Page images
PDF
EPUB

cellany Poems published by Jacob Tonson which I find, by my brother's notes upon it, no way inferior to the other volumes. There is, it seems, in this a collection of the best pastorals that have hitherto appeared in England; but among them none superior to that dialogue between Sylvia and Dorinda, written by one of my own sex,; † where all our little weaknesses are laid open in a manner more just, and with truer raillery, than ever man yet hit upon. Only this I now discern,

From the things thou'dst have me learn,
That womankind's peculiar joys

From past or present beauties rise.

But, to re-assume my first design, there cannot be a greater instance of the command of females, than in the prevailing charms of the heroine in the play, which was acted this night, called, All for Love; or, The World well lost. The enamoured Anthony resigns glory and power to the force of the attractive Cleopatra, whose charms were the defence of her diadem against a people otherwise invincible. It is so natural for women to talk of themselves, that it is to be hoped, all my own sex will at least pardon me, that I could fall into no other discourse. If we have their favour, we give ourselves very little anxiety for the rest of our readers. I believe, I see a sentence of Latin in my brother's day-book of wit, which seems applicable on this occasion, and in contempt of the critics,

-Tristitiam et metus
Tradam protervis in mare Creticum
Portare ventis.

No boding fears shall break my rest,
Nor anxious cares invade my breast;
Puff them, ye wanton gales, away,
And plunge them in the Cretan sea.
*Usually called Dryden's collection.

HOR. 1. Od. xxvi. 2.

R. WYNNE.

+ By Mrs. Elizabeth Singer, afterwards Mrs. Rowe.

The humour of Mrs.Jenny Distaff's Latin quotation rises out of the similarity between the words Creticum and Criticum.

But I am interrupted by a packet from Mr. Kidney, from St. James's coffee-house, which I am obliged to insert in the very style and words which Mr. Kidney uses in his letter.

St. James's Coffee-house, May 2.

We are advised by letters from Bern, dated the first instant, N. S. that the Duke of Berwick arrived at Lyons the twenty-fifth of the last month and continued his journey the next day to visit the passes of the mountains, and other posts in Dauphine and Provence. These letters also informed us, that the miseries of the people in France are heightened to that degree, that unless a peace be speedily concluded, half of that kingdom would perish for want of bread. On the twenty-fourth, the Marshal de Thesse passed through Lyons, in his way to Versailles; and two battalions, which were marching from Alsace to reinfore the army of the Duke of Berwick, passed also through that place. Those troops were to be followed by six battalions more.

Letters from Naples of the sixteenth of April say, that the Marquis de Prie's son was arrived there, with instructions from his father, to signify to the Viceroy the necessity his Imperial Majesty was under of desiring an aid from that kingdom, for carrying on the extraordinary expences of the war. On the fourteenth of the same month, they made a review of the Spanish troops in that garrison, and afterwards of the marines; one part of whom will embark with those designed for Barcelona, and the rest are to be sent on board the gallies appointed to convey provisions to that place.

We hear from Rome, by letters dated the twentieth of April, that the Count de Mellos, Envoy from the King of Portugal, had made his public entry into that city with much state and magnifi

cence. The Pope has lately held two other consistories, wherein he made a promotion of two Cardinals; but the acknowledgment of King Charles is still deferred.

Letters from other parts of Italy advise us, that the Doge of Venice continues dangerously ill; that the Prince de Carignan, having relapsed into a violent fever, died the twenty-third of April in his eightieth year.

Advices from Vienna of the twenty-seventh of April import, that the Archbishop of Saltzberg is dead, who is succeeded by Count Harrach, formerly Bishop of Vienna, and for these last three years coadjutor to the said Archbishop; and that Prince Maximilian of Linchtenstein is likewise departed this life at his country seat called Cromaw, in Moravia. These advices add, that the Emperor has named Count Zinzendorf, Count Goes, and Monsieur Consbruck, for his plenipotentiaries in an ensuing treaty of peace; and they hear from Hungary, that the Imperialists have had several successful skirmishes with the malcontents.

Letters from Paris, dated May the sixth, say, that the Marshal de Thesse arrived there on the twentyninth of the last month, and that the Chevalier de Beuil was sent thither by Don Pedro Ronquillo with advice, that the confederate squadron appeared before Alicant on the seventeenth, and, having for some time cannonaded the city, endeavoured to land some troops for the relief of the castle; but General Stanhope, finding the passes well guarded, and the enterprise dangerous, demanded to capitulate for the castle; which being granted him, the garrison, consisting of 600 regular troops, marched out with their arms and baggage the day following; and being received on board, they immediately set sail for Barcelona. These letters add, that the march of the French and Swiss regiments is further deferred

for a few days; and that the Duke of Noailles was just ready to set out for Roussillon, as well as the Count de Bezons for Catalonia.

The same advices say, bread was sold at Paris for sixpence a pound; and that there was not half enough, even at that rate, to supply the necessities of the people, which reduced them to the utmost despair; that 300 men had taken up arms, and, having plundered the market of the suburb of St. Germain, pressed down by their multitude the king's guards who opposed them. Two of those mutineers were afterwards seized and condemned to death: but four others went to the magistrate who pronounced that sentence, and told him, he must expect to answer with his own life for those of their comrades. All order and sense of government being thus lost among the enraged people; to keep up a show of authority, the captain of the guards, who saw all their insolence, pretended, that he had represented to the king their deplorable condition, and had obtained their pardon. It is further reported, that the Dauphin and Dutchess of Burgundy, as they went to the opera were surrounded by crowds of people, who upbraided them with their neglect of the general calamity, in going to diversions, when the whole people were ready to perish for want of bread. Edicts are daily published to suppress these riots; and papers, with menaces against the government, as publicly thrown about. Among others, these words were dropped in a court of justice: "France wants a Ravilliac, or a Jesuit, to deliver her." Besides this universal distress, there is a contagious sickness, which, it is feared, will end in a pestilence. Letters from Bourdeaux bring accounts no less lamentable: the peasants are driven by hunger from their abodes into that city, and make lamentations in the streets without redress.

We are advised by letters from the Hague, dated

the tenth instant, N. S. that on the sixth, the Marquis de Torcy arrived there from Paris; but the passport, by which he came, having been sent blank by Monsieur Rouille, he was there two days before his quality was known. That minister offered to communicate to Monsieur Heinsius the proposals which he had to make; but the Pensionary refused to see them, and said, he would signify it to the States, who deputed some of their own body to acquaint him, that they would enter into no negociation until the arrival of his grace the Duke of Marlborough, and the other ministers of the alliance. Prince Eugene was expected there the twelfth instant from Brussels. It is said, that besides Monsieur de Torcy, and Monsieur Pajot, director-general of the posts, there are two or three persons at the Hague whose names are not known; but it is supposed, that the Duke d'Alba, ambassador from the Duke of Anjou, was one of them. The States have sent letters to all the cities of the provinces, desiring them to send their deputies to receive the propositions of peace made by the court of France.

*

** In the absence of Mrs. Bickerstaff, Mr. Distaff has received Mr. Nathaniel Broomstick's letter.

N° 11. THURSDAY, MAY 5. 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.

By ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esquire.

Will's Coffee-house, May 3.

A KINSMAN has sent me a letter, wherein he informs me, he had lately resolved to write an heroic

« PreviousContinue »