Thus humble, and thus great, is the man who is moved by Piety, and exalted by Devotion. But behold this recommended by the mafterly hand of a great Divine I have heretofore made bold with.

"It is fuch a pleasure as can never cloy or overwork "the mind; a delight that grows and improves under thought and reflection; and while it exercifes, does "alfo endear itfelf to the mind. All pleasures that af"fect the body muft needs weary, because they transport; and all tranfportation is a violence; and no ❝ violence can be lafting; but determines upon the fall"ing of the fpirits, which are not able to keep up that "height of motion that the pleafure of the fenfes

raifed them to. And therefore how inevitably does "an immoderate laughter end in a figh, which is only "Nature's recovering itself after a force done to it: "But the religious Pleafure of a well-difpofed mind moves gently, and therefore conftantly. It does not affect by rapture and ecftafy, but is like the pleasure of health, greater and ftronger than thofe that call up "the fenfes with groffer and more affecting impreffions. "No man's body is as ftrong as his appetites; but Hea"ven has corrected the boundleffnefs of his voluptuous defires by ftinting his, ftrength, and contracting his capacities.The pleasure of the religious man is an eafy and a portable pleasure, fuch an one as he "carries about in his bofom, without alarming either "the eye or envy of the world. A man putting all "his pleasures into this one, is like a traveller putting all his goods into one jewel; the value is the fame, and the convenience greater."

Thursday,

N° 212. Thursday, Auguft 17, 1710.

From my own Apartment, August 16.

I Have had much importunity to answer the following

Letter.

Mr. BICKER STAFF,

R

EADING over a volume of yours, I find the words Simplex Munditiis mentioned as a defcrip"tion of a very well-dreffed woman. I beg of you, for "the fake of the Sex, to explain thefe terms. I can"not comprehend what my brother means, when he "tells me, they fignify my own name, which is,

Sir,

Your humble fervant,
Plain English

I think the Lady's brother has given us a very good idea of that elegant expreffion; it being the greatest beauty of fpeech to be close and intelligible. To this end, nothing is to be more carefully confulted than plainnefs. In a Lady's attire this is the fingle excellence; for to be, what fome people call, fine, is the fame vice in that cafe, as to be florid is in writing or fpeaking. I have ftudied and writ on this important fubject, until I almoft defpair of making a reformation in the females of this ifland; where we have more beauty than in any spot in the Universe, if we did not difguife it by falfe garniture, and detract from it by impertinent improvements. I have by me a treatife concerning pinners, which, I have fome hopes, will contribute to the amendment of

the

the prefent head-dreffes, to which I have folid and unanfwerable objections. But most of the errors in that, and other particulars of adorning the head, are crept into the world from the ignorance of modern tirewomen; for it is come to that pafs, that an aukward creature in the first year of her apprenticeship, that can hardly ftick a pin, fhall take upon her to drefs a woman of the first Quality. However, it is certain, that there requires in a good tirewoman a perfect skill in Optics; for all the force of ornament is to contribute to the intention of the eyes. Thus fhe, who has a mind to look killing, muft arm her face accordingly, and not leave her eyes and cheeks undreffed. There is Araminta, who is so fenfible of this, that he never will fee even her own hufband, without a hood on.. Can any one living bear to fee Mifs Gruel, lean as she is, with her hair tied back after the modern way? But fuch is the folly of our Ladies, that because one who is a Beauty, out of oftentation of her being fuch, takes care to wear fomething that she knows cannot be of any confequence to her complexion; I fay, our women run on fo heedlefly in the fafhion, that though it is the intereft of fome to hide as much of their faces as poffible, yet becaufe a leading Toaft appeared with a backward head-drefs, the ref fhall follow the mode, without obferving that the Author of the fashion affumed it, because it could become no one but herself.

*

Flavia is ever well-dreffed, and always the genteeleft woman you meet: But the make of her mind very much. contributes to the ornament of her body. She has the greateft fimplicity of manners, of any of her Sex. This makes every thing look native about her, and her clothes are fo exactly fitted, that they appear, as it were, part of her perfon. Every one that fees her knows her to be of Quality; but her diftinction is owing to her manner, and not to her babit. Her beauty is full of attraction', but not of allurement. There is fuch a compofure in her looks, and propriety in her dress, that you would. think it impoffible the fhould change the garb, you one day fee her in, for any thing fo becoming, until you next day fee her in another. There is no other mystery in this, but that however he is apparelled, he is herfelf

the

the fame: For there is fo immediate a relation between our thoughts and geftures, that a woman must think well to look well.

But this weighty fubject I must put off for fome other matters, in which my correfpondents are urgent for anfwers; which I fhall do where I can, and appeal to the judgment of others where I cannot.

"

་་

Mr. BICKER STAFF,

T

August 15, 1710,

AKING the air the other day on horfeback in the green lane that leads to Southgate, I difcovered coming towards me a perfon well mounted in "a mafk; and I accordingly expected, as any one "would, to have been robbed. But when we came up "with each other, the Spark, to my greater furprife, "very peaceably gave me the way; which made me "take courage enough to afk him, if he mafqueraded, "or how? He made me no answer, but ftill continued "incognito. This was certainly an afs, in a lion's skin "a harmless bull-beggar, who delights to fright inno"cent people, and fet them a galloping. I bethought myfelf of putting as good a jeft upon him, and had "turned my horfe, with a defign to purfue him to Lon"don, and get him apprehended, on fufpicion of being "a highwayman: But when I reflected, that it was the "proper office of the Magiftrate to punifh only knaves, " and that we had a Cenfor of Great-Britain for people "of another denomination, I immediately determined "to profecute him in your Court only. This unjustifi"able frolic I take to be neither wit nor humour, there"fore hope you will do me, and as many others as "were that day frighted, juftice. I am,

Sir,

Your friend and fervant,

J. L.

SIRS

66

SIR,

ΤΗ

HE Gentleman begs your pardon, and frighted you out of fear of frighting you; for he is juft come out of the small-pox."

Mr. BICKER STAFF,

OUR diftinction concerning the time of com mencing Virgins is allowed to be juft. I write you my thanks for it, in the twenty-eighth year of "life, and twelfth of my virginity. But I am to ask. you another question: May a woman be faid to live any more years a maid, than fhe continues to be ❝ courted?:

66

66

I

SIR,

I am, &c.

August 15, 1710.

Obferve that the Poft-man of Saturday laft, giving an account of the action in Spain, has this elegant. turn of expreffion; General Stanhope, who in the "whole action expreffed as much bravery as conduct,, "received a contufion in his right fhoulder, I fhould,

be glad to know, whether this cautious politician, means to commend or to rally him, by faying, He ex"preffed as much bravery as conduct? If you can ex◄ "plain this dubious phrafe, it will inform the Public,, " and oblige,

Sir,

your humble fervant, &c..

Saturday,