consider the speeches of the mighty philosophers, heroes, law-givers, and great captains, they can produce no more in a discerning spirit, than rules to make a man a fop on his death-bed.  Commend me to that natural greatness of soul, expressed by an innocent, and consequently resolute, country fellow, who said in the pains of the colic, “If I once get this breath out of my body, you shall hang me before you put it in again.”  Honest Ned! and so he died.[173]

But it is to be supposed, from this place you may expect an account of such a thing as a new play is not to be omitted.  That acted this night is the newest that ever was writ.  The author is my ingenious friend Mr. Thomas D——­y.  The drama is called, “The Modern Prophets,"[174] and is a most unanswerable satire against the late spirit of enthusiasm.  The writer had by long experience observed, that in company, very grave discourses have been followed by bawdry; and therefore has turned the humour that way with great success, and taken from his audience all manner of superstition, by the agitations of pretty Mrs. Bignell,[175] whom he has, with great subtlety, made a lay-sister, as well as a prophetess; by which means, she carries on the affairs of both worlds with great success.  My friend designs to go on with another work against winter, which he intends to call, “The Modern Poets”; a people no less mistaken in their opinions of being inspired than the other.  In order to this, he has by him seven songs, besides many ambiguities, which cannot be mistaken for anything but what he means them.  Mr. D——­y generally writes state-plays, and is wonderfully useful to the world in such representations.  This method is the same that was used by old Athenians, to laugh out of countenance, or promote opinions among the people.  My friend has therefore, against this play is acted for his own benefit, made two dances, which may be also of an universal benefit.  In the first he has represenced absolute power, in the person of a tall man with a hat and feather, who gives his first minister, that stands just before him, a huge kick:  the minister gives the kick to the next before; and so to the end of the stage.  In this moral and practical jest, you are made to understand, that there is, in an absolute government, no gratification, but giving the kick you receive from one above you to one below you.  This is performed to a grave and melancholy air; but on a sudden the tune moves quicker, and the whole company fall into a circle and take hands; then, at a certain sharp note, they move round, and kick as kick can.  This latter performance he makes to be the representation of a free state; where, if you all mind your steps, you may go round and round very jollily, with a motion pleasant to yourselves and those you dance with:  nay, if you put yourselves out, at the worst you only kick, and are kicked, like friends and equals.

From my own Apartment, May 4.