the report of the unfortunate passage lately formed by sir John Heidon, it pleased the lord happened between the lord Bruce and myself, Bruce to choose my own, and then, past expectwhich, as they are spread here, so I may justly ation, he told him that he found himself so far fear they reign also where you are. There are behind-hand, as a little of my blood would not but two ways to resolve doubts of this nature; serve his turn; and therefore he was now reby oath or by sword. The first is due to magis. solved to have me alone, because he knew (for trates, and communicable to friends; the other I will use his own words) "that so worthy a to such as maliciously slander and impudently gentleman, and my friend, could not endure to defend their assertion. Your love, not my me- stand by and see him do that which he must, rit, assure me you hold me your friend, which to satisfy himself and his honour." Hereupon esteem I am much desirous to retain. Do me sir John Heidon replied, that such intentions therefore the right to understand the truth of were bloody and butcherly, far unfitting so nothat; and in my behalf inform others, who ble a personage, who should desire to bleed either are, or may be infected with sinister ru- for reputation, not for life; withal adding, he mours, much prejudicial to that fair opinion I thought himself injured, being come thus far, - desire to hold amongst all worthy persons. And now to be prohibited from executing those hoon the faith of a gentleman, the relation I shall nourable offices he came for. The lord for give is neither more nor less than the bare answer, only reiterated his former resolutions; truth. The inclosed contains the first citation, whereupon, sir John leaving him the sword he sent me from Paris by a Scotch gentleman, who had elected, delivered me the other, with his delivered it to me in Derbyshire at my father-determinations. The which, not for matter, in-law's house. After it, follows my then an- but manner, so moved me, as though to my reswer, returned him by the same bearer. The membrance, I had not of a long while eaten next is my accomplishment of my first promise, more liberally than at dinner, and therefore being a particular assignation of place and unfit for such an action (seeing the surgeons weapons, which I sent by a servant of mine, by hold a wound upon a full stomach much more post, from Rotterdam, as soon as I landed there. dangerous than otherwise) I requested my seThe receipt of which, joined with an acknow- cond to certify him, I would presently decide ledgment of my too fair carriage to the de- the difference, and therefore he should presently ceased lord, is testified by the last, which periods meet me on horseback, only waited on by our the business until we met at Tergosa in Zea- surgeons, they being unarmed. Together we land, it being the place allotted for rendezvous; rode, but one before the other, some twelve where he, accompanied with one Mr. Crawford, score, about two English miles: and then pasan English gentleman, for his second, a sur- sion having so weak an enemy to assail, as my geon, and a man, arrived with all the speed he direction, easily became victor, and using his could. And there having rendered himself, I power, made me obedient to his commands. I addressed my second, sir John Heidon, to let being verily mad with anger the lord Bruce him understand, that now all following should should thirst after my life with a kind of asbe done by consent, as concerning the terms suredness, seeing I had come so far and needwhereon we should fight, as also the place. To lessly, to give him leave to regain his lost reour seconds we gave power for their appoint-putation; I bade him alight, which, with all ments, who agreed we should go to Antwerp, willingness he quickly granted, and there in a from thence to Bergen-op-Zoom, where in the meadow, ankle deep in water at the least, bidmidway but a village divides the States' terri-ding farewell to our doublets, in our shirts began tories from the archduke's. And there was the to charge each other; having afore commanded destined stage, to the end that having ended, he our surgeons to withdraw themselves a pretty that could, might presently exempt himself distance from us, conjuring them besides, as from the justice of the country, by retiring into they respected our favours, or their own safethe dominion not offended. It was farther con- ties, not to stir, but suffer us to execute our cluded, that in case any should fall or slip, that pleasures: we being fully resolved (God forgive then the combat should cease, and he whose ill us!) to despatch each other by what means we fortune had so subjected him, was to acknow. could; I made a thrust at my enemy, but was ledge his life to have been in the other's hands. short, and in drawing back my arm I received But in case one party's sword should break, a great wound thereon, which I interpreted as because that could only chance by hazard, it a reward for my short shooting; but in revenge was agreed that the other should take no ad- I pressed in to him, though I then missed him vantage, but either then be made friends, or else also, and then received a wound in my right upon even terms go to it again. Thus these pap, which passed level through my body, and conclusions being each of them related to his almost to my back. And there we wrestled for party, was by us both approved, and assented the two greatest and dearest prizes we could to. Accordingly we embarked for Antwerp. ever expect trial for, honour and life. In which And by reason, my lord, as I conceive, because struggling my hand having but an ordinary he could not handsomely, without danger or glove on it, lost one of her servants, though the discovery, had not paired the sword I sent him meanest, which hung by a skin, and to sight to Paris; bringing one of the same length, but yet remaineth as before, and I am put in hope twice as broad; my second excepted against it, one day to recover the use of it again. But at and advised me to match my own, and send him last, breathless, yet keeping our holds, there the choice, which I obeyed; it being, you know, passed on both sides propositions of quitting the challenger's privilege to elect his weapon. each other's sword. But when amity was dead, At the delivery of the sword, which was per- confidence could not live; and who should quit

first was the question; which on neither part | reported of him in their parts, that he is silenced either would perform, and restriving again by authority; another informs me, that he hears afresh, with a kick and a wrench together, I he was sent for by a messenger, who had orders freed my long captivated weapon; which in- to bring him away with all his papers, and that continently levying at his throat, being master upon examination he was found to contain sestill of his, I demanded, if he would ask his life, veral dangerous things in his maw. I must not or yield his sword; both which, though in that omit another report which has been raised by imminent danger, he bravely denied to do. such as are enemies to me and my lion, namely, Myself being wounded, and feeling loss of blood, that he is starved for want of food, and that he having three conduits running on me, began to has not had a good meal's meat for this fort make me faint; and he courageously persisting night. I do hereby declare these reports to be not to accord to either of my propositions; re- altogether groundless; and since I am contra membrance of his former bloody desire, and dicting common fame, I must likewise acquaint feeling of my present estate, I struck at his the world, that the story of a two hundred heart, but with his avoiding missed my aim, yet pound bank-bill being conveyed to me through passed through the body, and drawing through the mouth of my lion has no foundation of truth my sword re-passed it through again, through in it. The matter of fact is this, my lion has another place; when he cried, "Oh, I am not roared for these twelve days past, by reason slain!" seconding his speech with all the force that his prompters have put very ill words in he had to cast me. But being too weak, after his mouth, and such as he could not utter with I had defended his assault, I easily became common honour and decency. Notwithstanding master of him, laying him on his back; when the admonitions I have given my correspondbeing upon him, I redemanded if he would re-ents, many of them have crammed great quanquest his life, but it seemed he prized it not at tities of scandal down his throat, others have so dear a rate to be beholding for it, bravely re-choked him with lewdness and ribaldry. Some plying, "he scorned it." Which answer of his was so noble and worthy, as I protest I could not find in my heart to offer him any more violence, only keeping him down until at length his surgeon afar off, cried out, "he would immediately die if his wounds were not stopped." Whereupon I asked if he desired his surgeon should come, which he accepted of; and so being drawn away, I never offered to take his sword, accounting it inhuman to rob a dead man, for so I held him to be. This thus ended, I retired to my surgeon, in whose arms after I had remained a while for want of blood, I lost my sight, and withal as I then thought, my life also. But strong water and his diligence quickly recovered me, when I escaped a great danger. For my lord's surgeon, when nobody dreamt of it, came full at me with his lord's sword; and had not mine with my sword interposed himself, I had been slain by those base hands; although my lord Bruce, weltering in his blood, and past all expectation of life, conformable to all his former carriage, which was undoubtedly noble, cried out, "Rascal! hold thy hand." So may I prosper as I have dealt sincerely with you in this relation; which I pray you, with the inclosed letter, deliver to my lord chamberlain. And so, &c. Yours,

of them have gorged him with so much nonsense that they have made a very ass of him. On Monday last, upon examining, I found him an arrant French tory, and the day after a virulent whig. Some have been so mischievous as to make him fall upon his keeper, and give me very reproachful language; but as I have promised to restrain him from hurting any man's reputation, so my reader may be assured that I myself shall be the last man whom I will suffer him to abuse. However, that I may give gene. ral satisfaction, I have a design of converting a room in Mr. Button's house to the lion's library, in which I intend to deposit the several packets of letters and private intelligence which I do not communicate to the public. These manuscripts will in time be very valuable, and may afford good lights to future historians who shall give an account of the present age. In the mean while, as the lion is an animal which has a particular regard for chastity, it has been ob served that mine has taken delight in roaring very vehemently against the untuckered neck, and, as far as I can find by him, is still deter mined to roar louder and louder, until that irregularity be thoroughly reformed.

'GOOD MR. IRONSIDE,-I must acquaint you, for your comfort, that your lion is grown a kind of bull-beggar among the women where I live. When my wife comes home late from cards, or commits any other enormity, I whisper in her ear, partly between jest and earnest, that "I will tell the lion of her." Dear sir, do not let them alone until you have made them put on their tuckers again. What can be a greater sign, that they themselves are sensible they have stripped too far, than their pretending to call a bit of linen which will hardly cover a silver groat, their modesty-piece? It is observed, that this modesty-piece still sinks lower and lower; and who knows where it will fix at last?

'You must know, sir, I am a Turkey mer. chant, and I lived several years in a country

where the women show nothing but their eyes. Upon my return to England I was almost out of countenance to see my pretty country-women laying open their charms with so much liberality, though at that time many of them were concealed under the modest shade of the tucker. I soon after married a very fine woman, who always goes in the extremity of the fashion. I was pleased to think, as every married man must be, that I should make daily discoveries in the dear creature, which were unknown to the rest of the world. But since this new airy fashion is come up, every one's eye is as familiar with her as mine; for I can positively affirm, that her neck is grown eight inches within these three years. And what makes me tremble when I think of it, that pretty foot and ankle are now exposed to the sight of the whole world, which made my very heart dance within me, when I first found myself their proprietor. As in all appearance the curtain is still rising, I find a parcel of rascally young fellows in the neighbourhood are in hopes to be presented with some new scene every day.

'In short, sir, the tables are now quite turned upon me. Instead of being acquainted with her person more than other men, I have now the least share of it. When she is at home she is continually muffled up, and concealed in mobs, morning gowns, and handkerchiefs; but strips every afternoon to appear in public. For aught I can find, when she has thrown aside half her clothes, she begins to think herself half drest. Now, sir, if I may presume to say 80, you have been in the wrong to think of reforming this fashion, by showing the immodesty of it. If you expect to make female proselytes, you must convince them, that if they would get husbands, they must not show all before marriage. I am sure, had my wife been dressed before I married her as she is at present, she would have satisfied a good half of my curiosity. Many a man has been hindered from laying out his money on a show, by seeing the principal figure of it hung out before the door. I have often observed a curious passenger so attentive to these objects which he could see for nothing, that he took no notice of the master of the show, who was continually crying out, "Pray, gentlemen, walk in."

'I have told you at the beginning of this letter, how Mahomet's she-disciples are obliged to cover themselves; you have lately informed us from the foreign newspapers of the regulations which the pope is now making among the Roman ladies in this particular; and I hope, our British dames, notwithstanding they have the finest skins in the world, will be content to show no more of them than what belongs to the face and to the neck, properly speaking. Their being fair is no excuse for their being naked.

'You know, sir, that in the beginning of last century, there was a sect of men among us, who called themselves Adamites, and appeared in public without clothes. This heresy may spring up in the other sex, if you do not put a timely stop to it, there being so many in all public places, who show so great an inclination to be Eveites. I am, sir, &c.'

A GOOD Conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves a constant ease and serenity within us, and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can pos sibly befall us. I know nothing so hard for a generous mind to get over as calumny and reproach, and cannot find any method of quieting the soul under them, besides this single one, of our being conscious to ourselves that we do not deserve them.

I have been always mightily pleased with that passage in Don Quixote, where the fantastical knight is represented as loading a gentleman of good sense with praises and eulogiums. Upon which the gentleman makes this reflection to himself: How grateful is praise to human nature! I cannot forbear being secretly pleased with the commendations I receive, though I am sensible it is a madman that bestows them on me. In the same manner, though we are often sure that the censures which are passed upon us are uttered by those who know nothing of us, and have neither means nor abilities to form a right judgment of us, we cannot forbear being grieved at what they say.

In order to heal this infirmity, which is so natural to the best and wisest of men, I have taken a particular pleasure in observing the conduct of the old philosophers, how they bore themselves up against the malice and detraction of their enemies.

The way to silence calumny, says Bias, is to be always exercised in such things as are praiseworthy. Socrates, after having received sentence, told his friends, that he had always accustomed himself to regard truth and not censure, and that he was not troubled at his condemnation, because he knew himself free from guilt. It was in the same spirit that he heard the accusations of his two great adversaries, who had uttered against him the most virulent reproaches. Anytus and Melitus, says he, may procure sentence against me, but they I cannot hurt me. This divine philosopher was so well fortified in his own innocence, that he neglected all the impotence of evil tongues which were engaged in his destruction. This was properly the support of a good conscience, that contradicted the reports which had been raised against him, and cleared him to himself.

Others of the philosophers rather choose to retort the injury by a smart reply, than thus to disarm it with respect to themselves. They show that it stung them, though at the same time they had the address to make their aggressors suffer with them. Of this kind was Aristotle's reply to one who pursued him with long and bitter invectives. You,' says he,' who are used to suffer reproaches, utter them with delight; I who have not been used to utter them take no pleasure in hearing them.' Diogenes was still more severe on one who spoke ill of him: "Nobody will believe you when you speak

place, was an instrument of Providence to bring about the most happy revolutions, and to remove from the face of the earth this troubler of mankind. In short, swarms of distempers are every where hovering over us; casualties, whether at home or abroad, whether we wake or sleep, sit or walk, are planted about us in ambuscade; every element, every climate, every season, all nature is full of death.

There are more casualties incident to men than women, as battles, sea-voyages, with several dangerous trades and professions that often prove fatal to the practitioners. I have seen a treatise written by a learned physician, on the distempers peculiar to those who work in stone or marble. It has been therefore observed by curious men, that upon a strict examination there are more males brought into the world than females. Providence, to supply this waste in the species, has made allowances for it by a suitable redundancy in the male sex. Those who have made the nicest calculations have found, I think, that taking one year with another, there are about twenty boys produced to nineteen girls. This observation is so well grounded, that I will at any time lay five to four, that there appear more male than female infants in every weekly bill of mortality. And what can be a more demonstrative argument of the superintendency of Providence?

There are casualties incident to every particular station and way of life. A friend of mine was once saying, that he fancied there would be something new and diverting in a country bill of mortality. Upon communicating this hint to a gentleman who was then going down to his seat, which lies at a considerable distance from London, he told me he would make a collection, as well as he could, of the several deaths that had happened in his country for the space of a whole year, and send them up to me in the form of such a bill as I mentioned. The reader will here see that he has been as good as his promise. To make it the more entertaining, he has set down, among real distempers, some imaginary ones, to which the country people ascribe the deaths of some of their neighbours. I shall extract out of them such only as seem almost peculiar to the country, laying aside fevers, apoplexies, small-pox, and the like, which they have in common with towns and cities. Of a six-bar gate, fox-hunters Of a quick-set hedge

Two duels, viz.

HORACE, Juvenal, Boileau, and indeed the greatest writers in almost every age, have exposed with all the strength of wit and good sense, the vanity of a man's valuing himself upon his ancestors, and endeavoured to show that true nobility consists in virtue, not in birth. With submission, however, to so many great authorities, I think they have pushed this matter a little too far. We ought, in gratitude, to honour the posterity of those who have raised either the interest or reputation of their country; and by whose labours we ourselves are more happy, wise, or virtuous, than we should have been without them. Besides, naturally speaking, a man bids fairer for greatness of soul, who is the descendant of worthy ances. tors, and has good blood in his veins, than one 2 who is come of an ignoble and obscure parentage. For these reasons, I think a man of merit, who is derived from an illustrious line, is very justly to be regarded more than a man of equal merit, who has no claim to hereditary honours. Nay, I think those who are indifferent in them13 selves, and have nothing else to distinguish them 9 but the virtues of their forefathers, are to be 7 looked upon with a degree of veneration, even 1 upon that account, and to be more respected than the common run of men who are of low and vulgar extraction.

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2 After having thus ascribed due honours to birth and parentage, I must however take notice of those who arrogate to themselves more

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1 honours than are due to them on this account.

2 The first are such who are not enough sensible 1 that vice and ignorance taint the blood, and that

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