collops. We liked our entertainment very well; only we observed the table-cloth, being not so fine as we could have wished, was North-British cloth. But the worst of it was, we were disturbed all dinnertime by the noise of the children, who were playing in the paved court at North-British hoppers; so we paid our North-Briton* sooner than we designed, and took coach to North-Briton Yard† about which place most of us live. We had indeed gone a-foot, only we were under some apprehensions lest a North-British mist should wet a South-British man to the skin.

"We think this matter properly expressed, according to the accuracy of the new style settled by you in one of your late Papers. You will please to give your opinion upon it to, sir,

"Your most humble servants,

"November 22, 1710."

"J. S.

"M. P.

“ N. R.‡”

See if this letter be conformable to the directions given in the Tatler above-mentioned.

"TO ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, ESQUIRE.

"SIR,

"A GENTLEMAN in my neighbourhood, who happens to be brother to a lord, though neither his father nor grandfather were so, is perpetually making use of this phrase, a person of my quality.' He has it in his mouth fifty times a day, to his labourers, his servants, his children, his tenants, and his neighbours. Wet or dry, at home or abroad, drunk or sober, angry or pleased, it is the constant burden

* Scot, i. e. share of the reckoning.

+ Scotland-yard.

Jonathan Swift, Matthew Prior, Nicholas Rowe.

of his style. Sir, as you are Censor of Great Britain, as you value the repose of a loyal county and the reputation of my neighbour, I beg you will take this cruel grievance into your consideration; else, for my own particular, I am resolved to give up my farm, sell my stock, and remove with my wife and seven children next spring to Falmouth or Berwick, if my strength will permit me, being brought into a very weak condition. I am, with great respect, SIR, your most obedient and languishing servant," &c. "Kent, Nov. 22, 1710."

Let this be referred to the Court of Honour.

66

MR. BICKERSTAFF,

"I AM a young lady of a good fortune, and at present invested by several lovers, who lay close siege to me, and carry on their attacks with all possible diligence. I know which of them has the first place in my own heart, but would freely cross my private inclinations to make choice of the man who loves me best; which it is impossible for me to know, all of them pretending to an equal passion for me. Let me therefore beg of you, dear Mr. Bickerstaff, to lend me your Ithuriel's spear, in order to touch this troop of rivals; after which I will most faithfully return it to you again, with the greatest gratitude. I am, SIR," &c.

Query 1. What figure doth this lady think her lover will appear in? or what symptoms he will betray of his passion upon being touched?

2. Whether a touch of her fan may not have the same efficacy as a touch of Ithuriel's spear?

"HONOURED SIR,

"GRATITUDE obliges me to make this public acknowledgement of the eminent service you have

done myself in particular, and the whole body of chaplains, I hope, in general. Coming home on Sunday about dinner-time, I found things strangely altered for the better; the porter smiled in my face when he let me in, the footman bowed to me as I passed him, the steward shook me by the hand, and Mrs. Beatrice dropped me a courtesy as she went along. I was surprised at all this civility, and knew not to what I might ascribe it, except to my bright beaver and shining scarf, that were new that day. But I was still more astonished to find such an agreeable change at the table. My lord helped me to a fat slice of venison with his own hand, and my lady did me the honour to drink to me. I offered to rise at my usual time; but was desired to sit still, with this kind expression, Come, doctor, a jelly or a conserve will do you no harm; do not be afraid of the dessert.' I was so confounded with the favour, that I returned my thanks in a most awkward manner, wondering what was the meaning of this total transformation: but my lord soon put an end to my admiration, by showing me a paper that challenged you, Sir, for its author; and rallied me very agreeably on the subject, asking me, Which was best handled, the lord or his chaplain?' I owned myself to think the banter sharpest against ourselves, and that these were trifling matters, not fit for a philosopher to insist on. His lordship was in so good a humour, that he ordered me to return his thanks with my own; and my lady joins in the same, with this one exception to your Paper, that the chaplain in her family was always allowed minced pies from Allhallows to Candlemas. I am, SIR,

"Your most obliged, humble servant, "Great Lincoln's-Inn Square, Nov. 29."

Requires no answer.

“T. W.”

66

MR. CENSOR,

"I HAVE read your account of Nova Zembla with great pleasure, and have ordered it to be transcribed in a little hand, and inserted in Mr. Tonson's late edition of Hudibras. I could wish you would furnish us with more notes upon that author, to fill up the place of those dull annotations with which several editions of that book have been encumbered. I would particularly desire of you to give the world the story of Taliacotius, who makes a very eminent figure in the first Canto; not having been able to meet with any account of the said Taliacotius in the writings of any other author. I am, with the most profound respect, the most humble of your admirers, "Q. Z."

"Oxford, Nov. 27."

To be answered next Thursday, if nothing more material intervenes.

66 MR. CENSOR,

"IN your survey of the people, you must have observed crowds of single persons that are qualified to increase the subjects of this glorious island, and yet neglect that duty to their country. In order to reclaim such persons, I lay before you this proposal. "Your most obedient servant,

No. 259. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1710.

Vexat censura columbas.

JUV. SAT. ii. 63.

ANON.

Censure acquits the crow, condemns the dove.

6

"A Continuation of the Journal of the Court of Honour, held in Sheer-lane, on Monday the twenty-seventh of November, before ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esq. Censor of Great-Britain. "ELIZABETH MAKEBATE, of the parish of St. Catherine's, spinster, was indicted for surreptitiously taking away the hassock from under the lady Grave-Airs, between the hours of four and five, on Sunday the 26th of November. The prosecutor deposed, that as she stood up to make a courtesy to a person of quality in a neighbouring pew, the criminal conveyed away the hassock by stealth, insomuch, that the prosecutor was obliged to sit all the while she was at church, or to say her prayers in a posture that did not become a woman of her quality.' The prisoner pleaded inadvertency; and the jury were going to bring it in chance-medley; had not several witnesses been produced against the said Elizabeth Makebate, that she was an old offender, and a woman of a bad reputation. It appeared, in particular, that, on the Sunday before, she had detracted from a new petticoat of Mrs. Mary Doelittle, having said, in the hearing of several credible witnesses, that the said petticoat was scoured,' to the great grief and detriment of the said Mary Doelittle. There were likewise many evidences produced against the criminal, that though