cannot easily answer, for that will put me in a pas sion. I order you to handle only these two propositions, to which our dispute may be reduced: the first, whether I have not an absolute power, whenever I please, to light a pipe with one of Punch's legs, or warm my fingers with his whole carcass? the second, whether the devil would not be in Punch, should he by word or deed oppose my sovereign will and pleasure? and then, perhaps, I may, if I can find leisure for it, give you the trouble of a second letter. But if you intend to tell me of the original of puppet-shows; and the several changes and revolutions that have happened in them since Thespis, and I do not care who, that is Noli me tangere! I have solemnly engaged to say nothing of what I cannot approve. Or, if you talk of certain contracts with the mayor and burgesses, or fees to the constables, for the privilege of acting, I will not write one single word about any such matters; but shall leave you to be mumbled by the learned and very ingenious author of a late book, who knows very well what is to be said and done in such cases. He is now shuffling the cards, and dealing to Timothy; but if he wins the game, I will send him to play at back-gammon with you; and then he will satisfy you, that deuce-ace makes five. And so, submitting myself to be tried by my country, and allowing any jury of twelve good men, and true, to be that country; not excepting any unless Mr. Isaac Bickerstaff to be of the pannel, for you are neither good nor true, I bid you heartily farewell; and am, SIR, your loving friend, STEELE. INDEX. ABSOLUTE power represented in a dance......... Advice not asked for information, but out of fulness and perplexity of heart.. - not to be given to every body.. Esculapius falls in love with the divine Hebe.... his recipe for love Africanus, character of...... .......... magnanimity of, and manner of purchasing annuities Age, by what rendered most agreeable..... Alchymist, of Ben Jonson, remarks on............................................... ...... Allen, a player, founder of Dulwich college Almanack, Oxford, for 1709, considered.............. 25 25 44 47 ... .......... Amanda, the happy wife of Florio, character of........ Annuities, how purchased by Africanus...... Argyle, character of John, duke of..... Artillery company of London, description of an exer- Aspasia, a most excellent woman, character of........... Asturias, prince of, acknowledged heir to the crown of Avaro, a mean-spirited rich man, described...... BACHELOR'S Scheme to govern a wife....... Bankers, why poems ought to be taken for bills by.... desired to act the widow at Mr. Bicker- 1 7 Bath, commotions among the good company at Beadlestaff's testimony of a reformation and puppet- Bear, meaning of the word, explained. Beauty, every temper to be softened by force and efficacy of.............. Ne. 16 6 38 10 ..10, 15 Belfry, an ignorant clown, behaviour of, at lady Dainty's 37 offer of, to his creditors.... Betterton, a celebrated player, account of the benefit .3, 5, 29 9 I 2 did not compound with the milliners and toymen.. 30 Bickerstaff, Isaac, an adept in astronomical specula- disposes of his three nephews........ 30 extraordinary cures performed by, at his lodgings... genealogy of.. gives advice for his own sake Bicknell, or Bignell, Mrs. a comedian, commended acts the Country Wife Billet-doux concerning a rival....................... Birth, to be proud of, the greatest of vanities Bodily wits, who...... ............. Bracegirdle, Mrs. an excellent player................... a treatise on............. Brunette, colonel, a very pretty fellow.. Brussels postscript, a poem, remarks on......................... Buckley, Mr. a Drawcansir... Bullock and Penkethman, comedians, to attend Mr. Bickerstaff's funeral.. Busy Body, a comedy, character of. But, the particle, used too frequently .............. CADOGAN, major-general, arrives at Brussels. Cæsar, Julius, compared with Alexander..... 42 42 24 46 18 11 19 38 26 7 3 3 29 1566 Camilla, account of the person who performed the cha- racter of, in the cpera.......... Campaign, a poem, by Addison, character of............ 43 Cancrum, merit of.... Cant of modern men of wit Cards take the place of poetry Careless, Frank, opposed to Fop Nice.................. Ceremony, invention and use of. Challenge, the style of...... Children, the manner of nursing.... Chloe, love of, makes coxcombs..................................... Circumspection-water, Bickerstaff's, wonderful effects of... Citizens distinguished from cits...... Clarissa, love of, makes madmen. Clidamira, a woman of distinction, a pretty lady. Comment on stone walls....... 2, 34 Companions, what sort of, most desirable Contention between two ladies for the title of very pretty Compassion often the weakest part about us......................................... 34 Conversation, mutual goodwill the quintessence of...... the most necessary talent in................... 21 Copenhagen poetically described by Ambrose Philips. 12 Coquettes a mischievous sect......... Corinna, a kept mistress, manner of life of, with Lim- berham..... Country, ignorant of Mr. Bickerstaff's writings Country Wife, a comedy, remarks on... Credit described....... Critic, great, falls into a fit at the opera.............. opposed to wits..... Custom the cause of duels..... Cynthio, adventure of, at the playhouse dictating on the passion of love............... -effects of a bow from his mistress on........... -resolution of, and letter to his mistress thereon 35 DAMIA, a woman of distinction, a very pretty lady..... 34 Dassapas, Tom, his potions Dawks, honest Icabod, the news-letter-writer, an ac- count of him Decius, the character of a lewd person.......................... play dedicated to a city knight. Distaff, Jenuy, Mr. Bickerstaff's half sister, her con- her discourse on love; the command and power of woman.. ings her reflections on her brother's writ- Divito (or Christopher Rich, esq.) sale of his goods, ce- lestial and terrestrial... Dogs, account of the loss of a lady's lap-dog.. Dryden's verses on empire applied... Duel, inquiry into the genealogy of that monster.... Duelling and its terms explained custom the source of it dialogue thereon..... how used by different nations... stripped of its pretensions to credit and repu- Dulwich college founded by Allyen the player......... Durfey, Mr. the lyric poet, account of his great abili- Durfey, Mr. dedication to his Modern Prophets EARL of Essex, character of that play. Ease in writing, what it is Emblem of the parrot and dove, a poem.. Epigram on marriage.... Epithets of Homer and Virgil compared...... Epsom, adventures of a fortune-hunter there........ diversions there Epsom Wells, a comedy by Shadwell, account of it... Extasy described by Dryden FELICIA, the island of, happy in good ministers of state B b 9 27 40 47 36 7 19 41 8 |