eight thousand men, is pofted at Aloft, in order to cover Ghent and Bruffels. The marshal de Villars was still on the plain of Lenz; and it is faid the duke of Vendofme is appointed to command in conjunction with that general. Advices from Paris fay, monfieur Voifin is made fecretary of state, upon monfieur Chamillard's refignation of that employment. The want of money in that kingdom is fo great, that the court has thought fit to command all the plate of private families to be brought into the mint. They write from the Hague of the eigh teenth, that the States of Holland continue their feffion; and that they have approved the refolution of the ftates-general, to publish a fecond edict to prohibit the fale of corn to the enemy. Many eminent perfons in that affembly have declared that they are of opinion, that all commerce whatsoever with France fhould be wholly forbidden :which point is under prefent deliberation; but it is feared it will meet with powerful oppofition.

N° 28.

"Whate'er men do, or fay, or think, or dream, "Our motley paper feizes for its theme.

I

White's Chocolate-houfe, June 13.

P.

HAD fufpended the bufinefs of duelling to a diftant time, but that I am called upon to declare myself on a point propofed in the following letter *.

"SIR,

June 9, at night.

"I DESIRE the favour of you to decide "this question, whether calling a gentleman a "Smart Fellow is an affront or not? A youth 66 entering a certain coffee houfe, with his cane " tied to his button, wearing red-heeled fhoes, "I thought of your defcription, and could

not forbear telling a friend of mine next to me, 'There enters a Smart Fellow.' The gen"tleman hearing it, had immediately a mind "to pick a quarrel with me, and defired fa

*Sec TAT. N° 25, and notes; Nes 26. 29. 31. 38. and 3

X 4

"tisfaction;

"tisfaction; at which I was more puzzled than " at the other, remembering what mention "your familiar makes of those that had loft "their lives on fuch occafions. The thing is ❝referred to your judgement; and I expect you "to be my fecond, fince you have been the "cause of our quarrel. I am, Sir, your friend " and humble fervant."

I abfolutely pronounce, that there is no occafion of offence given in this expreffion; for a Smart Fellow" is always an appellation of praise, and is a man of double capacity. The true caft or mould in which you may be fure to know him is, when his livelihood or education is in the civil lift, and your fee him exprefs a vivacity or mettle above the way he is in by a little jerk in his motion, fhort trip in his fteps, well-fancied lining of his coat, or any other indications which may be given in a vigorous drefs. Now, what poffible infinuation can there be, that it is a caufe of quarrel for a man to fay, he allows a gentleman really to be, what his tailor, his hofier, and his milliner, have confpired to make him? I confefs, if this perfon who appeals to me had faid, he was

not a Smart Fellow," there had been caufe for refentment; but if he ftands to it that he is one, he leaves no manner of ground for mif

Sce TAT. N° 9, note; Nos 24. 26. and note; and 27.

under

understanding. Indeed it is a moft lamentable thing, that there fhould be a difpute raised upon a man's faying another is what he plainly takes pains to be thought.

But this point cannot be fo well adjusted, as by enquiring what are the fentiments of wife nations and communities, of the use of the sword, and from thence conclude whether it is honourable to draw it fo frequently or not? An illustrious commonwealth of Italy has preserved itself for many ages, without letting one of their fubjects handle this destructive inftrument; always leaving that work to fuch of mankind as understand the ufe of a whole skin fo little, as to make a profeffion of expofing it to cuts and scars.

But what need we run to fuch foreign inftances? Our own ancient and well-governed cities are confpicuous examples to all mankind in their regulation of military atchievements. The chief citizens, like the noble Italians, hire mercenaries to carry arms in their ftead; and you fhall have a fellow of a desperate fortune, for the gain of one half crown, go through all the dangers of Tothill-Fields, or the ArtilleryGround, clap his right jaw within two inches.

* Venice, which declined engaging in the war of the Grand Alliance in 1702. This republic, when it has occafion for feldiers, commonly employs German, Swifs, or other foreign

mercenaries.

of

of the touch-hole of a mufquet, fire it off, and huzza, with as little concern as he tears a pullet. Thus you fee, to what scorn of danger these mercenaries arrive, out of a mere love of ferdid gain but methinks it fhould take off the ftrong prepoffeffion men have in favour of bold actions, when they fee upon what low motives men afpire to them. Do but obferve the common practice in the government of those heroic bodies, our militia and lieutenancies, the most ancient corps of foldiers, perhaps, in the univerfe; I question, whether there is one inftance of an animofity between any two of these. illuftrious fons of Mars fince their inftitution, which was decided by combat? I remember indeed to have read the chronicle of an accident which had like to have occafioned bloodshed in the very field before all the general officers, though most of them were juftices of the peace. Captain CRABTREE of Birching-lane, haberdafher, had drawn a bill upon major-general MAGGOT, cheesemonger in Thames street. CRABTREE draws this upon Mr. WILLIAM MAGGOT and company. A country lad received this bill, and not understanding the word

*The ftate and difcipline of the city train- bands at this time was very juttly a ftanding fubject of ridicule to the wits. See a poem on this fubject, afcribed to SWIFT, in the HARLLIAN Alife. vol. 1 p. 206. There is another humourous attack on the Artillery-company, &c. and a facer at them, TATL. Nos 38. and 41.

company,