of the Style, and the like, the Learned now difpute only about the Truth of the Game. But however, the Company is altered, all have fhewn a great Refpect for Mr. Betterton: And the very Gaming Part of this House have been so much touch'd with a Sense of the Uncertainty of Human Affairs, (which alter with themselves every Moment) that in this Gentleman, they pitied Mark Anthony of Rome, Hamlett of Denmark, Mithridates of Pontus Theodofius of Greece, and Henry the Eighth of England. It is well known, he has been in the Condition of each of thofe illuftrious Perfonages for several Hours together, and behaved himself in those high Stations, in all the Changes of the Scene, with fuitable Dignity. For these Reasons, we intend to repeat this Favour to him on a proper Occasion, left he who can instruct us fo well in perfonating Feigned Sorrows, fhould be loft to us by fuffering under Real Ones. The Town is at prefent in very great Expectation of seeing a Comedy now in Rehearsal, which is the 25th Production of my Honoured Friend Mr. Thomas D'Urfey; who, befides his great Abilities in the Dramatick, has a peculiar Talent in the Lyrick Way of Writing, and that with a Manner wholly new and unknown to the Antient Greeks and Romans, wherein he is but faintly imitated in the Tranflations of the Modern Italian Opera's.

St.

St. James's Coffee-house, April 11.

Letters from the Hague of the 16th fay,That Major General Cadogan was gone to Bruffels, with Orders to disperse proper Inftructions for affembling the whole Force of the Allies in Flanders in the Beginning of the next Month. The late Offers concerning Peace, were made in the Style of Perfons who think themselves upon equal Terms: But the Allies have so just a Sense of their prefent Advantages, that they will not admit of a Treaty, except France offers what is more fuitable to her present Condition. At the fame Time we make Preparations, as if we were alarm'd by a greater Force than that which we are carrying into the Field. Thus this Point seems now to be argued Sword in Hand. This was what a Great General alluded to, when being ask'd the Names of thofe who were to be Plenipotentiaries for the enfuing Peace; answer'd, with a serious Air, There are about an Hundred thousand of us. Mr. Kidney, who has the Ear of the greatest Politicians that come hither, tells me, There is a Mail come in to Day with Letters, dated Hague, April 19. N.S. which fay, a Defign of bringing Part of our Troops into the Field at the latter End of this Month, is now alter'd to a Refolution of marching towards the Camp about the 20th of the next. There happen'd t'other Day, in the Road of Scheveling, an Engagement between a Privateer of Zealand and one of Dunkirk. The Dunkirker, carrying 33 Pieces of Can

B 4

Cannon, was taken and brought into the Texel. It is faid, the Courier of Monfieur Rouille is return'd to him from the Court of France. Monfieur Vendofme being reinftated in the Favour of the Dutchess of Burgundy, is to command in Flanders.

Mr. Kidney added, That there were Letters of the 17th from Ghent, which give an Account, that the Enemy had form'd a Design to furprize two Battalions of the Allies which lay at Aloft; but those Battalions receiv'd Advice of their March, and retir'd to Dendermond. Lieutenant General Wood appear'd on this Occafion at the Head of 5000 Foot, and 1000 Horse, upon which the Enemy withdrew, without making any further Attempt.

From my own Apartment.

I am forry I am oblig'd to trouble the Publick with fo much Difcourfe upon a Matter which I at the very first mentioned as a Trifle, viz. the Death of Mr. Partridge, under whose Name there is an Almanack come out for the Year 1709. In one Page of which it is af ferted by the faid John Partridge, That he is ftill living, and not only fo, but that he was also living fome Time before, and even at the Inftant when I writ of his Death. I have in another Place, and in a Paper by it self, sufficiently convinc'd this Man that he is dead, and if he has any Shame, I don't doubt but that by this Time he owns it to all his Acquaintance: For tho' the Legs and Arms, and

whole

whole Body of that Man may still appear and perform their animal Functions; yet fince, as I have elsewhere obferv'd, his Art is gone, the Man is gone. I am, as I faid, concern'd, that this little Matter fhould make so much Noife; but fince I am engag'd, I take my self oblig'd in Honour to go on in my Lucubrations, and by the Help of these Arts of which I am Master, as well as my Skill in Astrological Speculations, I fhall, as I fee Occafion, proceed to confute other dead Men, who pretend to be in Being, that they are actually deceased. I therefore give all Men fair Warning to mend their Manners, for I fhall from Time to Time print Bills of Mortality; and I beg the Pardon of all fuch who fhall be named therein, if they who are good for Nothing shall find themselves in the Number of the Deceased.

The TATLER. [N° 2. From Tuesday April 12. to Thurfd. Apr. 14. 1709.

TH

Will's Coffee-houfe, April 13.

HERE has lain all this Evening on the Table, the following Poem. The Subject of it being Matter very useful for Families, I thought it deferv'd to be confider'd, and made more publick. The Turn

the

the Poet gives it, is very happy; but the Foundation is from a real Accident which happen'd among my Acquaintance. A young Gentleman of a great Eftate fell defperately in Love with a great Beauty, of very high Quality, but as ill-natur'd as long Flattery and an habitual Self-will could make her. However, my young Spark ventures upon her, like a Man of Quality, without being acquainted with her, or having ever faluted her, 'till it was a Crime to kiss any Woman elfe. Beauty is a Thing which palls with Poffeffion; and the Charms of this Lady foon wanted the Support of good Humour and Complacency of Manners. Upon this my Spark flies to the Bottle for Relief from his Satiety. She difdains him for being tired with that for which all Men envy'd him; and he never came Home, but it was Was there

no Sot that would stay longer? Would any Man living but you? Did I leave all the World for this Ufage? To which he-Madam, Split me, you are very impertinent! In a Word, this Match was Wedlock in its most terrible Appearances. She, at laft weary of Railing to no Purpose, applies to a good Uncle, who gives her a Bottle of Water: The Vertue of this powerful Liquor (faid he) is fuch, that if the Woman you marry proves a Scold, (which, it feems, my dear Neece, is your Misfortune; as it was your good Mother's before you,) let her hold fix Spoonfuls in her Mouth, for a full half Hour after you

come