Madam have I sent you the true Reason for my leaving Counsellor H and betaking my self to a Private Life wherein not only Antiquity pleads for me but the Example of Cowley and the best and greatest Men of the Age. And Madam as I am charm'd with a private Life and with every day a green Prospect so there is a dainty one adjoyning Mr. Orson's House my present Quarters where I often wander up and down to think of you and the Dear Valeria I told you before 't was my fortune to Travel and even in Dublin it self I am not without my Rambles One I make to represent Drapers Garden The other Stepney Fields Another St. Iames's Park And when I pass through Skinner Row where the Scuffle was methinks I am in Cheapside and shall soon be at the Raven in Iewin-street the only House on Earth I love Pray Madam let me know if it stands in the old place 't is a mighty Pleasure for us Travellers to hear how Matters goe in England But as much as I love the Raven I thought my self very happy at Mr. Orson's I mean as happy as I cou'd be without Valeria But how uncertain are worldly Comforts For I had not Madam sojourned many days at Mr. Orson's House but I fell sick as I said before of the Bloody Flux the usual distemper of the Country and many times fatal so that I might have iust Apprehensions of a speedy dissolution of my Earthly Frame I being at best of no strong Constitution To say I had no fear of Death at all upon me under these Circumstances would savour more of an hardned insensibility of Heart and Pagan ignorance than the Piety and Consideration of a Christian but herein an enumeration of the particulars of my past Life was presented to me and things appear'd with very different Aspects but yet not so frightful but that through the Divine Goodness I had hopes left of the Remission of all my Sins upon the sole Account of my Saviour's Merits but I dare not be so presumptuous as to say my Faith amounted to an assurance of my Eternal Salvation Yet I may say I began more seriously than ever to consider what I was whence I came and whether I was going For Madam as I said before a near prospect of Death makes the World and all things in it appear with a quite different face from what it did The belief I shou'd now dye made me to think why I liv'd where I shou'd be buried and what wou'd become of me after Death I now began to review the whole Course of my Life and whether if Time wou'd unweave my Life again to the first thread I wou'd live just as I had done Ah! Madam the fashion of the World passes away and a sick-bed presently convinces us of the Vanity of Riches Honours Pleasures How mean and contemptible do these things appear in the Eyes of a dying Man They can't help us to a good Conscience give a Minutes ease or save from the Grave Sure I am whilst my Distemper lasted wou'd any one ha' given me the whole World I cou'd ha' thought of nothing but the Terrors of Death the certainty of Iudgment the Glories of Heaven the Torments of Hell the Comforts of a good Conscience and what I must do to be saved with the necessity of a good Life and 〈◊〉 through Mercy I am now recover'd I hope to the end of my Life I shall think of the World just as I did when I thought I was leaving it and to this end I desire Death may be much in my â—houghts and the remaining part of my Life a continual Preparation for it We read of one that every time he heard the Clock cryed well now I have one hour less to live I wish I cou'd imitate this good Man however I will look upon every day as if it were my last that so when Death comes in earnest I may be ready and willing to dye and after Death I doubt not but my Body will rise again I will therefore no longer spend my Hours in pampering of that which will be food for Worms But I will not Madam enter upon all the Conceptions and Idea's I had in this Sickness of the future World some of 'em being perhaps more the fancy of my own Brain than any true Representation of the thing it self But it having pleased Almighty God to make my Illness of a short Duration I shall from the more Melancholly Scene of Death pass to the more pleasing Actions of Life and take the liberty to acquaint ye that I now began to visit my Friends and to take some innocent Diversion abroad But Madam no Pleasure is lasting with me I find for I had not been long recovered and able to walk abroad but I was hurry'd from my Dublin Paradise I mean Mr. Orson's House for Mr. Wild who manag'd my Auction being just now arriv'd from London I was forc'd to remove to Mr. Landers's in Capel-street that I might be nearer my Business Mr. Landers's Character resembles that of old Jacob being a plain but sincere hearted Man and his Wife as good a Landlady and one of the best of Nurses for an infirm Person which was then my Condition nor must I forget honest Kate their Servant whose Readiness and Care to please me supply'd her want of Understanding Point-work But that my Condition in my Absence from Valeria might truly resemble that of a Pilgrim who is continually in motion I was forc'd to remove yet nearer my Auction upon the Information I receiv'd of my Porter 's being turn'd Thief so that from Landers's House I remov'd to Mr. Cawley's at the Tennis-Court in Wine-Tavern-street Mr. Cawley is a very humble and agreeable Person civil and obliging to all his Lodgers and I must say to do him right to me in a very particular manner and so was his Wife also who is a very ingenious discreet and prudent Person and both of 'em express'd an uncommon concern at my parting with them which was not until I came for England Nor must I forget my Kinswoman Iuggee as I us'd to call her who was their trusty Servant Thus Madam I have briefly given you an Account of the Reasons and Causes I had for my several Removes from one Lodging to another and how happy I was in meeting with kind Landlords And were I in England again and I cast longing looks that way evry day I 'd say more in their Praise but oh this cruel distance well had I the same advantage of speed to send unto you at this time in this place as they have from Scandaroon when upon the coming in of any Ship into Harbor they use to send their Letters by Pigeons to Aleppo and other Places I say Madam had I such an airy Postilion I 'd send ye these Occurrences more at large Madam If you shou'd ask me which I lik'd best of my four Lodgings my Answer is I look'd upon
here this being My Last Farewel descend to particular Characters of some of the chief Encouragers of My Three Auctions And here I should first acknowledge my Great Obligations to the Right Reverend the Bishop of Clogher who was mention'd before in p. 50. this Learned Prelate was a Generous Encourager of my Undertaking He is a Person of Great Worth Knowledge and Humility and by his â—ard Study and Travels hath to so great a degree improved his own Extraordinary Parts that soon after the Thirtieth Year of his Age which is the year of Quallification for that Office he was made Provost of Trinity College in Dublin a place of great Honour and Trust where he so well acquitted himself that in a little time he was Constituted Bishop of Clogher and soon after that for his great Accomplishments was made One of His Majesties Privy Councellors for the Kingdom of Ireland I might mention his great knowlege of the Tongues and most Sciences but the bare relating the Publick Stations he is in are sufficient demonstrations of the Reasons of his deserv'd Promotions and of the great Honour he did me by personally encouraging my undertaking and therefore I hope his Lordship will pardon me for presuming to mention him in this Farewell for I shou'd think my self very ungrateful should I leave Ireland without making this publick acknowledgement of the Favours I receiv'd from him His Lordships Name is St. George Ashe I should likewise in this Farewel take my leave of the Reverend Mr. Iohn Iones the most Eminent School-master in all Ireland he hath sent many Scholars to the University of Dublin and I don't wonder he 's so Accomplish'd for he 's a man of so great a Soul that I found he was seldom out-bid in my Auction for any Book he had a mind to He 's a very Studious Person and does not like some Authors lose his time by being busie about nothing nor make so poor a use of the World as to Hug and Embrace it I shall ever acknowledge the Generous Encouragement he gave my Auctions In the short Conferenâ—e I had with him I found him to be a Person of great Piety and of a most sweet Disposition He is free from Vice if ever any Man was because he hath no occasion to use it and is above those Ends that make men wicked In a word Mr. Iones is a Person of great Worth Learning and Humility Lives Universally belov'd and his Conversation is coveted by all that have the happiness to know him But I take leave of the Reverend Mr. Iones that I may next shed a few Tears on the Grave of the most ingenious Mr. Davis for tho' he is dead and gone the service he did my Auction shall live as long as I can Write or Read he was Famous for a School-master and so Eminent for Preaching that his death was lamented by all that knew him and I may truly say of him Vixit post Funera Virtus I had not the happiness of once hearing this Extraordinary Preacher and I can't say I ever saw him but I am told by one that knew him well that if I have err'd in his Character 't is that I have said too little But tho' I can't do justice to his Personal Merits being wholly a stranger to him yet Mr. Wild tells me he was a true Friend to my Undertaking and therefore at leaving Dublin I ought to strew some Flowers on his Herse and thank his very Ashes for the kindness he did his unknown Admirer Leaving this Good Man asleep in his Grave I shall next take leave of the Reverend and truly Pious Dr. Iohn Stearn Minister of St. Nicholas-Church He is a most Excellent Preacher and as good a Liver This worthy Divine was my Friend not only in buying diverse Books for his own use but also in buying for others and so far was he from that ungenerous Temper not to call it worse of depriving me of Reasonable Rates that he would assure the Bidders such and such Books were good and a Pennyworth at such and such Rates as he inform'd them of neither was his Generous-Bidding for Books all the Favour I receiv'd from him I wou'd go on with this Gentlemans Character but that he 's too humble to hear it mentioned besides 't is very improper to tire my Friends at a parting Visit. I shall therefore here take leave of this Reverend Doctor and next step to the College where I have so many Farewels to make that I don't know where to begin nor where to end for I should here pay my acknowledgments to the Reverend Dr. Loyd Dr. Haâ—â— Mr. Gilbert Mr. Bawldwin Mr. Young c. These and several other Fellows of the College of Dublin did as their occasions serv'd generously Encourage my Auction as did divers others of inferiour Rank in the College to whom I here give my Parting thanks I might had I time take my leave of many more Worthy Clergy-men that were Encouragers of my Auction such as the Reverend Dean Trench Dean Sing Arch-Deacon Handcock Dr. Bolton Mr. Marsh Mr. Hemsworth Mr. Burridge Mr. Lucas Mr. Aspin Mr. Moulâ—ns Mr. Drury Mr. Vivian And here I would in a particular manner take my leave of Dean Francis for I wanted till now an opportunity to thank him for the Encouragement he gave my Auctions He makes an eminent Figure in the Church of Ireland and is too Great for me to attempt his Character but if any man does not know him let him go every Sunday morning to St. Michaels in High-street where hee 'l hear as Mr. Larkin and I did upon that Text And Foelix Trembled as much clear Reason Scripture and Divinity as ever was yet delivered in a Pulpit And those that go to this Church in the afternoon will find the same entertainment by my Learned Friend the Reverend Mr. Searl the present Lecturer But to proceed to the Character of Dean Francis His Piety is as Remarkable as his Preaching and his Charity as remarkable as either Mr. Feltham says A good Tongue never wanted Ears to hear it for my own share I must say that morning Mr. Larkin and I heard the Dean he preach'd in so refin'd a manner that I could ha' heard him with pleasure till night and my Friend as I found by the Remarks he made on the Sermon could gladly have heard him as long as I. I wou'd enlarge in the Dean's Character but that he was a Generous Buyer and as the case stands I think it proper to say little of the great Benefactors so I shall leave the Dean with humble thanks for the Favours he did me to pay a Visit and Farewel to my true Friend and great Benefactor the Reverend Mr. Searl he was a frequent Buyer at my Auction which I did not forget to acknowledge both at my Auction and afterwards at the Curragh where in my Ramble to Kilkenney I had the good Luck to meet him I had now and then the happiness
last consented to the Act provided it might be committed where they might not be seen Whereupon being brought into one Room he alledged they might be seen from this Place and in another that they might be seen in that Place and still found some Exception upon that account but at last being brought into such a Place where could be no Reason for such a Plea yet he alledged that it was not so Secret but that the Eye of God would be upon them even there and that unless his Eye too as well as all others could be shut out he durst â—ot do it by which means he not only preserved his Integrity but converted a Harlot Secondly Beside the Eye of God upon you who is to be your Iudge you have the Dâ—vil with you who does mean to be your Accuser The Devil is Pimp-General to the World not a piece of filthiness Dorinda ever commits but he is as one at it by his Enticements to it He finds and furnishes with fuel for Lust. And as he knows all ye do now so he will tell all ye have done hereafter where and when and with whom you have play'd the Whore Thirdly Besides the Eyes of all without you there is Dorinda the Eye of your Conscience within you which will also be one Day a Thousand Witnesses against you In Consideration whereof doubtless it was that Pythagoras gave that good and wise Counsel of his That no Man should commit any filthiness either with another or alone by himself which Self-pollution is a sort of potential Murther and that above all others he should stand in awe of himself that is dread and fear his own Conscience as I formerly hinted to Patrick Campbel Now Dorinda if the following these Directions don't Cure your raging Lust then in the Eighth Place when you are tempted to Uncleanness seriously think on what is behind viz. Death Iudgment Heaven and Hell and the serious Thought of any one of these is enough to extinguish the Flames of Lust. Dorinda Death is behind Thee Thou canst not live for ever here thou must dye and you know not how soon perhaps it may be in the very Act of thy Uncleanness and how dismal Dorinda would your Condition be if that should befal you What can befal a Person more dreadful than to be catcht and cut off by Death in the very Act of Sin But secondly Not Death only but Iudgment also is behind Dorinda thou must not only Dye but be judged too for thy Uncleanness after Death For Whoremongers to endure the Eye of God upon you This Consideration was effectual to Preserve Paphnutius who being wearied with the Sollicitations of a tempting Dalilah at last consented to the Act provided it might be committed where they might not be seen Whereupon being brought into one Room he alledged they might be seen from this Place and in another that they might be seen in that Place and still found some Exception upon that account but at last being brought into such a Place where could be no Reason for such a Plea yet he alledged that it was not so Secret but that the Eye of God would be upon them even there and that unless his Eye too as well as all others could be shut out he durst not do it by which means he not only preserved his Integrity but converted a Harlot Secondly Beside the Eye of God upon you who is to be your Iudge you have the Devil with you who does mean to be your Accuserâ— The Devil is Pimp-General to the World not a piece of filthiness Dorinda ever commits but he is as one at it by his Enticements to it He finds and furnishes with fuel for Lust. And as he knows all ye do now so he will tell all ye have done hereafter where and when and with whom you have play'd the Whore Thirdly Besides the Eyes of all without you there is Dorinda the Eye of your Conscience within you which will also be one Day a Thousand Witnesses against you In Consideration whereof doubtless it was that Pythagoras gave that good and wise Counsel of his That no Man should commit any filthiness either with another or alone by himself which Self-pollution is a sort of potential Murther and that above all others he should stand in awe of himself that is dread and fear his own Conscience as I formerly hinted to Patrick Campbel Now Dorinda if the following these Directions don't Cure your raging Lust then in the Eighth Place when you are tempted to Uncleanness seriously think on what is behind viz. Death Iudgment Heaven and Hell and the serious Thought of any one of these is enough to extinguish the Flames of Lust. Dorinda Death is behind Thee Thou canst not live for ever here thou must dye and you know not how soon perhaps it may be in the very Act of thy Uncleanness and how dismal Dorinda would your Condition be if that should befal you What can befal a Person more dreadful than to be catcht and cut off by Death in the very Act of Sin But secondly Not Death only but Iudgment also is behind Dorinda thou must not only Dye but be judged too for thy Uncleanness after Death For Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13. 4. Then again There is Heaven behind a State of Pleasure Joy and Happiness beyond all that the World hath or ever had Then Dorinda if at any Time you are tempted to Uncleanness Iay Shall I for a bruâ—tish Pleasure lose my Heaven Lose my Happiness Can the Company of all the Men in the World had I the Enjoyment of them all countervail the loss of Heaven And Lastly Dorinda There is Hell behind And who are to be turned into this burning Lake Why the Wicked and amongst the rest Adulterers and such-like Desilers of the Image of God and Members of Christ and Temples of the Holy Ghost Then Dorinda argue with they self and say What shall I go to Hell for a Billâ—t Doux Have I a mind to be damned for an Assignation Shall I plunge my self into Fire and Brimstone there to lie and roar to all Eternity for the little short nasty Pleasure which is had in the Embraces of a Leud Person Thus Dorinda at any Time when you come under the Temptations of Lust call to mind Death Iudgment Heaven and Hell and you will by God's Grace be so wrought on in that Meditation that you will both fly the Acts and detest the Thought of Uncleanness And how Dorinda you may perhaps upbraid all this as a Sermon as is usual for the Libertines of the Age to do I shall not be much concern'd at it if it happen to be so I think no shame to own that I am descended from the Tribe of Levi by Four successive Generations and was likewise Allied to it by my first Marriage wherein never was any Man more happy They that Honour God will Honour his Ambassadors and they that despise them
shall give it 'em in my Summer Ramble Having left Mr. Ray I rambled to Castle-street where Vulcan with his wooden Leg startled me with the creeking of it for I took it for the Crepâ—â—us Ossium which I have heard some of our Physitians speak of however I was honestly treated by him and will do him justice in my Summer Ramble Some time after this seeing the Squire of Alsatia in a Play-Bill to be Acted I had a great Mind to see it for there being so many Alsatians in Dublin I thought it could not chuse but be acted to the Life And so having done my Business for I always mâ—ke Recreation wait upon Business I went to the Play-house which Place you know Madam is free for all Comers and â—ives Entertainment as well to the Broom man as the greatest Peer And therefore having got my Ticket I made a shift to crowd into the Pit where I made my Honors to Madâ—m 〈◊〉 who I was amaz'd to find at the Play-â—ouse and to two or three other Ladies that I hapned to know my next Adventure there was to give a Hem to the China Orange Wench and to give her her own rate for her Oranges for you know Madam 't is below a Gentlemen and as such I passd in the Crowd to stand hagling like a Citizen's Wife I found Madam the Dublin Play-house to be a place very contrary to its owners for they on their out-sides make the best show But this is very ordinary in its outward appearance but looks much better on the inside with its Stage Pit Boxes two Galleries Lettices and Musick Loft though I must confess that even these liâ—e other false Beautâ—es receive a Lustre from their Lamps and Candles It stands in a durty Street called Smock-Alley which I think is no unfit Name for a Place where such great Opportunities are given for making of lewd Bargains Hither I came drest tho' I say 't tollerably well tho' not so much to be seen as to see the Follies of the Age for however the Theatre be applauded by a Modern Gentleman for the Representation of those things which so mightily promote Vertue Religion and Monarchical Government for my part I thought Vice which fundamentally destroys all those things is here as well as in other Theatres so charmingly discover'd as to make Men rather love than abhor it like the Judge who on the Bench discovering the Arts of some Cow-stealers to disguise their Beasts by altering the Figure of their Horns taught a poor fellow the Trick who putting it in Practice was brought to the Gallows However to give the Devil his due there are some Actors here particularly Mr. Ashbury Mr. Husbands Mr. Wilks Mr. Hescot Mr. Norris Mr. Buckly Mr. Longmore Mrs. Smith Mrs. Schooling no way inferior to those in London nor are the Spectators by what I saw one degree less in Vanity and Foppery than those in another Place For the Play Madam I need say nothing 't is so well known 't was pretty to see the Squire choused out of so fair an Estate with so little ready Rino Yet the Diversion was not so great but that the Crowd made me more uneasie a thing I ever abominated and for the most part made it my Business to shun all my days in a word no Church I was in while at Dublin cou'd I discern to be half so crowded as this Place I cannot tell indeed how it would have been had they play'd on Sunday as they do in Popish Countries and particularly at Rome where a Stranger once observed all the People suddenly ran out of the Play-house into the Church as fast as they could which made him at first think it was a most Religious Place but when he came to hear the Fryar Preach his Words Actions and other Gestures were so Comical that his Wonder ceased for he thought all the Actors and Players in Christendom were a Fool to him After spending three or four hours in the Play-house to see a few Men and Women make Fools of themselves I returned home to my Chamber and cou'd scarce be reconcil'd to my self to think how foolishly I had wasted that time which might have been spent to better purpose Madam I shou'd next acquaint you with a prodigious Storm which happened in Dublin about the latter end of Iuly it might indeed be more properly call'd a Hurricane than a Storm It strangely surpriz'd me though its fury continued not above six hours there was hardly a House in the City where it had not left some visible Marks of its Rage especially in Christ-Church-lane So that it was moâ—e safe being in the Fields than in the City at that time the oldest Men alive cou'd never remember any thing so terrible as this Storm But to give an account of the Mischief it did wou'd be too great a Digression I shall therefore reserve it for my Summer Ramble as I shall also a Comical Entertainment made at Kells in the County of Meath by one Captain Bryan O Brogan Son to Philip O Brogan Prince of Cavan Soon after this Great Storm the Duke of Ormond landed at Dublin and from thence went to his House at Kilkenny where in my Summer Ramble I saw his Grace and had a sight of the Castle and other Rarities by the Interest of Dr. Wood whose great Civilities I acknowledge in the following Pages About this time the Dublin Players with all their Appurtinances stroled down to Kilkenny after which 't was reported in Dublin that one Wilks one of the best Actors had play'd his last part being kill'd in a Duel this Report was so far believ'd that an Ingenious Person writ an Elegy upon him which was Printed and publickly Sold. This News of his Death was talk'd with such Assurance that though Mr. Wilks soon after came to Dublin and shew'd himself alive they wou'd hardly believe him The ground of this Report as I was told arose from this That a Country-man seeing a Tragedy acted in Kilkenny wherein Mr. Wilks acted the part of one that was to be kill'd thought it was real and so reported it I might next mention the sudden Deaths of the Dublin Sheriffs the Tragical Story of a Person that was kill'd by a fall from his Horse and the dismal Accident of a Child's firing a Garret with himself in it with Gunpowder but shou'd I relate half the Occurrences I met in Dublin I shou'd swell this Letter beyond measure so I reserve 'em all for my Summer Ramble and shall next proceed that I may render the account of my Conversation the more compleat to give a particular Account of the Visâ—ts I made in Dublin for Madam as 't is an Observation That a Man may be known by his Company so I think 't is not incongruous to believe that an Idea of his Conversation may be taken from the Persons to whom and the Occasions on which he makes his Visits And here Madam I must first acquaint ye that soon
one of the Gentlemans Daughters who walked in her Sleep every Night which was at last discover'd by a Stranger 's having Courage enough to lie in the Room said to be haunted This naturally led us in the fourth place to talk of Apparitions and here Mr. Harman ask'd me what I thought of a Spectrum's assuming a Humane Shape I assur'd him they might and to confirm this told him the Story of one Ioseph Chambers who appeard to Mary Gossam with whom I was well acquainted in that very Night-Cap which she put upon his Head when she had laid him out This Story of Chambers appearing after his Death led Mr Larkin to tell another of an Apparision he had seen in Staffordshire in his Youth which he thought had been a living Woman till he saw it vanish adding That he look'd upon the denying of Spirits and their appearing to Persons after Death to be the next degree to Atheism After about two hours spent in such agreeable Conversation we took our leave of Mr. Harman Who is a Gentleman of a fine Presence and of a most sweet and affable Temper He is now in the Bloom and Beauty of his Youth and his great Ingenuity and close Application to his Study do justly render him the growing hopes of his Father's Family and may in time to come render him an Ornament to the College I am afraid Madam I shall tire you with this tedious Relation of my Visits but I hope your Goodness will pardon me for 't is necessary to be thus particular that I may silence the lying Tongue of Patrick Campbel who has had the Impudence to say That I kept Company in Dublin with none but a Kennel of Scoundrels Whereas you see by the Visits I made That I was not acquainted with one Scoundrel in Dublin except himself and the Brass in Copper-Allcy This naturally brings me to acquaint your Ladyship That among those I Employ'd to bind up Books for my Auction I had to do with one that I call Brass a Man poor and Proud unacquainted with Honour or good Manners to supply the want of which he is well furnished with Conceit and Impudence Being thus qualified he was look'd upon by St. Patrick as a fit Tool for him and accordly chosen for his Auctioneer though he knew not how to read the Title of a Latin Book But the Gentlemen of Dublin who had been genteely treated with Wit and Sense at my Auction by Mr. Wilde could not bear with the gross Ignorance of a Brass Hammer so that Patrick was forc'd to discard him in a Weeks time and put a better Man in his Place This Brass knowing the necessity I was under of having my Books bound in order to sale resolves to make me pay a rate for Binding not only beyond what was given in London but even beyond what was given by the Booksellers of Dublin I found Madam I was in his hands and remember'd the Proverb That he that 's in a Boat with the Devil must land where he can There was a Necessity of having my Books bound and I was forc'd to comply with his unreasonable Rates How this consisted with Iustice and Equity I leave you to judge but those were things Brass never troubled his Head about for when he brought me in his Bill he over-charg'd even his own unreasonable Agreement which I refus'd to pay but offer'd to refer it to one Mr. Servant a Binder in Golden-lane with whom I had made the same agreement as I did with him but Servant being a very honest man Brass refus'd to have the thing decided by him because then he was sure 't would go against him And therefore this Fellow who for his Impudence I call the Brass in Copper-Alley serves me with a Token from the Lord Mayor to appear before him which I accordingly did as I formerly hinted in p. 104. of the Dublin Scuffle and having told his Lordship what I had offer'd he was pleas'd to say It was a very fair Proposal I made him and so dismiss'd us both which was all he got by his Two-penny Token Having done with this Scoundrel to use St. Patrick's Phrase I will next give you an Abstract of Mr. Servant's Character who though of the same Function is the direct Antipodes to the Brass of Copper-Alley this being as eminent for Honesty fair Dealing Truth and Iustice as the other is for Pride Conceit and Ignorance But Mr. Servant's Reputation does not need a Foil to set it off For he is well known in Dublin to be all that I here say But I shall add to the good Character he has already that I never met with a more scrupuâ—ous or conscientious Man in my whole Life he 's punctual to his word in the smallest matters and one that manages all his Affairs with Discretion Courteous and affable in his Conversation and ready to do every one what good he can In short his Life is the Exemplar of a Christians Practice But leaving Thomas c. hard at work for he 's a very industrious Man My next Visit shall be to Mr. Iey and Eminent Lawyer in Dublin He was a Benefactor to my Auction and my very sincere Friend And to say the Truth whatever the Lawyers are in other Countries yet in Ireland they are the best Gentlemen and the best Christians From hence to close the Evening I went to take a Dish at Patt's who is a fair-condition'd Man and very obliging to all his Customers Loving to do business without making a noise on 't 'T was here I sometimes met with Mr. Pitts an honest and ingenious Attorney a Man of good Worth and unblemish'd in his Reputation Madam he talks finely dresses his Thoughts in curious Language and has good Nature in his very Looks he is a true lover of the present Government and a brave Assertor of English Liberties in opposition to Popery and Slavery I wou'd say more of the ingenious Pitts but that I shall meet him again in my Summer Ramble Madam just as I left Patts I met with my worthy and ingenious Friend Dr. Wood Physician in Kilkenny with whom and Dr. Smith I spent some agreeable Hours of which expect a fuller Account in the conclusion of this Letter and also in my Summer Ramble where you 'll also meet the Discourse I had with a Gentleman about the Earl of Meath's Hunting Pigg which will be very diverting And now Madam as your several Directions to me inform'd you of the changing of my Lodgings so I think it proper here to give you my Reasons for so doing My first Lodging was at a Counsellors in Wine-Tavern-street who being in some danger of overtaking the Law for he had out-ran his own Practice left his House and as 't is suppos'd the Kingdom too Yet I must say ' As to his Conversation he 's a Gentleman tho' under a Cloud and sings I 'll find out a kinder a better than she beyond any Man in Christendom
't is in his Great Humility which further appears by his inviting me ofâ—en to see him and if I may be so proud to use his own Expression in being pleased with my Conveâ— sation Having left the Collonel's House we all three return'd to our several â—â—dgings In our way thither we went to take our leaves of the Reverend Mr. Searl at his House in Brides Alley and of my worthy Friend Mr. Iones as his House in great Ship-street but neither of 'em were at home however I had the happiness of seeing Mr. Iones's Sister a Person Eminent for her great Piety with whom I left a million of Thanks for all the Favours I receiv'd from him And here I parted with my two Friends Mr. VVild and Mr. Larkin and the next day it being the last for taking of Farewells every one went as his Humor and Fancy led him And the first Ramble I took this Morning was to take my Farewell of Rings-End where I had two or three good Friends 't is about a Mile from Dublin and is a little Harbour like your Graves-End in England I had very agreeable Company to Rings End and was noblely treated at the Kings Head after an hours stay in this dear Place as all Port-Towns generally are I took my leave of Trench VVelsted and two or three more Friends and now look'd towards Dublin but how to come at it we no more knew then the Fox at the Grapes for though we saw a large strand yet 't was not to be walk'd over because of a pretty rapid Stream which must be crossed we enquir'd for a Coach and found no such thing was to be had here unless by accident but was inform'd that we might have a Rings-End Carr which upon my desire was call'd and we got upon it not into it It is a perfect Car with two VVheels and towards the back of it a seat is raised cross ways long enough to hold three People the Cushion we had was made of Patch-work but of such course kind of stuff that we fancied the Boy had stol'n some poor Beggars Coat for a covering between me and the Horâ—e upon the cross barrs of the Carr stood our Charioteer who presently set his Horse into a Gallop which so jolted our sides tho' upon a smooth strand that we were in Purgatory until we got off at Lazy-hill where I pay'd 4 d. for our fair of a Miles riding and almost as pleas'd as the young Gentleman that drove the Chariot of the Sun wou'd have been to be rid of his Seat however they are a great Conveniency and a Man may go to Rings-End from Dublin or from hence thither with a Load of Goods for a Groâ—t and we were told there are an hundred and more plying hereabouts that one can hardly be disappointed I parted with my Fellow Traveller in Essex-street and from thence I went to take my leave of my honest Barber Mat. Read upon Cork-hill and because I found him a generous Lad I won't leave him without a Character He is a Man willing to please and the most genteel Barber I saw in Dublin and therefore I became his quarterly Customer but as ready as he is to humor his Friends yet is he brisk and gay and the worst made for a Dissembler of any Man in the World he 's generous and frank and speaks whatever he thinks which made me have a kindness for him and 't was not lost for he treated me every quarterly Payment and wâ—s obliging to the last being one of those dozen Men that feasted me in Essex street the Friday bâ—fore I left Dublin and that witness'd to the Attestation concerning my Conversation He has Wit enough a great deal of good Humor and tho' a Barber Owner of as much Generosity as any Man in Ireland And if ever I visit Dublin again Mat. Read or in case of his Death his Heir and Successor is the only Barber for me And as for his Spouse tho her Face is full of Pock-holes yet she 's a pretty littâ—e humour'd Creature and smiles at ev'ry word Having shook hand with honest Matt. I went next through Copper Alley to Skinner-Row for a parting glimpse of Brass and Patrick Campbel for tho' they had treated me ill and that 's the Reason why none but they and 〈◊〉 old Usurer have a block Chaâ—acter in the Dublin Scuffle yet I had good Nature enough tho' not to discourse yet just to see 'em when I left Dublin From paying this silent farewell I went to thâ— Thâ—lsel where I saw Mr Quin the present Lord Mayor for the City of â—ublin Perhapâ— Madam you 'l wonder that I shou'd send ye so many Characters and have yet omitted to send the Character of a Person in such an Eminent Station but the Reason was I stay'd to be throughly inform'd before I attempted the Character of my Lord Mayor But Madam I am now able to give ye his true Character and the least I can say of his Lordship is He 's a Person of great Justice and Integrity as I found in the hearing I had before him a couragious â—agistrate and a true lover of his King and Country and has the love of all good Men But there 's no need of any more then reading the Flying Pâ—st of Feb. 16. 1699. to know him as well as it he stood before us for there 't is said Dublin Feb. 7. Our Citizens are mightily pleased with the Lord Mayor on the account of his Proceedings against the Bakers and relieving the Poor from their Oppressions a Congratulatory Poem hath been lately Printed and presented to him on this occasion Thus far the Flying Post in which you see that Courage and Justice I told ye was so Eminent in him But this faithful discharge of his great Trust is what the Citizens of Dublin might expect from him for Prudence and Piety have visibly shâ—â—'d thro' all the Actions of his Life and 't is not Honour or Power alters the Temper of a good Man and therefore 't is since he has been chosen Lord Mayor of the City of Dublin that his Conduct is such that he is not only a Pattern fit to be imitated by all that shall hereafter succeed him but in many things 't will be difficult for any to resemble him and therefore no wonder the Citizens of Dublin have fixt him in so large a Sphere of doing good a private Post was not large enough for the service Heaven design'd by this active Magistrate nor a Hiâ— high enough for the notice of one so Exemplary and to render him the more compleat ' this brave Soul of his has the happiness to live in a very beautiful Tenement and 't had been pity iâ— shou'd have liv'd in any other But I shall stop here for I had not the Honour to be personally known to his Lordship so I shall leave the Tholâ—eâ— without any other Farewel then what I have given in this Character and from
Beauty much resembles Iewels in this that tho' they are the chiefest bravery of Nature they are of the least use so one may be very happy without Beauty but when one is possess'd of such a Treasure it ought to be secur'd by Modesty and a discreet value of it and not carelesly expos'd to pleasing but only upon just occasion But a married Woman with such a careless Conduct making no distinction is as ridiculous as a waiting Woman would be who had her Lady's Jewels in her keeping and should lend 'em to the Milk-women to dress up their Pails for dancing My design in all this is to prove there would be no occasion for a Man's defending so hotly either his own or that Lady's Vertue who had a true esteem of her Beauty whether in her own or her Husband's Possession for I am truly moved with Compassion for this incompaâ—able Person you propose for a Pattern to our whole Sex to find she lies under the misfortune of Slander and Enâ—y and tho' she has the support of those sober Ladies that honours her with their Friendship 't is of little force to take off Slander since there is a Charity much in vogue that forbids distinguishing any but what are notoriously bad which in this refined Age are very few that appear so her Husband had been her best support had he believ'd her Vertuous upon his own Iudgment and not upon the Opinion of another I fear your Judgment was not generally priz'd at that rate However I can't but applaud your happy retreat to the cool Country Air after so much heat tho' you carry'd a Disease with ye since there you found a Cure there 's none knows the Pleasures of Gardens and Retirement like those that have liv'd in the hurry of the World for that like other Pleasures must be set off by its contrary The very same Doctrine Mr. Cowley teaches for Retirement I establish for Friendship which never is right or can be lasting without it for till we have cast of those restless Thoughts of pleasing the World and our vain Passions to Persons â—o disposed the Rules of Friendship are as severe as School-Instructions to Boys with their Heads full of Play who are no less blind to all the Pleasures and Advantages of it But how must that Mind be elevated that in Retirement can be every thing to its self Sure the Admonition Instruction and variety of Thoughts a Friend would yield us should infinitely add to the Perfection of such a Life And tho' living Incognito from being seen and known to the sâ—â—â—eless World is a Priviledge to be wish'd yet to be depriv'd of the Society of the Vertuous and Religious is to cut our selves off from the chief Pleasure that give us a taste of Heaven upon Earth with the opportunity of a delightful Improvement of every Moment of our time spent in their Conversation Nor can I think that great Emperor Charles the 5 th could have boasted half that sweetness he found in his change of Life had he wholly retired from the Conversation of the Divine Valdesso but you must ever be a Stranger to the true Pleasures of Retirement as much as you pretend to love it you carry such a busie Mind about with you and croud your Thoughts with Fields Gardens Parks your House and absent Friends How could you take any thought for a House left in the Conduct of such a Wise 'T is only extravagant and disorderly Wives that turn the House out of the Windows in their Husband's absence No question you were as much in Valeria's Thoughts tho' she might not dream in so much danger You might well expect Death in a Distemper so often fatal and the Thoughts you had from that Expectation I believe has taught you Experience and shew'd you how much you were deceiv'd in your hope that to the end of your Life you should think of the World just as youâ— did then when you thought you was leaving it And did you flatter your self to think if time wou'd unweave your Life again to the first Thread you would mend your Conduct You are now convinced of the Vanity of that Presumption not having had Death and the continual Preparations for it so much in your Thoughts as you then promis'd your self This is judging others by my self if it is rash and false I beg your Pardon I confess I always look'd upon Sickness as the greatest of all temporal Evils and Health the most considerable of earthly Blessing What can discompose the Mind like Pain and Sickness One may find a Remedy for all other Misfortunes by resolving all into the Will of God which â—rders nothing to befall us but for good but no Reâ—ignâ—tion â—ver so great can hinder the Sympathy the Soâ—l has with the Body that in those occasions our Thoughts have little Power to entertain any Thought but Patience per force If therefore the Thoâ—ghts of Death and Iudgment Heaven and Hell are necessary to reflect on 't is when we are in Health Sickness discomposes all serious Thoughts for my self I wou'd have nothing to do at that time but to resign my self with all the Patience I could muster up equally accepting release either by Death or Recovery which of 'em God pleases to appoint me and nothing makes us so ready and willing to die as a comfortable assurance of our Salvation which will stand us then in more stead then any reflection on our past Life tho' never so good or the most sâ—â—ious Repentance we can then exercise Nor can I think it a Presumption because not built on our own Performances but upon the Promises of God If it is possible to judge of the truth of any Divine Grace 't is possible to know they are his chosen to whom he gives it How can the Holy spirit witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God if we are Strangers to what â—e witnesses All Divine Graces are the Earnest of our Eternal Inheritance they are the Gifts of God which he never withdraws for his Gifts are without Repentance Nor is Assurance a particular favour to some but to all his chosen that are careful to try themselves and their Graces and for those that fear Assurance should make 'em Libertines they would find the contrary if they had it for it is not the fancy of having but the real Possession of true Grace creates Assurance which will be seen and known by its Effects as a Tree by its Fruits and no such motive to lead a heavenly Life on Earth as a firm Assurance in the Exercise of Divine Graces that we are consigned to a glorious Immortality in Heaven so remote from the Changes and Uncertainties in this Life tho' perhaps in some sort a necessary quality for the imperfect Pleasures this World affords us A little longer Enjoyment of your Earthly Paradice in the Country would have put you upon the search of Business in Town only upon account of Variety and