with his wife than to forfake her; the other, though he was moved with the utmost compaffion for his wife, told her, that for the good of their children it was better one of them fhould live than both perish. By a great piece of good luck, next to a miracle, when one of our good men had taken the laft and long farewell in order to fave himself, and the other held in his arms the perfon that was dearer to him than life, the ship was preserved. It is with a fecret forrow and vexation of mind that I must tell the fequel of the ftory, and let my reader know that this faithful pair, who were ready to have died in each other's arms, about three years after their escape, upon fome trifling difguft, grew to a coldnefs at firft, and at length fell out to fuch a degree that they left one another and parted for ever. The other couple lived together in an uninterrupted friendship and felicity, and what was remarkable, the husband, whom the fhipwreck had like to have separated from his wife, died a few months after her, not being able to furvive the lofs of her.

I must confefs there is fomething in the changeableness and inconftancy of human nature, that very often both dejects and terrifies me. Whatever I am at prefent, I tremble to think what I may be. While I find this principle in me, how can I affure myself that I fhall be always true to my God, my friend, or myself? In fhort, without conftancy there is neither love, friendship, or virtue in the world.

CHAPTER LIV.

MR. BICKERSTAFF MAKES HIS WILL-ITS TENOR,

T is so just an observation, that mocking is catching, that I am become an unhappy instance of it, and am (in the fame manner that I have represented Mr. Partridge) myself a dying man, in comparison of the vigour with which I first fet out in the world. Had it been otherwise, you may be fure I would not have pretended to have given for news, as I did laft Saturday, a diary of the fiege of Troy. But man is a creature very inconfiftent with himfelf; the greatest heroes are fometimes fearful, the fprightlieft wits at fome hours dull, and the greatest politicians on fome occafions whimsical. But I fhall not pretend to palliate or excufe the matter, for I find, by a calculation of my own 'nativity, that I cannot hold out with any tolerable wit longer than two minutes after twelve o'clock at night, between the 18th and 19th of the next month, for which space of time you may ftill expect to hear from me, but no longer, except you will tranfmit to me the occurrences you meet with relating-to your amours, or any other subject within the rules by which I have propofed to walk. If any gentleman or lady fends to Ifaac Bickerstaff, Efq., at Mr. Morphew's, near Stationer's Hall, by the penny post, the grief or joy of their foul, what they think fit of the matter, shall be related in colours as much to their advantage as thofe in which Gervafe has drawn the agreeable Chloe. But fince, without fuch affistance, I frankly confefs and am fenfible that I have

not a month's wit more, I think I ought, while I am in my found health and fenfes, to make my will and teftament, which I do in manner and form following:

Imprimis: I give to the stock-jobbers about the Exchange of London, as a fecurity for the trufts daily reposed in them, all my real estate, which I do hereby vest in the said body of worthy citizens for ever.

Item: Forafmuch as it is very hard to keep land in repair without ready cash, I do, out of my personal estate, bestow the bear-skin which I have frequently lent to feveral focieties about this town, to fupply their neceffities; I fay, I give also the faid bear-fkin as an immediate fund to the faid citizens for

ever.

Item: I do hereby appoint a certain number of the faid citizens to take all the Custom-house or customary oaths concerning all goods imported by the whole city, strictly directing that fome select members, and not the whole number of a body corporate, should be perjured.

Item: I forbid all ns and perfons of qty to watch bargains near and about the Exchange, to the diminution and wrong of the said stock-jobbers.

Thus far, in as brief and intelligible a manner as any will can appear, till it is explained by the learned, I have disposed of my real and perfonal estate; but as I am an adept, I have by birth an equal right to give alfo an indefeasible title to my endowments and qualifications, which I do in the following

manner :- .....

Item: I give my courage among all who are ashamed of their distressed friends, all sneakers in affemblies, and men who fhew valour in common conversation.

Item: I give my wit (as rich men give to the rich) among fuch as think they have enough already. And in cafe they shall not accept of the legacy, I give it to Bentivolio, to defend his works from time to time, as he fhall think fit to publish them.

Item: I bestow my learning upon the honorary members of the Royal Society.

Now for the difpofal of this body.