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tells me, there is a mail come in to-day with letters, dated Hague, April the nineteenth, 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 twentieth of the next. Prince Eugene was then returned thither from Amsterdam. He sets out from Brussels on Tuesday: the greater number of the general officers at the Hague have orders to go at the same time. The squadron at Dunkirk consists of seven vessels. There happened the other day, in the road of Scheveling, an engagement between a privateer of Zeeland and one of Dunkirk. The Dunkirker, carrying thirty-three pieces of cannon, was taken and brought into the Texel. It is said the courier of monsieur Rouille is returned to him from the court of France. Monsieur Vendosme, being re-instated in the favour of the duchess of Burgundy, is to command in Flanders.

Mr Kidney added, that there were letters of the seventeenth 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 appeared on this occasion at the head of five thousand foot and one thousand horse; upon which the enemy withdrew, without making any farther 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. Par

tridge", 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 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 do not 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, although 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.

STEELE 17.

16 Dean Swift, in his Predictions for 1708, foretold that Partridge the almanack-maker would infallibly die on the 29th of March, about eleven at night, of a raging fever. The wits, resolved to support this prediction, uniformly insisted that Partridge actually died at that time. See N°7, 11, and 44, and lord Orrery's Remarks on the Life and Writings of Swift, p. 62.

17 As there were no signatures to the papers in the Tat

[All that precedes the article dated from White's chocolate-house, in this paper, was re-printed verbatim at the beginnings of N° 2, and 3. The first four numbers of the Tatler were given gratis.]

THE FOLLOWING ADVERTISEMENT WAS AFFIXED TO THE

ORIGINAL PAPER IN FOLIO.

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.

N° 2. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1709.

Quicquid agunt homines

nostri est farrago libelli.

JUV. Sat. i. 85, 86.

Whatever good is done, whatever ill-
By human kind, shall this collection fill.

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

ler, to point out the respective writers, we have affixed the name of Steele (the ostensible author) to those papers respecting the writers of which there remains any doubt. -Internal evidence, and inquiry, have, however, enabled us to ascertain the names in many instances.--See the preface to the fourth volume, and N° 271.

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real accident which happened among my acquaintA 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, until 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 complacency of manners. Upon this, my spark flies to the bottle for relief from 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 he pretended he had bought of Mr. Partridge the conjurer. This,' said he, 'I gave ten guineas for. The virtue of the enchanted liquor (said he that sold it) 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 three 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 ungraceful as story-telling against the grain; therefore take it as the author' has given it you.

Mr. William Harrison. See Nichols's Select Collection of Poems, 1781, vol. vii.

THE MEDICINE.

A TALE-FOR THE LADIES.

Miss Molly, a fam'd toast, was fair and young,
Had wealth and charms-but then she had a tongue!
From morn to night th' eternal larum run,

Which often lost those hearts her eyes had won.

Sir John was smitten, and confess'd his flame,
Sigh'd out the usual time, then wed the dame;
Possess'd, he thought, of ev'ry joy of life;
But his dear Molly prov'd a very wife.
Excess of fondness did in time decline,
Madam lov'd money, and the knight lov'd wine.
From whence some petty discord would arise,
As, You're a fool!'-and, 'You are mighty wise!'
Though he and all the world allow'd 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'ye, dear Moll:
Supper and friends expect me at the Rose.'

And, what Sir John, you'll get your usual dose'
Go, stink of smoke, and guzzle nasty wine;
Sure, never virtuous love was us'd like mine!"

Oft as the watchful bell-man march'd his round,
At a fresh bottle gay Sir John he found.
By four the knight would get his business done,
And only then reel'd off-because alone;
Full well he knew the dreadful storm to come,
But, arm'd with Bourdeaux, he durst venture home.
My lady with her tongue was still prepar'd,
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,
Devour'd with spleen, and stranger to delight;
Till morn sends staggering home a drunken beast,

Resolv'd to break my heart, as well as rest.'

Hey! hoop! d'ye hear, my damn'd obstrep'rous spouse,

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

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