wretches of short views and narrow capacities, who are not able to penetrate into the causes or consequences of things. N° 63. SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1713. Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἀλλὰ σὲ ῥῦσαι ὑπ ̓ ἠέρα υἷας Αχαιών HOм. Il. xvii. 645. O King! O Father! hear my humble prayer : POPE. I AM obliged, for many reasons, to insert this. first letter, though it takes me out of my way, especially on a Saturday; but the ribaldry of some part of that will be abundantly made up by the quotation in the second. SIR, TO NESTOR IRONSIDE, ESQ. Friday, May 22, 1713. THE Examiner of this day consists of reflections upon the letter I writ to you, published in yours of the twelfth instant. The sentence upon which he spends most of his invectives, is this, "I will give myself no manner of liberty to make guesses at him, if I may say him;' for though sometimes I have been told by familiar friends, that they saw me such a time talking to the Examiner others, who have rallied me upon the sins of my youth, tell me it is credibly reported that I have formerly lain with the Examiner." 6 Now, Mr. Ironside, what was there in all this but saying, "I cannot tell what to do in this case. There has been named for this paper one, for whom I have a value,* and another whom I cannot but neglect?" I have named no man, but if there be any gentleman, who wrongfully lies under the imputation of being or assisting the Examiner, he would do well to do himself justice, under his own hand, in the eye of the world. As to the exasperated mistress,t the Examiner demands in her behalf, a " reparation for offended innocence." This is pleasant language, when spoken of this person; he wants to have me unsay what he makes me to have said before. I declare then it was a false report, which was spread concerning me and a lady, sometimes reputed the author of the Examiner; and I can now make her no reparation, but in begging her pardon, that I never lay with her. 'I speak all this only in regard to the Examiner's offended innocence, and will make no reply as to what relates merely to myself. "I have said before he is welcome from henceforward, to treat me as he pleases." But the bit of Greek, which I intreat you to put at the front of to-morrow's paper, speaks all my sense on this occasion. It is a speech put in the mouth of Ajax, who is engaged in the dark: He cries out to Jupiter, "Give me but daylight, let me but see my foe, and let him destroy me if he can." 'But when he repeats his story of the "general for life," I cannot hear him with so much patience. He may insinuate what he pleases to the ministry of me; but I am sure I could not, if I would, by detraction, do them more injury, than he does * Dr. Swift. Mrs. D. Manley! theless am a poor and miserable man. Therefore I conclude, that whatever this thing be I call a soul, though it were a perishing, dying thing, and would not out-live the body, yet it were my wisdom and interest to prefer its content and satisfaction before all the world, unless I could, chuse to be miserable, and delight to be unhappy. 'This very consideration, supposing the uncertainty of another world, would yet strongly engage me to the service of religion; for all it aims at, is to banish sin out of the world, which is the source and original of all the troubles that disquiet the the mind; 1. Sin, in its very essence, is nothing else but disordered, distempered passions, affections foolish and preposterous in their choice, or wild and extravagant in their proportion, which our own experience sufficiently convinces us to be painful and uneasy. 2. It engages us in desperate hazards, wearies us with daily toils, and often buries us in the ruins we bring upon ourselves; and lastly, it fills our hearts with distrust, and fear, and shame; for we shall never be able to persuade ourselves fully, that there is no difference between good and evil; that there is no God, or none that concerns himself at the actions of this life and if we cannot, we can never rid ourselves of the pangs and stings of a troubled conscience; we shall never be able to establish a peace and calm in our bosoms; and so enjoy our pleasure with a clear and uninterrupted freedom. But if we could persuade ourselves into the utmost height of atheism, yet still we shall be under these two strange inconveniences: 1. That a life of sin will be still irregular and disorderly, and therefore troublesome 2. That we shall have dismantled our souls of their greatstrength, and disarmed them of that faith which can only support them under the afflictions of this present life.' N° 64. MONDAY, MAY 25, 1713. -Levium spectacula rerum. VIRG. Georg. iv. ver. 3. Trifles set out to shew. I AM told by several persons whom I have taken into my ward,* that it is to their great damage I have digressed so much of late from the natural course of my precautions. They have addressed and petitioned me with appellations and titles, which admonish me to be that sort of patron which they want me to be, as follows. 'TO NESTOR IRONSIDE, ESQ. 'Patron of the industrious. The humble petition of John Longbottom, Charles Lilly, Bat. Pigeon, and J. Norwood, capital artificers, most humbly sheweth, 'THAT your petitioners behold with great sorrow, your honour employing your important moments in remedying matters which nothing but time can cure, and which do not so immediately, or at least so professedly, appertain to your office, as do the concerns of us your petitioners, and other handicraft persons, who excel in their different and respective dexterities. 'That as all mechanics are employed in accom * Wardship. mon enjoyment of life is what I cannot think we ought to deprive them of. This whole matter with regard to each of these considerations, is set in a very agreeable light in one of the Persian fables of Pilpay, with which I shall end this paper. A traveller passing through a thicket, and seeing a few sparks of a fire, which some passengers had kindled as they went that way before, made up to it. On a sudden the sparks caught hold of a bush in the midst of which lay an adder, and set it in flames. The adder intreated the traveller's assistance, who tying a bag to the end of his staff, reached it, and drew him out: he then bid him go where he pleased, but never more be hurtful to men, since he owed his life to a man's compassion. The adder, however, prepared to sting him, and when he expostulated how unjust it was to retaliate good with evil, I shall do no more,' said the adder, than what you men practise every day, whose custom it is to requite benefits with ingratitude. If you cannot deny this truth, let us refer it to the first we meet.' man consented, and seeing a tree, put the question to it, in what manner a good turn was to be recompenced? If you mean according to the usage of men,' replied the tree, by its contrary : I have been standing here these hundred years to protect them from the scorching sun, and in requital they have cut down my branches, and are going to saw my body into planks.' Upon this, the adder insulting the man, he appealed to a second evidence, which was granted, and immediately they met a cow. The same demand was made, and much the same answer given, that among men it was certainly so. I know it,' said the cow, by woful experience; for I have The |