and we hear Mr. Pinkethman1 has removed his ingenious company of strollers to Greenwich: but other letters from Deptford say, the company is only making thither, and not yet settled; but that several heathen gods and goddesses, which are to descend in machines, landed at the King's Head Stairs last Saturday. Venus and Cupid went on foot from thence to Greenwich; Mars got drunk in the town, and broke his landlord's head; for which he sat in the stocks the whole evening; but Mr. Pinkethman giving security that he should do nothing this ensuing summer, he was set at liberty. The most melancholy part of all, was, that Diana was taken in the act of fornication with a boatman, and committed by Justice Wrathful, which has, it seems, put a stop to the diversions of the theatre of Blackheath. But there goes down another Diana and a patient Grissel next tide from Billingsgate.2

Brookfield, in the parish of St. Martin's, Westminster, to commence on the first day of May, and to continue fifteen days yearly. It soon became the resort of the idle, the dissipated, and the profligate, insomuch that the peace-officers were frequently opposed in the performance of their duty; and, in the year 1702, John Cooper, one of the constables, was killed, for which a fencing-master, named Cook, was executed. (See also No. 20.) The fair was revived under George I., but was finally abolished through the exertions of the sixth Earl of Coventry.

1 William Pinkethman, the popular actor and droll, was spoken of by Gildon as "the flower of Bartholomew Fair, and the idol of the rabble." In June, 1710, he opened a theatre at Greenwich, and in 1711 his "wonderful invention called The Pantheon, or, The Temple of the Heathen Gods," with over 100 figures, was to be seen in the Little Piazza, Covent Garden (Spectator, No. 46, advertisement).

2 "It is credibly reported that Mr. Dy has agreed with Mr. Pinkethman to have his play acted before that audience as soon as it has had its first sixteen days' run in Drury Lane" (folio). The play was D'Urfey's "Modern Prophets."

St. James's Coffee-house, April 18.

They write from Saxony of the 13th instant, N.S.,

that the Grand General of the Crown of Poland was so far from entering into a treaty with King Stanislaus, that he had written circular letters, wherein he exhorted the Palatinates to join against him; declaring, that this was the most favourable conjuncture for asserting their liberty.

Letters from the Hague of the 23rd instant, N.S., say, they have advices from Vienna, which import, that his Electoral Highness of Hanover had signified to the Imperial Court, that he did not intend to put himself at the head of the troops of the Empire, except more effectual measures were taken for acting vigorously against the enemy the ensuing campaign. Upon this representation, the Emperor has given orders to several regiments to march towards the Rhine, and despatched expresses to the respective princes of the Empire to desire an augmentation

of their forces.

These letters add, that an express arrived at the Hague on the 20th instant, with advice, that the enemy having made a detachment from Tournay of 1500 horse, each trooper carrying a foot-soldier behind him, in order to surprise the garrison of Alost; the allies, upon notice of their march, sent out a strong body of troops from Ghent, which engaged the enemy at Asche, and took 200 of them prisoners, obliging the rest to retire without making any further attempt. On the 22nd in the morning a fleet of merchant ships coming from Scotland, were attacked by six French privateers at the entrance of the Meuse. We have yet no certain advice of the event: but letters from Rotterdam say, that a Dutch man-of-war of forty guns, which was convoy to the said fleet, was taken, as

were also eighteen of the merchants. The Swiss troops, in the service of the States, have completed the augmentation of their respective companies. Those of Wirtemberg and Prussia are expected on the frontiers within few days; and the auxiliaries from Saxony, as also a battalion of Holstein, and another of Wolfembuttel, are advancing thither with all expedition. On the 21st instant, the deputies of the States had a conference near Woerden with the President Rouillé, but the matter which was therein debated is not made public. His Grace the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene continue at the Hague.

I

From my own Apartment, April 18.

1

have lately been very studious for intelligence, and have just now, by my astrological flying-post, received a packet from Felicia, an island in America, with an account that gives me great satisfaction, and lets me understand that the island was never in greater prosperity, or the administration in so good hands, since the death of their late valiant king. These letters import, that the chief minister has entered into a firm league with the ablest and best men of the nation, to carry on the cause of liberty, to the encouragement of religion, virtue, and honour. Those persons at the helm are so useful, and in themselves of such weight, that their strict alliance must needs tend to the universal prosperity of the people. Camillo, it seems, presides over the deliberations of state; and is so highly valued by all men, for his singular probity, courage, affability, and love of mankind, that his being placed in that station has dissipated the fears of that people, who of all the world are the most jealous of their

1 Britain.

2 John, Lord Somers, President of the Council.

4

liberty and happiness. The next member of their society is Horatio,' who makes all the public despatches. This minister is master of all the languages in use to great perfection: he is held in the highest veneration imaginable for a severe honesty, and love of his country he lives in a court, unsullied with any of its artifices, the refuge of the oppressed, and terror of oppressors. Martio2 has joined himself to this council; a man of most undaunted resolution and great knowledge in maritime affairs; famous for destroying the navy of the Franks,3 and singularly happy in one particular, that he never preferred a man who has not proved remarkably serviceable to his country. Philander is mentioned with particular distinction; a nobleman who has the most refined taste of the true pleasures and elegance of life, joined to an indefatigable industry in business; a man eloquent in assemblies, agreeable in conversation, and dextrous in all manner of public negotiations. These letters add, that Verono, who is also of this council, has lately set sail to his government of Patricia, with design to confirm the affections of the people in the interests of his queen. This minister is master of great abilities, and is as industrious and restless for the preservation of the liberties of the people, as the greatest enemy can be to subvert them. The influence of these personages, who are men of such distinguished parts and virtues, makes the people: enjoy the utmost tranquillity in the midst of a war, and

5

1 Sidney, Lord Godolphin, the Lord High Treasurer; or (according to the MS. notes in the copy mentioned above) Lord. Sunderland.

5 Thomas, Earl of Wharton, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

gives them undoubted hopes of a secure peace from their vigilance and integrity.'

No. 5.

[STEELE.

From Tuesday, April 19, to Thursday, April 21, 1709.

White's Chocolate-house, April 20.

Who names that lost thing, love, without a tear,
Since so debauched by ill-bred customs here,
To an exact perfection they have brought
The action, love, the passion is forgot.

This was long ago a witty author's lamentation, but
the evil still continues; and if a man of any delicacy
were to attend the discourses of the young fellows of this
age, they would believe there were none but prostitutes to
make the objects of passion. So true it is what the author
of the above verses said, a little before his death, of the
modern pretenders to gallantry: "They set up for wits
in this age, by saying when they are sober, what they of
the last spoke only when they were drunk." But Cupid
is not only blind at present, but dead-drunk, he has lost
all his faculties: else how should Celia be so long a
maid with that agreeable behaviour? Corinna, with that
sprightly wit? Lesbia, with that heavenly voice? And
Sacharissa, with all those excellences in
all those excellences in one person,
frequent the park, the play, and murder the poor tits
that drag her to public places, and not a man turn pale at
her appearance? But such is the fallen state of love, that

1 "Advertisement.-Upon the humble petition of Running Stationers, &c., this paper may be had of them, for the future, at the price of one penny" (folio). The first four numbers were distributed gratui-tously.