The Dutch army, commanded by the prince of Hesse, attacked with the most undaunted bravery; and, after a very obstinate resistance, forced the first intrenchment of the enemy in the SIR,-Though I have not the honour to be plain between Sart and Jansart; but were re- of the family of the Staffs, nor related to any pulsed in their attack on the second, with great branch of it, yet I applaud your wholesome pro. slaughter on both sides. The duke of Marlbo-ject of making wit useful. rough, while this was transacting on the left, had with very much difficulty marched through Sart,

think, before you, thought of a way to bring the | declaiming: 'If,' says he,' we have so great and stage, as it were, into the coffee-house, and there complete a victory, why have we not the names attack those gentlemen who thought themselves of the prisoners? Why is not an exact relation out of the reach of raillery, by prudently avoid- of the conduct of our generals laid before the ing its chief walks and districts. I smile when world? Why do we not know where and whom I see a solid citizen of threescore read the article to applaud? If we are victorious, why do we from Will's coffee-house, and seem to be just not give an account of our captives and our slain? beginning to learn his alphabet of wit in specta- But we are to be satisfied with general notices cles; and to hear the attentive table sometimes we are conquerors, and to believe it so. Sure stop him with pertinent queries, which he is this is approving the despotic way of treating puzzled to answer, and then join in commend- the world, which we pretend to fight against, if ing it the sincerest way, by freely owning he we sit down satisfied with such contradictory does not understand it. accounts, which have the words of triumph, but do not bear the spirit of it.' I whispered Mr. Greenhat, Pray, what can that dissatisfied man be?' 'He is,' answered he, 'a character you have not yet perhaps observed. You have heard of battle-painters, have mentioned a battle-poet; but this is a battle-critic. He is a fellow that lives in a government so gentle, that, though it sees him an enemy, suffers his malice, because they know his impotence. He is to examine the weight of an advantage before the company will allow it.' Greenhat was going on in his explanation, when sir George England thought fit to take up the discourse in the following manner.

• In pursuing this design, you will always have a large scene before you, and can never be at a loss for characters to entertain a town so plentifully stocked with them. The follies of the finest minds, which a philosophic surgeon knows how to dissect, will best employ your skill; and of this sort, I take the liberty to send you the following sketch.

'Cleontes is a man of good family, good learning, entertaining conversation, and acute wit. He talks well, is master of style, and writes not contemptibly in verse. Yet all this serves but to make him politely ridiculous; and he is above the rank of common characters, only to have the privilege of being laughed at by the best. His family makes him proud and scornful; his learning, assuming and absurd; and his wit, arrogant and satirical. He mixes some of the best qualities of the head with the worst of the heart. Every body is entertained by him, while nobody esteems him.-I am, sir, Your most affectionate monitor,

JOSIAH COUPLET.'

Lost, from the Cocoa-tree, in Pall-Mall, two Irish dogs, belonging to the pack of London; one a tall white wolf-dog; the other a black nimble greyhound, not very sound, and supposed to be gone to the Bath, by instinct, for cure. The man of the inn from whence they ran, being now there, is desired, if he meets either of them, to tie them up. Several others are lost about Tunbridge and Epsom; which whoever will maintain may keep.

'Gentlemen, The action you are in so great doubt to approve of, is greater than ever has been performed in any age; and the value of it I observe from your dissatisfaction: for battle-critics are like all others; you are the more offended, the more you ought to be, and are convinced you ought to be, pleased. Had this engagement happened in the time of the old Romans, and such things been acted in their service, there would had been consecrated to some deity, or made not be a foot of the wood which was pierced but memorable by the death of him who expired in it for the sake of his country. It had been said on some monument at the entrance: Here the Here Webb, after having an accomplished fame duke of Argyle drew his sword, and said 'March.' for gallantry, exposed himself like a common soldier. Here Rivett, who was wounded at the beginning of the day, and carried off as dead, returned to the field, and received his death. Medals had been struck for our general's behaviour when he first came into the plain. Here was the fury of the action, and here the hero stood as fearless as if invulnerable. Such certainly had been the cares of that state for their own honour, and in gratitude to their heroic subjects. But the wood intrenched, the plain made more impassable than the wood, and all the difficulties opposed to the most gallant army and the most intrepid leaders that ever the sun I CAME hither this evening, and expected no- shone upon, are treated by the talk of some in thing else but mutual congratulations in the this room as objections to the merit of our genecompany, on the late victory; but found our ral and our army: but,' continued he, I leave room, which one would have hoped to have seen all the examination of this matter, and a proper full of good humour and alacrity upon so glorious discourse on our sense of public actions, to my an occasion, full of sour animals, inquiring into friend Mr. Bickerstaff; who may let beaux and the action, in doubt of what had happened, and gamesters rest, until he has examined into the fearful of the success of their countrymen. It reasons of men's being malecontents, in the only is natural to believe easily what we wish hearti-nation that suffers professed enemies to breathe ly; and a certain rule, that they are not friends in open air.' to a glad occasion who speak all they can against the truth of it; who end their argument against our happiness, that they wish it otherwise. When I came into the room, a gentleman was

No. 65.]

Thursday, September 8, 1709.

Quicquid agunt homines

nostri est farrago libelli. Juv. Sat. i. 85, 86. Whatever good is done, whatever illBy human kind, shall this collection fill.

Will's Coffee-house, September 7.

From my own Apartment, September 7. The following letters are sent to me from relations; and though I do not know who and who

are intended, I publish them. I have only writ nonsense, if there is nothing in them; and done a good action, if they alarm any heedless men against the fraternity of the Knights, whom the Greeks call Ρασκαλς.

Bath, Aug. 30.

them; and, declaring how false they were, warned the company to take care who they played with. By his seeming candour, he cleared his reputation, at least to fools and some silly women; but it was still blasted by the esquire's story with thinking men: however, he gained a great point by it; for the next day he got the company shut up with himself and fellow-members, and robbed them at discretion.

MR. BICKERSTAFF,-It is taken very ill by several gentlemen here, that you are so little vigilant, as to let the dogs run from their kennels to this place. Had you done your duty, we 'I cannot express to you with what indignashould have had notice of their arrival; but the tion I behold the noble spirit of gentlemen desharpers are now become so formidable here, generated to that of private cut-purses. It is in that they have divided themselves into nobles vain to hope a remedy, while so many of the and commons; beau Bogg, beau Pert, Rake, and fraternity get and enjoy estates of twenty, thirty, Tallboy, are of their upper house; broken cap- and fifty thousand pounds, with impunity, creep tains, ignorant attornies, and such other bank- into the best conversations, and spread the inrupts from industrious professions, compose their fectious villany through the nation, while the lower order. Among these two sets of men, lesser rogues, that rob for hunger or nakedness, there happened here lately some unhappy dif- are sacrificed by the blind, and, in this respect, ferences. Esquire Humphry came down among partial and defective law. Could you open men's us with four hundred guineas: his raw appear eyes against the occasion of all this, the great ance, and certain signals in the good-natured corrupter of our manners and morality, the aumuscles of Humphry's countenance, alarmed the thor of more bankrupts than the war, and sure societies; for sharpers are as skilful as beggars bane of all industry, frugality and good nature; in physiognomy, and know as well where to in a word, of all virtues; I mean, public or prihope for plunder, as the others to ask for alms. vate play at cards or dice; how willingly would Pert was the man exactly fitted for taking with I contribute my utmost, and possibly send you Humphry, as a fine gentleman; for a raw fool some memoirs of the lives and politics of some is ever enamoured with his contrary, a coxcomb; of the fraternity of great figure, that might be and a coxcomb is what the booby, who wants of use to you in setting this in a clear light experience, and is unused to company, regards against next session; that all who care for their as the first of men. He ever looks at him with country or posterity, and see the pernicious cfenvy, and would certainly be such, if he were fects of such a public vice, may endeavour its not oppressed by his rusticity or bashfulness. destruction by some effectual laws. In concurThere arose an entire friendship by this sympa.rence of this good design, I remain your humthy between Pert and Humphrey, which ended in stripping the latter. We now could see this forlorn youth for some days moneyless, without sword, and one day without his hat, and with secret melancholy pining for his snuff-box; the jest of the whole town, but most of those who robbed him.

At last fresh bills came down, when immediately their countenances cleared up, ancient kindnesses and familiarity renewed, and to dinner he was invited by the fraternity. You are to know, that while he was in his days of solitude, a commoner, who was excluded from his share of the prey, had whispered the esquire, that he was bit, and cautioned him of venturing again. However, hopes of recovering his snuff-box, which was given him by his aunt, made him fall to play after dinner; yet, mindful of what he was told, he saw something that provoked him to tell them, they were a company of sharpers. Presently Tailboy fell on him, and, being too hard at fisty-cuffs, drove him out of doors. The valiant Pert followed, and kicked him in his turn; which the esquire resented, as being nearer his match; so challenged him: but dif fering about time and place, friends interposed, for he had still money left, and persuaded him to ask pardon for provoking them to beat him, and they asked his for doing it. The house, consulting whence Humphry could have his information, concluded it must be from some malicious commoner; and, to be revenged, beau Bogg watched their haunts, and in a shop where some of them were at play with ladies, showed dice which he found, or pretended to find, upon

ble servant, &c.'

Friday, Sept. 2. 'MR. BICKERSTAFF,-I heartily join with you in your laudable design against the Myrmidons, as well as your late insinuations against Coxcombs of Fire; and I take this opportunity to congratulate you on the success of your labours, which I observed yesterday in one of the hottest fire-men in town; who not only affects a soft smile, but was seen to be thrice contradicted without showing any signs of impatience. These, I say, so happy beginnings, promise fair, and on this account I rejoice you have undertaken to unkennel the curs; a work of such use, that I admire it so long escaped your vigilance; and exhort you, by the concern you have for the good people of England, to pursue your design; and, that these vermin may not flatter themselves that they pass undiscovered, I desire you would acquaint Jack Haughty, that the whole secret of his bubbling his friend with the Swiss at the Thatched-house is well known, as also his sweetening the knight; and I shall acknowledge the favour. Your most humble servant, &c.'

is something particular in his way of thinking |
and speaking, told us, a man could not be elo-
quent without action; for the deportment of the
body, the turn of the eye, and an apt sound to
every word that is uttered, must all conspire to
make an accomplished speaker. Action in one
that speaks in public, is the same thing as
a good mien in ordinary life. Thus, as a
certain insensibility in the countenance recom-
mends a sentence of humour and jest, so it must
be a very lively consciousness that gives grace
to great sentiments. The jest is to be a thing
unexpected; therefore your undesigning man-
ner is a beauty in expressions of mirth; but
when you are to talk on a set subject, the more
you are moved yourself, the more you will move
others.

speech, which might pass the criticism of Longinius, an action which would have been approved by Demosthenes. He has a peculiar force in his way, and has many of his audience* who could not be intelligent hearers of his discourse, were there not explanation as well as grace in his action. This art of his is used with the most exact and honest skill: he never attempts your passions until he has convinced your reason. All the objections which he can form, are laid open and dispersed before he uses the least vehemence in his sermon; but when he thinks he has your head, he very soon wins your heart; and never pretends to show the beauty of holiness, until he hath convinced you of the truth of it.

Would every one of our clergymen be thus careful to recommend truth and virtue in their proper figures, and show so much concern for them as to give them all the additional force they were able, it is not possible that nonsense should have so many hearers as you find it has in dissenting congregations, for no reason in the world, but because it is spoken extempore: for ordinary minds are wholly governed by their eyes and ears, and there is no way to come at their hearts, but by power over their imaginations.

'There is,' said he, 'a remarkable example of that kind. Eschines, a famous orator of antiquity, had pleaded at Athens in a great cause against Demosthenes; but having lost it, retired to Rhodes.' Eloquence was then the quality most admired among men; and the magistrates of that place, having heard he had a copy of the speech of Demosthenes, desired him to repeat both their pleadings. After his own, he recited also the oration of his antagonist. The people expressed their admiration of both, but more of that of Demosthenes. "If you are," said he, There is my friend and merry companion "thus touched with hearing only what that Daniel. He knows a great deal better than he great orator said, how would you have been af speaks, and can form a proper discourse as well fected had you seen him speak? For he who as any orthodox neighbour. But he knows very hears Demosthenes only, loses much the better well, that to bawl out My beloved!' and the part of the oration." Certain it is that they words 'grace!' 'regeneration!''sanctification!' who speak gracefully are very lamely represent-a new light!' the day! the day! ay, my beed in having their speeches read or repeated by loved, the day! or rather the night, the night is unskilful people; for there is something native coming and judgment will come when we to each man, so inherent to his thoughts and least think of it!" and so forth.—He knows, to be sentiments, which it is hardly possible for ano- vehement, is the only way to come at his auther to give a true idea of. You may observe dience. Daniel, when he sees my friend Greenin common talk, when a sentence of any man's hat come in, can give a good hint and cry out, is repeated, an acquaintance of his shall imme. This is only for the saints! the regenerated!" diately observe, that is so like him, methinks I By this force of action, though mixed with all see how he looked when he said it.' the incoherence and ribaldry imaginable, Daniel can laugh at his diocesan, and grow fat by voluntary subscription, while the parson of the parish goes to law for half his dues. Daniel will tell you, it is not the shepherd, but the sheep with the bell, which the flock follows.'

But of all the people on the earth, there are none who puzzle me so much as the clergy of Great Britain, who are, I believe, the most learned body of men now in the world; and yet this art of speaking, with the proper ornaments of voice and gesture, is wholly neglected among them; and I will engage, were a deaf man to behold the greater part of them preach, he would rather think they were reading the contents only of some discourse they intended to make, than actually in the body of an oration, even when they are upon matters of such a nature, as one would believe it were impossible to think of without emotion.

I own there are exceptions to this general observation, and that the dean we heard the other day together, is an orator.* He has so much regard to his congregation, that he commits to his memory what he has to say to them; and has so soft and graceful a behaviour, that it must attract your attention. His person, it is to be confessed, is no small recommendation; but he is to be highly commended for not losing that advantage, and adding to the propriety of

Dr. Atterbury.

Another thing, very wonderful this learned body should omit, is, learning to read; which is a most necessary part of eloquence in one who is to serve at the altar for there is no man but must be sensible, that the lazy tone, and inarticulate sound of our common readers, depreciates the most proper form of words that were ever extant, in any nation or language, to speak our own wants, or his power from whom we ask relief.

There cannot be a greater instance of the power of action, than in little parson Dapper, who is the common relief to all the lazy pulpits in town. This smart youth has a very good memory, a quick eye, and a clean handkerchief. Thus equipped, he opens his text,

* At the chapel of Bridewell Hospital, where he was twenty years minister and preacher.

† Dr. Daniel Burgess, who preached to a congregation of independents at the meeting-house in a court adjoining to Carey-street, near Lincoln's Inn.