do you think there is a girl in England, that would wear any thing but the " Taking of Lisle," or, "The Battle of Oudenarde?" They would certainly be all the fashion, until 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 (it is 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's 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. 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 be put upon knives, seals, rings, hangings, wrought beds, gowns, and petticoats, where any of these commodities bear mottoes, or are worked upon poetical grounds.

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

*

Letters from Turin of the third 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 twentieth of the next

* Prince Eugene.

month. In the mean time, 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 despatched, 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 this evening, which is to be acted for the benefit of my near kinsman, Mr. John Bickerstaff.* 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 Powel; who formerly played Alexander the Great in all places, though he is lately grown so reserved, as to act it only on the stage.

* A real player of that name.

N° 4. TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1709.

Quicquid agunt homines

nostri est farrago libelli.

Juv. Sat. i. 85, 86.

P.

Whate'er men do, or say, or think, or dream, Our motley paper seizes for its theme. "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 publick, 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 publick. 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

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sentence in theitle-page informs you, shall take any thing that offer or the subject of my discourse. Thus new persons, a well as new things, are to come under my considation; as when a Toast or Wit is first pronounced ich, you shall have the freshest advice of their prerment from me, with a description of the Beauty manners, and the Wit's style, as also in whose plies they are advanced: for this town is never goodatured enough to raise one without depressing anther. But it is my design to avoid saying any thin of any person, which ought justly to displease; t shall endeavour, by the variety of the matter ad style, to give entertainment for men of pleasur, without offence to those of business."

Wite's Chocolatehouse, April 18.

All hears at present pint for two ladies only, who have ir some time engrossed the dominion of the town. They are indeed both exceeding charming, but diffr very much in their excellencies. The beauty of Carissa is soft, that of Chloe piercing. When you ok at Clarissa, you see the most exact harmony ofeature, complexion and shape; you find in Che nothing extraordinary in any one of those partidars, but the whole woman irresistible. Clarissa locs languishing; Chloe kissing; Clarissa never fails gaining admiration; Chloe of moving desire. Th gazers at Clarissa are at first unconcerned, as they were observing a fine picture; they who hold Chloe, at the first glance discover transport, aif they met their dearest friend. These different peections are suitably represented by the last great inter Italy has sent us, Mr. Jervas. Clarissa is y that skilful hand placed in a manner that looks aless, and innocent of the torments she gives; Chle is drawn with a liveliness that shows she is consious of, but not affected with, her

per

fections. Clarissa is a shepherdes, Chloe, a country girl. I must own, the design'f Chloe's picture shows to me, great mastery ir the painter; for nothing could be better imagine than the dress he has given her, of a straw-hat as a ribbon, to represent that sort of beauty which nters the heart with a certain familiarity, and ches it into a belief that it has received a lover as welas an object of love. The force of their different eauties is seen also in the effects it makes on thei lovers. The admirers of Chloe are eternally gay nd well-pleased; those of Clarissa melancholy ad thoughtful. And as this passion always charges 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 in this room. Here was one that whitles, laughs, sings, and cuts capers, for love of Chle. Another has just now writ three lines to Clarisa, then taken a turn in the garden, then came bac again, then tore his fragment, then called for sme chocolate, then went away without it.

Chloe has so many admirers in the ouse at present, that there is too much noise to poceed in my narration; so that the progress of theoves of Clarissa and Chloe, together with the bttles that are drunk each night for the one, and to many sighs which are uttered, and songs writte on the other, must be our subject on future occasion.

Will's Coffee-house, April B.

Letters from the Hay-market infor us, that, on Saturday night last, the opera of Pyrius and Demetrius was performed with great aplause. This intelligence is not very acceptable tous friends of the theatre; for the stage being an enertainment of the reason and all our faculties, this vay of being pleased with the suspense of them fo three hours