Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Spectator
Thursday, October 18th, 1711.
Scribere jussit amor. Ovid.
THE following Letters are written with such an Air of Sincerity, that I cannot deny the inserting of them.
Mr. SPECTATOR,
THO you are every where in your Writings a Friend to Women, I do not remember that you have directly considered the mercenary Practice of Men in the Choice of Wives. If you would please to employ your Thoughts upon that Subject. you would easily conceive the miserable Condition many of us are in, who not only from the Laws of Custom and Modesty are restrained from making any Advances towards our Wishes, but are also from the Circumstance of Fortune out of all Hope, of being addressed to by those whom we love. Under all these Disadvantages I am obliged to apply my self to you, and hope I shall prevail with you to print in your very next Paper the following Letter, which is a Declaration of Passion to one who has made some feint Addresses to me , for some time. I believe he ardently loves me, but the Inequality of my Fortune makes him think he cannot answer it to the World, if he pursues his Designs by way of Marriage; and I believe, as he does not want Discerning, he discovered me looking at him the other Day unawares, in such a manner as has raised his Hopes of gaining me on Terms the Men call easier. But my Heart is very full on this Occasion, and if you know what Love and Honour are, you will pardon me that I use no farther Arguments with you, but hasten to my Letter to him, whom I will call Oroondates, because if I do not succeed it shall look like Romance; and if I am regarded you shall receive a Pair of Gloves at my Wedding, sent to you under the Name of Statira.
To OROONDATES.
SIR,
AFTER very much Perplexity in my self, and revolving how to acquaint you with my own Sentiments, and expostulate with you concerning yours, I have chosen this way, by which means I can be at once revealed to you, or, if you please lye concealed. If I do not within few Days find the Effect which I hope from this, the whole Affair shall be buried in Oblivion. But alas ! what am I going to do, when I am about to tell you that I love you ? But after I have done so, I am to assure you, that with all the Passion which ever entered a tender Heart, I know I can banish you from my Sight for ever, when I am convinced that you have no Inclinations towards me but to my Dishonour. But alas, Sir, why should you sacrifice the real and essential Happiness of Life to the Opinion of a World, that moves upon no other Foundation but profess'd Errour and Prejudice ? You all can observe that Riches do not alone make you happy, and yet give up every thing else when it stands in Competition with Riches. Since the World is so bad that Religion is left to us silly Women, and you Men act generally upon Principles of Profit and Pleasure, I will talk to you without arguing from any thing but what may be most to your Advantage, as a Man of the World. And I will lay before you the State of the Case, supposing that you had it in your Power to make me your Mistress, or your Wife, and hope to convince you that the latter is more for your Interest and will contribute more to your Pleasure.
We will suppose then the Scene was laid, and you were now in Expectation of the approaching Evening wherein I was to meet you, and be carried to what convenient Corner of the Town you thought fit, to consummate all which your wanton Imagination has promised you in the Possession of one who is in the Bloom of Youth, and in the Reputation of Innocence: You would soon have enough of me, as I am Sprightly, Young, Gay, and Airy. When Fancy is fated, and finds all the Promises it made to itself false, where is now the Innocence which charmed you? The first Hour you are alone you will find that the Pleasure of a Debauchee is only that of a Destroyer : He blasts all the Fruit he tastes, and where the Brute has been devouring there is nothing left worthy the Relish of the Man. Reason resumes her place after Imagination is cloyed; and I am, with the utmost Distress and Confusion, to behold myself the Cause of uneasie Reflections to you, to be visited by Stealth, and dwell for the future with the two Companions (the most unfit for each other in the World) Solitude and Guilt. I will not insist upon the shameful Obscurity we should pass our Time in, nor run over the little short snatches of fresh Air and free Commerce which all People must be satisfied with, whose Actions will not bear Examination, but leave them to your Reflections, who have seen of that Life of which I have but a meer Idea.
On the other hand, If you can be so good and generous as to make me your Wife, you may promise your self all the Obedience and Tenderness with which Gratitude can inspire a virtuous Woman. Whatever Gratifications you may promise your self from an agreeable Person, whatever Compliances from an easie Temper, whatever Consolations from a sincere Friendship you may expect as the Due of your Generosity. What at present in your ill View you promise your self from me, will be followed by Distaste and Satiety; but the Transports of a virtuous Love are the least part of its Happiness. The Raptures of Innocent Passion are but like Lightning to the Day, they rather interrupt than advance the Pleasure of it: How happy then is that Life to be where the highest Pleasures of Sense are but the lower parts of its Felicity ?
Now am I to repeat to you the unnatural Request of taking me in direct Terms. I know there stands between me and that Happiness; the haughty Daughter of a Man who can give you suitably to your Fortune. But if you weigh the Attendance and Behaviour of her who comes to you in Partnership of your Fortune, and expects an Equivalent, with that of her who enters your House as honoured and obliged by that Permission, whether will you chuse? You, perhaps, will think fit to spend a Day abroad in the common Entertainments of Men of Sense and Fortune, she will think her self ill used in that Absence, and contrive at home an Expence proportioned to the Appearance which you make in the World. She is in all Things to have a regard to the Fortune which she brought you, I to the Fortune to which you introduced me. The Commerce between you two will eternally have the Air of a Bargain, between us of a Friendship: Joy will ever enter into the Room with you, and kind Wishes attend my Benefactor when he leaves it. Ask your self, how would you be pleased to enjoy for ever the Pleasure of having laid an immediate Obligation on a grateful Mind, such will be your case with Me. In the other Marriage you will live in a constant Comparison of Benefits, and never know the Happiness of conferring or receiving any.
It may be you will after all, act rather in the prudential way, according to the Sense of the ordinary World. I know not what I think or say, when that Melancholy Reflection comes upon me; but shall only add more, that it is in your Power to make me your Grateful Wife, but never your Abandoned Mistress.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
At the Desire of several Persons of Quality.
By Her Majesty's Company of Comedians,
AT the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane this present Thursday, being the 18th of October, will be presented a play call'd The Albion Queen : Or, The Death of Mary Queen of Scotland, The Part of Queen Elizabeth by Mrs. Knight, Queen Mary by Mrs. Oldfield, Duke of Norfolk by Mr. Wi.ks [?], Morton the Regent of Scotland by Mr. Mills, Cecil by Mr. Elrington, Davison by Mr. Booth, Gifford by Mr. Keane, Dowglas by Miss Sherborn.
A Discourse on the Attributes of God, the Obligation of Natural Religion, and the Truth of the Christian Revelation, the 3d Edition, price 6s. Three Practical Essays on Baptism, Confirmation and Repentance, the 3d Edition, Price 1s. A Paraphrase on the Gospel, in 2 Vol. Price 12s. A Letter to Mr. Dodwell, and four Defences of it; also a Letter to Am n.or[?], Price bound 5s. Six Sermons on several Occasions. Jacobi Rohaulti Paysiea [?], Editio tertia, copiosioribus annotuis, novisq tabulis aeri incisis, multum aucti, &c. All written by Samuel Clark, D.D. Rector of St.James's Westminster and Chaplain in Ordinary to her Majesty. Printed for J. Knapton at the Crown in St.Paul's Church-yard.
This is to give Notice, that on Tuesday the 30th Instant, in the Inner Lower Walk of Exeter change in the Strand, will begin to be Sold by Auction a large and curious Collection of Books in Greek, Latin, French and English in most kinds of Literature. Collected chiefly beyond Sea, with several Atlases and Books of Prints relating to the Roman Antiquities, &c. being Original. The Catalogue will be published on Thursday the 25th Instant, by R. Smith at Exeter change, and E. Curll at the Dyal and Bible against S.Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street. Price 6d. Where may be had the neat Pocket Edition of Petronius Arbiter with Cuts. Price 2s. or 2s. 6d.
A House to be Lett in Denmark-street by St.Giles's Church, well fitted up, with or without a piece of Ground for Coach-house and Stables. Enquire of Mr. Harris, a Cornchandler at the end of the said Street, or of Mr. John Evam, Bricklayer, at the Iron Rails, in Queenstreet by the Seven Dyals.
Gown Ware-house, in Freeman's-Yard, in Cornhill, near the Royal-Exchange. Gowns for Men and Women, from �7. 10s. to 13s. each. The Silks, Stuffs and Callicoes they are made of, are bought at Publick Sales of Persons that fail'd. Where Ladies may be furnish'd with all sorts of Quilted Petticoats, and Canvas Hoop'd, and the newest Matted Petticoats, at 5s. a piece. The Prices being set on each Gown. For Encouragement to Merchants, those that buy four Gowns shall have 3 per Cent. Discount.
An Apprentice left his Business on Monday Noon, and wrote a Letter to his Master, dated October 16. If he'll return he shall find all fitting Encouragement from his Father and Mother.
To be sold by the Merchant at his House in Mincin lane, next Door to Tho. Palmer, Esq; a fresh Parcel of new French Wines, viz. Obrion Clarets, at 3s a Bottle. Hermitage and Burgundy at 5s. a Flask; no less Quantity than a Dozen.
Wines to be sold by Retail.
Excellent Red and White Port, and Red and White Lisbon, being neat Wine, as they came from the Grape, of the best Growth in Portugal. To be had by the Importer in a Vault in Brabart Court in Philpot-Lane, viz. Red and White Port at 5s. per Gallon, or �14 per Hhd. Red and White Lisbon at 5s. 6d. per Gallon, or �16. per Hhd. Attendance will be given every Day.
For SALE by the CANDLE.
This Day the 18th Instant, at Lloyd's Coffee-house in Lombard street, at 10 in the Forenoon, (only one Cask in a Lot;) viz. 192 Pipes and 5 Hhds. being an entire Cargo of the true (Oratavia) Canary Wines, very rich, Racy, of a curious Flavour, and the best Wines that the Canary Islands have produced, just landed; now in Cellars and Ware houses in the Alley at Cox Key between London Bridge and Billingsgate. To be seen and tasted this Day till the time of Sale (as above.) Note the Buyers are desired to appear punctually, the Sale being intended to be continued till 1, then will be adjourned to 3 in the Afternoon, determining to compleat this Sale the same Day. To be Sold by Tho. Tomkins, Broker, in Seathing-lane in Tower-street.
Just Publish'd, in 12mo.
A very neat Pocket Edition of Mr. Steele's two Comedies, viz. The Funeral, and The Tender Husband. Printed for J. T. and Sold by Owen Lloyd near the Church in the Temple.
LONDON: Printed for Sam. Buckley, at the Dolphin in Little-Britain; and Sold by A. Baldwin in Warwick-Lane; where Advertisements are taken in; as also by Charles Lillie, Perfumer, at the Corner of Beauford-Buildings in the Strand