of applaufes. I remember, I had the honour to see him one day ftop, and call the youths about him, to whom he fpake as follows: "Good baftards-Go to fchool, and do not lofe your "time in following my wheels: I am loath to hurt you, ** because I know not but you are all my own offspring : "Hark ye, you firrah, with the white hair, I am fure 68 you are mine: There is half a crown. Tell your mother, This, with the half crown I gave her when I got you, comes to five fhillings. Thou haft cost me all that, and yet thou art good for nothing. Why, you young dogs, did you never fee a man before? Never fuch a one as you, noble General, replied a truant from Westminster. Sirrah, I believe thee: There " is a crown for thee. Drive on coachman." This vehicle, though facred to love, was not adorned with doves Such an hieroglyphic denoted too languifhing a paffion. Orlando therefore gave the eagle, as being of a conftitution which inclined him rather to feize his prey with talons, than pine for it with mur murs. From my own Apartment, Auguft 2. I have received the following letter from Mr. Powel of the Bath, who, I think, runs from the point between us, which I leave the whole world to judge. To ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Efquire." « SIR, "H AVING a great deal of more advantageous bufinefs at prefent on my hands, I thought to have deferred anfwering your Tatler of the twentyfirft inftant until the company was gone, and feason over; but having refolved not to regard any impertinences of your Paper, except what relate particu larly to me, I am the more eafily induced to answer VOL. I. C c $6 you, " you, as I fhall find time to do it: Firft, partly lest you should think yourself neglected, which I have ❝reason to believe you would take heinously ill. Se -I condly, partly because it will increase my fame, and "confequently my audience, when all the Quality fhall fee with how much wit and raillery I fhew you. do not care a farthing for you. Thirdly, partly becaufe being without books, if I do not fhew much learning, it will not be imputed to my having none. "I have travelled Italy, France, and Spain, and fully "comprehend whatever any German artist in the world <can do; yet cannot I imagine, why you should en*deavour to disturb the repofe and plenty which, though unworthy, I enjoy at this place. It cannot. be, that you take offence at my prologues and epilogues, which you are pleased to miscal foolish and abufive. No, no, until you give a better, I shall not "forbear thinking, that the true reason of your picking a quarrel with me was, because it is more agreeable to your principles, as well as more to the honour of your affured victory, to attack a governor. Mr. Ifaac, Mr. Ifaac, I can fee into a mill-ftone as far as another, as the faying is; you are for fowing the feeds of fedition and difobedience among my puppets, and 66 your zeal for the good old Caufe would make you perfuade Punch to pull the string from his chops, and not move his jaw when I have a mind he should harangue. Now, I appeal to all men, if this be not contrary to that unaccountable and uncontrollable dominion, which by the laws of Nature I exercise over them; for all forts of wood and wire were made for the use and benefit of man: I have therefore an unqueftionable right to frame, fathion, and put them together as I pleafe; and having made them what they are, my puppets are my property, and therefore my flaves: Nor is there in Nature any thing more juft, "than the homage which is paid by a lefs to a more "excellent Being: So that by the right therefore of a fuperior genius, I am their fupreme moderator, although you would infinuate, agreeably to your levelling principles, that I am myfelf but a great puppet, and can therefore have but a co-ordinate jurif diction I 66 "diction with them. I fuppofe, I have now fufficiently made it appear, that I have a paternal right to "keep a puppet-fho and this right I will maintain in my prologues on all occafions. W "And therefore, if you write a defence of yourfelf "against this my felf-defence, I admonifh you to keep "within bounds; for every day will not be fo propiti"ous to you as the twenty-ninth of April; and per"haps my refentment may get the better of my gene-"rofity, and I may no longer fcorn to fight one who' " is not my equal, with unequal weapons: There are fuch things as Scandalums Magnatums; therefore "take heed hereafter how you write fuch things as I "cannot easily anfwer, for that will put me in a paf"fion. "I order you to handle only thefe two propofitions, "to which our difpute my be reduced: The firft, "whether I have not an abfolute power, whenever I pleafe, to light a pipe with one of Punch's legs, or "warm my fingers with his whole carcafe? The fe"cond, whether the devil would not be in Punch, "fhould he by word or deed oppose my fovereign will "and pleafure? and then, perhaps, I may, if I can "find leisure for it, give you the trouble of a fecond "letter. 7 "But if you intend to tell me of the original of "puppet-shows, and the feveral changes and revolu"tions that have happened in them fince Thefpis, and "I do not care who, that is noli me tangere: I have folemnly engaged to fay nothing of what I cannot approve. Or, if you talk of certain contracts with "the Mayor and Burgeffes, or fees to the Constables, "for the privilege of Acting, I will not write one fingle word about any fuch matters; but fhall leave 66 you to be mumbled by the learned and very inge"nious Author of a late book, who knows very well "what is to be faid and done in fuch cafes. He is now fhuffling the cards, and dealing to Timothy; but if "he wins the game, I will fend him to play at backgammon with you; and then he will.fatisfy you, that "Duce-Ace makes five. "And fo, fubmitting myself to be tried by my Coun"try, and allowing any jury of twelve good men, and "true, to be that country; not excepting any, unless Mr. Ifaac Bickerstaff, to be of the pannel, for you are "neither good nor true; I bid you heartily farewel : And am, SIR, Bath, July 28, Your loving friend, Powel INDEX ABSOLUTE power reprefented in a dance, p. 65.. Advice not be be given to every body, 150. Not afked for information, but out of fulnefs and perplexity of heart, ibid. Æfculapius, his recipe for love 282. Falls in love with the divine Hebe 261 Africanus, his character, 218. His magnanimity and manner of purchasing annuities, 228. Age, what renders it most agreeable, 270. Indecent when not spent in virtue, 275. Alchymift, a comedy by Ben Johnson, remark's on it, 84. Alicant, caftle of, furrenders, 61. Account of officers killed there, 128. Amanda, the happy wife of Florio; character of her, 292. Argyle, John, Duke of, his character, 277. Artillery company of London, defcription of an exercife of arms performed by them, 245. Afpafia, a most excellent woman; her character, 251. The first of the beauteous order of love, 291. Afturias, prince of, acknowledged heir to the crown of Spain, 27. Avaro, a mean spirited rich man, described, 131. Aurengezebe, an Indian stock-jobber, his history, 272, 273. B... ACHELOR'S fcheme to govern a wife, 57: BA Badajos, account of a battle there, 101.. Bankers, why they should take poems for bills, 256.. Barrymore, Earl of, made prifoner at the battle of Badajos, ro2. Barry, Mrs. an excellent player, 4. Defired to act the widow at Mr. Bickerftaff's funeral, 39. Bath, commotions among the good company there, 93, 94, &c. Bays, his expedient to procure applaufe at the play-house, 36. Beadlestaff, his teftimony of a reformation and puppetfhew at Oxford, 267 Bear, meaning of that word explained, 225. Bear-garden, of great antiquity, 186.. Beauty, the force and efficacy of it, 88, 89. Every temper to be foftened by it, 57. Belfry, Mr. an ignorant clown, his behaviour at Lady Dainty's, 221. Bernard, Mr. a French banker, confequences of his failure, 16-2,6→→ 177. His offer to his creditors, 56. Betterton, Mr. a celebrated player, account of his Benefit play, 41 |