clothed in such silks as his waistcoat was nim a perfect master of numbers, and consequently giving him a quick view of loss and advantage, and preventing the natural impulses of his passion, by prepossession towards his interests. With a mind thus turned, young Inkle had a person every way agreeable, a ruddy vigour in his countenance, strength in his limbs, with ringlets of fair hair loosely flowing on his shoulders. It happened in the course of the voyage, that the Achilles, in some distress, put into a creek on the main of America, in search of provisions. The youth who is the hero of my story, among others, went on shore on this occasion. From their first landing they were observed by a party of Indians, who hid themselves in the woods for that purpose. The English unadvisedly To be short, Mr. Thomas Inkle now marched a great distance from the shore into the country, and were intercepted by coming into English territories, began sethe natives, who slew the greatest number riously to reflect upon his loss of time, and of them. Our adventurer escaped among to weigh with himself how many days' inothers, by flying into a forest. Upon his terest of his money he had lost during his coming into a remote and pathless part of stay with Varico. This thought made the the wood, he threw himself, tired and young man pensive, and careful what acbreathless, on a little hillock, when an In-count he should be able to give his friends dian maid rushed from a thicket behind him. After the first surprise they appeared mutually agreeable to each other. If the European was highly charmed with the limbs, features, and wild graces of the naked American; the American was no less taken with the dress, complexion and shape of an European, covered from head to foot. The Indian grew immediately I was so touched with this story (which enamoured of him, and consequently soli- I think should be always a counterpart to citous for his preservation. She therefore the Ephesian matron) that I left the room conveyed him to a cave, where she gave with tears in my eyes, which a woman of him a delicious repast of fruits, and led Arietta's good sense did, I am sure, take him to a stream to slake his thirst. In the for greater applause than any compliments midst of these good offices, she would some- I could make her. times play with his hair, and delight in the opposition of its colour to that of her of his voyage. Upon which consideration, the prudent and frugal young man sold Varico to a Barbadian merchant; notwithstanding the poor girl, to incline him to commiserate her condition, told him that she was with child by him: but he only made use of that information, to rise in his demands upon the purchaser, fingers: then open his bosom, then laugh No. 12.] Wednesday, March 14, 1710-11 at him for covering it. She was, it seems, Veteres avias tibi de pulmone revello. I root th' old woman from thy trembling heart. as a melancholy man left his lodgings on company closed their ranks, and crowded about the fire. I took notice in particular of a little boy, who was so attentive to every story, that I am mistaken if he ventures to go to bed by himself this twelvemonth. Indeed they talked so long, that the imagina tions of the whole assembly were manifestly crazed, and, I am sure, will be the worse for it as long as they live. I heard one of the girls, that had looked upon me over her shoulder, asking the company how long I had been in the room, and whether I did not look paler than I used to do. This put me under some apprehensions that I should be forced to explain myself, if I did not retire; for which reason I took the candle into my hand, and went up into my chamber, not without wondering at this unaccountable weakness in reasonable creatures, that they should love to astonish and terrify one another. Were I a father, I should take a particular care to preserve my children from these little horrors of imagination, which they are apt to contract when they are young, and are not able to shake off when they are in years. I have known a soldier that has entered a breach, affrighted at his own shadow, and look pale upon a little scratching at his door, who the day before had marched up against a battery of cannon. There are instances of persons, who have been terrified even to distraction at the figure of a tree, or the shaking of a bulrush. The truth of it is, I look upon a sound imagination as the greatest blessing of life, next to a clear judgment, and a good conscience. In the mean time, since there are very few whose minds are not more or less subject to these dreadful thoughts and apprehensions, we ought to arm ourselves against them by the dictates of reason and religion, to pull the old woman out of our hearts,' (as Persius expresses it in the motto of my paper,) and extinguish those impertinent notions which we imbibed at a time that we were not able to judge of their ab I remember last winter there were seve- surdity. Or, if we believe, as many wise ral young girls of the neighbourhood sitting and good men have done, that there are about the fire with my landlady's daugh- such phantoms and apparitions as those I ters, and telling stories of spirits and appa- have been speaking of, let us endeavour to ritions. Upon my opening the door the establish to ourselves an interest in Him, young women broke off their discourse, but who holds the reins of the whole creation my landlady's daughters telling them that in his hands, and moderates them after it was nobody but the gentleman (for that such a manner, that it is impossible for one is the name which I go by in the neighbour-being to break loose upon another without hood, as well as in the family) they went on without minding me. I seated myself by For my own part, I am apt to join in the the candle that stood on a table at one end opinion with those who believe that all the of the room; and pretending to read a book regions of nature swarm with spirits; and that I took out of my pocket, heard several that we have multitudes of spectators on all dreadful stories of ghosts, as pale as ashes, our actions, when we think ourselves most that had stood at the feet of a bed, or walked alone; but instead of terrifying myself with over a church-yard by moon-light; and of such a notion, I am wonderfully pleased to others that had been conjured into the Red-think that I am always engaged with such sea, for disturbing people's rest, and draw-an innumerable society in searching out the ing their curtains at midnight, with many wonders of the creation, and joining in the other old women's fables of the like nature. same concert of praise and adoration. As one spirit raised another, I observed, that at the end of every story the whole his knowledge and permission. Milton has finely described this mixed communion of men and spirits in paradise; and had doubtless his eye upon a verse in was thinking on something else, I acciold Hesiod, which is almost word for word dentally justled against a monstrous animal the same with his third line in the follow-that extremely startled me, and upon my ing passage: -Nor think, though men were none, nearer survey of it, appeared to be a lion rampant. The lion seeing me very much surprised, told me, in a gentle voice, that That heav'n would want spectators, God want praise; I might come by him, if I pleased: For," Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth says he, I do not intend to hurt any body.' I thanked him very kindly, and passed by him: and in a little time after saw him leap upon the stage, and act his part with very great applause. It has been observed by several that the lion has changed his manner of acting twice or thrice since his first appearance; which will not seem strange, when I acquaint my reader that the lion has been changed upon the audience three several times. The first lion was a candle snuffer, who being a fellow of a testy choleric temper, overdid his part, and would not suffer himself to be killed so easily as he ought to have done; besides, it was observed of him, that he grew more surly every time that he came out of the lion; conversation, as if he had not fought his and having dropt some words in ordinary best, and that he suffered himself to be thrown upon his back in the scuffle, and that he would wrestle with Mr. Nicolini for what he pleased, out of his lion's skin, it was thought proper to discard him: and it is verily believed, to this day, that had he been brought upon the stage another time, he would certainly have done mis chief. Besides, it was objected against the first lion, that he reared himself so high upon his hinder paws, and walked in so erect a posture, that he looked more like an old man than a lion. THERE is nothing that of late years has afforded matter of greater amusement to the town than Signior Nicolini's combat with a lion in the Haymarket, which has been very often exhibited to the general satisfaction of most of the nobility and gentry in the kingdom of Great Britain. Upon the first rumour of this intended combat it was confidently affirmed, and is still believed, by many in both galleries, that there would be a tame lion sent from the tower, every opera night, in order to be killed by Hydaspes; this report, though altogether groundless, so universally prevailed in the upper regions of the playhouse, that some of the most refined politicians in those parts who belonged to the playhouse, and had The second lion was a tailor by trade, of the audience, gave it out in whisper, that the character of a mild and peaceable man the lion was a cousin-german of the tiger in his profession. If the former was too who made his appearance in King Wil- furious, this was too sheepish for his part; liam's days, and that the stage would be insomuch, that after a short modest walk supplied with lions at the public expense, upon the stage, he would fall at the first during the whole session. Many likewise touch of Hydaspes, without grappling with were the conjectures of the treatment which him, and giving him an opportunity of this lion was to meet with from the hands showing his variety of Italian trips. It is of Signior Nicolini; some supposed that he said, indeed, that he once gave him a rip was to subdue him in recitativo, as Orpheus in his flesh-colour doublet: but this was used to serve the wild beasts in his time, only to make work for himself, in his priand afterwards to knock him on the head; vate character of a tailor. I must not omit, some fancied that the lion would not pre- that it was this second lion who treated me tend to lay his paws upon the hero, by rea-with so much humanity behind the scenes. son of the received opinion, that a lion will not hurt a virgin. Several, who pretended formed, a country gentleman, who does it The acting lion at present is, as I am in to have seen the opera in Italy, had in- for his diversion, but desires his name may formed their friends, that the lion was to be concealed. He says, very handsomely, act a part in high Dutch, and roar twice in his own excuse, that he does not act for or thrice to a thorough bass, before he fell gain, that he indulges an innocent pleasure at the feet of Hydaspes. To clear up a in it; and that it is better to pass away an matter that was so variously reported, I evening in this manner, than in gaming and have made it my business to examine whe-drinking: but at the same time says, with ther this pretended lion is really the savage a very agreeable raillery upon himself, that he appears to be, or only a counterfeit. if his name should be known, the ill-naBut before I communicate my discoveries, tured world might call him, 'The ass in I must acquaint the reader, that upon my the lion's skin." This gentleman's temper walking behind the scenes last winter, as I is made out of such a happy mixture of the mild and the choleric, that he outdoes both | present time; and lamented to myself, that his predecessors, and has drawn together greater audiences than have been known in the memory of man. I must not conclude my narrative, without taking notice of a groundless report that has been raised to a gentleman's disadvantage, of whom I must declare myself an admirer; namely, that Signior Nicolini and the lion have been sitting peaceably by one another, and smoking a pipe together behind the scenes; by which their common enemies would insinuate, that it is but a sham combat which they represent upon the stage: but upon inquiry I find, that if any such correspondence has passed between them, it was not till the combat was over, when the lion was to be looked upon as dead, according to the received rules of the drama. Besides, this is what is practised every day in Westminster-hall, where nothing is more usual than to see a couple of lawyers, who have been tearing each other to pieces in the court, embracing one another as soon as they are out of it. though in those days they neglected their morality, they kept up their good sense; but that the beau monde, at present, is only grown more childish, not more innocent than the former. While I was in this train of thought, an odd fellow, whose face I have often seen at the playhouse, gave me the following letter with these words: 'Sir, the Lion presents his humble service to you, and desired me to give this into your own hands.' SIR, From my den in the Haymarket, 'I have read all your papers, and have stifled my resentment against your reflections upon operas, until that of this day, wherein you plainly insinuate, that Signior Nicolini and myself have a correspondence more friendly than is consistent with the valour of his character, or the fierceness of mine. I desire you would, for your own sake, forbear such intimations for the future; and must say it is a great piece of ill nature in you, to show so great an esteem for a foreigner, and to discourage a Lion that is your own countryman. I would not be thought in any part of this relation, to reflect upon Signior Nicolini, who in acting this part only complies with 'I take notice of your fable of the lion and the wretched taste of his audience; he man, but am so equally concerned in the knows very well, that the lion has many matter, that I shall not be offended to which more admirers than himself; as they say soever of the animals the superiority is of the famous equestrian statue on the Pont given. You have misrepresented me, in Neuf at Paris, that more people go to see saying that I am a country gentleman, who the horse, than the king who sits upon it. act only for my diversion; whereas, had I On the contrary, it gives me a just indigna- still the same woods to range in which I tion to see a person whose action gives new once had when I was a fox-hunter, I should majesty to kings, resolution to heroes, and not resign my manhood for a maintenance; softness to lovers, thus sinking from the and assure you, as low as my circumstances greatness of his behaviour, and degraded are at present, I am so much a man of hointo the character of the London Prentice.nour, that I would scorn to be any beast for I have often wished, that our tragedians bread, but a lion. would copy after this great master of action. Could they make the same use of their arms and legs, and inform their faces with as significant looks and passions, how glorious would an English tragedy appear with that action, which is capable of giving dignity to the forced thoughts, cold conceits, and unnatural expressions of an Italian opera! In the mean time, I have related this combat of the lion, to show what are at present the reigning entertainments of the politer part of Great Britain. Audiences have often been reproached by writers for the coarseness of their taste: but our present grievance does not seem to be the want of a good taste, but of common C. sense. No. 14.] Friday, March 16, 1710-11. 'Yours, &c.' I had no sooner ended this, than one of my landlady's children brought me in several others, with some of which I shall make up my present paper, they all having a tendency to the same subject, viz. the elegance of our present diversions. 'SIR, Covent-Garden, March 13, 'I have been for twenty years under-sexton of this parish of St. Paul's Coventgarden, and have not missed tolling in to prayers six times in all those years; which office I have performed to my great satisfaction, until this fortnight last past, during which time I find my congregation take the warning of my bell, morning and evening, to go to a puppet-show set forth by one Powell under the piazzas. By this means I have not only lost my two customers, whom I used to place for sixpence a piece over against Mrs. Rachel Eyebright, but Mrs. Rachel herself is gone thither also. There now appear among us none but a few ordinary people, who come to church only to say their prayers, so that I have no work worth speaking of but on Sundays. I have placed my son at the piazzas, to acquaint the ladies that the bell rings for church, The following epistle I find is from the being at present the two leading diversions of the town, and Mr. Powell professing in his advertisements to set up Whittington and his Cat against Rinaldo and Armida my curiosity led me the beginning of last week to view both these performances, and make my observations upon them. 'First, therefore, I cannot but observe that Mr. Powell wisely forbearing to give his company a bill of fare before-hand, every scene is new and unexpected; where as it is certain, that the undertakers of the Haymarket, having raised too great an expectation in their printed opera, very much disappoint their audience on the stage. come from the city on foot, instead of being "The king of Jerusalem is obliged to drawn in a triumphant chariot by white horses, as my opera-book had promised dragons should rush forward towards Arto Armida, and hand her out of her coach. gentes, I found the hero was obliged to go We had also but a very short allowance of thunder and lightning; though I cannot in this place omit doing justice to the boy who had the direction of the two painted draHe flashed out his rosin in such just progons, and made them spit fire and smoke. portions, and in such due time, that I could not forbear conceiving hopes of his being one day a most excellent player. I saw indeed, but two things wanting to render his whole action complete, I mean the keeping his head a little lower, and hiding his can dle. "I have observed the rules of my mask so carefully (in not inquiring into persons), that I cannot tell whether you were one of the company or not, last Tuesday; but if you were not, and still design to come, I desire you would, for your own entertain-me; and thus, while I expected Armida's ment, please to admonish the town, that all persons indifferently are not fit for this sort of diversion. I could wish, sir, you could make them understand that it is a kind of acting to go in masquerade, and a man should be able to say or do things proper for the dress in which he appears. We have now and then rakes in the habit of Roman senators, and grave politicians in the dress of rakes. The misfortune of the thing is, that people dress themselves in what they have a mind to be, and not what they are fit for. There is not a girl in the town, but let her have her will in going to a mask, and she shall dress as a shepherdess. But let me beg of them to read the Arcadia,, or some other good romance, before they appear in any such character at my house. The last day we presented, every body was so rashly habited, that when they came to speak to each other, a nymph with a crook had not a word to say but in the pert style of the pit bawdry; and a man in the habit of a philosopher was speechless, till an occasion offered of expressing himself in the refuse of the tiring rooms. We had a judge that danced a minuet, with a quaker for his partner, while half a dozen harlequins stood by as spectators: a Turk drank me off two bottles of wine, and a Jew eat me up half a ham of bacon. If I can bring my design to bear, and make the maskers preserve their characters in my assemblies, I hope you will allow there is a foundation laid for more elegant and improving gallantries than any the town at present affords, and consequently that you will give your approbation to the endeavours of, Sir, 'Your most obedient humble servant.' I am very glad the following epistle obliges me to mention Mr. Powell a second time in the same paper; for indeed there cannot be too great encouragement given to his skill in motions, provided he is under proper restrictions. 'SIR, "THE opera at the Haymarket, and that under the little Piazza in Covent garden, dertakers of the opera had both the same 'I observed that Mr. Powell and the untime, of introducing animals on their seve thought, and I think much about the same ral stages, though indeed with very dif ferent success. finches at the Haymarket fly as yet very The sparrows and chaf irregularly over the stage; and instead of perching on the trees, and performing their galleries, or put out the candles; whereas parts, these young actors either get into the Mr. Powell has so well disciplined his pig, that in the first scene he and Punch dance a minuet together. I am informed, however, that Mr. Powell resolves to excel his adversaries in their own way; and introduce larks in his next opera of Susannah, or Innocence Betrayed, which will be exhibited next week, with a pair of new Elders. 'The moral of Mr. Powell's drama is violated, I confess, by Punch's national reflections on the French, and King Harry's laying his leg upon the Queen's lap, in too ludicrous a manner, before so great an assembly. As to the mechanism and scenery, every thing, indeed, was uniform, and of a piece, and the scenes were managed very dexter ously; which calls on me to take notice, that at the Haymarket, the undertakers forgetting to change the side-scenes, we were presented with a prospect of the ocean in the midst of a delightful grove; and |