NUMB. 7. SATURDAY, May 27, 1758. O NE of the principal amufements of the Idler is to read the works of those minute hiftorians the writers of news, who, though contemptuously overlooked by the composers of bulky volumes, are yet necessary in a nation where much wealth produces much leifure, and one part of the people has nothing to do but to obferve the lives and fortunes of the other. To us, who are regaled every morning and evening with intelligence, and are supplied from day to day with materials for converfation, it is difficult to conceive how man can fubfift without a news-paper, or to what entertainment companies can affemble, in those wide regions of the earth that have neither Chronicles nor Magazines, neither Gazettes nor Advertisers, neither Journals nor Evening-Pofts. There are never great numbers in any nation, whose reason or invention can find employment for their tongues, who can raise a pleafing difcourfe from their own stock of fentiments and images; and those few who have qualified themselves by fpeculation for general difquifitions, are foon left without an audience. The common talk of men must relate to facts in which the talkers have, or think they have, an interest; and where such facts cannot be known, the pleasures of fociety will be merely fenfual. Thus the natives of the Mahometan empires, who approach most nearly to European civility, have no higher plea fure fure at their convivial affemblies than to hear a piper, or gaze upon a tumbler, and no company can keep together longer than they are diverted by founds or fhows. All foreigners remark, that the knowledge of the common people of England is greater than that of any other vulgar. This fuperiority we undoubtedly owe to the rivulets of intelligence, which are continually trickling among us, which every one may catch, and of which every one partakes. This univerfal diffufion of inftruction is, perhaps, not wholly without its inconveniences; it certainly fills the nation with fuperficial difputants; enables thofe to talk who were born to work; and affords information fufficient to elate vanity, and stiffen obftinacy, but too little to enlarge the mind into complete skill for full comprehenfion. Whatever is found to gratify the publick, will be multiplied by the emulation of venders beyond neceffity or ufe. This plenty indeed produces cheapnefs, but cheapnefs always ends in negligence and depravation. The compilation of news-papers is often committed to narrow and mercenary minds, not qualified for the task of delighting or inftructing; who are content to fill their paper, with whatever matter, without industry to gather, or difcernment to select. Thus journals are daily multiplied without increase of knowledge. The tale of the morning paper is told again in the evening, and the narratives of the evening are bought again in the morning. Thefe repetitions, indeed, wafte time, but they do not fhorten it. The moft eager perufer of news is tired before I before he has completed his labour, and many a man who enters the coffee-houfe in his night-gown and flippers, is called away to his fhop, or his dinner, before he has well confidered the ftate of Europe. It is difcovered by Reaumur, that fpiders might make filk, if they could be perfuaded to live in peace together. The writers of news, if they could be confederated, might give more pleafure to the publick. The morning and evening authors might divide an event between them; a fingle action, and that not of much importance, might be gradually discovered, so as to vary a whole week with joy, anxiety, and conjecture. We know that a French fhip of war was lately taken by a ship of England; but this event was fuffered to burst upon us all at once, and then what we knew already was echoed from day to day, and from week to week. Let us suppose these spiders of literature to spin together, and enquire to what an extenfive web fuch another event might be regularly drawn, and how fix morning and fix evening writers might agree to retail their articles. On Monday Morning the Captain of a ship might arrive, who left the Frifeur of France, and the Bulldog, Captain Grim, in fight of one another, so that an engagement feemed unavoidable. Monday Evening. A found of cannon was heard off Cape Finisterre, fuppofed to be thofe of the Bulldog and Friseur. Tuesday Morning. It was this morning reported, that the Bulldog engaged the Friseur, yard-arm and yard-arm, three glasses and a half, but was obliged to sheer fheer off for want of powder. It is hoped that enquiry will be made into this affair in a proper place. Tuesday Evening. The account of the engagement between the Bulldog and Friseur was premature. Wednesday Morning. Another exprefs is arrived, which brings news, that the Friseur had lost all her mafts, and three hundred of her men, in the late engagement; and that Captain Grim is come into harbour much shattered. Wednesday Evening. We hear that the brave Captain Grim, having expended his powder, proposed to enter the Frifeur fword in hand; but that his lieutenant, the nephew of a certain nobleman, remonftrated against it. Thursday Morning. We wait impatiently for a full account of the late engagement between the Bulldog and Frifeur. Thurfday Evening. It is faid that the order of the Bath will be fent to Captain Grim. Friday Morning. A certain Lord of the Admiralty has been heard to fay of a certain Captain, that if he had done his duty, a certain French fhip might have been taken. It was not thus that merit was rewarded in the days of Cromwell. Friday Evening. There is certain information at the Admiralty, that the Frifeur is taken, after a refiftance of about two hours. Saturday Morning. A letter from one of the gunners of the Bulldog mentions the taking of the Frifeur, and attributes their fuccefs wholly to the bravery and refolution of Captain Grim, who never owed any of his advancement to borough-jobbers, or any other corrupters of the people. Saturday Saturday Evening. Captain Grim arrived at the Admiralty, with an account that he engaged the Frifeur, a fhip of equal force with his own, off Cape Finifterre, and took her after an obftinate resistance, having killed one hundred and fifty of the French, with the lofs of ninety-five of his own men. NUMB. 8. SATURDAY, June 3, 1758. SIR, IN To the IDLER. N time of publick danger, it is every man's duty to withdraw his thoughts in fome measure from his private intereft, and employ part of his time for the general welfare. National conduct ought to be the result of national wisdom, a plan formed by mature confideration and diligent felection out of all the fchemes which may be offered, and all the information which can be procured. In a battle, every man fhould fight as if he was the fingle champion; in preparations for war, every man should think, as if the last event depended on his counsel. None can tell what difcoveries are within his reach, or how much he may contribute to the publick fafety. Full of thefe confiderations, I have carefully reviewed the procefs of the war, and find, what every other man has found, that we have hitherto added nothing to our military reputation: that at one time we |
