Thus have I, in obedience to your commands, ventured to expose myself to censure, in this critical age. Whether I have done right to my subject, must be left to the judgment of my learned reader: however, I cannot but hope, that my attempting of it may be encouragement for some able pen to perform it with more success. THE almanack-makers of the seventeenth century called themselve Philomaths. In reality they were quacks trading on the credulity of a public willing to pay for the information supplied. A particular "philomath," named John Partridge, who was a cobbler by trade, had made himself widely known by his works on astrology and as editor of the "Merlinus Liberatus." Indeed, his fame was European. Swift, ever ready to expose any form of humbug, took an opportunity early in the February of 1708 to tackle this of the philomath. Writing over the name of Mr. Isaac Bickerstaff, a name his eye had casually caught over the sign of a locksmith's shop, Swift, in admirable disguise, issued his "Predic tions for the Year 1708." He assumes himself to be the only serious student of science. Among many of the events prophesied was "a trifle," which he only mentioned "to show how ignorant those sottish pretenders to astrology are in their own concerns.' The "trifle" was the death of Partridge himself. "I have consulted the star of his nativity," solemnly remarks the astrologer Isaac, "by my own rules, and find that he will infallibly die upon the 29th of March next, about eleven at night, of a raging fever." On the 30th of March promptly appeared "a letter to a person of honour," detailing "the accomplishment of the first of Mr. Bickerstaff's predictions." John Partridge had died, but Mr. Bickerstaff had made an error by four hours. The writer of the letter was, of course, Swift himself; and the town rose to the fun. Most people, who were not "in the know," took Bickerstaff quite seriously, and the Portuguese Inquisition even went so far as to order the burning of his pamphlet, no doubt because of the serious matters foretold of continental affairs and personages. The Stationers' Hall assumed Partridge to be really dead, and struck his name from its rolls. Following on this came a pamphlet entitled, "Squire Bickerstaff Detected; or, the Astrological Impostor Convicted. By John Partridge." This was the joint production of three wits, the Reverend Thomas Valden, Nicholas Rowe, and William Congreve. In the person of Partridge they carried on the fun excellently well, repudiating Bickerstaff, and complaining bitterly of the many inconveniences his pamphlet had caused him. He cannot leave his house without being dunned for his own funeral expenses. Partridge himself was at last "drawn," and his almanack for 1709 contains an indignant protest against the sham astrologer Bickerstaff, and a solemn assertion that he, John Partridge, was, blessed be God, alive and in good health. The "Almanack for 1709" gave Swift the opportunity for a "Vindication." Animadverting on the indecency of the language of the "almanack for the present year," Bickerstaff appeals to the learned world to justify him. With regard to Partridge's assertion about his being still alive, he argues five excellent points in proof that he cannot be. Swift, in 1709, wound up the fun with "A Famous Prediction of Merlin," issued as a broadsheet with a pretended prophecy in black letter. Scott, in his edition, reprints "An Answer to Bickerstaff. By a Person of Quality," but I cannot trace the authorship of it. Neither Forster nor Craik makes any reference to it. Whoever the writer was, he was keenly alive to the fun of the thing. It is certainly not by Swift. [T. S.] FOR THE YEAR 1708. Wherein the Month and Day of the Month are fet down, the Perfons named, and the great Actions and Events of next Year particularly related, as they will come to pass. Written to prevent the People of England from being further impos'd on by vulgar Almanack makers. By ISAAC BICKERSTAFF Esq; Sold by John Morphew near Stationers-Hall, IT Tis said, that the Author, when he had writ the following Paper, and being at a loss what name to prefix to it, passing through Long-Acre, observed a sign over a house where a locksmith dwelt, and found the name Bickerstaff written under it; which being a name somewhat uncommon, he chose to call himself Isaac Bickerstaff. This name was sometime afterward made use of by Sir Richard Steele, and Mr. Addison, in the TATLERS; in which Papers, as well as many of the SPECTATORS, it is well known, that the Author had a considerable part. [Note by Faulkner in the Dublin edition of 1735.-T. S.] |