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N° XXXI. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1754.

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NEU, PUERI, NEU TANTA ANIMIS ASSUESCITE BELLA.

NO MORE, YE BLOODS, ENCOUNTER WITH EACH OTHER,
BUT EACH FINE GENTLEMAN EMBRACE HIS BROTHER.

TO MR. TOWN.

OU muft have observed a paragraph in the news-papers dated from Dub lin, which informs us,The spirit of ⚫ Duelling is now become fo common, that fcarce a day paffes without one ' or more being fought in or near that metropolis. I am very much alarmed, left this madness fhould crofs the feas: to fay the truth, I almost begin to think it neceffary, that the frequent importation of Irishmen into this kingdom fhould, for fome time be prohibited; and an embargo laid on thofe fhips that are freighted with contraband Duellifts. It is your duty, Mr. Town, at least to do all in your power to prevent the influence which the conduct of thefe heroic gentlemen, who cannot fuffer their fwords to fleep quietly in their scabbards, may have on our young fellows: I muft therefore beg of you to put together a few thoughts on this occafion; and though the fubject has been often treated before, I cannot but imagine that there is fufficient room left for you to expatiate on it. It is ufual among the bishops, when they find any particular vice prevail, to fend orders to the clergy of their refpective diocefes to preach against it. In like manner it is your duty, as Cenfor General, to attack the reigning follies: and it is furely as eafy for you to throw them into a new light, as it is for the clergy to preach different fermons on the fame text.

You will undoubtedly agree with me, that gaming is one of the principal caufes of Duels, and that many a young fellow has owed his death to cards and dice. As the gaming-houfes are often filled with rogues in lace, and fharpers in embroidery, an honeft but rash adventurer often lofes his temper with his money, and begins to fufpect that the cards are packed, or the dice loaded; and then very wifely risks his life, because he finds it impoffible to recover his cash. Upon this account I am never witnefs

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to deep play, but it raifes very ferious reflections in me. When I have seen a young nobleman offer a large stake, I have confidered him as fetting his life upon a card, or (like King Richard)

laying it upon a cast, and standing the hazard of the die.' I have even imagined, that I heard bullets rattle in the dice-box, and that I saw challenges written upon every card on the table.

The ladies alfo are frequently the caufe of Duels; though it must be owned, in justice to the better part of the fex, that where one is fought on account of a modeft woman, ten are occafioned by proftitutes. The ftout knights-errant, who entertain a paffion for the faithlefs Dulcineas of Drury Lane and Covent Garden, find frequent opportunities of manifefting their prowels. They not only encounter with bullies and bravoes, but fometimes meet with other enamoratos as fond and as mad as themfelves. I am perfonally acquainted with two gentlemen of this turn, who held out pistols at each other across a bed at one of thefe ladies lodgings, and toffed up which fhould fire first. The piftol however luckily miffed fire, and gave them time to think better of it: fo they very amicably fhook hands, laid down their piftols, and went to bed to the lady together. Thefe females are not content, it feems, with the conquests commonly made by the fair, but often pafs a more cruel fentence on their captives. Their lovers not only fuffer thofe metaphorical deaths, which all their tribe must endure, but are often really killed in ferious truth and fober fadnefs. They are not only fhot through the heart by an accidental glance of the eyes, but often have a brace of balls lodged in their heads: and are not only

ftabbed through the liver' (as Mercutio has it) by the blind bow-boy's

butt-fhaft, but they may perhaps be engaged in a duel with a rival, in which they are run through the body.

A foreign Count was once challenged by one of these hot-headed gentlemen;

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and I shall conclude my letter by recommending his method to our modern Duellifts. The place of battle appointed was the Count's houfe; and when the farious challenger came in, breathing nothing but revenge, he was furprifed to find the Count fitting very compofedly with a candle and a barrel at his fide. This, Sir, faid the Count, is a barrel of gunpowder; and if you pleafe, we will take our chance who fhall fet fire to it, you or I.' The gentleman, amazed at fo extraordinary a propofal, made no answer; upon which the Count lighted a match, and waving it over the mouth of the barrel, cried out- Get out of the room, Sir, or I will fet fire to the powder this inftant. This abated our challenger's wrath fo confiderably, that the Count was rid of him in a moment, and he was glad to leave the room without any fatisfaction.-I fhall expect fomething from you on this fubject, and am, Sir, your humble fervant,

EPHRAIM MAKEPEACE.

I shall not refuse, in compliance with the request of my correfpondent, to give my animadverfions on this fubject; but as I am not inclined to meafure fwords on this occafion with any of my predeceffors or cotemporaries, I fhall take a different courfe, and appear in the caufe as an advocate for Duelling. The vices and follies of the fashionable world are

fo connected with each other, that they almoft form a regular fyftem; and the practice of them all is abfolutely neceffary to complete the character of a Fine Gentleman. A Fine Gentleman (in the modern fenfe of the word) is one that whores, games, and wears a fword. Running after loofe women is, indeed, in fome meafure common to this exalt ed part of mankind with the vulgar: but to live in bagnios, to be kept in repair by Rock or Ward by the quarter, to be in a continual courfe of pill and electuary, and to make a bufinefs of fornication, is the peculiar privilege of a Fine Gentleman. Gaming is alfo an effential requifite to this character, and is indeed capable of itself to create a perfon a Gentleman, who has no other pretenfions to that title. The greateft coundrels, provided they were gamefters, have always been permitted to aflociate with people of fashion; and

perhaps they hold their title to the beft company by the fame tenure that the Knaves keep their rank among the Honours in a pack of cards. But the grand diftinguishing mark of a Fine Gentleman is the wearing a fword. Gentility difplays itself in a well-fancied fword-knot, and honour lies fheathed in the fcabbard. All who bear arms have a claim to this character: even our common foldiers (like the knights of old) are dubbed Gentlemen on the fhoulder; with this only difference, that inftead of the fword, the ceremony is performed by a brown musket.

Upon thefe and many other weighty confiderations, I have refolved not to disturb the tranquillity of the polite world, by railing at their darling vices. A Cenfor may endeavour to new-cock an hat, to raise the ftays, or write down the fhort petticoat, at his plea fure. Perfons of quality will vary fashions of themfelves, but will always adhere fteadily to their vices. I heve befides received feveral letters from furgeons and younger brothers, defiring me to promote as far as lays in my power the mo dern way of life, and efpecially the practice of Duelling. The former open their cafe in the most pathetic terms, and affure me that if it was not for Duels, and the amorous rencounters of Fine Gentlemen with the other sex, their profeffion would fcarce fupport them. As to the young gentlemen, they inveigh bitterly against the unequal diftribution of property by the laws of England, and offer me very confiderable bribes, if I will efpoufe the cause of Duels and Debauchery; without which they fcarce have any tolerable chance of coming in for the family eftate.

Swift fomewhere obferves, that these differences very rarely happen among men of fenfe, and he does not fee any great harm if two worthlefs fellows fend each other out of the world. I fhall therefore humbly propofe, the more effectually to keep up this fpirit, that Duels may be included in the LicenceAct among our other public diverfions, with a reftraining claufe, taking away all power from the Justices to prohibit thefe entertainments. I would alfo propofe, for the better accommodation of the public, that fcaffolds be erected behind Montague House, or in any other convenient place, as there are now at Tyburn;

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By this fcheme, the public would have an opportunity being prefent at thefe fashionable amufeinents, and might revive that loft fpecies of gaming, so much lamented in our laft paper, by laying bets on the iffue of the combat.

It should alfo be provided, that if bodies be delivered to the furgeons to either or both are killed, the body or be anatomized, and placed in their hall; unless the younger brother or next heir fhall give them an equivalent.

above-mentioned act, that no perfon be It should alfo be provided by the qualified to fight a Duel, who is not worth 500l. per ann. For as it is unfportfman-like to admit dunghill cocks into the pit, fo it would render this ineftimable privilege lefs valuable, if every mean wretch had a right of being run through the body, who could do the public no service by his death.

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N° XXXII. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1754.

EMUNCTE NARIS.

HOR.

A PLAIN BLUNT FELLOW, WHO, LIKE SCENTED BEAUX,
WITH VILE PULVILIO NE'ER BEGRIM'D HIS NOSE.

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SIR,

TO MR. TOWN.

Know not whether you yourself are

is frequent among all ranks of people, though deteftable even among the lowelt. The practice I mean is that of Snufftaking; which I cannot help regarding as a national plague, that, like another epidemical diftemper, has taken hold of our noses. You authors may perhaps claim it as a privilege, fince Snuff is fuppofed by you to whet the invention, and every one is not poffeffed of Bayes's admirable receipt, the Spirit of brains.' But give me leave to tell you, that Snuff thould no more be administered in pub. lic, than that of Major's medicinal compofition at four-pence a pinch, or any other dofe of phyfic. I know not why people should be allowed to annoy their friends and acquaintance by nearing their noses with a dirty powder, any more than in ung an eye-water, or rubbing their teeth with a dentrifice.

If a ftranger to this nafty custom was

to obferve almost every one ·

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drawing

out his pouncet-box, and ever and anon giving it to his nofe,' he would be led to conclude, that we were no better than a nation of Hottentots; and that every one was obliged to cram his noftrils with a quantity of fcented dirt, to fence them from the difagreeable effluvia of the rest of the company. Indeed, it might not be abfurd in fuch a ftranger to imagine, that the perfon he converfed with took Snuff, for the fame reafon that another might prefs his nof trils together between his finger and thumb, to exclude an ill fmell.

It is customary among thofe polite people the Dutch, to carry with them every where their fhort dingy pipes, and fmoke and fpit about a room even in the prefence of ladies. This piece of goodbreeding, however ridiculous it may feem, is furely not more offenfive to good manners than the practice of Snuff-taking. A very Dutchman would think it odd, that a people, who pretend to politeneis, fhould be continually fauffing up a parcel of tobacco-duft; nor

can

can I help laughing, when I fee a man every minute ftealing out a dirty muckender, then sneaking it in again, as much afhamed of his pocket-companion, as he would be to carry a difhclout about him.

It is, indeed, impoffible to go into any large company without being difturbed by this abominable practice. The church and the play-houfe continually echoe with this music of the nofe, and in every corner you may hear them in concert fnuling, freezing, hawking, and grunt.ng like a drove of hogs. The moft pathetic fpeech in a tragedy has been interrupted by the blowing of nofes in the front and fide- boxes; and I have known a whole congregation fuddenly raifed from their knees in the middle of a prayer by the violent coughing of an old lady, who has been almoft choaked by a pinch of inuff in giving vent to an ejaculation. A celebrated actor has fpoiled his voice by this abfurd treatment of his nofe, which has made his arculation as dull and drowfy as the hum of a bag pipe; and the parfon of our parish is often forced to break off in the middle of a period, to frort behind his white handkerchief.

Is it not a wonder, Mr. Town, that Snuff, which is certainly an enemy to drefs, fhould yet gain admittance among those who have no other merit than their cloaths? I am not to be told, that your men of fashion take Snuff only to difplay a white hand perhaps, or the brilliancy of a diamond ring: and I am confident, that numbers would never have defiled themfelves with the ufe of Snuff, had they not been feduced by the charms of a fashionable box. The man of tafte takes his Straßburg veritable tabac from a right Paris paper-box; and the pretty fellow ufes an enamelled box lined in the infide with polished metal, that by often opening it, he may have the opportunity of ftealing a glance at his own fweet perfon, reflected in the lid of it.

Though I abhor Snuff taking myfelf, and would as foon be fmothered in a cloud raised by smoking tobacco, as I would willingly fuffer the leaft atom of it to tickle my nofe, yet am I expofed to many difgufting inconveniencies from the ufe of it by others. Sometimes I am choaked by drawing in with my breath fome of the fineft particles together with the air; and I am frequently

fet a fneezing by the odorous effluvia arifing from the boxes that furround me. But it is not only my fenfe of fmelling that is offended: you will ftare when I tell you, that I am forced to taste, and even to eat and drink this abominable Snuff. If I drink tea with a certain lady, I generally perceive what escapes from her fingers fwimming at the top of my cup; but it is always attributed to the foulness of the milk or drofs of the fugar. I never dine at a particular friend's houfe, but I am fure to have as much rappee as pepper with my turnips; nor can I drink my table-beer out of the fame mug with him, for fear of coughing from his fnuff, if not the liquor, going the wrong way. Such eternal Snuff takers as my friend, fhould, I think, at meal-times, have a fcreen flapping down over the nofe and mouth, under which they might convey their food, as you may have feen at the mafquerade: or at least they should be feparated from the rest of the company, and placed by themselves at the fidetable, like the children.

This practice of Snuff-taking, however inexcufable in the men, is still more abominable in the other fex. Neatness and cleanliness ought to be always cultivated among the women; but how can any female appear tolerably clean, who so induftriously bedaubs herself with Snuff? I have with pain obferved the fnow-white furface of an handkerchief or apron fullied with the fcatterings from the Snuff-box; and whenever I fee a lady thus befmeared with Scotch or Havannah, I confider her as no cleanlier than the kitchen-wench fcouring her braffes, and begrimed with brickduft and fuller's earth. Houfewifely accomplishments are at prefent feldom required in a well-bred woman; or elfe I fhould little expect to find a wife in the leaft notable, who keeps up fuch a conftant correfpondence between her fingers and nofe; nor, indeed, would any one think her hands at all fit to be employed in making a pudding.

It thould be remembered by the younger part of your fair readers, Mr. Town, that Snuff is an implacable enemy to the complexion, which in time is fure to take a tinge from it: they should therefore be as cautious of acquiring a fallow hue from this bane of a fair skin, as of being tanned or freckled by expofing their delicate faces to the scorch

ing rays of the fun. Befides, as the nofe has been always reckoned a principal ornament of the face, they should be as careful to preferve the beauty of it as of any other feature, and not suffer it to be undermined or bloated by fo pernicious an application as Snuff-taking. For my own part, I should as foon admire a celebrated toaft with no nose at all, as to see it proftituted to fo vile a purpofe. They fhould alfo confider, that the nofe is fituated very near the lips: and what relifh can a lover find in the honey of the latter, if at the fame time he is obliged to come into clofe contact with the dirt and rubbish of the former? Rather than Snuff-taking fhould prevail among the ladies, I could wifh it were the fashion for them to wear rings in their nofes, like the favage nations: way, I would even carry it still farther, and oblige thofe pretty females, who

could be ftill flaves to Snuff, to have their noftrils bored through as well as their cars; and inftead of jewels, to bear rolls of pigtail bobbing over their upperlips..

We cannot otherwife account for this fashion among the women, fo unnatural to their fex, than that they want employment for their hands. It was formerly no difgrace for a young lady to be feen in the best company bufied with her work: but a girl now-a-days would as foon be furprifed in twirling a spinningwheel, as in handling a thread paper, The fan or the Snuff-box are now the only implements they dare to use in public: yet furely it would be much more becoming to have the fore-finger pricked and fcarified with the point of a needle, than to fee it embrowned with fqueezing together a filthy pinch of Snuff. I am, Sir, your humble fervant, &c.

N° XXXIII. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1754.

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TO MR. TOWN.

Remember to have seen a little French

of Paris making an excurfion into the country. He imagines himself about to undertake a long voyage to fome frange region, where the natives were as different from the inhabitants of his own city, as the most diftant nations. He accordingly takes boat, and is landed at a village about a league from the capital. When he is fet on fhore, he is amazed to find the people talk the fame

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language, wear the fame drefs, and ufe the fame cuftoms with himself. He, who had spent all his life within the fight of Pont-Neuf, looked upon every reigner; and though the utmost extent of his travels was not three miles, he was as much furprised, as he would have. been to meet with a colony of Frenchmen on the Terra Incognita.

Most of our late novels are, with

fome little variation of circumftances, borrowed from the French: but if we fhould endeavour to adapt the novel I have been fpeaking of to a citizen of

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London,

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