Q. Which fin is more abominable, murder or adultery?

À. Murder, as being more fubftantially so ex naturs rei; whereas adultery is only fin accidentally and circumstantially; yet the last is so great a fin, that the Scripture says, no adulterers fhall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Q. What is the reason that the gelding of a ram pre. vents the growth of the horns, and the gelding of a bull increaseth the growth of the horns?

A. Because the gelding of a ram abates the faline, parts of the seminal liquor, productive of horns; but a bull, being much more prone to venery when gelt, retains more of those faline parts, and not having a Ratural vent for them, they increase the growth of their borns.

Q. Pray folve me what is meant by the word write is your paper, in these lines? For if on them and

you

Phoebus fhione bright, They would grow better, and you better write. A. By the word write, we mean a certain manual operation, rendring pen, ink and paper the vehicles of thoughts; an illustrious demonstration whereof at present offers it felf in that communication of your Icarned question to our judgment for solution.

O., Gentlemen, ye pretend to be the fons of Phoebus, your father indeed foretold bow long his oracle would last; pray solve me how long yours will last? Yours, Sirs,

J. G. J. B. A. We design to answer questions as long as people will send them; and we need not despair of a bushel a week of such as yours from this inquisitive

Q. Gentlemen, I have fubfcrib'd to your paper from the first publishing of the fame, and till now have not sent you one question; and being encourag'd by your numb. 20. (where you say you will do your best to improve mens morals, and enlighten their understandings ) I make bold to Ask your opinion of gaming, whether he that plays or wager's for money, be not guilty of covetousness ? Your answer will either inue or break a gamester, S. F.

A. When

town

A. When any play for more than what is equal to then whether they win or lose, it must be direct coveting of other peoples money; since it can't be thought that any would play with design to lose their own, except to manage thereby fome secret intrigue or stratagem, which may bear a worse interpretation than the other.

Q. What liquor is whole fomeft for our usual drink?

A. Climates and constitutions must be consulted to give answers in particular, but in general we believe true wine and water mixt the wholesomest.

Q. Gentlemen, my taylor has fent me his bill, and reckons 15 Millings for altering an old coat and wastcoat, which is not worih so much now 'tis done, and sets me down 3 pound for i the making of a new fuit of cloaths, which is very unreasonable : but he has wrote a receipt at the bottom, Receiv'd the full contents of this bill. Now whether or noiis it lawful for me to cheat him; and say Ibave paid him this money? A speedy answer will oblige, yours,

J. L. A. The giving more for altering old things than they are worth is no argument the taylor earn'd noc his

money, but that you had no good forecast. As for the loss of his bill, should be draw a longer upon you in Chancery, to bring you upon your oath for the payment of it, and had he money and courage to maintain the suit, your cloaths with their consequences may cost you more than you are aware of; but be your taylor an honest man or a.mere taylor, you cannot in honour or honesty pretend to the benefit of an acquittance for what you have not discharg'd.

Q. Apollo, they say you are as cunning as a conjurer, can you tell me my present thoughts ?

A. Yes, your present thoughts are, that we cannoo
tell them.
Q. Affociated fages,

My wife in a rage is,
I cannot tell how to quell her ;

Sure the dal was in her,

When just novo at dinner, 1 chanc'ě to throw down the falt-cellar.

Like Billingsgate fury,

She scolds, I assure ye, And tells me of bad successo

For the spilling of salt,

(An unpardonable faulty Doth cause, or predia no less. I call her

my

charm,
And tell her no harm
From fo trivial a matter can follow ;

And if she's willing
To wager a shilling,
I'll send the debate to Apollo,

Pray can it declare

An event that is rare,
Or Mew the fuccess of my actions ;

if not for the future,

I defore you'd tutor
Me how to prevent such fractions ;

And whence did arife

Such a foolish furmije,
That spilling of salt on the table

(Like dire portents )

Unlucky events
To signify e'er Nould be able ?

A. Many wagers are fent

Lik yours, with intent
Our Phoebus's fame to advance, Sir,

But like the claret and tea,

Your shilling will be
But a bite to draw in an answer ;

Yet tho we are willing

To finger your shilling,
Without it, we'll tell you the reason

Why spilling of salt

Is esteem'd such a fault,
Because it doth every thing season.

a

Tha

: Th' antiques did opine.

'Twas of friendship a sign,
So serv'd it to guests in decorum ;

And thought love decay'd,

When the negligent maid
Let the falt-cellar tumble before 'em.

These, in ancient romances,

Were the whims and the fancies,
Of those who set up for right thinking
But the moderns, more .wise,

Such trifles despise,

Improving free thought by free drinking
Q. Answer, ye fons of wisdom ; forft I ask,
Why you have undertook so great a task?
Whether for lucre, or t'acquaint the age,
Apollo's fons are fill upon the fage ?
Or is it to refine unpolish'd man?
If so, the blessed Gods prolong your span.

Yours when informed.
A. For lucre ? No, th’expence muft fhew the gains
Can never answer half our time and pains :
Much less, ambition can our minds inspire,
From inquisitions, since we still retire :
To own your last, may be esteem'd a pride ;
We'll leave the world to judge, then, what it is beside.

Q. My life bears date (lo!) eight and twenty years, Whose grief a signal of my fate appears. Sad I remain from early dawn of day, And languid hours contract a dead delay. When lucid beams compose diurnal light, Black thoughts recur, and form a gloomy night. Sol's quickning beams afford my soul no ease, Nor night return'd, do these my torments ceafe. How oft, alas ! have I, tho' vainly strove, My mind to re-instate, my cares to move : If I the muses court, or poets read, Some new reflections new afflictions breed. on fabbath days 10 church I gladly go, Hoping devotion might exclude my woe ;

head i

But when to gracious heaven I make appeal,
My pray'rs want fervor, my prostration zeal.
What wandring dreams attend my turbid reft,
Cimmerian darkness hovers o'er my breast i
These dismal fogs, and misty vapours fled,
From pond'rous fetters loose, I raise my
Luxuriant joys my fickly senfes clear,
How can I well the great mutation bear ?
Thus both extremes conspire to wreck my mind,
Ambiguous fate appearing cross and kind :
Ob! that I could, in middle paths but run,
Voracious Scylla's rocks, and dread Charybdis joun ?
A. The cause, from whence these different woes.

accrue,
Does doubtlefs manifest appear to you.
Whether in mind the great disorder's fix’d,
Qr with the juices and the blood commix'd:
If in the latter, try the doctor's skill,
Whose healing prescripts may remove the ill.
If in the former, rules divine are best,
To calm the passions, and to purchase rest.
Whose strict observance guides the doubtful stay,
And by a profp'rous and conductive ray
Detects those dang'rous rocks, and points the mid-

dle way.

Q. Say juggling priests, (mce 'tis most certain
Your God has neither brains, nor beard;
And tho' fools think he speaks, you're heard,

By wisemen behind the curtain.)

Why, when old Somnus nightly brushes
My fenfes with his dusky wings,
He well-strung nerves at once unftrings ;

And members grow as frail as rushes.

Say too, fince you will needs be sewing, When sense and thought do quite forsake, And teasing care, oh! do not wake :

Where dwell's the foul, and what fire's doing ?

A. The an’mal spirits, tir’d and spent, Need reft, ( fo frail is human state) Then they want pow'r t'invigorate

The acrves, to whom their force is lent.

Thc