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an authour's name in a play-bill is a new manner of proceeding, at least in England.-When any

So also Edmund Smith, in his elegant Ode,-CHARLETTUS PERCIVALLO SUO:

"Scribe securus, quid agit Senatus,

"Quid caput stertit grave Lambethanum,

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Quid comes Guilford, quid habent novorum

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Dawksque Dyerque." Yet Tennison's Review of Bacon's writings, which was published about twenty years before the date of this letter, is a judicious and useful tract, and ought to be prefixed to every edition of his works, instead of Mallet's florid and empty Life of that great philosopher.

The London Gazette, No. 3474, Monday, Feb. 27, 1698-9, contains the Order alluded to:

"His Majesty has been pleased to command that the following Order should be sent to both Playhouses:

" His Majesty being informed that, notwithstanding an Order made the 4th of June, 1697, by the Earl of Sunderland, then Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold, to prevent the profaneness and immorality of the Stage, several plays have lately been acted, containing expressions contrary to religion and good manners: And whereas the Master of the Revels has represented, that, in contempt of the said Order, the Actors do often neglect to leave out such profane and indecent expressions as he has thought proper to be omitted: These are therefore to signify his Majesties pleasure, that you do not hereafter presume to act any thing in any play, contrary to religion and good manners, as you shall answer it at your utmost peril. Given under my hand this 18th of February, 1698, in the eleventh year of his Majesties reign.

"PERE. BERTIE. "An Order has been likewise sent by his Majesties

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papers of verses in manuscript, which are worth your reading, come abroad, you shall be sure of them; because, being a poetess yourself,* you like those entertainments. I am still drudging at a book of Miscellanyes,' which I hope will be well enough; if otherwise, threescore and seven' may

command, to the Master of the Revels, not to licence. any plays containing expressions contrary to religion and good manners; and to give notice to the Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold, or in his absence, to the Vice-Chamberlain, if the players presume to act any thing which he has struck out."

To this accomplished lady may be applied the following spirited lines in our author's Ode on Mrs. Anne Killigrew, who, like her, cultivated the sister-arts of Poesy and Painting:

"Born to the spacious empire of the Nine,

"One would have thought, she should have been content "To manage well that mighty government;

"But what can young ambitious souls confine ?.
"To the next realm she stretch'd her sway,
"For PAINTURE near adjoining lay,

"A plenteous province and alluring prey..

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"Thus nothing to her genius was deny'd;

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"But, like a ball of fire the further thrown,

"Still with a greater blaze she shone,

"And her bright soul broke out on every side."

Poetry seldom affords an image more happily illustrative than this. Our author evidently had a sky-rocket in his thoughts; which he has dignified, by avoiding the common and familiar term."

s His FABLES.

Our author here refers to his last birth-day in 1698,

be pardon'd. Charles is not yet so well recover'd as I wish him; but I may say, without vanity, that his virtue and sobriety have made him much belov'd in all companies. Both he and his mother give you their most humble acknowledgments of your rememb'ring them. Be pleas'd to give mine to my Cousin Stewart, who am both his and your Most obliged obedient Servant, JOHN DRYDEN.

You may see I was in hast, by writeing on the wrong side of the paper.

For Mrs. Steward, etc. ut supra.

MADAM,

LETTER XXXII.

TO MRS. STEWARD.

Tuesday, July the 11th, [1699.]

As I cannot accuse my self to have receiv'd any letters from you without answer, so on the other side I am oblig'd to believe it, because you say it. 'Tis true, I have had so many fitts of sickness, and so much other unpleasant business, that I may possibly have receiv'd those favours, and deferr'd my acknowledgment till I forgot to thank you for them. However it be, I cannot but confess that never was any unanswering man so civilly reproach'd when he was sixty-seven, complete. He was at this time in his sixty-eighth year.

by a fair lady.I presum'd to send you word by your sisters of the trouble I intended you this summer, and added a petition, that you would please to order some small beer to be brew'd for me without hops, or with a very inconsiderable quantity; because I lost my health last year by drinking bitter beer at Tichmarsh. It may perhaps be sour, but I like it not the worse, if it be small enough. . What els I have to request, is onely the favour of your coach, to meet me at Oundle, and to convey me to you of which I shall not fail to give you timely notice. My humble service attends my Cousin Stewart and your relations at Oundle. My wife and sonn desire the same favour; and I am particularly,

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I REMEMBER, last year, when I had the honour of dineing with you, you were pleas'd to recommend

7 Dorothy and Jemima Creed; the latter of whom died, Feb. 23, 1705-6, and was buried at Tichmarsh."

The original of this Letter is in the Pepysian Library, bequeathed, together with his prints and manuscripts to Magdalen College, in Cambridge, by the gentleman

to me the character of Chaucer's GOOD PARSON. Any desire of yours is a command to me; and accordingly I have put it into my English, with such additions and alterations as I thought fit. Having translated as many Fables from Ovid, and as many Novills from Boccace and Tales from Chaucer, as will make an indifferent large volume in folio, I intend them for the press in Michaelmass term next. In the mean time my PARSON desires the favour of being known to you, and promises, if you find any fault in his character, he will reform it. Whenever you please, he shall wait on you, and for the

to whom it is addressed; who was Secretary to the Admiralty in the reign of Charles II. and James II. "He first," says Granger, (BIOGR. HIST. iv. 322) reduced the affairs of the Admiralty to order and method; and that method was so just, as to have been a standing model to his successors in that important office. His MEMOIRS relating to the Navy is a well written piece; and his copious collection of manuscripts, now remaining with the rest of his library at Magdalen College in Cambridge, is an invaluable treasure of naval knowledge. He was far from being a mere man of business: his conversation and address had been greatly refined by travel. He tho roughly understood and practised musick; was a judge of painting, sculpture, and architecture; and had more than a superficial knowledge in history and philosophy. His fame among the Virtuosi was such, that he was thought to be a very proper person to be placed at the head of the Royal Society, of which he was some time [1685, 1686,] President. His Prints have been already mentioned. His Collection of English Ballads, in five large folio volumes, begun by Mr. Selden, and carried down to 1700, is one of his singular curiosities.-Ob. 26 May, 1703."

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