for Jackfon's Journal!-Prayer for the heads on Temple Bar! In thefe pious addreffes he would firft invoke the Supreme Being in the moft fo'eran manner; then fuddenly flide into the familiar, and pray, that we might not hear the croaking of Dutch Nightingales in the king's chambers;'-or on another occafion, that our clergy might not ftudy Shakespeare more than the Gofpel, and that they might be rather employed on the Evangelifts, than As You Like It, or Much Ado About 'Nothing.' I cannot but likewife lament the lofs of the entertainment which his advertifements used to give us every Saturday in the news-papers. The terms in which they were commonly expreffed were clear and elegant, and furnished the reader with an admirable idea of the docter's manner from the pulpit. For inftance, when he told you his text was from Ifaiah, and quoted these words; Strt! 10 Jun. No Hnur! Down with the Rmp! we might form a tolerable judgment of the great reverence he paid the Bible; and when he called his affcmbly-The ORATORY-P. Charles's Chapel-we might guefs at his loyalty and patriotifm. Thefe were the advantages which we derived from his Chapel; and if the Oratory remains fhut, I fhall begin to fear that things will continue in their pretent fhocking state; and that the fcheme lately propofed in one of my papers for abolishing Chriftianity will not take effect; at which I am more particularly concerned, as it will hinder the advancement of this great man. For, if fuch a revolution fhould happen in the church, the Orator's principies would be found fo entirely fundamental, that he would probably then hold fome honourable station, equal to our prefent Archbishop of Canterbury, The public, for thefe reafons, will doubtiefs join with me in a petition, that this illuftrious divine would again relume his ftation in the pulpit: at leaft I could wish that fume able theologist, who has been long practifed in deciding on the moit abftrafe points of religion in the Robin Hood Society, may be deputed, in the abience of the orator, to officiate as his curate. I would alfo recommend it to the members of the above mentioned Society to attend thefe Thus much I thought myself bound - TO MR. BALDWIN AND MR. TOWN. practite it, and your author, Mr. Town, (i.e. Mr. No body, for he dares not publish his Name and abole, nor confront one he abufc.) is the Grea eft of Grievances; it is the Liberty of Lying and of-Slandering, and deftroving Reputations, to make four Paper fell; R.putation is dearer than Life, and your and your Scribbler's BLOOD fhould after your Scandal:-You have published the Scoundrel's Dictionary, put bis Name and your own into it; He and you have often be attered the Oratar and Oratory in Clare Maket-the Oratory is NOT in Clar: Market, which is in a different Parifh; So that You and He LYE:* and Butchers are [fel dom *This reminds me of a fimilar defence made by Ward the doggrel-writer, whofe genius for poetry was exactly of a piece with that of our orator for profe compofitions. Jacob, 31 dom blotted out] never there;-You both LYE too in faying, that it is calculated (INTENDED) for Athaifm and Infidelity, it's Religion is-the Obligation of Man to refemble the Attributes of God to his power, by the practice of Univerfal Right Reafon; believing Christianity of Cariit called Refon he wifdom of God.-This is the Reverf of Atheifin and Infidelity -and Biafphemy.' The writer of the following, who figns himfeif a Member of the Robin-Hood Society, threatens me, that in cafe 1 do not print his letter immediately, the question. Whether Mr. Town be a greater fool or a scoundrel,' shall be debated at their next meeting, SIR, TO MR. TOWN. Would have you to know, that the perion as fent you the account of our club did not do right. IIe reprefents us all as a pack of tradesmen and mechanics, and would have you think as how there are no gentlemen among us. But that is not the cafe: I am a gentleand we have a great riany topping people befides, Though Mr. Prefident is but a baker, and we have a fhoemaker, and fome other handicraft (men, that come to talk: yet I can affure you man, they know as much of religion and the good of their country, (and other fuch matters) as any of we gentlemen. But, as I faid, we have a good many topping folks befides myfelf: for there is not a night, but we have feveral young lawyers and counsellors, and doctors, and furgeons, and captains, and poets, and players, and a great many Irishmen and Scotchmen (very fine fpeakers) who follow no bufinefs; befides feveral foreigners, who are all of them great men in their own country. And we have one fquire, who lives at t'other end of the town, and always comes in his chariot. And fo as I faid, we have a good many tip-top people, as can talk as well as any of your play-folks or parfons: and as for my part every body knows that I am a lord's gentleman, and never was the man that wore a livery in my life. I have been of the club more or lefs off and on for thefe fix years, and never let a queftion país me, Mr. Prefident knows it: and though I fay it that fhould not fay it, I can talk (and so can any of our club) as well as the beft of you poets can write. And fo as I faid, I expect you will put it in your paper, that we have a great many genthemen in our club befides myself. Your humble fervant, T JAMES WAIT. N° XXXVIII. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1754 AT a certain coffee-hotife near the they can remember from plays, or what Temple, the bar is kept by a pretty coquet; a piece of furniture almost as neceffary for a coffee room in that fitua tion as the news-papers. This lady, you may be fure, has many admirers, who are now and then glad of an opportunity to relieve themfelves from the fevere ftudly of the law by a foft converfation with this fair one, and repeating on the occafion all the tender things ever elfe orgeat or capillaire can infpire. Among the many pretenders to her fayour, there is one faithful fwain, who has long entertained a ferious paffion for her. This tender-hearted gentleman, who is grown fc lean with living upon love, that one would imagine the blafts of January would blow him through and through,' comes every evening, and fits whole hours by the in his account of Ward, happened to fay, that of late years he had kept a public-house in the city. This Mr. Ward highly refented; and in a book, called Apollo's Maggot, declared it to be a LYE, protefting that his public-houfe was NOT in the City, but in Moorfields, bar, bar, gazing at his miftrefs, and taking in large draughts of love and hyfon tea. Never was fwain in fuch cruel circumftances. He is forced to hear with patience all the haughty infolence of this goddess of bread and butter; who, as the knows him in her power, keeps him at a distance, though he behaves with the pertest familiarity to the other coxcombs, who are continually buzzing about her. At eleven he fneaks off pale and difcontented; but cannot forbear coming again the next evening, though he knows how vilely he fhall be ufed by his miftreis, and that he fhall be laughed at even by the waiters. If all true lovers were obliged, like this unhappy gentleman, to carry on their cour fhips in public, we should be witnefs to many frenes equally ridiculous. Their aukward defre of pleafing influences every trivial gefture; and when love has once got poffeffion of a man's heart, it fhews itfelf down to the tips of his fingers. The converfation of a languifhing inamorato is made up chiefly of dumb figns, fuch as fighs, ogles, or glances: but if he offers to break his paflion to his miftrefs, there is fuch a flammering, faultering, and half-wording the matter, that the language of love, fo much talked of by poets, is in truth no language at all. Whoever fhould break in upon a gentleman and lady, while fo critical a converfation is going forward, would not forbear laughing at fuch an extraordinary téte à téte, and would perhaps cry out with Ranger, that nothing looks fo filly as a pair of your true lovers,' Since true and fincere love is fure to make it's votaries thus ridiculous, we cannot fufficiently commend our prefent people of quality, who have made fuch laudable attempts to deliver themselves and pofterity from it's bondage. In a fathionable wedding, the man or woman are neither of them confidered as reafonable creatures, who come together in order to comfort, love, cherish, honour, or obey,' according to their refpective duties, but are regarded merely as inftruments of joining one eftate to another. Acre marries acre; and to increase and multiply their for tunes, is in genteel matches the chief confideration of man and wife. The courtship is carried on by the council of rach party; and they pay their addreffes by billet-doux upon parchment. The great conveniency of expelling love from matrimony is very evident: married perfons of quality are never troubled with each other's company abroad, or fatigued with dull matrimonial difcourfes at home: my lord keeps his girl, my lady has her gallant; and they both enjoy all the fashionable privilege of wedlock without the inconveniences." This would never be the cafe, if there was the leaft fpark of love fubfifting between them; but they must be reduced to the fame fituation with thofe wretches who (as they have nothing to fettle on each other but themselves) are obliged to make up the deficiencies of fortune by affection. But while thefe miferable, fond, doating, unfashionable couples, are obliged to content themfelves with love and a cottage, people of quality enjoy the comforts of indifference and a coach and fix. It The late Marriage act is excellently adapted to promote this prudential pro ceeding with refpect to wedlock. will in time inevitably abolish the old fyftem of founding mati imony on affection; and marrying for love will be given up for the fake of marrying according to act of parliament. There is now no danger of an handfome wor thy young fellow of finall fortune running away with an heirefs; for it is not fufficient to infinuate himself into the lady's favour by a voluble tongue and a good perfon, unlete he can also fubdue the confiderate parents or guardians by the merits of his rent roll. As this act promotes the method of difpofing of children by way of bargain and fale, it confequently puts an end to that ridiculous courtip, arifing from fimple love. In order therefore to confirm (as far as poffible) the happy confequences of this act, I have been long endeavouring to hit on fome expedient, by which all the circumstances preparatory to wedlock may be carried on in a proper manner. A Smithfield bargain being fo common in metaphor, I had once fome thoughts of propofing to realize it, and had almost compleated a plan, by which all the young perfons (like fervant-girls at a ftatute-fair in the country) were to be brought to market, and difpofed of in one part of Smithfield, while the sheep and horfes were on fale in another. In the midst of thefe ferious confidera, tions, I received a fcheine of this nature from from my good friend Mr. Keith, whofe chapel the late Marriage-act has rendered useless on it's original principles. This reverend gentleman, feeing that all husbands and wives are henceforward to be put up to fale, propofes fhortly to open his chapel on a more new and fafhionable plan. As the ingenious Meffieurs Henfon and Bever have lately opened, in different quarters of the town, Repofitories for all horfes to be fold by auction; Mr. Keith intends fetting up a Repofitory for all young males and females to be difpofed of in marriage. From these ftuds (as the Dotor himself expreffes it) a lady of beauty may be coupled to a man of fortune; and an old gentleman, who has a colt's tooth remaining, may match himself with a tight young filly. The Doctor makes no doubt, but his chapel will turn out even more to his advantage on this new plan than on it's first institution, provided he can fecure his fcheme to himfelf, and reap the benefits of it without interlopers from the Fleet. To prevent his design being pirated, he intends petitioning the parliament, that as he has been fo great a fufferer by the Marriage act, the fole right of opening a Repofitory of this fort may be vested in him, and that his place of refidence in May Fair may ftill continue the grand mart for marriages. Of the first day of fale proper notice will be given in the public papers; and in the mean time I am defired to communicate the following specimen of his ftock to my readers. SATALOGUE OF MALES AND FEMALES TO BE DISPOSED OF IN An Homely Thing that can read, write, caft accounts, and make an excellent pudding.-This lot to be bid for by none but hop-keepers or country parfons. Three Maiden Ladies-aged-to be bid for by none but fout young fellows of fix foot, found wind and limb, and without blemish. Four Widows, young and rich-to be bid for by none but things of mettle and high blood. The Daughter of a Country Squire the father of this Lady came to town to fell a yoke of oxen at Smithfield, and a load of hay in the Haymarket. Whoever buys them fhall have the Lady inte the bargain. A Methodist Lady, relict of a Knight deceated within this twelvemonthwould be a good bargain to any handfome young gentleman, who would comfort her in the Spirit. A very pretty Young Woman, but a good deal in debt-would be glad to marry a Member of Parliament, or a Jew. An handfome Housekeeper, just come out of the country-would do for any private gentleman. She has been used to go in an one horfe-chair, and is fit for a citizen's fervice on a Sunday. A tall Irishman, warranted found, lately in the poffeffion of a Lady Dowager. The reafon of his being fold, is that the owner (who is married) has no further ufe for him. A Blood of the first rate, very wild, and has run loufe all his life, but is now broke, and will prove very tractable. An Hackney Writer, troubled with. the farcy, broken-winded, and very MARRIAGE TO THE BEST BIDDER, poor-would be glad to be released from AT MR. KEITH'S REPOSITORY IN A Lady of Quality, very high blood; related by the mother's fide to a peer of France; her dam came from one of the oldeft families in Wales, and her great great great grandfire was brought ever with William the Conqueror. Fit to go in a coach and fix, and proper for any rich tradefiman, who is defirous to mend the breed. Her lowest price, to prevent trouble, is 500l. per ann. pinmoney, and a proportionable jointure. A Young Lady of 100,000l. fortune -to be bid for by none under the degree of peers, or a commoner of at least treble he income. his prefent mafter, a bookfeller, and bear the lefs grievous yoke of matrimony. Whoever will take him into feeding fhall have his Pegasus into the bargain. A Young Ward, now in training at Eton fchool.-The guardian is willing to part with him to any lady for a round fum of money.-If not fold, he will be fent into the country, and matched with his guardian's daughter. Five Templars-all Irish-No one to bid for thele lots of less than 10,000l. fortune. N° XXXIX. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1754 SEPULCHRI MITTE SUPERVACUOS HONORES, HOR. THESE BUT THE TRAPPINGS AND THE SIGNS OF WOE. AST was paffing the other night through a narrow little lane in the fkirts of the city, I was hopped by a grand proceflion of an hearfe and three mourning-coaches drawn by fix horfes, accompanied with a great number of flambeaus and attendants in black. I naturally concluded that all this parade was employed to pay the lait honours to fome eminent perfon, whole confequence in life required that his ashes should receive all the refpect which his friends and relations could pay them: but I could not help fimiling, when upon en quiry I was told, that the corpfe (on whom all this expence had been lavished) was no other than Tom Tafter, the cheesemonger, who had lain in ftate all the week at his houfe in Thames Street, and was going to be depofited with his ancefiors in Whitechapel burying-ground. This illuftrious perfonage was the fon of 2 butcher in Whitechapel, and died, in deed, but in indifferent circumftances: his widow, however, for the honour of her family, was refolved at all events to BURY HIM HANDSOMELY. I have already taken notice of that ridiculous affectation among the middling fort of people, which induces them to make a figure beyond their circumftances: nor is this vanity leis abfurd, which extends to the duit, and by which the dead are made acceffary to robbing the living. I have frequently known a greater fum expended at the funeral of a tradesman, than would have kept his whole family for a twelvemonth; and it has more than once happened, that the next heir has been flung into gaol, for not being able to pay the undertaker's bill. This abfurd notion of being HANDSOMELY BURIED, has given rife to the most contradictory customs that could poffibly be contrived for the advantage of death-hunters. As funerals are at prefent conducted, all diftin&tion is loft among us; and there is no more difference between the duke and the dancing-mafter in the manner of their SHAKESPEARES burial, than is to be found between their duft in the grave. It is eafy to account for the introduction of the hearse and mourning-coach in our funeral ceremonies; though their propriety is entirely deftroyed by the promiscuous ufe of them. Our ancient and noble families may be fuppofed to have particular family-vaults near their manfion-houfes in the country, and in which their progenitors have been deposited for ages. 'It is therefore very natural, that perfons of diftinction, who had been used to be conveyed to their country-feats by a fet of horfes, thould be aifo transported to their graves by the fame number; and be attended with the fame magnificence at their deaths, which they had been accuítomed to in their lives. But the fpirit of affecting the manners of the great has made the lowest plebeians vie with people of quality in the pomp of their burials: a tradefman, who has trudged on foot all his life, fhall be carried after death, fcarce an hundred yards from his houfe, with the cquipage and retinue of a lord; and the plodding cit, whofe ambition never foared beyond the occafional one-horfe chair, mutt bedrag. ged to his long home by fix horses. Such an ill timed oftentation of grandeur appears to me no lefs ridiculous than the vanity of the highwayman, who fold his body to the furgeons, that he might hire a mourning-coach, and go to the gallows like a gentleman. There is another custom, which was doubtlefs first introduced by the great, but has been fince adopted by others, who have not the leaft title to it. The Herald's Office was originally instituted for the diftinction and prefervation of gentility; and nobody is allowed to bear a coat of arms unless it is peculiarly appropriated to the family, and the bearer himfelf is entitled to that honourable badge. From this confideration we may account for the practice of hang.. ing the hearfe round with escutcheons, on which the arms of the deceased were blazoned, and which ferved to denote whole |