The excellent and learned sage you behold in that furniture is the strongest instance imaginable, that love is the most powerful of all things.

'You are not so ignorant as to be a stranger to the character of Esculapius, as the patron and most successful of all who profess the art of medicine. But as most of his operations are owing to a natural sagacity or impulse, he has very little troubled himself with the doctrine of drugs, but has always given nature more room to help herself, than any of her learned assistants; and, consequently, has done greater wonders than is in the power of art to perform: for which reason he is half deified by the people; and has ever been justly courted by all the world, as if he were a seventh son.

It happened, that the charming Hebe was reduced, by a long and violent fever, to the most extreme danger of death; and when all skill failed, they sent for Esculapius. The renowned artist was touched with the deepest compassion to see the faded charms and faint bloom of Hebe; and had a generous concern in beholding a struggle, not between life, but rather between youth and death. All his skill and his passion tended to the recovery of Hebe, beautiful even in sickness; but, alas! the unhappy physician knew not that in all his care he was only sharpening darts for his own destruction. In a word, his fortune was the same with that of the statuary, who fell in love with the image of his own making; and the unfortunate Esculapius is become the patient of her whom he lately recovered. Long before this disaster, Esculapius was far gone in the unnecessary and superfluous amusements of old age, in increasing unweildy stores, and providing in the midst of an incapacity of enjoyment of what he had, for a supply of more wants than he had calls for in youth itself. But these low con

siderations are now no more, and love has taken place of avarice, or rather is become an avarice of another kind, which still urges him to pursue what he does not want. But, behold the metamorphosis; the anxious mean cares of an usurer are turned into the languishments and complaints of a lover. 66 Behold," says the aged Esculapius, "I submit ; I own, great Love, thy empire: pity, Hebe, the fop which you have made.' What have I to do with gilding but on pills? Yet, O fair! for thee I sit amidst a crowd of painted deities on my chariot, buttoned in gold, clasped in gold, without having any value for that beloved metal, but as it adorns the person, and laces the hat, of thy dying lover. I ask not to live, O Hebe! give me but gentle death: Eubavária, Eubavária, that is all I implore."

When Esculapius had finished his complaint, Pacolet went on in deep morals on the incertainty of riches, with this remarkable exclamation:

wealth! how impotent art thou! and how little dost thou supply us with real happiness, when the usurer himself can forget thee for the love of what is as foreign to his felicity as thou art!'

Will's Coffee-house, July 19.

The company here, who have all a delicate taste for theatrical representations, had made a gathering to purchase the moveables of the neighbouring playhouse, for the encouragement of one which is setting up in the Hay-market. But the proceedings at the auction, by which method the goods have been sold this evening, have been so unfair, that this ge nerous design has been frustrated; for the imperial

* A Greek word, that signifies easy death, which was the common wish of the emperor Augustus A

mantle made for Cyrus was missing, as also the chariot and two dragons: but upon examination it was found, that a gentleman of Hampshire had clandestinely bought them both, and is gone down to his country seat; and that on Saturday last he passed through Staines, attired in that robe, and drawn by the said dragons, assisted by two only of his own horses. This theatrical traveller has also left orders with Mr. Hall* to send the faded rainbow to the scourer's, and when it comes home, to dispatch it after him. At the same time Christopher Richt, esquire, is invited to bring down his settingsun himself, and be box keeper to a theatre erected by this gentleman near Southampton. Thus there has been nothing but artifice in the management of this affair; for which reason I beg pardon of the town, that I inserted the inventory in my paper; and solemnly protest, I knew nothing of this artful design of vending these rarities: but I meant only the good of the world, in that, and all other things which I divulge.

And now I am upon this subject, I must do myself justice in relation to an article in a former paper, wherein I made mention of a person who keeps a puppet-show in the town of Bath; I was tender of naming names, and only just hinted, that he makes larger promises, when he invites people to his dramatic representations than he is able to per form: but I am credibly informed, that he makes a

* A noted auctioneer of those times.

+ The patentee of Drury-lane playhouse, which was shut up about this time by an order from the Lord Chamberlain.

All the papers and passages about Powel, the puppetshow-man, relate to the controversy between Hoadly and Offspring Blackall, bishop of Exeter, on which they were intended as a banter; it is needless to say that the wit and raillery is employed on the side of Hoadly.

VOL. II.

prophane, lewd jester, whom he calls Punch, speak to the dishonour of Isaac Bickerstaff with great familiarity; and before all my learned friends in that place, takes upon him to dispute my title to the appellation of esquire. I think I need not say much to convince all the world, that this Mr. Powel, for that is his name, is a pragmatical and vain person, to pretend to argue with me on any subject. Mecum certasse feretur; that is to say, it will be an honour to him to have it said he contended with me; but I would have him to know, that I can look beyond his wires, and know very well the whole trick of his art; and that it is only by these wires that the eye of the spectator is cheated, and hindered from seeing that there is a thread on one of Punch's chops, which draws it up, and lets it fall at the discretion of the said Powel, who stands behind and plays him, and makes him speak saucily of his betters. He to pretend to make prologues against me! But a man never behaves himself with decency in his own case; therefore I shall command myself and never trouble me further with this little fellow, who is himself but a tall puppet, and has not brains enough to make even wood speak as it ought to do: and I, that have heard the groaning board, can despise all that his puppets shall be able to speak as long as they live. But Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius. Every log of wood will not He has pretended to write to me and says he thought to have deferred giving me an answer until he came to his books; but that my writings might do well with the waters: which are pert expressions, that become a school-boy better than one that is to teach others: and when I have said a civil thing to him, he cries, 'Oh! I thank you for that- -I am your humble servant for that.' Ah! Mr. Powel, these smart

make a Mercury.' also from the Bath,

6

civilities will never run down men of learning: I know well enough your design is to have all men automata, like your puppets; but the world is grown too wise, and can look through these thin devices. I know your design to make a reply to this: but be sure you stick close to my words; for if you bring me into discourses concerning the government of your puppets, I must tell you, I neither am, nor have been, nor will be, at leisure to answer you.' It is really a burning shame this man should be tolerated in abusing the world with such representations of things: but his parts decay, and he is not much more alive than Partridge.

From my own Apartment, July 14.

I must beg pardon of my readers, that for this time I have, I fear, huddled up my discourse, having been very busy in helping an old friend of mine out of town. He has a very good estate, and is a man of wit; but he has been three years absent from town, and cannot bear a jest; for which reason I have, with some pains, convinced him, that he can no more live here than if he were a downright bankrupt. He was so fond of dear London, that he began to fret, only inwardly; but being unable to laugh and be laughed at, I took a place in the northern coach for him and his family; and hope he has got to-night safe from all sneerers in his own parlour.

St. James's Coffee-house, July 20.

This morning we received by express the agree able news of the surrender of the town of Tournay on the twenty-eighth instant, N. S. The place was assaulted by the attacks of General Schuylemberg, and that of General Lottum, at the same time. The action at both those parts of the town was very