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N° LXXX. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1755.

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NULLA VIRI CURA INTEREA, NEC MENTIO FIET
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Juv.

WHAT THOUGH THE SPOUSE BE RUIN'D, WHERE'S THE SIN,
BY MADAM'S FRIENDS, SO DEAR, SO NEAR AKIN?

TO MR. TOWN.

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a feraglio of wives at lefs expence than I have brought upon myself by marry ing one woman. One, did I fay? Alas! I find it, to my cost, that a wife, like a polypus, has the power of dividing and multiplying herself into as many bodies as the pleases. You must know, Mr. Town, I took a woman of fmall fortune, and made her my own flesh and blood; but I never thought that all her relations would likewife faften on me, with as little ceremony as a colony of fleas. I had fcarce brought her home, before I was obliged to marry her mo. ther: then I was prevailed upon to marry her two maiden lifters; after that I mar ried her aunts; then her cousins. In fhort, I am now married to the whole generation of them. I do not exaggerate matters, when I fay that I am married to them all for they claim as much right to every thing that is mine, as the perion whom the world calls my wife. They eat, drink, and fleep with me: every room in the houfe is at their command, except my bed-chamber: they borrow money of me: and fince I have the whole family quartered upon me, what fignifies it which of them takes upon her my name-my wife, her fifter, or her twentieth coutin.?..

O, Mr. Town! I never fit down to table without the lamentable profpect of feeing as much victuals confumed as would dine a whole vestry. So many mouths constantly going at my expence! And then there is fuch a variety of provilions! For coufin Biddy likes one difh; my aunt Rachel is fond of another; fifter Molly cannot abide this; and mothey could never touch that-though I find they are all of them unanimous in liking the best of every thing in feafon. Befides, I could entertain a set of jolly topes at a lefs rate than it cofts me in

light wines for the women. One of them drinks nothing but Lisbon; with another nothing goes down but Rhenish

ocean of Bristol Milk, with as little remorfe as fhe would fo much fmall beer: my eldeft aunt likes a glafs of dry Moun tain; while the other thinks nothing helps digeftion fo well as Madeira. It was but last week that my wife expreffed a defire of tafting fome Claret, when immediately all my good natured relations had a mighty longing for it: but with much ado I at laft prevailed on them to compound with me for a cheft of Florence.

You may imagine that my houfe cannot be a very fmall one: and I affure you there are as many beds in it as in a country inn. Yet I have scarce room to turn myfelf about in it for one apartment is taken up by this relation, another by that; and the moft diftant coufin muft have more respect fewn her, than to be clapped up in a garret with the maid- fervants: fo that poor I have no more liberty in my own house than a lodger. Once, indeed, I in vain endeavoured to fhake them off, and took a little box in the neighbourhood of town, fcarce big enough to hold my own family. But, alas! they fuck as clofe to it as a fail to her shell; and rather than not lie under the fame roof, with their relation, they contrived to litter together like fo many pigs in a tye, At another time, thinking to clear my houfe at once of thefe verinin, I packed up my wife and mother, and fent them to her uncle's in the country for a month. But what could I do? there was no getting rid of those left be hind: my wife had made over to them the care of the houthold, allotting to each of them her particular employment during her abfence. One was to pickle walnuts, another to preferve fweetmeats, another to make Morella brandy; all which they executed with the notable

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nefs peculiar to good housewives, who fpoil and waste more than they fave, for the fatisfaction of making these things at home. At laft my wife returned; and all that I got by her journey, was the importation of two new coufins freth out of the country, who fhe never knew before were related to her but they have been fo kind as to claim kindred with me by hanging upon me ever since. One would imagine, that it were fufficient for thefe loving relations to have the run of my table, and to make my houfe in every refpe&t their own; but not content with this, they have the curring to oblige me, in a manner, to find them in cloaths likewife. I should not repine, if any of my worthy relations were humble enough to put up with a caft-off fuit of my wife's; but, that would be robbing the maid of her just dues, and would look more like a dependant than a relation. Not but that they will condefcend now and then to take a gown, before it is half worn out, (when they have talked my wife into a dislike of it)-because it is too good for a common fervant. They have more fpirit than to beg any thing: but -if my wife has a fancy to part with it-they will wear it, purely for her fake, A cap, an apron, or an handkerchief, which, I am told, looks hideous upon her, I always find is very becoming on any other of the family: and I remember, foon after we were married, happening to find fault with the pattern of a filk brocade my wife had just bought, one of her fifters took it from her, and told me the would have it made up for herself, and wear it on purpose to spite

me.

You must know, Mr. Town, that upon my marriage I was indifcreet enough to fet up my chariot: and fince any family has encreafed fo prodigioudly, this has given them a pretext to have a coach likewife, and another pair of horses. This alfo furnishes them with a pretence for running about to public diverfions, where I am forced to treat them all; for they are so very fond of each other's company, that one will hardly ever ftir out without the other. Thus, at home or abroad, they conftantly herd together; and what is still more provoking, though I had rather have a rout every week at my houfe, my wife makes merit of it, that the keeps little or no company,

Such is the ftate of my family within doors: and though you would think this fufficient for one man, I can affure you I have other calls upon me from relations no lefs dear to me, though I have never yet had the happiness to fee them. A third coufin by my wife's father's fide was fet up in the country in a very good way of bufinefs; but by miffortunes in trade must have gone to jail, if my wife had not teazed me into being bound for him, and for which I was foon after arrested, and obliged to pay the money. Another, a very promifing youth, was juft out of his time, and only wanted a little fum to fet him up; which as foon as I had lent him, he run away, and is gone to sea. One of the aunts, who is now with me, (a widow lady) has an only daughter, a fober difcreet body, who lived as a companion with an old gentlewoman in the country: but the poor innocent girl being drawn afide by a vile fellow that ruined her, I have been forced to fupport the unhappy mother and child ever fince, to prevent any reproach falling on our family. I fhall fay nothing of the va rious prefents which have travelled down to my wife's uncle, in return for one turkey and chine received at Chriftmas; nor shall I put to account the charge I have been at in the goffip fees, and in buying corals, anodyne necklaces, &c. for half a dozen little nephews, nieces, and coufins, to which I had the honour of ftanding godfather.

And now, Mr. Town, the mention of this latt circumftance makes me reflect with an heavy heart on a new całamity which will shortly befal me. My wite, you must know, is very near her time: and they have provided fuch a tore of clouts, caps, forehead-cloths, biggens, belly-bands, whittles, and all kinds of childbed-linen, as would fet up a Lying-in Hofpital. You will conclude that my family wants no further. increase: yet, would you believe it? I have just received a letter, acquainting me, that another aunt, and another coufin, are coming up in the stage coach to fee their relation, and are refolved to ftay with her the month. Indeed, I am afraid, when they have once got footing in my houfe, they will refolve to stay with her till fhe has had another and another child.

I am, Sir, your humble fervant, &c. T N

No LXXXI. THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1755.

GENU3 HUMANUM MULTO FUIT ILLUD IN ARVIS

DURIUS.

AN HARDY RACE OF MORTALS, TRAIN'D TO SPORTS;
THE FIELD THEIR JOY, UNPOLISH'D YET BY COURTS.

MR. VILLAGE TO MR. TOWN. DEAR COUSIN,

A

LUCRIT.

if they had never exifted but in poetry or romance. As foon as the daily debauch after dinner, and the ceremonies of coffee and tea are over, the company is conducted into a magnificent apart ment illuminated with wax candles, and fet out with as many card-tables as the rout of a foreign amballador's lady. Here Faro, Whift, Brag, Lanfquenet, and

Mere country fquire, who paffes all his time among dogs and herfes, is now become an uncommon character; and the moft aukward loobily inheritor of an old manfion-houfe is a fine gen tleman in comparifon to his forefathers. The principles of a town education for-every other fashionable game, make up merly fearce fpread themselves beyond

the narrow limits of the bills of mortality: but now every London refinement travels to the remoteft corner of the kingdom, and the polite families from the town daily import to their diftant feats the cuftoms and manners of Pall Mall and Grovenor Square.

I have been for this fortnight paft at Lord Courtly's, who for about four months in every year leads a town life at the distance of above two hundred miles from London. He never leaves his bed till twelve or one o'clock; though indeed he often fees the fun rife; hut then that only happens when, as the old fong fays, he has drank down the moon. Drinking is the only rural amufement he puriues; but even that part of his diverfions is conducted entirely in the London fashion. He does not fwill country ale, but gets drunk with Champagne and Burgundy; and every difh at his table is ferved up with as much elegance as at White's or Ry. an's. He has an excellent pack of bounds; but, I believe, was never in at the death of a fox in his life: yet ftrangers never want a chace, for the hounds are out three times a week with a younger brother of Lord Courtly's, who never faw London; and who, if he was not indulged with a place at his Lordship's table, might naturally be confidered as his whipper-in or his game keeper.

The evening-walk is a thing unknown and unheard of at Lord Courtly's: for though fituated in a very fine country, he knows no more of the charms of purling streams and hady groves, than

the evening's entertainment. This piece of politenefs has often fallen heavy on fome honeft country gentlemen, who have found dining with his lordship turn out a very dear ordinary; and many a good lady has had occafion to curfe the cards, and her ill-ftarred connections with perfons of quality though his lordship is never at a lofs for a party; for as feveral people of fashion have feats near him, he often fits down with fome of his friends of the club at White's. I had almost forgot to mention that her ladyship keeps a day, which is Sunday.

This, dear Coufin, is the genteel manner of living in the country; and I cannot help obferving, that perfons polite enough to be fond of fuch exquifite refinements, are partly in the fame cafe with the mechanic at his dufiy villa. They both, indeed, change their fituation; but neither find the least alteration in their ideas. The tradefman, when at his box, has all the notions that employ him in his compting-house; and the nobleman, though in the farthest part of England, may ftill be faid to breathe the air of St. James's,

I was chiefly induced to fend you this fhort account of the re ned manner in which perfons of fathion pafs their time at Lord Courtly's, because I think it a very ftriking contrast to the character defcribed in the following tranfcript. I hope your readers will not do either you or me the honour to think this natural portraiture a mere creature of the imagination. The picture of the extraor dinary gentleman here defcribed is now at the feat of the Lord Shaftesbury, at

St.

St. Giles's, near Cranborn in Dorfetthire; and this lively character of him was really and truly drawn by Anthony Athley Cowper, firit Earl of Shaftesbury, and is inscribed on the picture. I doubt not but you will be glad of being able to communicate it to the public, and that they will receive it with their ufual candour.

THE CHARACTER OF THE HONOUR;

ABLE W. HASTINGS, OF WOOD

LANDS, IN HAMPSHIRE; SECOND

SON OF FRANCIS EARL OF HUN-
TINGDON.

IN the year 1638 lived Mr. Haftings; by his quality fon, brother, and uncle to the Earls of Huntingdon. He was peradventure an original in our age; or rather the copy of our ancient nobility, in hunting, not in warlike times.

He was low, very strong and very active; of a reddish flaxen hair; his cloaths always green cloth, and never all worth (when new) five pounds.

His houfe was perfectly of the old fafhion, in the midit of a large park well flocked with deer; and near the boule rabbits to ferve the kitchen; many fithponds; great ftore of wood and timber; a bowling-green in it, long but narrow, full of high ridges, it being never levelled fince it was ploughed. They ufed round fand bowls; and it had a banqueting houfe, like a stand, built in a tree.

He kept all manner of port hounds, that ran buck, fox, hare, otter, and badger; and hawks, long and fhort winged. He had all forts of nets for fith. He had a walk in the New Foreft, and the manor of Chrift Church. This laft fupplied him with red deer, fea and river fish. And indeed all his neighbours grounds and royalties were free to him, who bestowed all his time on thefe fports, but what he borrowed to carefs his neighbours wives and daugh ters; there being not a woman in all his walks, of the degree of a yeoman's wife or under, and under the age of forty, but it was extremely her fault if he was not intimately acquainted with her. This made him very popular, always fpeaking kindly to the husband, brother, or father; who was to boot very wel come to his houfe, whenever he came. There he found beef, pudding, and small-beer, in great plenty. A house not fo neatly kept as to fhame him or his dirty fhoes: the great hall ftrewed

with marrow-bones, full of hawksperches, hounds, fpaniels, and terriers: the upper fide of the hall hung with foxfkins of this and the last year's killing, here and there a pole cat intermixed; game keepers and hunters poles in great abundance.

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The parlour was a large room as properly furnished. On a great hearth paved with brick lay fome terriers, and the choiceft hounds and fpaniels. Se!dom but two of the great chairs had. litters of young cats in them, which were not to be disturbed; he having always three or four attending him at dinner; and a little white round fick of fourteen inches lying by his trencher, that he might defend fuch meat as he had. no mind to part with to them. The windows (which were very large) served for places to lay his arrows, cross-bows, ftone-bows, and other fuch like accoutrements. The corners of the room full of the best-chofe hunting and hawking poles. An oyiter-table at the lower end; which was of conftant ufe twice a day all the year round: for he never, failed to eat oyiters, before dinner and, fupper, through all fealons, the neighbouring town of Pool fupplied him with them.

The upper part of the room had two finall tables and a desk, on the one fideof which was a Church Bible, and ou the other the Book of Martyrs. On, the tables were hawks-hoods, bells, and, fuch like; two or three old green hats, with their crowns thruit in fo as to hold ten or a dozen eggs, which were of a pheafant kind of poultry he took much care of and fed himself. Tables, dice,' cards, and boxes, were not wanting. In the hole of the defk were itore of tobaccopipes that had been used.

On one fide of this end of the room was the door of a clofet wherein food the ftrong beer and the wine, which never came thence but in fingle glaffes; that being the rule of the house exactly ob-, ferved: for he never exceeded in drink or permitted it.

On the other fide was the door into an old chapel, not used for devotion, The pulpit, as the fafeft place, was never. wanting of a cold chine of beef, venisonpafty, gammon of bacon, or great applepye with thick cruft, extremely baked...

His table coft him not much; though it was good to eat at. His fports fupplied all but beef and inution, except

Fridays,

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Friday's, when he had the bett falt fish (as well as other fith) he could get; and was the day his neighbours of beft quality mott vifited him. He never wanted a London pudding, and always fung it in with My part lies therein-a.' He drank a glafs or two of wine at meals; very often fyrup of gilliflower in his fack; and had always a tun glais, without feet, stood by him, holding a pint of fmall beer, which he often stirred with rosemary.

He was well-natured, but foon angry, calling his fervants Battards and cuckoldy Knaves, in one of which he often fpoke truth to his own knowledge; and fometimes in both, though of the fame man. He lived to be an hundred ; never loft his eye-fight, but always wrote and read without fpectacles; and got on horieback without help. Until past fourfcore he rode to the death of a stag as well as any.

I am, dear Coufin, your's, &c.

N° LXXXII. THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1755.

NOSSE OMNIA HÆC, SALUS EST ADOLESCENTULIS.

ALL THESE TO KNOW, IS SAFETY TO THE YOUTH.

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AS you are now going to the Univerfity, I would not be thought to pay fo ill a compliment to your own natural good fenfe, as to fuppofe that you will not (like many young gentlemen of fortine) in fome meature apply yourself to study: otherwife the time you spend. there will be entirely loft; for (as Swift very july remarks) all ornamental parts of education are better taught in other places. At the fame time I do not mean that you should commence Pedant, and be continually poring on a book; fince that will rather puzzle than inform the understanding. And though I know many sprightly young gentle men of lively and quick parts affect to defpife it altogether, it will be neceffary. to learn fomething of Logic; I mean in the fame manner one would learn Fencing-not to attack others, but to defend one's felf. In a word, you will find it a great unhappinels, when you return hither, if you do not bring with you fome tafte for reading: for a mere country gentleman, who can find no fociety in books, will have little elfe to do, befides following his fports, but to fit as

TER.

fquire of the company, tippling among a parcel of idle wretches, whofe underftandings are nearly on a level with his dogs and horfes.

It has been an established maxim, that the world will always form an opinion of perfons according to the company they are known to keep. In the Univertity, as well as in other places, there are people whom we ought to avoid as we would the plague: and as it is of the utmost confequence, whether you plunge at once into extravagance and debauchery, or fink gradually into indolence and ftupidity, I fall point out fonie of thefe pefts of fociety in as few words as poffible.

The first perfon I would caution you' against is the wretch that takes delight to turn religion into ridicule: one who employs that fpeech, which was given him by God to celebrate his praife, in questioning his very being. This, as it is impious in itself, is likewife the height of ill-manners. It is hoped there are but few of them to be met with in a place of found doctrine and religious education: but wherever they are, they ought to be avoided as much as poffible; and if they will force themfelves into our company, they fhould be used with the fame contempt with which they have the hardiness to treat their Maker. And this, I can affure you, may be done fafely: for I never knew any body, who was above the fear of God, but was under the most terrible apprehensionswhenever attacked by man.

The next character, whom I would

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