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ENOX LIBRA

NEW YORK

ΤΟ

Mr. MAYNWARING.

SIR,

TH

THE ftate of converfation and bufinefs in this town having been long perplexed with Pretenders in both kinds; in order to open mens eyes against fuch abufes, it appeared no unprofitable undertaking to publifh a Paper, which fhould obferve upon the manners of the pleasurable, as well as the bufy part of mankind. To make this generally read, it feemed the most proper method to form it by way of a Letter of Intelligence, confifting of fuch parts as might gratify the curiofity of perfons of all conditions, and of each Sex. But a work of this nature requiring time to grow into the notice of the world, it hap pened very luckily, that, a little before I had refolved upon this defign, a Gentleman had written predictions, and two or three other pieces in my name, which had rendered it famous through all parts of Europe; and by an inimitable spirit and humour, raised it to as high a pitch of reputation as it could poffibly arrive at.

By this good fortune the name of Ifaac Bicker fla gained an audience of all who had any taste of wit; and the addition of the ordinary occurrences of common Journals of News brought in a multitude of other readers. I could not, I confefs, long keep up the opinion of the town, that thefe Lucubrations were written by the fame hand with the first works

which were published under my name; but before I loft the participation of that Author's fame, I had already found the advantage of his authority, to which I owe the fudden acceptance which my labours met with in the world.

The general purpose of this Paper is to expofe the falfe arts of life, to pull off the disguises of cunning, yanity, and affectation, and to recommend a general fimplicity in our drefs, our difcourfe, and our behaviour. No man has a better judgment for the difcovery, or a nobler fpirit for the contempt of all impofture, than yourfelf; which qualities render you the moft proper patron for the Author of thefe Effays. In the general, the defign, however executed, has met with so great fuccefs, that there is hardly a name now eminent among us for power, wit, beauty, valour, or wifdom, which is not fubfcribed for the encouragement of thefe volumes. This is, indeed, an honour, for which it is impoffible to express a suitable gratitude; and there is nothing could be an addition to the pleasure I take in it but the reflection, that it gives me the moft confpicuous occafion I can ever have, of fubfcribing myself,

SIR,

Your most obliged,

moft obedient, and

moft humble fervant,

FSAAC BICKERSTAFF.

THE

TATLE R.

N° 1.

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Tuesday, April 12, 1709.

Quicquid agant homines-noftri farrago libelli.

Juv. Sat. 1. v. 84, 85.

Whatever good is done, whatever ill
By human kind, fhall this collection fille

T

HOUGH the other Papers, which are published for the ufe of the good people of England, have certainly very wholesome ef"fects, and are laudable in their particular kinds, they "do not feem to come up to the main design of fuch "narrations, which, I humbly prefume, fhould be principally intended for the ufe of politic perfons, "who are fo public fpirited as to neglect their own affairs to look into tranfactions of ftate. Now these "Gentlemen, for the most part, being perfons of ftrong

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zeal, and weak intellects, it is both a charitable and "neceffary work to offer fomething, whereby fuch "worthy and well-affected members of the common"wealth may be inftructed, after their reading, what "to think; which shall be the end and purpose of this my Paper, wherein I fhall, from time to time, re"port and confider all matters of what kind foever that "fhall occur to me, and publish fach my advices and "reflections every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in VOL. I. B

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"the week, for the convenience of the Poft. I refolve "alfo to have fomething which may be of entertainment "to the fair Sex, in honour of whom I have invented "the title of this Paper. I therefore earneftly defire "all perfons, without diftinction, to take it in for the prefent gratis, and hereafter at the price of one penny, forbidding all Hawkers to take more for it at their "peril. And I defire all perfons to confider, that I am at a very great charge for proper materials for this "Work, as well as that before I refolved upon it, I "had fettled a correfpondence in all parts of the known "and knowing world. And forafmuch as this globe

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is not trodden upon by mere drudges of bufinefs only, "but that men of fpirit and genius are justly to be "efteemed as confiderable agents in it, we fhall not, upon a dearth of news, prefent you with mufty fo"reign edicts, or dull proclamations, but fhall divide our relation of the paffages which occur in action.or "difcourfe throughout this town, as well as elsewhere, "under fuch dates of places as may prepare you for "the matter you are to expect, in the following manner.

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"All accounts of Gallantry, Pleasure, and Enter"tainment, fhall be under the article of White's Chocolate-houfe; Poetry, under that of Will's Coffee

houfe; Learning, under the title of Grecian; Foreign "and Domestic News, you will have from Saint James's "Coffee-houfe; and what elfe I have to offer on any "other subject fhall be dated from my own Apartment. "I once more defire my reader to confider, that as I

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cannot keep an ingenious man to go daily to Will's "under two-pence each day, merely for his charges; "to White's under fix-pence; nor to the Grecian, with"out allowing him fome plain Spanish, to be as able as "others at the learned table; and that a good Obferver cannot speak with even Kidney at Saint James's without clean linen; I fay, thefe confiderations will, I hope, make all perfons willing to comply with my humble request (when my gratis ftock is exhaufted) "of a penny a-piece; efpecially fince they are fure of "fome proper amufement, and that it is impoffible for Ꮳ me to want means to entertain them, having, befides "the force of my own parts, the power of Divination,

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