[Footnote 104:  William Pinkethman, the popular actor and droll, was spoken of by Gildon as “the flower of Bartholomew Fair, and the idol of the rabble.”  In June, 1710, he opened a theatre at Greenwich, and in 1711 his “wonderful invention called The Pantheon, or, The Temple of the Heathen Gods,” with over 100 figures, was to be seen in the Little Piazza, Covent Garden (Spectator, No. 46, advertisement).]

[Footnote 105:  “It is credibly reported that Mr. D——­y has agreed with Mr. Pinkethman to have his play acted before that audience as soon as it has had its first sixteen days’ run in Drury Lane” (folio).  The play was D’Urfey’s “Modern Prophets.”]

[Footnote 106:  Britain.]

[Footnote 107:  John, Lord Somers, President of the Council.]

[Footnote 108:  Sidney, Lord Godolphin, the Lord High Treasurer; or (according to the MS. notes in the copy mentioned above) Lord Sunderland.]

[Footnote 109:  Edward, Earl of Orford.]

[Footnote 110:  At La Hogue, 1692.]

[Footnote 111:  Probably Lord Halifax.]

[Footnote 112:  Thomas, Earl of Wharton, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.]

[Footnote 113:  “Advertisement.—­Upon the humble petition of Running Stationers, &c., this paper maybe had of them, for the future, at the price of one penny” (folio).  The first four numbers were distributed gratuitously.]

No. 5. [STEELE.

From Tuesday, April 19, to Thursday, April 21, 1709.

* * * * *

White’s Chocolate-house, April 20.

Who names that lost thing, love, without a tear, Since so debauched by ill-bred customs here, To an exact perfection they have brought The action, love, the passion is forgot.

This was long ago a witty author’s lamentation, but the evil still continues; and if a man of any delicacy were to attend the discourses of the young fellows of this age, they would believe there were none but prostitutes to make the objects of passion.  So true it is what the author of the above verses said, a little before his death, of the modern pretenders to gallantry:  “They set up for wits in this age, by saying when they are sober, what they of the last spoke only when they were drunk.”  But Cupid is not only blind at present, but dead-drunk, he has lost all his faculties:  else how should Celia be so long a maid with that agreeable behaviour?  Corinna, with that uprightly wit?  Lesbia, with that heavenly voice?  And Sacharissa, with all those excellences in one person, frequent the park, the play, and murder the poor tits that drag her to public places, and not a man turn pale at her appearance?  But such is the fallen state of love, that if it were not for honest Cynthio,[114] who is true to the cause, we should hardly have a pattern left of the ancient worthies that way:  and indeed he has but very little encouragement to persevere; but he has a devotion, rather than love, for his mistress; and says,