good of the public, slight men are eternally buzzing in our ears, to cover their own follies and miscarriages. It would be an addition to the high favour you have done me, if you would let Eucrate send me word how often, and in what cases, you allow a constable to insist upon the prerogative. From the highest to the lowest officer in your dominions, something of their own carriage they would exempt from examination, under the shelter of the word prerogative. I would fain, most noble Pharamond, see one of your officers assert your prerogative by good and gracious actions. When is it used to help the afflicted, to rescue the innocent, to comfort the stranger? Uncommon methods, apparently undertaken to attain worthy ends, would never make power invidious. You see, sir, I talk to you with the freedom your noble nature approves in all whom you admit to your conversation.

'But to return to your majesty's letter, I humbly conceive that all distinctions are useful to men, only as they are to act in public; and it would be a romantic madness for a man to be a lord in his closet. Nothing can be honourable to a man apart from the world, but the reflection upon worthy actions; and he that places honour in a consciousness of welldoing, will have but little relish for any outward homage that is paid him, since what gives him distinction to himself, cannot come within the observation of his beholders. Thus all the words of lordship, honour, and grace, are only repetitions to a man that the king has ordered him to be called so; but no evidences that there is any thing in himself, that would give the man, who applies to him, those ideas, without the creation of his master.

'I have, most noble Pharamond, all honours and all titles in your own approbation: I triumph in them as they are your gift, I refuse them as they are to give me the observation of others. Indulge me, my

noble master, in this chastity of renown; let me know myself in the favour of Pharamond; and look down upon the applause of the people. I am, In all duty and loyalty,

'Your majesty's most obedient
'subject and servant,

'JEAN CHEZLUY.' }

'I NEED not tell with what disadvantages men of low fortunes and great modesty come into the world; what wrong measures their diffidence of themselves, and fear of offending, often oblige them to take; and what a pity it is that their greatest virtues and qualities, that should soonest recommend them, are the main obstacle in the way of their preferment.

This, sir, is my case; I was bred at a country school, where I learned Latin and Greek. The misfortunes of my family forced me up to town where a profession of the politer sort has protected me against infamy and want. I am now clerk to a lawyer, and, in times of vacancy and recess from business, have made myself master of Italian and French; and though the progress I have made in my business has gained me reputation enough for one of my standing, yet my mind suggests to me every day, that it is not upon that foundation I am to build my fortune.

The person I have my present dependence upon, has it in his nature, as well as in his power, to advance me, by recommending me to a gentleman that is going beyond sea in a public employment. I know the printing this letter would point me out to those I want confidence to speak to, and I hope it is not in your power to refuse making any body happy.

September 9, 1712.
T.

'Yours, &c.

N° 481. THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 1712.

Ut non

Compositus melius cum Bitho Bacchius. In jus
Acres procurrunt-

HOR.

Sat.

1. vii. 19.

Who shall decide when doctors disagree,
And soundest casuists doubt like you and me?
POPE.

IT is sometimes pleasant enongh to consider the
different notions which different persons have of the
same thing. If men of low condition very often set
a value on things which are not prized by those
who are in a higher station of life, there are many
things these esteem which are in no value among
persons of an inferior rank. Common people are, in
particular, very much astonished when they hear
of those solemn contests and debates, which are.
made among the great upon the punctilios of a pub-
lic ceremony; and wonder to hear that any busi-
ness of consequence should be retarded by those
little circumstances, which they represent to them-
selves as trifling and insignificant. I am mightily.
pleased with a porter's decision in one of Mr.
Southern's plays, which is founded upon that fine
distress of a virtuous woman's marrying a second
husband, while her first was yet living. The first
husband, who was supposed to have been dead,
returning to his house, after a long absence, raises a
noble perplexity for the tragic part of the play. In
the mean while the nurse and the porter conferring
the difficulties that would ensue in such a case,
upon
honest Samson thinks the matter may be easily de-
cided, and solves it very judiciously by the old pro-
verb, that, if his first master be still living, the man
must have his mare again.' There is nothing in
my time which has so much surprised and

6

confounded the greatest part of my honest countrymen, as the present controversy between Count Rechteren and Monsieur Mesnager, which employs the wise heads of so many nations, and holds all the affairs of Europe in suspense.

Upon my going into a coffee-house yesterday, and lending an ear to the next table, which was encompassed with a circle of inferior politicians, one of them, after having read over the news very attentively, broke out into the following remarks: I am afraid,' says he, ' this unhappy rupture between the footman at Utrecht will retard the peace of Christendom. I wish the pope may not be at the bottom of it. His holiness has a very good hand at fomenting a division, as the poor Swiss cantons have lately experienced to their cost. If Monsieur What-d'ye call-him's domestics will not come to an accommodation, I do not know how the quarrel can be ended but by a religious war.'

Why truly,' says a wiseacre that sat by him 'were I as the king of France, I would scorn to take part with the footmen of either side: here's all the business of Europe stands still, because Monsieur Mesnager's man has had his head broke. If Count Rectrum* had given them a pot of ale after it, all would have been well, without any of this bustle; but they say he's a warm man, and does not care to be made mouths at.'

Upon this, one that had held his tongue hitherto, began to exert himself; declaring,' that he was very well pleased the plenipotentiaries of our Christian princes took this matter into their serious consideration; for that lackeys were never so saucy and pragmatical as they are now-a-days, and that he should be glad to see them taken down in the treaty of peace, if it might be done without prejudice to the public affairs.'

Count Rechteren.

One who sat at the other end of the table, and seemed to be in the interests of the French king, told them, that they did not take the matter right, for that his most Christian majesty did not resent this matter because it was an injury done to Monsieur Mesnager's footman; for,' says he,' what are Monsieur Mesnager's footmen to him? but because it was done to his subjects. Now,' says he, 'let me tell you, it would look very odd for a subject of France to have a bloody nose, and his sovereign not to take notice of it. He is obliged in honour to defend his people against hostilities; and if the Dutch will be so insolent to a crowned head, as in any wise to cuff or kick those who are under his protection, I think he is in the right to call them to an account for it.'

This distinction set the controversy upon a new foot, and seemed to be very well approved by most that heard it, until a little warm fellow, who had declared himself a friend to the house of Austria, fell most unmercifully upon his Gallic majesty, as encouraging his subjects to make mouths at their betters, and afterwards screening them from the punishment that was due to their insolence. To which he added, that the French nation was so addicted to grimace, that, if there was not a stop put to it at the general congress, there would be no walking the streets for them in a time of peace, especially if they continued masters of the West Indies. The little man proceeded with a great deal of warmth, declaring, that, if the allies were of his mind, he would oblige the French king to burn his gallies, and tolerate the protestant religion in his dominions, before he would sheath his sword, He concluded with calling Monsieur Mesnager an insignificant prig.

The dispute was now growing very warm, and one does not know where it would have ended, had