"went fo far, that I was difmiffed, and she will "remember that evening nine months, from the

fixth of April, by a very remarkable token. "The next, as I faid, I went to, was a common "SWEARER: never was a creature so puzzled as "myself, when I came firft to view his brain: "half of it was worn out, and filled up with mere "expletives, that had nothing to do with any "other parts of the texture; therefore, when he "called for his cloaths in a morning, he would cry, John!'- John does not answer. What "a plague! nobody there? What the devil, and "rot me, John, for a lazy dog as you are! I "knew no way to cure him, but by writing "down all he said one morning as he was dref"fing, and laying it before him on the toilet "when he came to pick his teeth. The laft re"cital I gave him of what he said for half an "hour before was, What, a pox rot me! "where is the wash-ball? call the chairmen : "damn them, I warrant they are at the alehouse દ. "already! zounds, and confound them!' When "he came to the glass, he takes up my note

Ha! this fellow is worse than I: what, does "he fwear with pen and ink!' But, reading on, "he found them to be his own words.

The

ftratagem had fo good an effect upon him, "that he grew immediately a new man, "and is learning to fpeak without an oath, "which makes him extremely fhort in his phrafes for, as I observed before, a cominon VOL. I. L " fwearer

fwearer has a brain without any idea on the "fwearing fide; therefore my ward has yet "mighty little to fay, and is forced to substitute "fome other vehicle of nonfenfe, to fupply the "defect of his ufual expletives. When I left "him, he made use of Odsbodikins! Oh me! "and Never ftir alive!' and fo forth; which

gave me hopes of his recovery. So I went to "the next I told you of, the gamefter. When "we first take our place about a man, the re"ceptacles of the pericranium are immediately "fearched. In his, I found no one ordinary trace "of thinking; but ftrong paffion, violent de"fires, and a continued feries of different "changes, had torn it to pieces. There appeared "no middle condition; the triumph of a prince, "or the mifery of a beggar, were his alternate ftates. I was with him no longer than one day, "which was yesterday. In the morning at twelve

we were worth four thousand pounds; at "three, we were arrived at fix thousand; half an "hour after, we were reduced to one thousand; "at four of the clock, we were down to two "hundred; at five, to fifty; at six, to five; at "feven, to one guinea; the next bet, to nothing. "This morning he borrowed half a crown of "the maid who cleans his fhoes; and is now "gaming in Lincoln's-Inn Fields among the

boys for farthings and oranges, until he has "made up three pieces, and then he returns to "White's into the best company in town.'

Thus

Thus ended our firft difcourfe; and, it is hoped, you will forgive me that I have picked fo little out of my companion at our first interview. In the next, it is poffible, he may tell me more pleafing incidents; for though he is a familiar, he is not an evil spirit *.

St. James's Coffee-house, May 9.

We hear from the Hague of the fourteenth inftant, N. S. that Monfieur de Torcy hath had frequent conferences with the Grand Penfioner, and the other minifters who were heretofore commiffioned to treat with Monfieur Rouille. The preliminaries of a peace are almost settled, and the proceedings wait only for the arrival of the Duke of Marlborough; after whose approbation of the articles propofed, it is not doubted but the methods of the treaty will be publicly known. In the mean time the States have declared an abhorrence of taking any step in this great affair, but in concert with the court of Great Britain, and other princes of the alliance: The posture of affairs in France does neceffarily oblige that nation to be very much in earneft in their offers; and Monfieur de Torcy hath profeffed to the grand Penfioner, that he will avoid, all occafions of giving him the leaft jealoufy, of his ufing any addrets in private converfation for accomplishing the ends of his embaffy. It is

faid, that as foon as the preliminaries are adjufted, that minifter is to return to the French court. The States of Holland have refolved to make it an instruction to all their men of war and privateers, to bring into their ports whatever neutral fhips they fhall meet with, laden with corn, and bound for France; and, to avoid all caufe of complaint from the potentates to whom thefe fhips fhall belong, their full demand for their freight fhall be paid them there. The French Proteftants refiding in that country have applied themselves to their respective magiftrates, defiring that there may be an article in the treaty of peace, which may give liberty of confcience to the Proteftants in France. Monfieur Bofnage, minifter of the Walloon church at Rotterdam, has been at the Hague, and hath had fome conferences with the deputies of the States on that fubject. It is reported there, that all the French Refugees in thofe dominions are to be naturalized, that they may enjoy the fame good effects of the treaty with the Hollanders themselves, in refpect of France.

Letters from Paris fay, the people conceive great hopes of a fudden peace, from Monfieur Torcy's being employed in the negotiation; he being a minifter of too great weight in that court, to be fent on any employment in which his mafter would not act in a manner wherein he might justly promife himself fuccefs. The

7

French

French advices add, that there is an infurrection in Poitou, 3000 men having taken up arms, and beaten the troops which were appointed to disperse them: three of the mutineers, being taken, were immediately executed; and as many of the king's party were used after the fame

manner.

Our late act of naturalization hath had fo great an effect in foreign parts, that fome princes have prohibited the French Refugees in their dominions to fell or transfer their eftates to any other of their fubjects; and at the fame time have granted them greater immunities than they hitherto enjoyed. It has been also thought neceffary to reftrain their own fubjects- from leaying their country on pain of death.

** Newly published, "The MONTHLY "AMUSEMENT, N° I. for April, 1709, con"taining La Gitinilla, the Little Gipfie, a novel, written by MIGUEL DE CERVANTES SAA"VEDRA (Author of the Hiftory of Don QUIXOTE), and done from the Spanish by J. "Ozell. Price 1 s.

66

"LE MISANTROPE, the Man-hater, a Comedy, written by M. de MOLIERE, is in the ❝ prefs for N° II. &c."