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came to know "how I liked his design to marry such a lady?" I answered, By no means; and I must be positive against it, for very solid reasons, which are not proper to communicate." "Not proper to be communicated!" said he, with a grave air; "I will know the bottom of this." I saw him moved, and knew from thence he was already determined; there fore evaded it by saying, "To tell you the truth, dear Frank, of all women living, I would have her myself." "Isaac," said he, “thou art too late, for we have been both one these two months."

I learned this caution by a gentleman's consulting me formerly about his son. He railed at his damned extravagance, and told me, " in a very little time he would beggar him by the exorbitant bills which came from Oxford every quarter." "Make the rogue bite the bridle," said I; pay none of his bills; it will but encourage him to further trespasses." He looked plaguy sour at me. His son soon after sent

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up a paper of verses, forsooth, in print, on the last public occasion; upon which, he is convinced the boy has parts, and a lad of spirit is not to be too much cramped in his maintenance, lest he take ill courses. Neither father nor son can ever since endure the sight of me.

These sort of people ask opinions only out of the fulness of their heart, on the subject of their perplexity, and not from a desire of information.

There is nothing so easy as to find out which opinion the man in doubt has a mind to; therefore the sure way is to tell him, that is certainly to be chosen. Then you are to be very clear and positive: leave no handle for scruple. "Bless me! Sir, there is no room for a question!" This rivets you into his heart; for you at once applaud his wisdom, and gratify his inclination. However, I had too much bowels to be insincere to a man who came yesterday, to know of me with which of two eminent men

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in the city, he should place his son? Their names are Paulo and Avaro. This gave me much debate with myself; because not only the fortune of the youth, but his virtue also, dependeth upon this choice. The men are equally wealthy; but they differ in the use and application of their riches, which you immediately see upon entering their doors. The habitation of Paulo has at once the air of a nobleman and a merchant. You see the servants act with affection to their master, and satisfaction in themselves; the master meets you with an open countenance, full of benevolence and integrity; your business is dispatched with that confidence and welcome which always accompany honest minds. His table is the image of plenty and generosity, supported by justice and frugality. After we had dined here, our affair was to visit Avaro. Out comes an awkward fellow, with a careful countenance; Sir, would you speak with my master? may I crave your name?" After the first preamble, he leads us into a noble solitude, a great house that seemed uninhabited; but from the end of the spacious hall moves towards us Avaro, with a suspicious aspect, as if he had believed us thieves; and, as for my part, I approached him as if I knew him a cut-purse. We fell into discourse of his noble dwelling and the great estate all the world knew he had to enjoy in it; and I, to plague him, began to commend Paulo's way of living. "Paulo," answered Avaro, "is a very good man; but we, who have smaller estates, must cut our coats according to our cloth." "Nay," says I, " every man knows his own circumstances best; you are in the right, if you have not wherewithal." He looked very sour; for it is, you must know, the utmost vanity of a mean-spirited rich man to be contradicted when he calls himself poor: but I resolved to vex him, by consenting to all he said; the mean design of which was, that he would have

us find out, he was one of the wealthiest men in London, and lived like a beggar. We left him, and took a turn on the Exchange. My friend was ravished with Avaro. "This," said he, "is certainly a sure man." I contradicted him with much warmth, and summed up their different characters as well as I could. "This Paulo," said I, “ grows wealthy by being a common good; Avaro, by being a general evil: Paulo has the art, Avaro the craft of trade. When Paulo gains, all men he deals with are the better; whenever Avaro profits, another certainly loses. In a word, Paulo is a citizen, and Avaro a cit." I convinced my friend, and carried the young gentleman the next day to Paulo, where he will learn the way both to gain and enjoy a good fortune. And though I cannot say I have, by keeping him from Avaro, saved him from the gallows, I have prevented his deserving it every day he lives for with Paulo he will be an honest man, without being so for fear of the law; as with Avaro he would have been a villain, within the protection of it.

St. James's Coffee-house, June 6.

We hear from Vienna of the first instant, that Baron Imloff, who attended her Catholic Majesty with the character of Envoy from the Duke of Wolfenbuttel, was returned thither. That minister brought an account, that Major-general Stanhope, with the troops which embarked at Naples, was returned to Barcelona. We hear from Berlin, by advices of the eighth instant, that his Prussian Majesty had received an account from his Minister at Dresden, that the King of Denmark desired to meet his Majesty at Magdeburg. The King of Prussia has sent for answer, that his present indisposition will not admit of so great a journey; but has sent the King a very pressing invitation to come to Berlin or Potsdam. These advices say, that

the Minister of the King of Sweden has produced a letter from his master to the King of Poland, dated from Botizan the thirtieth of March, O. S. wherein he acquaints him, that he has been successful against the Muscovites in all the actions which have happened since his march into their country. Great numbers have revolted to the Swedes since General Mazeppa went over to that side and as many as have done so have taken solemn oaths to adhere to the interests of his Swedish Majesty.

Advices from the Hague of the fourteenth instant, N. S. say, that all things tended to a vigorous and active campaign; the allies having strong resentments against the late behaviour of the Court of France; and the French using all possible endeavours to animate their men to defend their country against a victorious and exasperated enemy. Monsieur Rouille had passed through Brussels without visiting either the Duke of Marlborough or the Prince Eugene, who were both there at that time. The States have met, and publicly declared their satisfaction in the conduct of their Deputies during the whole treaty. Letters from France say, that the Court is resolved to put all to the issue of the ensuing campaign. In the mean time they have ordered the preliminary treaty to be published, with observations upon each article, in order to quiet the minds of the people, and persuade them, that it has not been in the power of the King to procure a peace, but to the diminution of his Majesty's glory, and the hazard of his dominions. His Grace the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene arrived at Ghent on Wednesday last, where, at an assembly of the General officers, it was thought proper, by reason of the great rains which had lately fallen, to defer forming a camp, or bringing the troops together: but, as soon as the weather would permit, to pon the enemy with all expedition.

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back again, I am under the last apprehension, that these will, at their return, all set up for " Pretty Fellows," and thereby confound all merit and service, and impose on us some new alteration in our night-cap wigs and pockets, unless you can provide a particular class for them. I cannot apply myself better than to you, and I am sure I speak the mind of a very great number, as deserving as myself."

The pretensions of this correspondent are worthy a particular distinction; he cannot, indeed, be admitted as a "Pretty," but is what we more justly call a "Smart Fellow." Never to pay at the playhouse is an act of frugality that lets you into his character; and his expedient in sending his children begging before they can go, are characteristical instances that he belongs to this class. I never saw the gentleman; but I know by his letter, he hangs his cane to his button; and by some lines of it he should wear red-heeled shoes; which are essential parts of the habit belonging to the order of "Smart Fellows."

My familiar is returned with the following letter from the French king.

Versailles, June 3, 1709. "LEWIS XIV. to ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esq.

"Sir,

"I have your epistle, and must take the liberty to say, that there has been a time, when there were generous spirits in Great Britain, who would not have suffered my name to be treated with the familiarity you think fit to use. I thought liberal men would not be such time-servers, as to fall upon a man because his friends are not in power. But, having some concern for what you may commit to posterity concerning me, I am willing to keep terms with and make a request to you, which is, that you would give my service to the nineteenth cen

you;

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