This piece being on the same subject, and very rare, we have thought fit to add it, though not written by the fame hand. N. B. In the Dublin edition it is faid to be written by the late N. Rowe, Efq; which is a mistake: for the reverend Dr. Yalden, preacher of Bridewell, Mr. Partridge's near neighbour, drew it up for him. 'Squire BICKERSTAFF Detected; OR, THE Aftrological IMPOSTOR Convicted: BY JOHN PARTRIDGE, Student in Phyfick and Aftrology. T is hard, my dear countrymen of these united na Itions, it is very hard, that a Briton born, a protef tant aftrologer, a man of revolution principles, an afsertor of the liberty and property of the people, should cry out in vain for justice against a Frenchman, a papist, and an illiterate pretender to science, that would blast my reputation, most inhumanly bury me alive, and defraud my native country of thofe fervices, which, in my double capacity, I daily offer the publick. What great provocations I have received, let the impartial reader judge, and how unwillingly even in my own defence, I now enter the lifts against falsehood, ignorance ignorance and envy but I am exafperated, at length, to drag out this Cacus* from the den of obscurity where he lurks, detect him by the light of those stars he has fo impudently traduced, and fhew there is not a monster in the skies fo pernicious and malevolent to mankind, as an ignorant pretender to phyfick and aftrology. I fhall not directly fall on the many grofs errors, nor expose the notorious abfurdities of this prostituted libeller, till I have let the learned world fairly into the controversy depending, and then leave the unprejudiced to judge of the merits and justice of my cause. It was towards the conclufion of the year 1707, when an impudent pamphlet crept into the world, intituled, predictions, etc. by Ifaac Bickerstaff, efq; Amongst the many arrogant affertions laid down by that lying spirit of divination, he was pleased to pitch on the cardinal de Noailles and myself, among many other eminent and illuftrious perfons, that were to die within the compass of the enfuing year; and peremptorily fixes the month, day, and hour of our deaths: this, I think, is fporting with great men, and publick spirits, to the fcandal of religion, and reproach of power; and if fovereign princes and aftrologers must make diverfion for the vulgar-why then farewel, fay I, to all governments, ecclefiaftical and civil. But, I thank my better ftars, I am alive to confront this falfe and audacious predictor, and to make him rue the hour he ever affronted a man of science and refentment. The cardinal may take what measures he pleases with him; as his excellency is a foreigner, and a papist, he has no reason to rely upon me for his juftification; I fhall only * A thief feized in a cavern by Hercules. VOL. III. affure affure the world he is alive but as he was bred to letters, and is master of a pen, let him use it in his own defence. In the mean time I shall present the publick with a faithful narrative of the ungenerous treatment and hard ufage I have received from the virtulent papers and malicious practices of this pretended aftrologer. A true and impartial account of the proceedings of Ifaac Bickerftaff, efq; against me. The 28th of March, anno Dom. 1708, being the night this fham-prophet had so impudently fixed for my last, which made little impreffion on myself; but I cannot anfwer for my whole family; for my wife, with a concern more than ufual, prevailed on me to take fomewhat to fweat for a cold; and, between the hours of eight and nine, to go to bed: the maid, as fhe was warming my bed, with a curiofity natural to young wenches, runs to the window, and afks of one paffing the street, who the bell tolled for? Dr. Partridge, fays he, the famous almanack-maker, who died fuddenly this evening the poor girl provoked told him, he lyed like a rafcal; the other very fedately replied, the fexton had fo informed him, and if false, he was to blame for impofing upon a stranger. She asked a fecond, and a third as they paffed, and every one was in the fame tone. Now, I do not say these are accomplices to a certain aftrological 'fquire, and that one Bickerstaff might be fauntring thereabouts; because I will affert nothing here, but what I dare atteft, for plain matter of fact. My wife at this fell into a violent diforder; and I must own I was little discomposed at the oddness of the accident. In the mean time one knocks at my door; Betty runs runs down, and opening, finds a fober grave perfon, who modeftly enquires, if this was Dr. Partridge's? fhe taking him for fome cautious city-patient, that came at that time for privacy, fhews him into the dining-room. As foon as I could compofe myself, I went to him, and was furprized to find my gentleman mounted on a table with a two-foot rule in his hand, measuring my walls, and taking the dimensions of the room. Pray Sir, fays I, not to interrupt you, have you any business with me ? only, Sir, replies he, order the girl to bring me a better light, for this is but a very dim one. Sir, fays I, my name is Partridge: oh! the doctor's brother, belike, cries he; the ftair-cafe, I believe, and these two apartments hung in close mourning, will be fufficient, and only a strip of bays round the other rooms. The doctor must needs die rich, he had great dealings in his way for many years; if he had no family-coat, you had as good ufe the efcutcheons of the company, they are as showish, and will look as magnificent, as if he was defcended from the blood-royal. With that I affumed a great air of authority, and demanded who employed him, or how he came there? Why, I was fent, fir, by the company of undertakers, fays he, and they were employed by the honest gentleman, who is executor to the good doctor departed; and our rafcally porter, I believe, is fallen faft afleep with the black cloth and fconces, or he had been here, and we might have been tacking up by this time. Sir, fays I, pray be advised by a friend, and make the best of your speed out of my doors, for I hear my wife's voice, (which by the by, is distinguishable) and in that corner of the room stands a good cudgel, which fomebody has felt before now; if that light in her hands, and fhe know the business you come about, without confulting the stars, I can affure you it will be employed very much to the detriment of your perfon. Sir, cries he, bowing with great civility, I perceive extreme grief for the lofs of the doctor disorders you a little at present, but early in the morning I will wait on you with all neceffary materials. Now I mention no Mr. Bickerstaff; nor do I fay, that a certain ftar-gazing 'fquire has been playing my executor before his time; but I leave the world to judge, and he that puts things and things fairly together, will not be much wide of the mark. I Well, once more I got my doors closed, and prepared for bed, in hopes of a little repofe after so many ruffling adventures; juft as I was putting out my light in order to it, another bounces as hard as he can knock ; open the window, and afk who is there, and what he wants? I am Ned the fexton, replies he, and come to know whether the doctor left any orders for a funeral fermon, and where he is to be laid, and whether his grave is to be plain or bricked! Why firrah, fays I, you know me well enough; you know I am not dead, and how dare you affront me after this manner? Alacka-day, fir, replies the fellow, why it is in print, and the whole town knows you are dead; why there is Mr. White the joiner is but fitting fcrews to your coffin, he will be here with it in an inftant: he was. afraid would have wanted it before this time. Sirrah, firrah, fays I, you shall know to-morrow to your coft, that I am alive, and alive like to be. Why, it is ftrange, fir, fays he, you fhould make fuch a fecret of your death to us that are your neighbours; it looks as if you had a defign to defraud the church of its dues; and let me tell you, for one that has lived fo long by the heavens, that is un you ha nd |