refolved not to regard any impertinencies of your paper, except what relate particularly to me, I am the more eafily induced to answer you, as I fhall find time to do it: firft, partly left you should think yourself neglected, which I have reason to believe you would take heinoufly ill. Secondly, partly because it will increase my fame, and confequently my audience, when all the quality fhall fee with how much wit and raillery I fhew youI do not care a farthing for you. Thirdly, partly becaufe being without books, if I do not fhew much learning, it will not be imputed to my having none.

I have travelled Italy, France, and Spain, and fully Icomprehend whatever any German artift in the world can do; yet cannot I imagine, why you should endeavour to disturb the repofe and plenty which, thoughidonworthy, I enjoy at this place. It cannot be thatsdyoh take offence at my prologues and epilogues, which you are pleafed to mifcall foolish and abufive. No, no, until [you give, a better, I fhall not forbear thinking that the true reafon of your picking a quarrel with me was, because it is more agreeable to your principles, as well as more to the honour of your affured victory, to attack a governor. Mr. Ifaac, Mr. Ifaac, I can fee into a millftone as far as another, as the faying is; you are for fowing the feeds of fedition and difobedience among my puppets, and your zeal for the good old caufe would make you perfuade Punch to pull the ftring from his chops, and not move his jaw when I have a mind he should harangue. Now I appeal to all men, if this be not contrary to that unaccountable and uncontrollable dominion, which by the laws of nature I exercife over them; for all forts of wood and wire were made for the ufe and benefit of man: I have therefore an unquestionable right to frame, fashion, and put them together as I please; and having made them what they are, my puppets are my property, and therefore my flaves: nors there in nature any thing more just, than the homage which is paid by a lefs to a more excellent being: fo that by the right therefore of a fuperior genius, I am their fupreme moderator, although you would infinuate, agreeably to your levelling principles,

that

that I am myfelf but a great puppet, and can therefore have but a co-ordinate jurifdiction with them. fuppofe I have now fufficiently made it appear, that I have a pal ternal right to keep a puppet-show, and this right I will maintain in my prologues on all occafions.

And therefore, if you write a defence of yourself against this my felf-defence, I admonifh you to keep within bounds; for every day will not be fo propitious to you as the twenty-ninth of April; and perhaps my refentment may get the better of my generofity, and I may no longer fcorn to fight one who is not my equal, with unequal weapons: there are fuch things as ScandaJums Magnatums; therefore take heed hereafter how you write fuch things as I cannot eafily answer, for that will put me in a passion.

I order you to handle only thofe two propofitions, to which our difpute may be reduced: the firft, whether I have not an abfolute power, whenever I please, to light a pipe with one of Punch's legs, or warm my fingers with his whole carcafe? The fecond, whether the devil would not be in Punch, fhould he by word or deed oppofe my fovereign will and pleafure? and then, perhaps, I may, if I can find leisure for it, give you the trouble of a second letter.

But if you intend to tell me of the original of puppetshows, and the several changes and revolutions that have happened in them fince Thefpis, and I do not care who, that is Noli me tangere: I have folemnly engaged to fay nothing of what I cannot approve. Or, if you talk of certain contracts with the mayor and burgeffes, or fees to the conftables, for the privilege of acting, I will not write one fingle word about any fuch matters; but shall leave you to be mumbled by the learned and very ingenious author of a late book, who knows very well what is to be faid and done in fuch cafes. He is now fhuffling the cards, and dealing to Timothy; but if he wins the game, I will fend him to play at backgammon with you; and then he will fatisfy you, that duce-ace makes five.

• And fo, fubmitting myself to be tried by my country, and allowing any jury of twelve good men, and true, to be that country; not excepting any, unless Mr. Ifaac Bickerstaff, to be of the pannel, for you are neither good nor true; I bid you heartily farewell; and am,

INDE X.

ABSOLUTE power reprefented in a dance, N. 11.

Advice not asked for information, but out of fulness and perplexity of heart, N. 25.

Advice not to be given to every body, ibid.

Æfculapius falls in love with the divine Hebe, N. 44. his recipe for love, N. 47.

Africanus, character of, N. 36.

magnanimity of, and manner of purchafing annuities, N. 38.

Age, by what rendered most agreeable, N. 45.
indecent, when not spent in virtue, N. 46.
Alchymift, of Ben Jonfon, remarks on, N. 14.
Alicant, caftle of, surrendered, N. 10.

officers killed before, N. 21.

Allen, a player, founder of Dulwich college, N. 20.
Almanack, Oxford, for 1709, confidered, N. 39.
Aloft, attempt to furprife the garrifon of, N. 1.
Amanda, the happy wife of Florio, character of, N. 49.
Annihilation described by Milton and Dryden, N. 6.
Annuities how purchased by Africanus, N. 38.

Argyle, character of John, duke of, N. 46.

Artillery company of London, defcription of an exercise of arms performed by, N. 41.

Afpafia, a most excellent woman, character of, N. 42. first of the beauteous order of love, N. 49.

Afturias, prince of, acknowledged heir to the crown of Spain,

N. 5.

Avaro, a mean-fpirited rich man, defcribed, N. 25.

Aurengzebe, an Indian ftockjobber, hiftory of, with his indecent manner of spending old age, N. 46.

BACHELOR'S fcheme to govern a wife, N. 10.

Bajados, account of the battle of, N. 17.

Bankers, why poems ought to be taken for bills by, N. 43.

Barrymore,

Barrymore, earl of, made prisoner at the battle of Bajados,

N. 17.

Barry, Mrs. an excellent player, N. 1.

defired to act the widow at Mr. Bickerftaff's funeral, N. 7.

Bath, commotions among the good company at, N. 16.
Battle of Bajados, N. 17.

Bays, expedient of, to procure applaufe at the playhouse,

N. 6.

Beadleftaff's teftimony of a reformation and puppetshow at
Oxford, N. 45.

Bear, meaning of the word, explained, N. 38.
Bear-garden of great antiquity, N. 31.

Beauty, every temper to be foftened by, N. 10.
force and efficacy of, N. 10 and 15.

Belfry, an ignorant clown, behaviour of, at lady Dainty's,

N. 37.

Bernard, a French banker, confequences of the failure of, N. 3, 5 and 29.

offer of, to his creditors, N. 9. Betterton, a celebrated player, account of the benefit play of, N. 1.

Bickerstaff, Isaac, an adept in astronomical speculations, N. 2. did not compound with the milliners and toy

men, N. 30.

difpofes of his three nephews, ibid.

expects hush money, N. 26.

extraordinary cures performed by, at his

lodgings, N. 34.

genealogy of, N. 11.

gives advice for his own fake, N. 6.

will of, N. 7..

Bicknell, or Bignell, Mrs. a comedian, commended, N. 3.

acts the Country Wife, ibid.

Billet doux concerning a rival, N. 29.

Birth, to be proud of, the greatest of vanities, N. 11.

Bodily wits, who, N. 45.

Bracegirdle, Mrs. an excellent player, N. 1.

Bribery, a poem on, N. 42.

a treatife on, ibid.

Brunette, colonel, a very pretty fellow, N. 24.
Bruffels poftfcript, a poem, remarks on, N. 46.

Buckley, Mr. a Drawcanfir, N. 18.

Bullock and Penkethman, comedians to attend Mr. Bicker

ftaff's funeral, N. 11.

Bufy