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of your Life. As to the diverting Part of this Paper, by what Affiftance I fhall be capacitated for that, as well as what Proofs I have given of my Behaviour as to Integrity in former Life, will appear from my History to be delivered in enfuing Difcourfes. The main Purpofe of the Work shall be to protect the Modeft, the Industrious, to celebrate the Wife, the Valiant, to encourage the Good, the Pious, to confront the Impudent, the Idle, to contemn the Vain, the Cowardly, and to disappoint the Wicked and Profane. This Work cannot be carried on but by preferving a strict Regard, not only to the Duties but Civilities of Life, with the utmost Impartiality towards Things and Perfons. The unjuft Application of the Advantages of Breeding and Fortune is the Source of all Calamity both Publick and Private; the Correction therefore, or rather Admonition, of a Guardian in all the Occurrences of a various Being, if given with a benevolent Spirit, would certainly be of general Ser

vice.

IN order to contribute as far as I am able to it, I fhall publish in respective Papers whatever I think may conduce to the Advancement of the Converfation of Gentlemen, the Improvement of Ladies, the Wealth of Traders, and the Encouragement of Artificers. The Circumstance relating to those who excel in Mechanicks, shall be confidered with particular Application. It is not to be immediately con

ceived by fuch as have not turned themselves to Reflexions of that kind, that Providence, to enforce and endear the Neceffity of Social Life, has given one Man Hands to another Man's Head, and the Carpenter, the Smith, the Joiner, are as immediately neceffary to the Mathematician, as my Amanuenfis will be to me, to Write much fairer than I can my self. I am fo well convinced of this Truth, that I shall have a particular regard to Mechanicks, and to shew my Honour for them, I fhall place at their Head the Painter. This Gentleman is, as to the Execution of his Work, a Mechanick, but as to his Conception, his Spirit and Defign, he is hardly below even the Poet, in Liberal Art. It will be from these Confiderations useful to make the World fee the Affinity between all Works which are beneficial to Mankind is much nearer, than the illiberal Arrogance of Scholars will, at all times, allow. But I am from Experience convinced of the Importance of Mechanick Heads, and fhall therefore take them all into my Care, from Rowley, who is improving the Globes of the Earth and Heaven in Fleet-freet, to Bat. Pidgeon the Hair-Cutter in the Strand.

BUT it will be objected upon what Pretenfions I take upon me to put in for the prochain ami, or nearest Friend of all the World. How my Head is accomplished for this Employment towards the Publick, from the long Exercise of it in a private Capacity, will appear by reading.

me

me the two or three next Days with Diligence and Attention. There is no other Paper in being which tends to this Purpofe. They are most of them Hiftories, or Advices of publick Tranfactions; but as thofe Representations affect the Paffions of my Readers, I fhall fometimes take care the Day after a foreign Mail, to give them an Account of what it has brought. The Parties among us are too violent to make it poffible to pafs them by without Obfervation. As to these matters, I fhall be impartial, tho' I cannot be Neuter: I am, with relation to the Government of the Church, a Tory, with regard to the State, a Whig.

THE Charge of Intelligence, the Pain in compiling and digefting my Thoughts in proper Stile, and the like, oblige me to value my Paper an Half-penny above all other Half-Sheets. And all Perfons who have any thing to communicate to me, are defired to direct their Letters (Poftage paid) to Neftor Ironfide, Efq; at Mr. Tonfon's in the Strand. I declare beforehand, that I will at no time be converfed with any other ways than by Letter: for as I am an Ancient Man, I fhall find enough to do to give Orders proper for their Service, to whom I am by Will of their Parents Guardian, though I take that to be too narrow a Scene for me to pafs my whole Life in. But I have got my Wards fo well off my Hands, and they are fo able to act for themselves, that I have little to do but give an Hint, and

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all that I defire to be amended is altered accordingly.

MY Defign upon the whole is no less, than' to make the Pulpit, the Bar, and the Stage, all act in Concert in the Care of Piety, Juftice and Virtue, for I am past all the Regards of this Life, and have nothing to manage with any Perfon or Party, but to deliver myself as becomes an Old Man, with one Foot in the Grave, and one who thinks he is paffing to Eternity. All Sorrows which can arrive at me are comprehended in the Sense of Guilt and Pain; If I can keep clear of these two Evils, I shall not be apprehenfive of any other. Ambition, Luft, Envy, and Revenge, are Excrescencies of the Mind which I have cut off long ago: But as they are Excrefcencies which do not only Deform, but alfo Torment those on whom they grow, I fhall do all I can to perfuade all others to take the fame Measures for their Cure which I have.

N° 2

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Friday, March 13.

HE readiest Way to proceed in my great to Undertaking, is to explain who I am myself that promise to give the Town a daily Half-Sheet: I fhall therefore enter into VOL. I.

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my own History, without lofing any time in Preamble. I was born in the Year 1642, at a lone House within half a Mile of the Town of Brentford, in the County of Middlefex; my Parents were of Ability to bestow upon me a liberal Education, and of an Humour to think that a great Happiness even in a Fortune which was but just enough to keep me above Want. my fixteenth Year I was admitted a Commoner of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford. It is one great Advantage, among many more, which Men educated at our Univerfities do ufually enjoy above others, that they often contract Friendships there, which are of Service to them in all the Parts of their future Life. This good Fortune happened to me; for during the time of my being an Under-Graduate, I became intimately acquainted with Mr. Ambrofe Lizard, who was a Fellow-Commoner of the Neighbouring College. I have the Honour to be well known to Mr. Jofeph Pullen, of our Hall abovementioned; and attribute the florid Old Age I now enjoy, to my conftant Morning Walks up Hedington-Hill in his chearful Company. If the Gentleman be ftill living, I hereby give him my humble Service. But as I was going to fay, I contracted in my early Youth an intimate Friendship with young Mr. Lizard of Northamptonshire. He was fent for, a little before he was of Bachelor's ftanding, to be married to Mrs. Jane Lizard, an Heiress, whofe Father would have it fo for the

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