my own Part, tho' I believe no Man has lefs Faith in these matters, yet I fhall wait with fome Impatience, and not without Expectation, the fulfilling of Mr. Bickerftaff's Second Prediction, that the Cardinal De Noailles is to die upon the 4th of April; and if that should be verified as exactly as this of Poor Partrige, I muft own I fhould be wholly furprized, and at a lofs, and fhould infallibly expect the Accomplishment of all the reft. FINI S. A VINDICATION OF Ifaac Bickerstaff, Esq; AGAINST What is Objected to Him by Mr. Partrige, in his Almanack for the prefent Year, 1709. By the faid ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Efq: Written in the Year, 1709. M R. Partrige hath been lately pleased to treat me after a very rough Manner, in that which is called His Almanack for the prefent Year: Such Ufage is very undecent from one Gentleman to another, and does not at all contribute to the Difco U Discovery of Truth, which ought to be the great End in all Difputes of the Learned: To call a Man Fool and Villain, and impudent Fellow, only for differing from him in a Point merely Speculative, is, in my humble Opinion, a very improper Style for a Perfon of his Education. I appeal to the Learned World, whether in my laft Years Predictions, I gave him the leaft Provocation for fuch unworthy Treatment. Philofophers have differed in all Ages, but the dif creeteft among them have always differed as became Philofophers. Scurrility and Paffion, in a Controverfy among Scholars, is juft fo much of nothing to the Purpose, and at beft, a tacit Confeffion of a weak Caufe: My Concern is not so much for my own Reputation, as that of the Republick of Letters, which Mr. Partrige hath endeavoured to wound thro' my Sides. If Men of publick Spirit must be fupercilioufly treated -for their ingenuous Attempts, how will true ufeful Knowledge be ever advanc'd I wish Mr. Partrige knew the Thoughts which Foreign Univer C fities have conceived of his ungenerous Proceedings with me; but I am too tender of his Reputation to publifh them to the World. That Spirit of Envy and Pride which blafts fo many rifing Genius's in our Nation, is yet unknown among Profeffors abroad; The Neceffity of juftifying my felf, will excufe, my Vanity, when I tell the Reader, that I have near a hundred bonorary Letters from feveral Parts of Europe, (fome as far as Mufcovy) in Praife of my Performance. Befides. feveral others which, as I have been credibly inform'd, were open'd in the PoftOffice, and never fent me. 'Tis true, the Inquifition in Portugal was pleased to burn my Predictions, and condemn the Author and Readers of them; but I hope at the fame time, it will be confider'd in how deplorable a State Learning lies at prefent in that Kingdom And with the profoundeft Veneration for Crown'd Heads, I will prefume to add, that it a little concerned His Majefty of Portugal, to interpofe his Authority in behalf of a Scholar and a Gentleman, the Subject |