.

4

fairs, and those too fo early in their Æra. But if you fay, that the Romans were juniors to the Greeks in the common-wealth of learning, and the Greeks again to the Egyptians, and therefore the latter might be furnifh'd with more authentick accounts of those early times in matters where themfelves were immediately concern'd; to this we firft reply, that fuch an objection makes the feveral relations given us to depend upon the fingle authority of the original; whence Tacitus's account can give no confirmation to the ftory, unless you fuppofe, that if it had not been founded upon good authority, he would not have af fented to it. But this you cannot fuppofe, if you confider, how warping a thing is prejudice, how partial the Romans to themselves, how fcorning to be infulted by a conquer'd nation, how unwilling to own captives a peculiar people, how obnoxious the Jews to thofe about them, how hated and despised by all their neighbours, how proud and infolent, illnatured and obftinate in the midst of their fubjection. And therefore that hiftorian must be a man of unufual integrity, of uncommon fincerity, and a moft zealous lover of the truth, who will not in fuch a cafe as this depend upon very flender accounts of things, removed to fuch a distance from the prefent times; but to come to the fountain head, if you would know how exceffively vain the Egyptians were, how unprovided with materials for ancient accounts, how defective in chronology (that eye of hiftory) how precarious in their fymbolical reprefentations, how capable of impofing upon the world (and was it not their intereft too, to give a turn to their difgrace, in which they had a better profpect of fucceeding, than cou'd have the Jews, who were feparated from all the world) if you would know, upon how fandy a foundation Manethos's relations are built; upon what uncertainties, improbabilities, nay impoffi bilities they are unhappily fuperftructed, we refer you to that very learned book of bifhop Stilling fleet's Origines Sacra.

But

But we cannot forbear the mention of one particular, namely, that Manethos pretends to have drawn his dynafties, from the beginning of the Egyptian hiftory to near the time of Alexander the great, out of the infcriptions of Toyth, who yet lived at the commencement of the very first dynasty, according to his own account.

The charge of cruelty, which from the Scripture account the Jews may feem liable to, is fufficiently cleared from hence, that they were inftruments of divine vengeance.

Q. Is there a paffage from the nose to the brain, by which the brain might be injured by too much taking of fnuff?

4. That there are paffages from the brain to the noftrils, is most certain, viz. the perforations of the os cribrofum, through which the nervous fibres defcend; but they are fo fmall that fnuff powders cannot be intromitted, or ascend through them to the brain Yet may the overmuch ufe of fuch powders fo furr and clogg that bone, that the difcharge of excrementitious humours may be hindred, and the brain confequently very much injured thereby.

:

Q. Your opinion is humbly defired concerning barnacles, whether or no they grow upon the boughs of trees, as commonly reported, and on ship-fides; and if fo, how they come to grow there? Your humble fervant.

4. It was an opinion among the vulgar, and alfo received amongft fome of the learned, that thefe barnacles were bred from a fmall fort of fhell-fish fomething resembling them, which are commonly feen in a part of Lancashire and Scotland to adhere to old pieces of fhips, trunks and bodies of trees: But from the anatomy of these shell-fish and the real barnacle, it is evident, that the generation of the latter is no ways different from that of other birds.

Q. Whether a man's most like himfelf dreft or undreft? A. A man of God Almighty's making is moft like himself when undreft; but a man of a taylor's, perriwigg-maker's and femftress's making, when dreft. Q3 Q. An

Q. An humble fervant of your godship is defirous to know whether the running away with a very pretty Lady, and an heiress to a very great fortune (tho' with her own confent) deferves hanging. And which is the fecureft way to accomplish fo ticklish an undertaking?

A. If your chambers in the temple be not for a more fecure retirement after your diverfion of fortune hunting, but that you are one of a true folid head, wonderful clear, we mean of all ideas, inventive, notional or contemplative, and thereby adapted to the pursuit of the law: If you can pore 12 hours without refreshment on Coke upon Littleton, and then rife up not a jot wifer than when you fat down : If you can thrash at your ftudies daily, 'till you get a handful of wheat out of a horfe-load of chaff: If you are this accomplish'd mortal, then give over fuch pieces of knight errantry till you are turn'd of 40, or you will not get bread to your onions. But if you are the other perfon, a very and meer fortune hunter, then by no means find fault with the feverity of the law, which gives you fo fair an opportunity of expreffing a proof of your paffion: Butler tells you, For he that hangs, or beats out brains,

The devil's in it, if he feigns.

When the Lady fees you go feriously on in a cerain way to be hang'd for her fake, fhe will be ready to hang her felf to get at you.

Now we will advise you how to manage this ticklifh point: Contrive it fo that the may fteal you away, but in fome manner as may not give the leaft umbrage of your being acceffary to it, which would fpoil all. Therefore get a lodging on the monument; let her in the dead of the night fcale by a rope to the top, affault your fortrefs, and carry you off on her back in triumph; fhou'd you meet the watch, the found of your terrible dame wou'd fright 'em. Thus the theft, never fear, will be charg'd on her, and you come off with flying colours.

Q. I love, but my dear charmer fcorns my flame, And life's become a burthen by my fhame;

Read then my last refolves in thefe fad lines,

And fpeak your thoughts on what my love defigns.

To Coriolanus.

Say, dear enchanting lovely creature fay,
By what wish'd means, I may your fancy sway?
My heart I give you and my tend'reft care,
To you I offer life, and all that's dear ;
Were I to you the fame, you foon fhou'd prove,
What vaft delight I take in anfw'ring of your love:
Center'd in me, you all delight fhou'd find,

For I wou'd please your taste as well as charm your mind.
But fince that happiness I must not gain,
Nor with my fervent love can yours obtain ;
I will by fome bold stroke reverfe my fate,
For what is your averfion, I must hate.

Your unfortunate Amaret,
A Beware mistaken maid, alas ! beware,
Life is a jewel worth your choiceft care,
Nor will its lofs relieve a tortur'd mind,
For oh! there's greater torment yet behind;
If you are flighted, flight as much as he,
Love is a paffion fond of liberty,

And they who would that deity enchain,
Muft work with wond'rous toil, and labour long
in vain.

Q. Apollo's great fons,
I must tell you for once,
That your answer's not pat,
To the noife of my cat :
"Tis not purring but bawling,
When he's caterwauling,

The reafon of which I defir'd;
Therefore pray let it come,

The next time you have room,
Or I'll fay that your mufe is quite tir'd®?
4. You ask'd when he's pleas'd,
And her paffion is eas'd,

Which feems not by fquawling,
In loud caterwauling,
When her furrs fly about,

And her eyes are scratch'd out,

And when her coat hangs all in tatters;
These fight when they woo,

As others oft do,

When they've fettl'd their conjugal matters.
Q. Divine Apollo, tell me why,

The men are fo inclin'd to lye ?

A. Becaufe the women won't believe, Except fome monftrous proofs they give. Q. Apollo, pray

The reafon fay

Why poets do furmife
That love is blind,
When lovers find

The boy has all his eyes?

And they're but twoj

I guess 'tis thus,
Aiming at us

Commanded by his mother,

Th' unlucky fpright

To level right

Shuts one and opens t'other;

Now what think you?

Pray let me know

Your thoughts, for fo

I'll act as you difcover;
If eyes he have,

I'll blind the knave ;

I will, as I'm a lover!