in their heads, and oil in their tails, as an antidote against it. Befides, the arts they ufe on many occafions, to extend the dominions of grace, are base and difingenuous they hire their own followers to pelt and abuse them, and at the next gathering together of the godly, complain how they have been buffetted for Chrift's fake, and thus extort the pity and pence of their deluded audi tors. They earnestly pray for perfecution, as they very well know, that in all ages and countries it has only increased the sect it meant to fupprefs; like destroying a wart by amputation, which propagates others from its blood. I really think it is the duty of every lover of his country, to expofe thefe fpiritual volunteers to contempt and derifion. I fhall just mention an anecdote, which proves that PETER TRAF FIC's complaints are juft.-A celebrated young preacher in the North, (who had fignalized himself as much as Moll Walker) was obliged, in a certain diforder, to fubmit to that ope ration which the Italians deem abfolutely requifite for a fine finger. On this misfortune, his ungrateful female difciples, one and all, denied and deferted him; and though his voice was more tunable, the jades would not .even condescend to hear him fing pfalms; and the poor fellow was obliged to give up his ghoftly calling. This ftory needs no comment; but left Mr. Whitfield fhould fay it is a fiction, I mow tell him that it is well known at Strabane, where it happened, as hundreds there can teftify,-let him difprove it if he can. It is inconceivable what mifchief these vagrant preachers have already done in the kingdom: I fhall mention but one extraor dinary inftance at prefent.-In the late in furrections of the Oak-Boys, a hymn was found in the pocket of a Jefuit, who was fent on a miffion from St. Audeon's Arch, and paffed for a Muggletonian preacher: the style and fentiments will convince the public that it must have been compofed by fome of that fraternity, to foment riots and fedition among the "giddy, mifled, unthinking populace." I fhall conclude with a few felect ftanzas from it, which fhew their principles and defigns in the ftrongeft light. It feems to have been intended for an imitation of the firft Pfalm. I. The man is bleft who never hears À parish bell refound; Nor fees the whore of Babylon,! Our II. Our trees fhall bring forth pleasant fruit, ; Ev'n fo all things fhall profper well, III. * No human learning, Lord! we boast, Then ope our mouths, and make us speak, IV. The walls of Jericho, O Lord! So let the walls of Derry fall, When with our horns we call; The clergy then we'll quickly take, Millenium days we foon shall fee, And all thy Saints have rest. D 3 Y NUM NUMBER X. Minus aptus acutis Naribus horum hominum To JEOFFRY WAGSTAFFE, Efq. SIR, IT HOR. T is generally remarked, that perfons of exquifite fenfibility, are unhappy. The caufe is obvious they fee the foibles of mankind, and feel their own too fenfibly: their tempers are ruffled by trifles, which never disturb the tranquility of others. By conducting themfelves with unneceffary refinement in the common occurrences of life, they fruftrate their own views; as artifts by fining a razor too much, often turn its edge. * FERVIDUS, poffeffed of genius, a just taste, a brilliant fancy, and every focial quality of a generous and benevolent heart, can never be happy because his feelings are too ftrong. Fucosus lives the object of ridicule, and is led every day to laugh at himself; he joins in the jeft without fufpecting it is at his own expence yet is he happy by his dullness, which," covers him all over (as Sancho fays) "like a cloak." The most diftant allufion, These two characters (it is fuppofed) are defigned --n and Mr. Hd. C-pt-n J that that can be construed into the slightest mark of difrefpect, makes FERVIDUS miferable.. FuCosus thinks every body admires him, as a prodigy of parts, and therefore converts a fneer into a compliment. The nerves of the one, like the ftrings of a fiddle, vibrate on the slightest touch; whilft the other's, like the cords of a STRIM-STRAM, fcarce bend under the rough hand of a porter. Fucosus blunders through difficulties and labours, which would destroy any person of lefs ftupidity, as a goofe thruft down a chimney on fire, extinguishes the flames, and escapes unhurt. I believe the experiment would prove fatal to any other bird. I often confider Mrs. Greville's Ode to Indifference, as a mafter piece on this subject. The imagery is beautiful and poetic, and the fentiments fhew that nice difcernment and knowledge of human nature, fo rarely found in the elaborate pages of a moral philofopher. Let the rage of party, and perfonal invective, for once give place to admit the polished production of a female genius. Many of our readers, Mr. Wagstaffe, are neither courtiers nor patriots, and relifh fcandal as little in the. Batchelor, as the Freeman, particularly, |