whether we can have any Remedy? The ableft Lawyer here fays there is no help, for if you call it the World, it will be answered how could the World be in one Shire, to wit, that of Buckingham, for the County must be named, and if you do not name it we fhall certainly be Nonfuited. I do not know whether I make my felf understood; but you understand me right when you believe I am

Honoured SFR,

Your moft bumble Servant,

and faithful Correspondent,

The Prompter.

I

OUR Character of Guardian makes it not only Yo neceffary, but becoming, to have feveral em'ployed under you. And being my felf ambitious of your Service, I am now your humble Petitioner to be admitted into a Place I don't find yet difpofed of. *mean that of your Lion-Catcher. It was, Sir, for want "of fuch Commiffion from your Honour, very many •Lions have lately escaped. However I made bold to diftinguish a Couple. One I found in a Coffee-Houfe'He was of the larger fort, looked fierce, and roared ⚫loud. I confidered wherein he was dangerous; and ac⚫cordingly expreffed my Displeasure against him in fuch 'a Manner upon his Chaps, that now he is not able to fhew his Teeth. The other was a fmall Lion, who was flipping by me as I flood at the Corner of an Alley

I fmelt the Creature prefently, and catched at him, but he got off with the Lofs of a Lock of Hair only, which proved of a dark Colour. This and the Teeth ⚫ abovementioned I have by me, and defign them both for a Present to Button's Coffee-house.

BESIDES this way of dealing with them, I have 'invented many curious Traps, Snares, and artificial Baits, which, it's humbly conceived, cannot fail of clearing the Kingdom of the whole Species in a fhort

• Time.

THIS is humbly submitted to your Honour's Con'fideration; and I am ready to appear before your

Honour,

'Honour, to answer to fuch Questions as you, in your great Wisdom, fhall think meet to ask, whenever you please to command,

Your Honour's most Obedient,

Midfummer Day.

Humble Servant,

Hercules Crabtree.

N. B. I have an excellent Nofe.

Tom's Coffee-house in Cornhill, June, 19, 1713.

SIR,

EADING in your Yefterday's Paper a Letter Coffee-houfe for Polite Conversation and Freedom ⚫ from the Argument by the Button, I make bold to fend you this to affure you, that at this Place there is as yet kept up as good a Decorum in the Debates of Politicks, Trade, Stocks, &c. as at Will's, or at any other Coffee⚫ house at your End of the Town. In order therefore to ⚫ preferve this House from the Arbitrary way of forcing an Affent, by feizing on the Collar, Neckcloth, or any other part of the Body or Drefs, it would be of fignal Service if you would be pleased to intimate, that we, who frequent this Place after Exchange time, fhall ⚫ have the Honour of feeing you here fometimes, for that • would be a fufficient Guard for us from all fuch petty Practices, and alfo be a Means of enabling the Honest 'Man, who keeps the House. to continue to ferve us with ⚫ the best Bohea, and Green Tea, and Coffee, and will in a particular manner oblige,

SIR,

Your most humble Servant,
James Diaper.

P. S. THE Room above Stairs is the handsomest in this Part of the Town, furnished with large Peerglaffes for Perfons to view themfelves in, who have no • Business with any Body elfe, and every Way fit for the • Reception of fine Gentlemer. Cs

SIR,

SIR,

:I

Am a very great Scholar, wear a fair Wig, and have an immenfe Number of Books curiously bound ⚫ and gilt. I excel in a Singularity of Diction and Manners, and vifit Perfons of the first Quality. In fine, I have by me a great quantity of Cockle-fhells; which, however, does not defend me from the Infults of another Learned Man, who neglects me in a moft infupportable manner; for I have it from Perfons of undoubt⚫ed Veracity, that he presumed once to pass by my Door without waiting upon me; whether this be confiftent with the Respect which we Learned Men ought to have ⚫ for each other, I leave to your Judgment, and am,

SIR, Your Affectionate Friend,

Friend NESTOR,

I

Philautus.

Oxford, June 18. 1713. Had always a great Value for thee, and have fo ftill. But I must tell thee, that thou strangely affecteft to be Sage and Solid: Now, pr'ythee, let me ob ferve to thee, that though it be common enough for People as they grow older to grow graver, yet it is " not fo common to become wifer. Verily to me thou feemeft to keep ftrange Company, and with a pofitive Sufficiency, incident to old Age, to follow too much thine own Inventions. Thou dependeft too much likewife upon thy Correspondence here, and art apt to take People's Words without Confideration. But my prefent Bufinefs with thee is to expoftulate with thee about a late Paper occafion'd, as thou fay'ft, by Jack Lizard's Information, (my very good Friend) ⚫ that we are to have a Publick A&.

NOW, I fay, in that Paper there is nothing con⚫tended for which any Man of Common-Senfe will deny: All that is there faid, is, that no Man or Wo'man's Reputation ought to be blafted, . e. no Body ought to have an ill Character who does not deserve it: Very true; but here's this falfe Confequence infinuated, ⚫ that therefore no Body ought to hear of their Faults; or in other Words, let any Body do as much Ill as he pleafes, he ought not to be told on't. Art thou a Pa

triot, Mr. Ironfide, and wilt thou affirm, that Arbitrary Proceedings and Oppreflion ought to be concealed or juftified? Art thou a Gentleman and wouldst thou have bafe, fordid, ignoble Tricks connived at or tolerated ? Art thou a Scholar, and wouldst thou have Learning and Good manners difcouraged? Wouldst thou have ⚫ cringing Servility, parafitical Shuffling, Fawning, and difhonest Compliances made the Road to Success? Art thou a Chriftian, and wouldst thou have all Villanies within the Law practifed with Impunity? Should they not be told on't? 'Tis certain, there are many things which, though there are no Laws against them, yet ought not to be done, and in fuch Cales there is no Argument fo likely to hinder their being done, as the Fear of Publick Shame for doing them. The two great Reasons against an Act are always the faving of Money, and hiding of Roguery.

Here many things are omitted which will be in the Speech of the Terræfilius.

And now, dear old IRON, I am glad to hear that at these Years thou haft Gallantry enough left to ⚫ have Thoughts of fetting up for a Knight-Errant, a Ta · mer of Moniters, and a Defender of Diltreft Damfels.

ADIEU, old Fellow, and let me give thee this Advice at parting: E'en get thy felf Cafe-harden'd; for tho' the very beft Steel may fnap, yet old Iron you know will rust.

Be juft, and Publifh this.

Mr. IRONS IDE.

Umbra

Oxford, Sat. 27, 1713. T HIS Day arrived the Vanguard of the Theatrical Army, Your Friend, Mr. George Powvel, com. manded the Artillery both Celeftial and Terrestrial. The Magazines of Snow, Lightning and Thunder, are fafely laid up. We have had no Difafter on the way, but that of breaking Cupid's Bow by a Jolt of the Waggon; but they tell us they make them very well in Oxford. We all went in a Body, and were fhown your Chambers in Lincoln College. The Terrafilius expects you down, and we of the Theatre defign to bring you into Town with all our Guards. Thofe of Alexander

• Alexander the Great, Julius Cæfar, and the faithful • Retinue of Cato, fhall meet you at Shotover. The 'Ghost of Hamlet, and the Statue which Supped with • Don John, both say, that tho' it be at Noon-Day they ⚫ will attend your Entry. Every body expects you with great Impatience. We fhall be in very good Order when 'all are come down: We have fent to Town for a Brick •Wall which we forgot, the Sea is to come by Water. Your most bumble Servant,

and faithful Correspondent, The Prompter.

N° 96.

Wednesday, July 1.

Cun&ti adfint, meritæque expe&tent præmia palma. Virg.

T

HERE is no Maxim in Politicks more indifputable, than that a Nation should have many Honours in referve for those who do National Services. This raises Emulation, cherifhes Publick Merit, and inspires every one with an Ambition which promotes the Good of his Country. The lefs expenfive these Honours are to the Publick, the more ftill do they turn to its Advantage.

THE Romans abounded with thefe little Honorary Rewards, that without conferring Wealth or Riches, gave only Place and Diftinction to the Perfon who received them. An Oaken Garland to be worn on Festivals and Publick Ceremonies, was the glorious Recompenfe of one who had covered a Citizen in Battle. A Soldier would not only venture his Life for a Maral Crown, but think the most hazardous Enterprize fufficiently repaid by fo noble a Donation.

BUT among all Honorary Rewards which are neither dangerous nor detrimental to the Donor, I remember none fo remarkable as the Titles which are bestowed by the Emperor of China. These are never given to ⚫ any Subject, fays Monfieur le Conte, till the Subject is dead.