THE LUCUBRATIONS O F Ifaac Bickerftaff, Efq; VOL. I. Οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον ἔνδειν βοληφόρον άνδρα. HOME R. A Cenfor ought not to fleep out the whole Night. DUBLIN: Printed for G. RICK, G. and A. EWING, and то Mr. MANWARING. SIR, T HE State of Converfation and Bufinefs in this Town having been long perplexed with Pretenders in both Kinds; in order to open Mens Eyes against fuch Abuses, it appeared no unprofitable Undertaking to publish a Paper which fhould obferve upon the Manners of the Pleafurable, as well as the Bufy Part of Mankind. To make this generally read, it seemed the most proper Method to form it by Way of a Letter of Intelligence, confifting of fuch Parts as might gratify the Curiofity of Perfons of all Conditions, and of each Sex. But a Work of this Nature requiring Time to grow into the Notice of the World, it happen'd very luckily, that a little before I had refolved upon this Defign, a Gentleman had written Predictions, and two or three other Pieces in my Name, which had rendered it famous through all Parts of Europe; and by an inimitable Spirit and Humour, raifed it to as high a Pitch of Reputation as it could poffibly arrive at. BY this good Fortune the Name of Ifaac Bickerstaff gained an Audience of all who had any Tafte of Wit; and the Addition of the ordinary Occurrences of common Journals of News brought. in a Multitude of other Readers. I could not,. I confefs, long keep up the Opinion of the Town, that these Lucubrations were written by the fame Hand with the firft Works which were published under my Name; but before I loft the Participation of that Author's Fame, I had already found the Advantage of his Authority, to which I owe the fudden Acceptance which my Labours met with in the World. THE general Purpose of this Paper, is to expofe the falfe Arts of Life, to pull off the Difguifes of Cunning, Vanity and Affectation, and to recommend a general Simplicity in our Drefs, our Difcourse, and our Behaviour. No Man has a better Judgment for the Discovery, or a nobler Spirit for the Contempt of all Impofture, than your felf; which Qualities render you the most proper Patron for the Author of thefe Effays. In the general, the Defign, however executed, has met with fo great Succefs, and there is hardly a Name now eminent among us for Power, Wit, Beauty, Valour or Wif dom, which is not fubfcribed, for the Encouragement of thefe Volumes. This is indeed an Honour, for which it is impoffible to express a suitable Gratitude; and there is nothing could be an Addition to the Pleasure I take in it, but the Reflection that it gives me the moft confpicuous Occafion I can ever have, of subscribing my self, SIR, Your moft Obliged, most Obedient, and moft Humble Servant, Ifaac Bickerftaff. THE TATLER: BY Ifaac Bickerstaff, Esq; VOL. I. Quicquid agunt Homines noftri Farrago Libelli. The Actions of Mankind are the Subject of my Collections. T Tuesday, April 12, 1709. HO the other Papers, which are published for the Ufe of the good People of England, have certainly very wholefome Effects, and are laudable in their particular Kinds, they do not feem to come up to the main Design of fuch Narrations, which, I humbly prefume, should be principally intended for the Ufe of politic Perfons, who are so publick Spirited as to neglect their own Affairs to look into Tranfactions of State. Now thefe Gentlemen, for the most part, being Perfons of ftrong Zeal, and weak Intellects, it is both a charitable and neceffary Work to offer fomething whereby fuch worthy and well affected Members of the Commonwealth may be inftructed, after their Reading, what to think; which shall be the End and purpose of this my Paper, wherein I shall from Time to Time report and confider all Matters of what Kind foever that shall occur. to me, and publish fuch my Advices and Reflections every A 3 Tuesday, |