himself, by his own Account of the matter, from profecuting his Suit any other way. IN Answer however to Mr. Softly's Requeft, I shall acquaint him with a Method made ufe of by a young* Fellow in King Charles the Second's Reign, whom I fhall here call Silvio, who had long made Love, with much Artifice and Intrigue, to a rich Widow, whose true Name I fhall conceal under that of Zelinda. Silvio, who was much more fmitten with her Fortune than her Perfon, finding a Twelve month's Application unfuccefsful, was refolved to make a faving Bargain of it, and fince he could not get the Widow's Eftate into his Poffeffion, to recover at leaft what he had laid out of his own in the Purfuit of it. IN order to this he prefented her with a Bill of Cofts; having particularized in it the feveral Expences' he had been at in his long perplexed Amour. Zelinda was fo pleafed with the Humour of the Fellow, and his frank way of dealing, that, upon the Perufal of the Bill, fhe fent him a Purse of fifteen hundred Guineas, by the right Application of which, the Lover, in lefs than a Year, got a Woman of a greater Fortune than her he had mifs'd. The feveral Articles in the Bill of Cofts I pretty well remember, tho' I have forgotten the particular Sum charged to each Article. Laid out in fupernumerary Full-bottom Wigs. Fiddles for a Serenade, with a Speaking-trumpet. Gilt Paper in Letters, and Billet-doux, with perfum'ď Wax. A Ream of Sonnets and Love-Verfes, purchased at different times of Mr. Triplett, at a Crown a Sheet. To Zelinda two Sticks of May Cherries. Laft Summer, at several times, a Bufhel of Peaches. Three Porters whom I planted about her to watch her Motions. The firft who flood Centry near her Door. The Second who had his Stand at the Stables where her Coach was put up. The third who kept Watch at the Corner of the Street where Ned Courtall lives, who has fince married her. Two Two additional Porters planted over her during the whole Month of May. Five Conjurers kept in Pay all laft Winter. Spy money to John Trott her Footman, and Mrs. Sarab Wheedle her Companion. A new Conningsmark Blade to fight Ned Courtall. To Zelinda's Woman (Mrs. Abigail) an Indian Fan, a dozen Pair of white Kid Gloves, a Piece of Flanders Lace, and fifteen Guineas in dry Money. Secret Service-money to Betty at the Ring. N° 98. Friday, July 3. In fefe redit Virg HE firft who undertook to inftruct the World in Papers was lacc of famous Me mory: A Man nearly related to the Family of the IRONSIDES. We have often fmoked a Pipe toge ther, for I was fo much in his Books, that at his Deceafe he left me a Silver Standish, a pair of Spectacles, and the Lamp by which he used to write his Lucubrations. THE venerable Ifaac was fucceeded by a Gentleman of the fame Family, very memorable for the Shornefs of his Face and of his Speeches. This Ingenious Author published his Thoughts, and held his Tongue, with great Applaufe, for two Years together. INESTOR IRONSIDE have now for fome time undertaken to fill the Place of thefe my two renowned Kinsmen and Predeceffors. For it is obferved of every Branch of our Family, that we have all of us a wonderful Inclination to give good Advice, though it is remarked of fome of us, that we are apt on this occafion rather to give than take. HOWEVER it be, I cannot but obferve with fome fecret Pride, that this way of writing diurnal Pa pers pers has not fucceeded for any space of time in the hands of any Perfons who are not of our Line. I believe I fpeak within compass, when I affirm that above a hundred different Authors have endeavoured after our Family-way of Writing, fome of which have been Writers in other kinds of the greatest Eminence in the Kingdom; but I do not know how it has happened, they have none of them hit upon the Art. Their Projects have always dropt after a few unsuccessful Effays. It puts me in mind of a Story which was lately told me by a plea fant Friend of mine, who has a very fine hand on the Violin. His Maid-Servant seeing his Inftrument lying upon the Table, and being fenfible there was Musick in it, if fhe knew how to fetch it out, drew the Bow over every part of the Strings, and at laft told her Mafter she had tried the Fiddle all over, but could not for her Heart find whereabout the Tune lay. BUT though the whole Burden of fuch a Paper is only fit to reft on the Shoulders of a Bickerftaff or an Ironfide; there are several who can acquit themselves of a fingle Day's Labour in it with fuitable Abilities. These are Gentlemen whom I have often invited to this Trial of Wit, and who have feveral of them acquitted themselves to my private Emolument; as well as to their own Reputation. My Paper among the Republick of Letters is the Ulyffes his Bow, in which every Man of Wit or Learning may try his Strength. One who does not care to write a Book without being fure of his Abilities, may fee by this means if his Parts and Talents are to the publick Tafte. THIS I take to be of great Advantage to Men of the best Senfe, who are always diffident of their private Judgment, till it receives a Sanction from the Publick. Provoco ad Populum, I appeal to the People, was the ufual Saying of a very excellent Dramatick Poet, when he had any Difputes with particular Perfons about the Jukness and Regularity of his Productions. It is but a melancholy Comfort for an Author to be satisfied that he has written up to the Rules of Art, when he finds he has no Admirers in the World befides himself. Common Modefty fhould, on this Occafion, make a Man fufpect his ⚫wa Judgment, and that he misapplies the Rules of his Art, Art, when he finds himself fingular in the Applause which he bestows upon his own Writings. THE Publick is always even with an Author who has not a juft Deference for them. The Contempt is reciprocal. I laugh at every one, faid an old Cynick, who laughs at me. Do you fo? replied the Philofopher; then let me tell you, you live the merriest Life of any Man in Athens. IT is not therefore the leaft Use of this my Paper, that it gives a timorous Writer, and fuch is every good one, an Opportunity of putting his Abilities to the Proof, and of founding the Publick before he lanches into it. For this Reason I look upon my Paper as a kind of Nursery for Authors, and queftion not but fome, who have made a good Figure here, will hereafter flourish under their own Names in more long and elaborate Works. AFTER having thus far enlarged upon this Particular, I have one Favour to beg of the Candid and Courteous Reader, that when he meets with any thing in this Paper which may appear a little dull or heavy, (tho' I hope this will not be often) he will believe it is the Work of fome other Person, and not of N ES TOR IRONSIDE. I have, I know not how, been drawn in to tattle of my felf, more Majorum, almoft the length of a whole Guardian; I fhall therefore fill up the remaining Part of it with what ftill relates to my own Perfon, and my Correfpondents. Now I would have them all know, that on the twentieth Inftant it is my Intention to erect a Lion's Head in Imitation of those I have described in Venice, through which all the private Intelligence of that Common wealth is faid to pafs. This Head is to open a most wide and voracious Mouth, which shall take in such Letters and Papers as are convey'd to me by my Correfpondents, it being my Refolution to have a particular Regard to all fuch Matters as come to my hands through the Mouth of the Lion. There will be under it a Box, of which the Key will be kept in my own Cuftody, to receive fuch Papers as are dropped into it. Whatever the Lion fwallows I fhall digeft for the Ufe of the Publick. This Head requires fome Time to finish, the Workman being refolved to give it several Masterly Touches, and to reprefent it as Ravenous as poffible. It will be fet up in Button's Button's Coffee-house in Covent-Garden, who is directed to fhew the way to the Lion's Head, and to instruct any young Author how to convey his Works into the Mouth of it with Safety and Secrecy. N° 99. Saturday, July 4. Juftum && tenacem propofiti virum, Mente quatit folida; neque Aufter T Nec fulminantis magna Jovis manus : Hor. HERE is no Virtue fo truly great and godlike as Justice. Moft of the other Virtues are the Virtues of Created Beings, or accommodated to our Nature as we are Men. Juftice is that which is practifed by God himself, and to be practifed in its Perfection by none but him. Omnifcience and Omnipotence are requifite for the full Exertion of it. The one to discover every degree of Uprightnefs or Iniquity in Thoughts, Words and Actions. The other, to measure out and impart fuitable Rewards and Punishments. AS to be perfectly Juft is an Attribute in the Divine Nature,to be fo to the utmoft of our Abilities is the Glory of a Man. Such an one who has the Publick Adminiftration in his Hands, acts like the Representative of his Maker, in recompenfing the Virtuous, and punishing the Offender. By the extirpating of a Criminal he averts the Judgments of Heaven, when ready to fall upon an impious People; or, as my Friend Cato expreffes it much better in a Sentiment conformable to his Character, When by just Vengeance impious Mortals perifb, WHEN |