hold relief; one whom the rigour of virtuous indignation dooms to fuffer without complaint, and perish without regard; and whom I myself have formerly infulted in the pride of reputation, and security of innocence. I am of a good family, but my fa ther was burthened with more children than he could decently fupport. A wealthy relation, as he travelled from London to his country feat, condescending to make him a vifit, was touched with compaffion of his narrow fortune, and refolved to ease him of part of his charge, by taking the care of a child upon himself. Distress on one fide, and ambition on the other, were too powerful for parental fondness, and the little family passed in review before him, that he might make his choice. I was then ten years old, and without knowing for what purpose, I was called to my great coufin, endeavoured to commend myself by my best courtely, fung him my prettiest fong, told the laft story that I had read, and so much endeared myself by my innocence, that he declared his refolution to adopt me, and to educate me with his own daugh ters. My parents felt the common struggles at the thoughts of parting, and Jome natural tears they dropp'd, but wip'd them foon. They confidered, not without that false estimation of the value of wealth, which poverty long continued always produces, that I was raised to higher rank than they could give me, and to hopes of more ample fortune than they could bequeath. My mother fold fome of her ornaments to dress me in fuch a manner, as might fecure me from contempt at my first arrival; and when the 'difmiffed me, preffed me to her bofom with an embrace, that I ftill feel, gave me fome precepts of piety, which, however neglected, I have not forgotter, and uttered prayers for my final happiness, of which I have not yet ceafed to hope, that they will at last be granted. My fifters envied my new finery, and feemed not much to regret our fepara tion; my father conducted me to the ftage-coach, with a kind of chearful tenderness, and in a very short time I was tranfported to fplendid apartments, and a luxurious table, and grew familiar to fhow, noife and gaiety. In three years my mother died, haying implored a bleffing on her family with her laft breath. I had little opportunity to indulge a forrow, which there was none to partake with me, and therefore foon ceased to reflect much upon my lofs. My father turned all his care upon his other children, whom fome fortunate adventures and unexpected legacies enabled him, when he died four years after my mother, to leave in a condition above their expectations. I fhould have fhared the increase of his fortune, and had a portion assigned me in his will; but my cousin assuring him, that all care for me was needlefs, fince he had refolved to place me happily in the world, directed him to divide my part among my sisters. Thus I was thrown upon dependance without refource. Being now at an age, in which young women are initiatec in company, I was no longer to be supported in my former character but at confiderable expence; fo that partly leaft I fhould waste money, and partly left my appearance might draw too many compliments and affiduities, I was infenfibly degraded from my equality, and enjoyed few privileges above the head fervant, but that of receiving no wages. I felt every indignity, but knew that refentment would precipitate my fall. I therefore endeavoured to continue my importance, by little fervices and active officiousnels, and for a time preferved myself, by withdrawing all pretences to competition, ftudying to please, rather than to fhine. But my intereft, notwithstanding this expedient, hourly declined, and my coufin's favourite maid began to exchange repartees with me, and confult ine about the alterations of a caft gown. I was now completely depreffed; and though I had feen mankind enough to know the neceffity of outward chearfulСса nels nefs, I often withdrew to my chamber to vent my grief, or turn my condition in my mind, and examine by what means I might escape from perpetual mortification. At last, my fchemes and forrows were interrupted by a fudden change of my relation's behaviour, who one day took an occafion, when we were left together in a room, to bid me fuffer myfelf no longer to be infulted, but affume the place which he always intended me to hold in the family. He affured me, that his wife's preference of her own daughters fhould never hurt me; and accompanying his profeffions with a purfe of gold, ordered me to bespeak a rich fuit at the mercer's, and to apply privately to him for money, when I wanted it, and infinuate, that my other friends fupplied me, which he would take care to confirm. By this fratagem, which I did not then understand, he filled me with tenderness and gratitude, compelled me to repose on him as my only fupport, and produced a neceffity of private converfation. He often appointed interviews at the houfe of an acquaintance, and fometimes called on me with a coach, and carried me abroad. My fenfe of his favour, and the defire of retaining it, disposed me to unlimited complaifance; and though I saw his kindness grow every day more fond, I did not fuffer any fufpicion to enter my thoughts. At laft, the wretch took advantage of the familiarity which he enjoyed as my relation, and the fubmiffion, which he exacted as my benefactor, to complete the ruin of an Orphan, whom his own promifes had made indigent, whom his indulgence had melted, and his authority fubdued. I know not why it should afford fubject of exultation, to overpower on any terms by refolution, or furprize the caution of a girl; but of all the boaft ers that bedeck themfelves in the spoils of innocence and beauty, they furely have the leaft pretentions to triumph, who fubmit to owe their fuccefs to fome cafual influence; they neither employ the graces of fancy, nor the force of understanding in their attempts; they cannot please their vanity with the art of their approaches, the delicacy of their adulations, the elegance of their addrefs, or the efficacy of their cloquence; nor applaud themselves as poffeffed of any qualities, by which affection is attracted. They furmount no obftacles, they defeat no rivals, but attack only those who cannot refist, and are often content to poffefs the body, without any solicitude to gain the heart. Many of these despicable wretches does my prefent acquaintance with infamy and wickedness enable me to number among the Heroes of Debauchery. Reptiles, whom their own servants would have despised, had they not been their fervants, and with whom beggary would have difdained, intercourse, had it not been allured by hopes of relief. Many of the beings which are now rioting in taverns, or fhivering in the streets, have been corrupted, not by arts of gallantry, which ftole gradually upon the affections, and laid prudence asleep, but by the fear of loting benefits which were never intended, or of incurring refentment, which they could not efcape; fome have been frighted by mafters, and fome awed by guardians into ruin. Our crime had its ufual confequence, and he foon perceived, that I could not long continue in his family. I was diftracted at the thought of the reproach, which I now believed inevitable. He comforted me with hopes of eluding all discovery, and often upbraided me with the anxiety, which perhaps none but himfelt faw in my countenance; but at laft, mingled his assurances of protection and maintenance with menaces of total desertion, if, in the moments of perturbation, I should suffer his fecret to escape, or endeavour to throw on him any part of my infamy. Thus pafied the difmal hours, till my retreat could no longer be delayed. It was pretended, that my relations had fent for me to a distant country, and I entered entered upon a state, which fhall be defcribed in my next letter. I am, SIR, &c. A Search after TASTE, and SONG. S FASHION, according to con A noiffeur authority, is entirely re gulated by TASTE; and as the Editor of this publication has in the former Numbers endeavoured claflically and phyfically to defcribe Fashion, or the Fashions, he has been lately defired to enquire after TASTE, and give his opinion accordingly. Every perfon admits there is fuch a thing as TASTE; and as each individual pretends to fhew a right of poffeffion to TRUE TASTE, it does not feem difficult to be met with. But as all things are not as they feem to be, the looking for this, at the requeft of our correfpondents, was at tended with more difappointments, than the Editor could have imagined. Having fome business one morning at Jonathan's, he resolved to enquire there for TRUE TASTE; but was answered, no such person used the house; that probably the gentleman might find him upon the Dutch walk at Change time. A corn-factor paffing by, and hearing the question, directed him to a girl's lodgings near Convent-garden; who, as the gentleman merchant obferved,' knew more of Tafte, than every body elfe did. Immediately he made the best of his way to the lady's apartment; but standing up, to give way for a chair paffing along the pavement, he found himself at the door of a jeweller and toyman; the mafter being in the fhop, the Editor enquired of him after True Tafte. Sir, replied the tradesman, it is but a compofition-I'll fhew you feveral forts; on which he pulled out a drawer, where were feveral fine fparkling buckles, ear-rings and necklaces. -Thefe, Sir, are the True Pafte, True French Paste. The Editor replied, it was TASTE he wanted. The mafter of the fhop answered him, that if he wanted ever fo much Tafe, he was certain he cou'd furnish him.. From the Toyshop he ftept into an Auctioneer's; who, upon hearing the question, immediately replied,. ut a man want Tafte ever fo much, he was certain he might be furnished in his room. But when he was told the enquirer wanted TRUE TASTE; he replied, that as to True Tafte, to be fure that was quite the thing, as he fuppofed; but that he had kept that house many years, and never heard it mentioned before. TASTE was the word, and TASTE is the thing, and TASTE was every thing. As the Auctioneer could not apprehend what was meant by the enquiry, the Editor left him, and stepped into a tavern, and enquired of the drawer, the drawer of the cook; who fent in word, that if the gentleman pleased to befpeak any thing, he was fure he could give him fatisfaction, fince he knew how to hit every body's TASTE. The landlord then entered, and the queftion being put to him, his reply was, that there were feveral men of Taste used his houfe; and there was one of them, Mr. Gradus, below ftairs.-This happened to be an acquaintance of the Editor's, who was defired to walk up, and to whom his friend related the bufinefs he was then about. Jack Gradus immediately made hig this answer: my good friend, it is not worth your while to take pains in finding out what is TRUE TASTE.— I endeavoured to write according to the rules of TRUE TASTE, but it wou'd not do but as foon as I got the knack of fcribbling to the prefent Tafte, I fucceeded. It is not. Tafte now-a-days to read much, or to trouble our minds with digefting what we read; therefore light things in the Novel Stile, or Jefts, or Comic Songs, fuit beft. I find, at least, they best answer my purpofe; fome perfons indeed fay, they are nonfenfe; fome cry out upon them as dull; others, that they are low I hear I hear them--I write on-and they the world espouse it, if it be only for rail on; and by this means both par- the fake of oppofition. ties are pleafed. My writings give. thefe fault-finders opportunity to show their critical talents; and their railing raises the reputation of what I write; fince it is a certain and undeniable obfervation, that whenever any performance is spoke againft, the rest of However, to let you fee the opinion I have of TASTE, I'll give you what I compofed yesterday upon that subject. Upon which he immediately prefented the Editor with the following Song, and leave to infert it in the next Publication. TASTE. To the Tune of, Young Roger came tapping at Dolly's Window. I. E Learned o'er Claffics, who pore night and day, YE And Life Time in School Phrases waste; Etymologies ye can unriddle, then fay, From whence is derived the term Tafte. When Genius, Wit, Learning, and Science are shown, We know which it is we'd be at; But fince Tafte has been term'd as a Phrase on the Town, We neither know this thing nor that. II. Over Catalogues poring the Auction folks fee; Hark! Sir, fomething the Connoiffeur, speaks About RAPHAEL, CORREGGIO, VANDYKE, MONAMI, INTAGLIAS, MOSAICS, ANTIQUES. His bonour obferves quite the thing, to be fure; 'Tis immenfe, 'tis perdigious, 'tis vaast ; Then the handling, difpofing, fore-ground, and contour, Oh! he talks all in all, who talks TASTE. III. To the Lucky, enrich'd by large Plunder from White's, Each fupple-kneed Sycophant bows; While Science and Learning are stared at for Frights, They are Creatures which no body knows. In vain may a Genius petition his Grace, On the pavement his hours he'll wafte; The porter will flap to the door in his face, IV. Not by reafon or paffion, but Fashion we think, By Fashion we game, and by Fashion we drink, A Once Shakespear could pleafe, now Op'ras endear, V. To be fure Ariftotle had fomething to fay, 'Tis from Wagers alone that your Proofs you must feek, VI. We have been fo well-bred, fo immensely polite, That we really believ'd it ill manners to fight, But the GENIUS OF ENGLAND awaken'd our youth, OLD HONOUR unfolded the STANDARD of TRUTH, ***************** S the affair of the GHOST in COCK-LANE is now likely to become a serious bufinefs; and as the Town has been looked upon to be more credulous lately than it used to be; it is thought not improper to publish the following ABSTRACT of the trial of fome Witches in K. CHARLES II. time, which will fhew, that if we are not now wifer, we are not more addicted to credulity than our fore-fathers were; for as it is fuppofed, all the arti- ́ fice about the Cock-lane Apparition was carried on by a Child, the follow ing Relation will fhew, what Children may be taught or practised to do. A TRYAL of WITCHES. Taken by a person then attending in court. At the Affizes and general gaol delivery, held at Bury St. Edmonds for the county of Suffolk, the tenth day of March, in the fixteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King Charles II. before Sir Matthew Hale, knight, Lord I. Chief Baron of His Majefty's court of Exchequer; Rofe Cullender and Amy Duny, Widows, both of Leyftoff in the county aforefaid, were feverally indicted for bewitching Elizabeth and Ann Durent, Jane Bocking, Sufan Chandler, William Durent, Elizabeth and Deborah Pacey : And the faid Cullender and Duny, being arraigned upon the faid indictments, pleaded not Guilty HREE of the parties above TH named, viz. Anne Durent, Su'fan Chandler, and Elizabeth Pacy, were brought to Bury to the affizes, and were in a reasonable good condition: but that morning they came into the hall to give inftructions for the drawing of their bills of indictments, the three perfons, children, fell into firange and violent fits, fcreeking out in a most fad manner, fo that they could not in any wife give any inftructions in the court who were the cause of their diftemper. And although they did after fome certain fpace recover out of their fits, yet they |