From my own Apartment, April 13.

I find it of very great Use, now I am fetting up for a Writer of News, that I am an Adept in Aftrological Speculations; by which Means, I avoid fpeaking of Things which may offend Great Perfons. But at the fame Time, I must not prostitute the Liberal Sciences fo far, as not to utter the Truth in Cafes which do not immediately concern the Good of my Native Country. I must therefore contradict what has been fo affuredly reported by the News-Writers of England, That France is in the most deplorable Condition, and that their People die in great Multitudes. I will therefore let the World know, that my Correfpondent, by the Way of Bruffels, informs me, upon his Honour, That the Gentleman who writes the Gazette of Paris, and ought to know as well as any Man, has told him, That ever fince the King has been past his 63d Year, or Grand Climacterick, there has not dy'd one Man of the French Nation who was younger than his Majefty, except a very few, who were taken fuddenly near the Village of Hockstet in Germany; and fome more, who were straitned for Lodging at a Place call'd Ramelies, and died on the Road to Ghent and Bruges. There are also other Things given out by the Allies, which are Shifts below a Conquering Nation to make use of. Among others, 'tis faid, There is a general Murmuring among the People of

France,

France, tho' at the fame Time all my Letters agree, That there is fo good an Understanding among them, that there is not one Morfel carty'd out of any Market in the Kingdom, but what is deliver'd upon Credit:

The TATLER. [N° 3. From Thurfd. Apr. 14. to Saturd. Apr. 16.1709.

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Will's Coffee-house, April 14.

HIS Evening, the Comedy, call'd The Country Wife, was acted in Drury-Lane, for the Benefit of Mrs. Bignall. The Part which gives Name to the Play was perform'd by her felf. Through the whole Action, she made a very pretty Figure, and exactly enter'd into the Nature of the Part. Her Huf band, in the Drama, is represented to be one of those Debauchees who run through the Vices of the Town, and believe when they think fit they can marry and fettle at their Ease. His own Knowledge of the Iniquity of the Age, makes him chufe a Wife wholly ignorant of it, and place his Security in her Want of Skill how to abufe him. The Poet, on many Occafions, where the Propriety of the Character will admit of it, infinuates, That there is no Defence against Vice, but the Contempt of it: And has, in the Natural Ideas, €

of

of an Untainted Innocent, fhown the gradual Steps to Ruin and Destruction, which Perfons of Condition run into, without the Help of a good Education how to form their Conduct. The Torment of a Jealous Coxcomb, which arifes from his own False Maxims, and the Aggravation of his Pain, by the very Words in which he fees her Innocence, makes a very pleasant and inftructive Satyr. The Character of Horner, and the Design of it, is a good Representation of the Age in which that Comedy was written; at which Time Love and Wenching were the Business of Life, and the Gallant Manner of pursuing Women was the beft Recommendation at Court. To which only it is to be imputed, that a Gentleman of Mr. Wicherley's Character and Senfe, condefcends to reprefent the Infults done to the Honour of the Bed, without just Reproof; but to have drawn a Man of Probity with Regard to fuch Confiderations, had been a Monfter, and a Poet had at that Time difcover'd his Want of knowing the Manners of the Court he liv'd in, by a Virtuous Character in his fine Gentleman, as he would fhow his Ignorance, by drawing a Vicious One to please the prefent Audience. Mrs. Bignall did her Part very happily, and had a certain Grace in her Rufticity, which gave us Hopes of feeing her a very Skilful Player, and in fome Parts, fupply our Lofs of Mrs. Verbruggen. I cannot be of the fame Opinion with my Friends and Fellow-Labourers, the Reformers of Manners,

in their Severity towards Plays, but must allow, that a good Play, acted before a wellbred Audience, muft raife very proper Incitements to good Behaviour, and be the most quick and most prevailing Method of giving Young People a Turn of Senfe and Breeding. But as I have fet up for a Weekly Hiftorian, I refolve to be a Faithful One; and therefore take this publick Occafion, to admonish a Young Nobleman, who came flufter'd into the Box laft Night, and let him know, how much all his Friends were out of Countenance for him. The Women fate in Terror of hear ing fomething that should shock their Modefty, and all the Gentlemen in as much Pain, out of Compaffion to the Ladies, and perhaps Resentment for the Indignity which was of fer'd in coming into their Prefence in so difrespectful a Manner. Wine made him fay Nothing that was Rude, therefore he is for given, upon Condition he will never hazard his offending more in this kind. As I just now hinted, I own my felf of the Society for Reformation of Manners. We have lower Instruments than those of the Family of Bicker Staff, for punishing great Crimes, and expofing the Abandon'd. Therefore, as I defign to have Notices from all Publick Affemblies, I fhall take upon me only Indecorums, Improprieties, and Negligences, in fuch as fhould give us better Examples. After this Declara tion, if a Fine Lady thinks fit to giggle at Church, or a Great Beau come in drunk to a

C 2

Playa

Play, either fhall be fure to hear of it in my enfuing Paper: For meerly as a well-bred Man, I cannot bear these Enormities.

After the Play, we naturally ftroll to this Coffee-house, in Hopes of meeting some new Poem, or other Entertainment, among the Men of Wit and Pleafure, where there is a Dearth at present. But it is wonderful there fhould be fo few Writers, when the Art is become meerly Mechanick, and Men may make themselves Great that Way, by as certain and infallible Rules, as you may be a Joiner or a Mafon. There happens a good Instance of this, in what the Hawker juft now has offer'd to Sale; to wit, Instructions to Vanderbank; A Sequel to the Advice to the Poets; A Poem, occafioned by the Glorious Success of her Majesty's Arms, under the Command of the Duke of Marlborough, the last Year in Flanders. Here you are to understand, that the Author finding the Poets would not take his Advice, he troubles himself no more about 'em ; but has met with one Vanderbank, who works in Arras, and makes very good Tapestry Hangings: Therefore, in order to celebrate the Hero of the Age, he claps me together all that can be faid of a Man that makes Hangings: As,

Then, Artift, who doft Nature's Face express
In Silk and Gold, and Scenes of Action dress
Doft figur'd Arras animated leave,

Spin a Bright Story, or a Paffion weavg

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