by all that see him, as not of consequence enough to be hated. For the cure of this particular sort of madness, it will be necessary to break through all forms with him, and familiarize his carriage by the use of a good cudgel. It may likewise be of great benefit to make him jump over a stick half a dozen times every morning. A third, whom I have in my eye, is a young fellow, whose lunacy is such, that he boasts of nothing but what he ought to be ashamed of. He is vain of being rotten, and talks publicly of having committed crimes which he ought to be hanged for by the laws of his country. There are several others whose brains are hurt with Pride, and whom I may hereafter attempt to recover; but shall conclude my present list with an old woman, who is just dropping into her grave, that talks of nothing but her birth. Though she has not a tooth in her head, she expects to be valued for the blood in her veins; which she fancies is much better than that which glows in the cheeks of Belinda, and sets half the town on fire. N° 128. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1709-10. Veniunt à dote sagittæ. Juv. Sat. vi. 138. -The Dowery shot the darts. Now artful Cupid takes his stand No 'dvantage finds like goods and chattels. HUDIBRAS, Part I. Canto iii. 1. 311. From my own Apartment, February 1. THIS morning I received a letter from a fortunehunter, which being better in its kind than men of that character usually write, I have thought fit to communicate to the public. "To ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esq. SIR, "I take the boldness to recommend to your care the inclosed letter, not knowing how to communicate it, but by your means, to the agreeable countrymaid you mention with so much honour in your discourse concerning the lottery. "I should be ashamed to give you this trouble without offering at some small requital: I shall therefore direct a a new pair of globes, and a telescope of the best maker, to be left for you at Mr. Morphew's, as a testimony of the great respect with which I am, Your most humble servant, &c." "To MOPSA, in Sheer-lane. "FAIREST UNKNOWN, Jan. 27, 1709-10. "It being discovered by the stars, that about three months hence you will run the hazard to being persecuted by many worthless pretenders of your person, unless timely prevented; I now offer my service for your security against the persecution that threatens you. This is therefore to let you know, that I have conceived a most extraordinary passion for you; and that for several days I have been perpetually haunted with the vision of a person I have never yet seen. To satisfy you that I am in my senses, and that I do not mistake you for any one of higher rank, I assure you, that in your daily employment you appear to my imagination more agreeable in a short scanty petticoat, than the finest woman of quality in her spreading fardingal; and that the dexterous twirl of your mop has more native charms, than the studied airs of a lady's fan. In a word, I am captivated with your menial qualifications: the domestic virtues adorn you like attendant Cupids; cleanliness and healthful industry wait on all your motions; and dust and cobwebs fly your approach. "Now, to give you an honest account of myself, and that you may see my designs are honourable, I am an esquire of an antient family, born to about fifteen hundred pounds a year; half of which I have spent in discovering myself to be a fool, and with the rest I am resolved to retire with some plain honest partner, and study to be wiser. I had my education in a laced coat, and a French dancing-school; and, by my travel into foreign parts, have just as much breeding to spare, as you may think you want, which I intend to exchange as fast as I can for old English honesty and good sense. I will no impose on you by a false recommendation of m person, which, to show you my sincerity, is none of the handsomest, being of a figure somewhat short: bu what I want in length, I make out in breadth. But in amends for that and all other defects, if you can like me when you see me, I shall continue to you, whether I find you fair, black, or brown, The most constant of Lovers." The letter seems to be written by a wag, and fo that reason I am not much concerned for what reception Mopsa shall think fit to give it; but the following certainly proceeds from a poor heart, that languishes under the most deplorable misfortune tha possibly can befal a woman. A man that is treacher ously dealt with in love, may have recourse to many consolations. He may gracefully break through al opposition to his mistress, or explain with his rival urge his own constancy, or aggravate the falsehoo by which it is repaid. But a woman that is ill-treated has no refuge in her griefs but in silence and secrecy The world is so unjust, that a female heart which ha been once touched, is thought for ever blemished The very grief in this case is looked upon as a re proach, and a complaint, almost a breach of chastity For these reasons we see treachery and falsehood ar become, as it were, male vices, and are seldom found never acknowledged, in the other sex. This ma serve to introduce Statira's letter: which, without any turn of art, has something so pathetical and moving in it, that I verily believe it to be true, and therefor heartily pity the injured creature that writ it. "To ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esquire. 66 SIR, "You seem in many of your writings to be a man of a very compassionate temper, and well acquainted with the passion of love. This encouragesme to apply myself to you in my present distress, which I believe you will look upon to be very great, and treat with tenderness notwithstanding it wholly arises from love, and that it is a woman that makes this confession. I am now in the twenty-third year of my age, and have for a great while entertained the addresses of a man who, I thought, loved me more than life. I am sure I did him; and must own to you, not without some confusion, that I have thought on nothing else for these two long years, but the happy life we should lead together, and the means I should use to make myself still dearer to him. My fortune was indeed much beyond his; and as I was always in the company of my relations, he was forced to discover his inclinations, and declare himself to me by stories of other persons, kind looks, and many ways, which he knew too well that I understood. Oh! Mr. Bickerstaff it is impossible to tell you, how industrious I have been to make him appear lovely in my thoughts. I made it a point of conscience to think well of him, and of no man else: but he has since had an estate fallen to him, and makes love to another of a greater fortune than mine. I could not believe the report of this at first; but about a fortnight ago I was convinced of the truth of it by his own behaviour. He came to make our family a formal visit, when, as there were several in company, and many things talked of, the discourse fell upon some unhappy woman, who was in my own circumstances. It was said by one in the room, |