make you persuade Punch to pull the string from his chops, and not move his jaw when I have a mind he should harangue. Now, I appeal to all men, if this be not contrary to that unaccountable and uncontroulable dominion, which by the laws of nature I exercise over them; for all sorts of wood and wire were made for the use and benefit of man: I have, therefore, an unquestionable right to frame, fashion, and put them together as I please; and having made them what they are, my puppets are my property, and therefore my slaves: nor is there in nature any thing more just, than the homage which is paid by a less to a more excellent being: so that by the right, therefore, of a superior genius, I am their supreme moderator, although you would insinuate, agreeably to your levelling principles, that I am myself but a great puppet, and can therefore have but a co-ordinate jurisdiction with them. I suppose, I have now sufficiently made it appear, that I have a paternal right" to keep a puppet show, and this right I will maintain in prologues on all occasions. And, therefore, if you write a defence of yourself against this my self-defence, I admonish you to keep within bounds; for every day will not be so propitious to you as the twenty-ninth of April; and perhaps my resentment may get the better of my generosity, and I may no longer scorn to fight one who is not my equal, with unequal weapons: there are such things as scandalums magnatums; therefore, take heed hereafter how you write such things as I 13 Sir Robert Filmer published two books; one on the "Anarchy of a limited and mixed Monarchy," the other on Patriarchal Government; in which he endeavours to prove that all government was monarchical at first; that paternal is the same as royal authority, and implies despotic power, &c. &c.. cannot easily answer, for that will put me in a pas sion. I order you to handle only these two propositions, to which our dispute may be reduced: the first, whether I have not an absolute power, whenever I please, to light a pipe with one of Punch's legs, or warm my fingers with his whole carcass? the second, whether the devil would not be in Punch, should he by word or deed oppose my sovereign will and pleasure? and then, perhaps, I may, if I can find leisure for it, give you the trouble of a second letter. But if you intend to tell me of the original of puppet-shows; and the several changes and revolutions that have happened in them since Thespis, and I do not care who, that is Noli me tangere! I have solemnly engaged to say nothing of what I cannot approve. Or, if you talk of certain contracts with the mayor and burgesses, or fees to the constables, for the privilege of acting, I will not write one single word about any such matters; but shall leave you to be mumbled by the learned and very ingenious author of a late book, who knows very well what is to be said and done in such cases. He is now shuffling the cards, and dealing to Timothy; but if he wins the game, I will send him to play at back-gammon with you; and then he will satisfy you, that deuce-ace makes five. And so, submitting myself to be tried by my country, and allowing any jury of twelve good men, and true, to be that country; not excepting any unless Mr. Isaac Bickerstaff to be of the pannel, for you are neither good nor true, I bid you heartily farewell; and am, · SIR, your loving friend, 'POWEL.' STEELE. INDEX. ABSOLUTE BSOLUTE power represented in a dance..... Advice not asked for information, but out of fulness and perplexity of heart... not to be given to every body. Esculapius falls in love with the divine Hebe........ Africanus, character of..... annuities magnanimity of, and manner of purchasing Age, by what rendered most agreeable...... Alchymist, of Ben Jonson, remarks on.............................. Allen, a player, founder of Dulwich college Almanack, Oxford, for 1709, considered........ Alost, attempt to surprise the garrison of............. Amanda, the happy wife of Florio, character of......... 49 Artillery company of London, description of an exer- Aspasia, a most excellent woman, character of.......... 42 Asturias, prince of, acknowledged heir to the crown of Avaro, a mean-spirited rich man, described.......................... BACHELOR'S Scheme to govern a wife Bankers, why poems ought to be taken for bills by.. desired to act the widow at Mr. Bicker- 47 No. 10 49 77 No. ......... 16 Bath, commotions among the good company at Bear, meaning of the word, explained... Beauty, every temper to be softened by 6 .10, 15 Belfry, an ignorant clown, behaviour of, at lady Dainty's 37 offer of, to his creditors...... ...3, 5, 29 Betterton, a celebrated player, account of the benefit Bickerstaff, Isaac, an adept in astronomical specula- tions.. 1. 2 did not compound with the milliners and toymen gives advice for his own sake Bodily wits, who.... Bicknell, or Bignell, Mrs. a comedian, commended Billet-doux concerning a rival....... Birth, to be proud of, the greatest of vanities. Bracegirdle, Mrs. an excellent player......... Bribery, a poem on........ a treatise on............ acts the Country Wife 29 11 45 1 42 42 Brussels postscript, a poem, remarks on .................................... Buckley, Mr. a Drawcansir.. Bullock and Penkethman, comedians, to attend Mr. Bickerstaff's funeral... Busy Body, a comedy, character of. CADOGAN, major-general, arrives at Brussels 46 18 11 19 38 155 Camilla, account of the person who performed the cha- racter of, in the opera...... No. Campaign, a poem, by Addison, character of............ 43 Cancrum, merit of... Cant of modern men of wit Cards take the place of poetry Careless, Frank, opposed to Fop Nice.................... 14 Challenge, the style of......... Children, the manner of nursing... Chloe, love of, makes coxcombs... Circumspection-water, Bickerstaff's, wonderful effects of.. Citizens distinguished from cits............................................................................... Clidamira, a woman of distinction, a pretty lady. Companions, what sort of, most desirable Compassion often the weakest part about us............... 2, 34 Contention between two ladies for the title of very pretty Conversation, mutual goodwill the quintessence of...... 45 repartees in... the most necessary talent in....... Copenhagen poetically described by Ambrose Philips. 12 Coquettes a mischievous sect.. Corinna, a kept mistress, manner of life of, with Lim- Country, ignorant of Mr. Bickerstaff's writings.. Country Wife, a comedy, remarks on..... .................................................. Critic, great, falls into a fit at the opera............................................... Custom the cause of duels........ Cynthio, adventure of, at the playhouse dictating on the passion of love...... effects of a bow from his mistress on.................... falls in love.... ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ resolution of, and letter to his mistress thereon 35 DAMIA, a woman of distinction, a very pretty lady..... 34 |