They write from Mons, that the Elector of Bavaria had advice, that an advanced party of the Portuguese army had been defeated by the Spaniards.

We hear from Languedoc, that their corn, olives and figs, were wholly destroyed; but that they have a hopeful prospect of a plentiful vintage.

[Footnote 209:  The nickname of a waiter at White’s (see No. 1).]

[Footnote 210:  “The Rival Queens; or, Alexander the Great,” by Nathaniel Lee, 1677.]

[Footnote 211:  The following advertisement is among the Harleian MSS.  (Bayford’s Coll. 5931):  “At Crawley’s show at the Golden Lion, near St. George’s Church, during the time of Southwark Fair, will be presented the whole story of the old ‘Creation of the World, or Paradise Lost,’ yet newly revived with the addition of ‘Noah’s Flood’; &c.  The best known puppet-show man was Martin Powell. (See No. 236.)]

[Footnote 212:  So in the folio and original collected editions.  “Prue” was Steele’s favourite name for his wife; here it means “prude,” and no doubt Steele sometimes thought “dear Prue” was unnecessarily and unreasonably particular.]

No. 17. [STEELE.

From Tuesday, May 17, to Thursday, May 19, 1709.

* * * * *

Will’s Coffee-house, May 18.

The discourse has happened to turn this evening upon the true nature of panegyric, the perfection of which was asserted to consist in a certain artful way of conveying the applause in an indirect manner.  There was a gentleman gave us several instances of it:  among others, he quoted, from Sir Francis Bacon, in his “Advancement of Learning,” a very great compliment made to Tiberius, as follows:  In a full debate upon public affairs in the Senate, one of the assembly rose up, and with a very grave air said, he thought it for the honour and dignity of the commonwealth, that Tiberius should be declared a god, and have divine worship paid him.  The Emperor was surprised at the proposal, and demanded of him to declare whether he had made any application to incline him to that overture?  The senator answered, with a bold and haughty tone, “Sir, in matters that concern the commonwealth, I will be governed by no man."[213] Another gentleman mentioned something of the same kind spoken by the late Duke of B——­m,[214] to the late Earl of O——­y:[215] “My lord,” says the duke, after his libertine way, “you will certainly be damned.”  “How, my lord!” says the earl with some warmth.  “Nay,” said the duke, “there’s no help for it, for it is positively said, ‘Cursed is he of whom all men speak well.’"[216] This is taking a man by surprise, and being welcome when you have so surprised him.  The person flattered receives you into his closet at once; and the sudden change in his heart, from the expectation of an ill-wisher, to find you his friend, makes you in his full favour in a moment.  The spirits that were raised so suddenly against you, are as suddenly for you.