confined to two points, news and toasting, neither of

which required much intelligence.]

[Footnote 100: The street cries of 1709 are described in Lauron's

"Habits and Cries of the City of London." They included "Any

card-matches or save-alls" and "Twelve-pence a peck, oysters."]

[Footnote 101: Matches made by dipping pieces of card in melted sulphur.

In the _Spectator_ (No. 251), Addison speaks of vendors of card-matches

as examples of the fact that those made most noise who had least to

sell.]

[Footnote 102: In vol. ii. of Dr. W. King's Works (1776) is "An Essay on

the Invention of Samplers, by Mrs. Arabella Manly, schoolmistress at

Hackney."]

[Footnote 103: May Fair was abolished in 1709, after it had on several

occasions been presented as a nuisance by the Grand Jury at Westminster.

This fair was granted by King James II. under the Great Seal, in the

fourth year of his reign, to Sir John Coell and his heirs for ever, in

trust for Henry Lord Dover and his heirs for ever, to be held in the

field called Brookfield, in the parish of St. Martin's, Westminster, to

commence on the first day of May, and to continue fifteen days yearly.

It soon became the resort of the idle, the dissipated, and the

profligate, insomuch that the peace-officers were frequently opposed in

the performance of their duty; and, in the year 1702, John Cooper, one

of the constables, was killed, for which a fencing-master, named Cook,

was executed. (See also No. 20.) The fair was revived under George I.,

but was finally abolished through the exertions of the sixth Earl of

Coventry.]

[Footnote 104: William Pinkethman, the popular actor and droll, was

spoken of by Gildon as "the flower of Bartholomew Fair, and the idol of

the rabble." In June, 1710, he opened a theatre at Greenwich, and in

1711 his "wonderful invention called The Pantheon, or, The Temple of the

Heathen Gods," with over 100 figures, was to be seen in the Little

Piazza, Covent Garden (_Spectator_, No. 46, advertisement).]

[Footnote 105: "It is credibly reported that Mr. D----y has agreed with

Mr. Pinkethman to have his play acted before that audience as soon as it

has had its first sixteen days' run in Drury Lane" (folio). The play was

D'Urfey's "Modern Prophets."]

[Footnote 106: Britain.]

[Footnote 107: John, Lord Somers, President of the Council.]

[Footnote 108: Sidney, Lord Godolphin, the Lord High Treasurer; or

(according to the MS. notes in the copy mentioned above) Lord

Sunderland.]

[Footnote 109: Edward, Earl of Orford.]

[Footnote 110: At La Hogue, 1692.]

[Footnote 111: Probably Lord Halifax.]

[Footnote 112: Thomas, Earl of Wharton, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.]

[Footnote 113: "Advertisement.--Upon the humble petition of Running

Stationers, &c., this paper maybe had of them, for the future, at the

price of one penny" (folio). The first four numbers were distributed

gratuitously.]

No. 5. [STEELE.

From _Tuesday, April 19_, to _Thursday, April 21_, 1709.

* * * * *

White's Chocolate-house, April 20.

_Who names that lost thing, love, without a tear,

Since so debauched by ill-bred customs here,

To an exact perfection they have brought

The action, love, the passion is forgot._

This was long ago a witty author's lamentation, but the evil still

continues; and if a man of any delicacy were to attend the discourses of

the young fellows of this age, they would believe there were none but

prostitutes to make the objects of passion. So true it is what the

author of the above verses said, a little before his death, of the

modern pretenders to gallantry: "They set up for wits in this age, by

saying when they are sober, what they of the last spoke only when they

were drunk." But Cupid is not only blind at present, but dead-drunk, he

has lost all his faculties: else how should Celia be so long a maid with

that agreeable behaviour? Corinna, with that uprightly wit? Lesbia, with

that heavenly voice? And Sacharissa, with all those excellences in one

person, frequent the park, the play, and murder the poor tits that drag

her to public places, and not a man turn pale at her appearance? But

such is the fallen state of love, that if it were not for honest

Cynthio,[114] who is true to the cause, we should hardly have a pattern

left of the ancient worthies that way: and indeed he has but very little

encouragement to persevere; but he has a devotion, rather than love, for

his mistress; and says,

Only tell her that I love,

Leave the rest to her, and Fate;

Some kind planet from above,

May, perhaps, her passsion move:

Lovers on their stars must wait.[115]

But the stars I am so intimately acquainted with, that I can assure him,

he will never have her: for would you believe it, though Cynthio has

wit, good sense, fortune, and his very being depends on her, the

termagant for whom he sighs, is in love with a fellow, who stares in the

glass all the time he is with her, and lets her plainly see, she may

possibly be his rival, but never his mistress. Yet Cynthio, the same

unhappy man whom I mentioned in my first narrative, pleases himself with

a vain imagination, that with the language of his eyes, now he has found

who she is, he shall conquer her, though her eyes are intent upon one

who looks from her; which is ordinary with the sex. It is certainly a

mistake in the ancients, to draw the little gentleman, Love, as a blind

boy; for his real character is, a little thief that squints. For ask

Mrs. Meddle, who is a confidante, or spy, upon all the passions in town,

and she will tell you, that the whole is a game of cross purposes. The

lover is generally pursuing one who is in pursuit of another, and

running from one that desires to meet him. Nay, the figure of this

passion is so justly represented in a squinting little thief (who is

always in a double action) that do but observe Clarissa next time you

see her, and you'll find, when her eyes have made their tour round the

company, she makes no stay on him they say she is to marry, but rests

two seconds of a minute on Wildair, who neither looks nor thinks on her,

or any woman else. However, Cynthio had a bow from her the other day,

upon which he is very much come to himself; and I heard him send his man

of an errand yesterday without any manner of hesitation; a quarter of an

hour after which he reckoned twenty, remembered he was to sup with a

friend, and went exactly to his appointment. I sent to know how he did

this morning, and I find he very perfectly remembers that he spoke to me

yesterday.

Will's Coffee-house, April 20.

This week[116] being sacred to holy things, and no public diversions

allowed, there has been taken notice of, even here, a little treatise,

called, "A Project for the Advancement of Religion; dedicated to the

Countess of Berkeley."[117] The title was so uncommon, and promised so

peculiar a way of thinking, that every man here has read it, and as

many as have done so, have approved it. It is written with the spirit of

one, who has seen the world enough to undervalue it with good breeding.

The author must certainly be a man of wisdom, as well as piety, and have

spent much time in the exercise of both. The real causes of the decay of

the interest of religion, are set forth in a clear and lively manner,

without unseasonable passions; and the whole air of the book, as to the

language, the sentiments, and the reasonings, show it was written by one

whose virtue sits easy about him, and to whom vice is thoroughly

contemptible. It was said by one of this company,[118] alluding to the

knowledge the author seems to have of the world, "The man writes much

like a gentleman, and goes to heaven with a very good mien."

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

Letters from Italy say, that the Marquis de Prie, upon the receipt of an

express from the Court of Vienna, went immediately to the palace of

Cardinal Paulucci, minister of state to his Holiness, and demanded in

the name of his Imperial Majesty, that King Charles should be forthwith

acknowledged king of Spain, by a solemn act of the congregation of

cardinals appointed for that purpose: he declared at the same time, that

if the least hesitation were made in this most important article of the

late treaty, he should not only be obliged to leave Rome himself, but

also transmit his master's orders to the imperial troops to face about,

and return into the ecclesiastical dominions. When the cardinal reported

this message to the Pope, he was struck with so sensible an affliction,

that he burst into tears. His sorrow was aggravated by letters which

immediately after arrived from the Court of Madrid, wherein his Nuncio

acquainted his Holiness, that upon the news of his accommodation with

the Emperor, he had received a message to forbear coming to Court; and

the people were so highly provoked, that they could hardly be restrained

from insulting his palace. These letters add, that the King of Denmark

was gone from Florence to Pisa, and from Pisa to Leghorn, where the

governor paid his Majesty all imaginable honours. The king designed to

go from thence to Lucca, where a magnificent tournament was prepared for

his diversion. An English man-of-war, which came from Port Mahon to

Leghorn in six days, brought advice, that the fleet commanded by Admiral

Whitaker, was safely arrived at Barcelona, with the troops and

ammunition which he had taken in at Naples.

General Boneval, Governor of Commacchio, had summoned the magistrates of

all the towns near that place to appear before him, and take an oath of

fidelity to his Imperial Majesty, commanding also the gentry to pay him

homage, on pain of death and confiscation of goods. Advices from

Switzerland inform us, that the bankers of Geneva were utterly ruined by

the failure of Mr. Bernard. They add, that the deputies of the Swiss

Cantons were returned from Solleure, where they were assembled at the

instance of the French Ambassador; but were very much dissatisfied with

the reception they had from that minister. 'Tis true, he omitted no

civilities, or expressions of friendship from his master, but he took no

notice of their pensions and arrears; what further provoked their

indignation, was, that instead of twenty-five pistoles formerly allowed

to each member, for their charge in coming to the Diet, he had

presented them with six only. They write from Dresden, that King

Augustus was still busy in recruiting his cavalry, and that the Danish

troops, which lately served in Hungary, had orders to be in Saxony in

the middle of May, and that his Majesty of Denmark was expected at

Dresden in the beginning of that month. King Augustus makes great

preparations for his reception, and has appointed sixty coaches, each

drawn by six horses for that purpose: the interview of these princes

affords great matter for speculation. Letters from Paris of the 22nd of

this month say, that Mareschal Harcourt and the Duke of Berwick were

preparing to go into Alsace and Dauphine, but that their troops were in

want of all manner of necessaries. The Court of France had received

advices from Madrid, that on the 7th of this month, the States of Spain

had with much magnificence acknowledged the Prince of Asturias

presumptive heir of the crown. This was performed at Buen Retiro; the

deputies took the oaths on that occasion by the hands of Cardinal

Portocarrero. Those advices add, that it was signified to the Pope's

Nuncio, by order of council, to depart from that Court in twenty-four

hours, and that a guard was accordingly appointed to conduct him to

Bayonne.

Letters from the Hague of the 26th instant inform us, that Prince Eugene

was to set out the next day for Brussels, to put all things in a

readiness for opening the campaign. They add, that the Grand Pensioner

having reported to the Duke of Marlborough what passed in the last

conference with Mr. Rouillé,[119] his Grace had taken a resolution

immediately to return to Great Britain, to communicate to her Majesty

all that has been transacted in that important affair.

From my own Apartment, April 20.

The nature of my miscellaneous work is such, that I shall always take

the liberty to tell for news such things (let them have happened never

so much before the time of writing) as have escaped public notice, or

have been misrepresented to the world, provided that I am still within

rules, and trespass not as a Tatler any further than in an incorrectness

of style, and writing in an air of common speech. Thus if anything that

is said, even of old Anchises or Æneas, be set by me in a different

light than has hitherto been hit upon, in order to inspire the love and

admiration of worthy actions, you will, gentle reader, I hope, accept of

it for intelligence you had not before. But I am going upon a narrative,

the matter of which I know to be true: it is not only doing justice to

the deceased merit[120] of such persons, as, had they lived, would not

have had it in their power to thank me, but also an instance of the

greatness of spirit in the lowest of her Majesty's subjects; take it as

follows:

At the siege of Namur by the Allies, there were in the ranks of the

company commanded by Captain Pincent, in Colonel Frederick Hamilton's

regiment, one Unnion a corporal, and one Valentine a private sentinel:

there happened between these two men a dispute about a matter of love,

which, upon some aggravations, grew to an irreconcilable hatred. Unnion

being the officer of Valentine, took all opportunities even to strike

his rival, and profess the spite and revenge which moved him to it. The

sentinel bore it without resistance, but frequently said he would die to

be revenged of that tyrant. They had spent whole months thus, one

injuring, the other complaining; when in the midst of this rage towards

each other, they were commanded upon the attack of the castle, where the

corporal received a shot in the thigh, and fell; the French pressing on,

and he expecting to be trampled to death, called out to his enemy, "Ah,

Valentine! Can you leave me here?" Valentine immediately ran back, and

in the midst of a thick fire of the French, took the corporal upon his

back, and brought him through all that danger as far as the Abbey of

Salsine, where a cannon-ball took off his head: his body fell under his

enemy whom he was carrying off Unnion immediately forgot his wound, rose

up, tearing his hair, and then threw himself upon the bleeding carcass,

crying, "Ah, Valentine! Was it for me, who have so barbarously used

thee, that thou hast died? I will not Jive after thee." He was not by

any means to be forced from the body, but was removed with it bleeding

in his arms, and attended with tears by all their comrades, who knew

their enmity. When he was brought to a tent, his wounds were dressed by

force; but the next day, still calling upon Valentine, and lamenting his

cruelties to him, he died in the pangs of remorse and despair.

It may be a question among men of noble sentiments, whether of these

unfortunate persons had the greater soul; he that was so generous as to

venture his life for his enemy, or he who could not survive the man that

died, in laying upon him such an obligation?

When we see spirits like these in a people, to what heights may we not

suppose their glory may arise, but (as it is excellently observed by

Sallust[121]) it is not only to the general bent of a nation that great

revolutions are owing, but to the extraordinary genios[122] that lead

them. On which occasion he proceeds to say that the Roman greatness was

neither to be attributed to their superior policy, for in that the

Carthaginians excelled; nor to their valour, for in that the French were

preferable; but to particular men, who were born for the good of their

country, and formed for great attempts. This he says, to introduce the

characters of Cassar and Cato. It would be entering into too weighty a

discourse for this place, if I attempted to show that our nation has

produced as great and able men for public affairs, as any other. But I

believe the reader outruns me, and fixes his imagination upon the Duke

of Marlborough. It is, methinks, a pleasing reflection, to consider the

dispensations of Providence in the fortune of this illustrious man, who,

in the space of forty years, has passed through all the gradations of

human life, till he has ascended to the character of a prince, and

become the scourge of a tyrant, who sat in one of the greatest thrones

of Europe, before the man who was to have the greatest part in his

downfall had made one step in the world.[123] But such elevations are

the natural consequences of an exact prudence, a calm courage, a

well-governed temper, a patient ambition, and an affable behaviour.

These arts, as they are the steps to his greatness, so they are the

pillars of it now it is raised. To this her glorious son, Great Britain

is indebted for the happy conduct of her arms, in whom she can boast,

she has produced a man formed by nature to lead a nation of heroes.

[Footnote 114: Edward Richard Montagu, styled Viscount Hinchinbroke, who

died before his father, on October 3, 1722, was the only son of Edward,

third Earl of Sandwich. He was born about 1690, and became colonel of

the First Regiment of Foot Guards, and Lord Lieutenant of

Huntingdonshire. In 1707, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander

Popham, of Littlecot, Wilts, and of Anne, daughter of the first Duke of

Montagu. (See Nos. 1, 22, 35, 85, and the _Lover_, No. 38.)]

[Footnote 115: These lines are part of a song by Lord Cutts, under whom

Steele had served as secretary when in the army. The verses will be

found in Nichols' "Select Collection" (1780), ii. 327.]

[Footnote 116: Passion Week.]

[Footnote 117: First published as "By a Person of Quality." "The

gentleman I here intended was Dr. Swift, this kind of man I thought him

at that time. We have not met of late, but I hope he deserves this

character still." (Steele's "Apology," 1714.) This pamphlet is closely

in accord with the _Tatler_ in its condemnation of gaming, drunkenness,

swearing, immorality on the stage, and other evils of the time. Swift

suggests, too, a revival of censors.]

[Footnote 118: Forster suggests that it was Addison.]

[Footnote 119: See No. 1.]

[Footnote 120: This phrase, as well as Unnion's forgetting his wound, is

criticised in a little book called, "Annotations on the _Tatler_, in two

parts," 12mo, said to have been written originally in French by Monsieur

Bournelle, and translated into English by Walter Wagstaff, Esq. London,

Bernard Lintott, 1710. The annotator goes no farther with his

annotations than to _Tatler_ No. 83. See Nos. 78, 191.]

[Footnote 121: "Bell. Catal.," c. 53.]

[Footnote 122: "A man of a particular turn of mind" (Johnson).]

[Footnote 123: In 1705, after the battle of Blenheim, Marlborough was

made Prince of Mildenheim by the Emperor. Lewis XIV. succeeded to the

French throne in 1643; Marlborough was born in 1650.]

No. 6. [STEELE.

From _Thursday, April 21_, to _Saturday, April 23_, 1709.

* * * * *

Will's Coffee-house, April 22.

I am just come from visiting Sappho,[124] a fine lady, who writes

verses, sings, dances and can say and do whatever she pleases, without

the imputation of anything that can injure her character; for she is so

well known to have no passion but self-love, or folly, but affectation;

that now upon any occasion they only cry, "'Tis her way," and "That's so

like her," without further reflection. As I came into the room, she

cries, "O Mr. Bickerstaff, I am utterly undone! I have broke that pretty

Italian fan I showed you when you were here last, wherein were so

admirably drawn our first parents in Paradise asleep in each other's

arms." But there is such an affinity between painting and poetry, that I

have been improving the images which were raised by that picture, by

reading the same representation in two of our greatest poets. Look you,

here are the passages in Milton and in Dryden. All Milton's thoughts are

wonderfully just and natural, in this inimitable description which Adam

makes of himself in the eighth book of "Paradise Lost." But there is

none of them finer than that contained in the following lines, where he

tells us his thoughts when he was falling asleep a little after his

creation.

_While thus I called, and strayed I know not whither,

From whence I first drew air, and first beheld

This happy light; when answer none returned,

On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers,

Pensive I sate me down, there gentle sleep

First found me, and with soft oppression seized

My drowned sense, untroubled, though I thought

I then was passing to my former state,

Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve._[125]

But now I can't forgive this odious thing, this Dryden, who, in his

"State of Innocence," has given my great-grand-mother Eve the same

apprehension of annihilation, on a very different occasion, as Adam

pronounces it of himself, when he was seized with a pleasing kind of

stupor and deadness, Eve fancies herself falling away, and dissolving in

the hurry of a rapture. However, the verses are very good, and I don't

know but it may be natural what she says. I'll read them:

_When your kind eyes looked languishing on mine,

And wreathing arms did soft embraces join,

A doubtful trembling seized me first all o'er,

Then wishes, and a warmth unknown before;

What followed was all extasy and trance,

Immortal pleasures round my swimming eyes did dance,

And speechless joys, in whose sweet tumults tost,

I thought my breath and my new being lost._[126]

She went on, and said a thousand good things at random, but so strangely

mixed that you would be apt to say all her wit is mere good luck, and

not the effect of reason and judgment. When I made my escape hither I

found a gentleman playing the critic on two other great poets, even

Virgil and Homer.[127] He was observing, that Virgil is more judicious

than the other in the epithets he gives his hero. "Homer's usual

epithet," said he, "is Πόδας ὠχὺς [Pódas ôchùs], or Ποδάρχης [Podárchês],

and his indiscretion has been often rallied by the critics, for

mentioning the nimbleness of foot in Achilles, though he describes him

standing, sitting, lying down, fighting, eating, drinking, or in any

other circumstance, however foreign or repugnant to speed and activity.

Virgil's common epithet to Æneas, is 'Pius' or 'Pater.' I have therefore

considered," said he, "what passage there is in any of his hero's actions,

where either of these appellations would have been most improper, to see

if I could catch him at the same fault with Homer: and this, I think, is

his meeting with Dido in the cave, where Pius Æneas would have been

absurd, and Pater Æneas a burlesque: the poet has therefore wisely

dropped them both for Dux Trojanus,

"_Speluncam Dido dux et Trojanus eandem Devenient;_[128]

which he has repeated twice in Juno's speech, and his own narration: for

he very well knew a loose action might be consistent enough with the

usual manners of a soldier, though it became neither the chastity of a

pious man, nor the gravity of the father of a people."

Grecian Coffee-house, April 22.

While other parts of the town are amused with the present actions, we

generally spend the evening at this table in inquiries into antiquity,

and think anything news which gives us new knowledge. Thus we are making

a very pleasant entertainment to ourselves, in putting the actions of

Homer's "Iliad" into an exact journal.

This poem is introduced by Chryses, King of Chryseis, and priest of

Apollo, who comes to re-demand his daughter, who was carried off at the

taking of that city, and given to Agamemnon for his part of the booty.

The refusal he received enrages Apollo, who for nine days showered down

darts upon them, which occasioned the pestilence.

The tenth day Achilles assembles the council, and encourages Chalcas to

speak for the surrender of Chryseis to appease Apollo. Agamemnon and

Achilles storm at one another, notwithstanding which Agamemnon will not

release his prisoner, unless he has Briseis in her stead. After long

contestations, wherein Agamemnon gives a glorious character of Achilles'

valour, he determines to restore Briseis to her father, and sends two

heralds to fetch away Chryseis from Achilles, who abandons himself to

sorrow and despair. His mother Thetis came to comfort him under his

affliction, and promises to represent his sorrowful lamentations to

Jupiter; but he could not attend it; for the evening before, he had

appointed to divert himself for two days beyond the seas with the

harmless Æthiopians.

It was the twenty-first day after Chryseis' arrival to the camp, that

Thetis went very early to demand an audience of Jupiter. The means he

uses to satisfy her were, to persuade the Greeks to attack the Trojans;

that so they might perceive the consequence of condemning Achilles and

the miseries they suffer if he does not head them. The next night he

orders Agamemnon, in a dream, to attack them; who was deceived with the

hopes of obtaining a victory, and also taking the city, without sharing

the honour with Achilles.

On the 22nd, in the morning, he assembles the council, and having made a

feint of raising the siege and retiring, he declares to them his dream;

and, together with Nestor and Ulysses, resolves on an engagement.

This was the twenty-third day, which is full of incidents, and which

continues from almost the beginning of the second canto to the eighth.

The armies being then drawn up in view of one another, Hector brings it

about that Menelaus and Paris, the two persons concerned in the quarrel,

should decide it by a single combat; which tending to the advantage of

Menelaus, was interrupted by a cowardice infused by Minerva: then both

armies engage, where the Trojans have the disadvantage; but being

afterwards animated by Apollo, they repulse the enemy, yet they are once

again forced to give ground; but their affairs were retrieved by Hector,

who has a single combat with Ajax. The gods threw themselves into the

battle, Juno and Minerva took the Grecians' part, and Apollo and Mars

the Trojans': but Mars and Venus are both wounded by Diomedes.

The truce for burying the slain ended the twenty-third day; after which

the Greeks threw up a great entrenchment to secure their navy from

danger. Councils are held on both sides. On the morning of the

twenty-fourth day the battle is renewed, but in a very disadvantageous

manner to the Greeks, who were beaten back to their retrenchments.

Agamemnon being in despair at this ill success, proposes to the council

to quit the enterprise and retire from Troy. But by the advice of

Nestor, he is persuaded to regain Achilles, by returning Chryseis, and

sending him considerable presents. Hereupon, Ulysses and Ajax are sent

to that hero, who continues inflexible in his anger. Ulysses, at his

return, joins himself with Diomedes, and goes in the night to gain

intelligence of the enemy: they enter into their very camp, where,

finding the sentinels asleep, they made a great slaughter. Rhesus, who

was just then arrived with recruits from Thrace for the Trojans, was

killed in that action. Here ends the tenth canto. The sequel of this

journal will be inserted in the next article from this place.

St. James's Coffee-house, April 22.

We hear from Italy, that notwithstanding the Pope has received a letter

from the Duke of Anjou, demanding of him to explain himself upon the

affair of acknowledging King Charles: his Holiness has not yet thought

fit to send any answer to that prince. The Court of Rome appears very

much mortified, that they are not to see his Majesty of Denmark in that

city, having perhaps given themselves vain hopes from a visit made by a

Protestant priest to that see. The Pope has despatched a gentleman to

compliment his Majesty, and sent the king a present of all the

curiosities and antiquities of Rome, represented in seventeen volumes,

very richly bound, which were taken out of the Vatican library. Letters

from Genoa of the 14th instant say, a felucca was arrived there in five

days from Marseilles, with an account, that the people of that city had

made an insurrection, by reason of the scarcity of provisions, and that

the Intendant had ordered some companies of marines, and the men

belonging to the galleys, to stand to their arms to protect him from

violence; but that he began to be in as much apprehension of his guards

as those from whom they were to defend him. When that vessel came away,

the soldiers murmured publicly for want of pay, and it was generally

believed they would pillage the magazines, as the garrison of Grenoble,

and other towns of France, had already done. A vessel which lately came

into Leghorn, brought advice, that the British squadron was arrived at

Port Mahon, where they were taking in more troops, in order to attempt

the relief of Alicante, which still made a very vigorous defence. 'Tis

said, Admiral Byng will be at the head of that expedition. The King of

Denmark was gone from Leghorn towards Lucca.

They write from Vienna, that in case the Allies should enter into a

treaty of peace with France, Count Zinzendorf will be appointed first

plenipotentiary, the Count de Goes the second, and Monsieur van

Konsbruch a third. Major-General Palmes, Envoy Extraordinary from her

Britannic Majesty, has been very urgent with that Court to make their

utmost efforts against France the ensuing campaign, in order to oblige

it to such a peace, as may establish the tranquillity of Europe for the

future.

We are also informed, that the Pope uses all imaginable shifts to elude

the treaty concluded with the Emperor, and that he demanded the

immediate restitution of Commacchio; insisting also, that his Imperial

Majesty should ask pardon, and desire absolution for what has formerly

passed, before he would solemnly acknowledge King Charles: but this was

utterly refused.

They hear at Vienna, by letters from Constantinople, dated the 22nd of

February last, that on the 12th of that month the Grand Signior took

occasion, at the celebration of the festivals of the Mussulmen, to set

all the Christian slaves which were in the galleys at liberty.

Advices from Switzerland import, that the preachers of the county of

Tockenburg continue to create new jealousies of the Protestants, and

some disturbances lately happened there on that account. The Protestants

and Papists in the town of Hamman go to divine service one after another

in the same church, as is usual in many other parts of Switzerland; but

on Sunday, the 10th instant, the Popish curate, having ended his

service, attempted to hinder the Protestants from entering into the

church according to custom; but the Protestants briskly attacked him and

his party, and broke into it by force.

Last night between seven and eight, his Grace the Duke of Marlborough

arrived at Court.

From my own Apartment, April 22.

The present great captains of the age, the Duke of Marlborough and

Prince Eugene, having been the subject of the discourse of the last

company I was in, it has naturally led me into a consideration of

Alexander and Cæsar, the two greatest names which ever appeared before

this century. In order to enter into their characters, there needs no

more but examining their behaviour in parallel circumstances. It must be

allowed, that they had an equal greatness of soul; but Cæsar's was more

corrected and allayed by a mixture of prudence and circumspection. This

is seen conspicuously in one particular in their histories, wherein they

seem to have shown exactly the difference of their tempers. When

Alexander, after a long course of victories, would still have led his

soldiers farther from home, they unanimously refused to follow him. We

meet with the like behaviour in Cæsar's army in the midst of his march

against Ariovistus. Let us therefore observe the conduct of our two

generals in so nice an affair: and here we find Alexander at the head of

his army, upbraiding them with their cowardice, and meanness of spirit;

and in the end, telling them plainly, he would go forward himself,

though not a man followed him. This showed indeed an excessive bravery;

but how would the commander have come off, if the speech had not

succeeded, and the soldiers had taken him at his word? The project seems

of a piece with Mr. Bayes' in "The Rehearsal,"[129] who, to gain a clap

in his prologue, comes out, with a terrible fellow in a fur cap

following him, and tells his audience, if they would not like his play,

he would lie down and have his head struck off. If this gained a clap,

all was well; but if not, there was nothing left but for the executioner

to do his office. But Cæsar would not leave the success of his speech

to such uncertain events: he shows his men the unreasonableness of their

fears in an obliging manner, and concludes, that if none else would

march along with them, he would go himself with the Tenth Legion, for he

was assured of their fidelity and valour, though all the rest forsook

him; not but that in all probability they were as much against the march

as the rest. The result of all was very natural: the Tenth Legion, fired

with the praises of their general, send thanks to him for the just

opinion he entertains of them; and the rest, ashamed to be outdone,

assure him, that they are as ready to follow where he pleases to lead

them, as any other part of the army.

[Footnote 124: It has been suggested, with little or no reason, that

Sappho is meant for Mrs. Manley (Author of the "New Atalantis"), or Mrs.

Elizabeth Thomas (known as "Corinna"), or Mrs. Elizabeth Heywood. See

No. 40.]

[Footnote 125: "Paradise Lost," viii. 283.]

[Footnote 126: Dryden's "State of Innocence and Fall of Man: an Opera,"

act iii. sc. i. In the _Spectator_ (No. 345), Addison illustrated

Milton's chaste treatment of the subject of Eve's nuptials by

contrasting what he says with the account in the opera in which Dryden,

according to Lee's verses, refined "Milton's golden ore, and new-weaved

his hard-spun thought."]

[Footnote 127: Addison, on reading here this remark upon Virgil, which

he himself had communicated to Steele, discovered that his friend was

the author of the _Tatler_. He was at this time in Ireland, Secretary to

Lord Wharton, and returned to England with the Lord Lieutenant on the

8th of September following. (Tickell's Preface to Addison's Works.)]

[Footnote 128: "Æneid," iv. 124.]

[Footnote 129: "The Rehearsal," act i. sc. 2. This play of the Duke of

Buckingham's was produced in 1671, and the poet Bayes, as finally drawn

after revision, was a satire on Dryden.]