POLAND.

From this Kingdom we hear of nothing but Haydomacks, the March of Soldiers, the Tribunal of Vetrikau, and the Diffolution of the States of Courland, without chufing a Duke.

DENMARK, SWEDEN, and RUSSIA.

All that remains to be faid of thefe three Crowns may be comprized in one fhort Article. The Kings of Denmark, who have often oppreffed the Dukes of Holfein-Gottorp, muft alter their Conduct, when the Head of that Houfe is on the Throne of Ruffia. His prefent Danish Majefty foreseeing this (and indeed who cannot forefee as much) has thought proper to accommodate his Difputes with the young Duke, who is Grand Prince and prefumptive Heir of the Ruffian Empire. The Prince Succeffor of Sweden, another Branch of the fame House of Holftein, has refolved to make over his Bifhoprick of Lutin, or Eubeck, to his Brother, who governs there. And as to the Difputes between Sweden and Ruffia, I will venture to prophefy, without any Dread of the Imputation of Sorcery, that the Winter will keep them in Sufpence for at least five Months

to come.

DOMESTIC

NEWS.

As the following Paragraphs, taken from the Daily Papers of the 6th Inftant, are of fuch prodigious Confequence to this Kingdom, we fincerely hope they will prove true. And pray, Mr. Printer, for the Sake of Old England, print them in old English Characters; that our Wisdom and Frugality may be handed down to Pofterity, for the Benefit of our Succeffors.

Rome, Oct. 26. Fifteen English 10blemen are shortly expected here upon a Party of Pleasure; and one of the finest Palaces in this City is hired for their Accommodation.

Paris A-la-main, No. 6. The Court is at present very brilliant, from the Concourse of Foreigners that daily refort thither, particularly English Gentlemen of great Diftin&ion; above firty of whom arrived within this Week past, To spend their Money and be laugh'd at.

N. B. There are many People married fince our laft, and a great Number have died; but as it is impoffible with all our Arts to unmarry thofe, or to bring these to Life, we shall leave that Part to the Miners and Magaziners. The STOCKS ftand juft where they did, and SAINTS in Change-Alley, are as righteous as ever.

Sing Tantara, ra, ra, Rogues all, Rogues all, &c.

The MIDWIFE.

NUM B. III.

Fleet-Market, Nov. 27, 1750.

To Mrs. Mary Midnight, and her Confederate Succubus Canidia.

You old Skeleton,

H

Owever you may plume yourself upon your Atchievements in a late libellous Letter, under the Name of my Friend Mr. Coffin. Know, you limping Hag, I fhall not scruple to measure your wither'd Carcase with your own Crutch, the first Time I meet you. Yet, do

not imagine I deign to infpect your low-life Stuff myself! It wou'd have been long fince bury'd in Oblivion, (or embalm'd in fomewhat more fragrant) if Tim Charnel, the Sexton, had not lit on it. He, it seems, bought it retail'd for a Farthing, and communicated it to me; at the fame Time, obferving, all the World might know at whom it was levell'd. Worthy Dr. Sena, to whose Country-House I fent it, has prefcrib'd me Patience, and heartily despises you and all the Scurrilities wherewith you befpatter his Profeffion. Nay,

K

for

for that Matter, the Scandal is fo black and fo notoriously falfe, that you may be compar'd, methinks, to one lying in State for public Admiration!

But, 'sdeath! don't provoke me further, Beldam! If Fortune fpeeds my Undertakings as ufual, I am determin'd to profecute you for a Witch, together with the other old dry'd Hurdle, whofe Portraiture you exhibit in your Frontispiece, and whom I conclude to be your wicked Familiar. Remember who you have to deal with, Mummy!

I am none of your fhammy Varlets! If I fay it, I'll do it! And wish for no Pleasure above Ground like that of inhuming your fulphurous Ashes gratis.

Your deadly Foe,

J. SABLE.

A Letter from Mrs. Mary Midnight to the Royal Society, containing fome new and curious Improvements upon the CAT ORGAN,

I

Gentlemen,

Need not inform Perfons of your infinite Experience and Erudition, that the Cat-Organ, as it has hitherto been made ufe of, was no more than what followeth, viz. A plain Harpfichord, which inftead of having Strings and Jacks, confifts of Cats of different Sizes, included in Boxes, whofe Voices exprefs every Note in the Gamut, which is ex

torted

torted from the imprison'd Animals, by placing their Tails in Grooves, which are properly squeez'd by the Impreffion of the Organist's Fingers on the Keys. This Inftrument, unimprov'd as it was, I have often heard with incredible Delight; but efpecially in the Grand and the Plaintive. This Delight grew upon me every Time I was prefent at its Performance. At length I fhut myfelf up for feven Years to study fome Additions and Improvements, which I have at length accomplished, agreeable to my warmeft Wishes, and which I with all due Submiffion now lay before you.

In the first Place then it is univerfally known and acknowledg'd that these Animals, at the Time of their Amours, are the moft mufical Creatures in Nature; I wou'd therefore recommend it to all and fingular Cat-Organifts, to have a most efpecial Regard to the Time of Cater-wawling, particularly if they have any Thing very august or affecting to exhibit.

Secondly, it is alfo very well known that the best Voices are improved by Caftration, I therefore never have less than eight Geldings in my treble Clift. And here I cannot help informing you of an Experiment I lately made on an Italian BoarCat, and an English one of the fame Gender; and I folemnly protest that, after the Operation, my Country Animal had every whit as delicate, piercing, and comprehenfive a Tone as the Foreigner.

And I make no Sort of Doubt but fome of