After this interview, the Pensionary and the President returned to the Assembly of the States. Monsieur Torcy has had a conference at the Pensioner's house with his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, Prince Eugene, and his Excellency the Lord Townshend. The result of what was debated at that time is kept secret; but there appears an air of satisfaction and good understanding between these ministers. We are apt also to give ourselves very hopeful prospects from Monsieur Torcy's being employed in this negociation, who had been always remarkable for a particular way of thinking, in his sense of the greatness of France; which he has always said, was to be promoted rather by the arts of peace than those of war." His delivering himself freely on this subject has formerly appeared an unsuccessful way to power in that Court; but in its present circumstances those maxims are better received; and it is thought a certain argument of the sincerity of the French King's intentions, that this minister is at present made use of. The Marquis is to return to Paris in a few days, who has sent a courier thither to give notice of the reasons of his return, that the Court may be the sooner able to dispatch commissions for a formal treaty. 66 The expectations of peace are increased by advices from Paris of the twelfth instant, which say, the Dauphin has altered his resolution of commanding in Flanders the ensuing campaign. The Saxon and Prussian reinforcements, together with Count Mercy's regiment of Imperial horse, are encamped in the neighbourhood of Brussels; and sufficient stores of corn and forage are transported to that place and Ghent for the service of the confederate army. They write from Mons, that the Elector of Bavaria had advice, that an advanced party of the Portugueze army had been defeated by the Spaniards. We hear from Languedoc, that their corn, olives, and figs, were wholly destroyed; but that they have a hopeful prospect of a plentiful vintage. N° 17. SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1709. Quicquid agunt homines nostri est farrago libelli. Juv. Sat. i. 85, 86. Whate'r men do, or say, or think, or dream, Will's Coffee-house, May 18. P. THE discourse has happened to turn this evening upon the true panegyric, the perfection of which was asserted to consist in a certain artful way of conveying the applause in an indirect manner. There was a gentleman gave us several instances of it; among others, he quoted (from Sir Francis Bacon, in his "Advancement of Learning,") a very great compliment made to Tiberius, as follows: In a full debate upon public affairs in the Senate, one of the assembly rose up, and with a very grave air said, he thought it for the honour and dignity of the commonwealth, that Tiberius should be declared a god, and have divine worship paid him. The Emperor was surprised at the proposal, and demanded of him to declare, whether he had made any application to incline him to that overture? The Senator answered, with a bold and haughty tone, Sir, in matters that concern the commonwealth, I will be governed by no Another gentleman mentioned something of the same kind, spoken by the late Duke of Buckingham to the late Earl of Orrery: "My lord (says the Duke, after his libertine way), you will certainly be damned." 66 How, my lord!" says the Earl, with man." some warmth. 66 66 Nay (said the Duke), there is no help for it; for it is positively said, Cursed is he of whom all men speak well." This is taking a man by surprise, and being welcome when you have so surprised him. The person flattered receives you into his closet at once: and the sudden change of his heart from the expectation of an ill-wisher, to find you his friend, makes you in his full favour in a moment. The spirits that were raised so suddenly against you, are as suddenly for you. There was another instance given of this kind at the table. A gentleman, who had a very great favour done him, and an employment bestowed upon him, without so much as being personally known to his benefactor, waited upon the great man who was so generous, and was beginning to say he was infinitely obliged. Not at all," says the patron, turning from him to another; "had I known a more deserving man in England, he should not have had it." 66 in We should certainly have had more examples, had not a gentleman produced a book which he thought an instance of this kind: it was a pamphlet, called "The Naked Truth." The idea any one would have of that work from the title was, that there would be much plain dealing with people power, and that we should see things in their proper light, stripped of the ornaments which are usually given to the actions of the great; but the skill of this author is such, that he has under that rugged appearance, approved himself the finest gentleman and courtier that ever writ. The language is extremely sublime, and not at all to be understood by the vulgar. The sentiments are such as would make no figure in ordinary words; but such is the art of expression, and the thoughts are elevated to so high a degree, that I question whether the discourse will * Luke vi. 26. His Grace did not understand, nor quote fairly, the passage of Scripture, to which he thought it so witty thus impiously to allude. sell much. There was an ill-natured fellow present, who hates all panegyric mortally; "P take him," said he, "what the devil means his Naked Truth, in speaking nothing but to the advantage of all whom he mentions? This is just such a great action as that of the champion's on a coronation-day, who challenges all mankind to dispute with him the right of the sovereign, surrounded with his guards." The gentleman who produced the treatise desired him to be cautious, and said, it was writ by an excellent soldier, which made the company observe it more narrowly; and (as critics are the greatest conjurors at finding out a known truth) one said, he was sure it was writ by the hand of his sword-arm. I could not perceive much wit in that expression; but it raised a laugh, and, I suppose, was meant as a sneer upon valiant men. The same man pretended to see in the style, that it was an horse-officer; but sure that is being too nice; for though you may know officers of the cavalry by the turn of their feet, I cannot imagine how you should discern their hands from those of other men. But it is always thus with pedants; they will ever be carping, if a gentleman or a man of honour puts pen to paper. I do not doubt but this author will find this assertion too true, and that obloquy is not repulsed by the force of arms. I will therefore set this excellent piece in a light too glaring for weak eyes, and, in imitation of the critic Longinus, shall, as well as I can, make my observations in a style like the author's of whom I treat, which perhaps I am as capable of as another, having an unbounded force of thinking, as well as a most exquisite address, extensively and wisely indulged to me by the supreme powers." My author, I will dare to assert, shows the most universal knowledge of any writer who has appeared this century; he is a poet and merchant, which is seen in two master-words, "Credit-blossoms." He is a gram 66 marian and a politician; for he says, "The uniting of the two kingdoms is the emphasis of the security of the protestant succession." Some would be apt to say, he is a conjuror; for he has found, that`a republick is not made up of every body of animals, but is composed of men only, and not of horses. "Liberty and property have chosen their retreat within the emulating circle of an human commonwealth." He is a physician: for he says, "I observe a constant equality in its pulse, and a just quickness of its vigorous circulation." And again, "I view the strength of our constitution plainly appear in the sanguine and ruddy complexion of a wellcontented city.' He is a divine; for he says, cannot but bless myself." And, indeed, this excellent treatise has had that good effect upon me, who am far from being superstitious, that I also "cannot but bless myself." St. James's Coffee-house, May 18. "I This day arrived a mail from Lisbon, with letters of the thirteenth instant, N. S. containing a particular account of the late action in Portugal. On the seventeenth instant the army of Portugal, under the command of the Marquis de Frontera, lay on the side of the Caya, and the army of the Duke of Anjou, commanded by the Marquis de Bay, on the other. The latter commander having an ambition to ravage the country, in a manner in sight of the Portugueze, made a motion with the whole body of his horse towards Fort Saint Christopher, near the town of Badajos. The generals of the Portugueze disdaining that such an insult should be offered to their arms, took a resolution to pass the river, and oppose the designs of the enemy. The Earl of Galloway represented to them, that the present posture of affairs was such on the side of the allies, that there needed no more to be done at present in that country, |