bound, and if diligent search were made, for aught
I know, is yet to be seen. There is another called
Nahum Tate, who is ready to make oath that he has
caused many reams of verse to be published, whereof
both himself and his bookseller, if lawfully required,
can still produce authentic copies, and therefore wonders
why the world is pleased to make such a secret of
it. There is a third, known by the name of Tom
Durfey, a poet of a vast comprehension, an universal
genius, and most profound learning. There are
also one Mr. Rymer and one Mr. Dennis, most profound
critics. There is a person styled Dr. Bentley,
who has wrote near a thousand pages of immense erudition,
giving a full and true account of a certain squabble
of wonderful importance between himself and a bookseller;
he is a writer of infinite wit and humour, no man
rallies with a better grace and in more sprightly
turns. Further, I avow to your Highness that with
these eyes I have beheld the person of William Wotton,
B.D., who has written a good-sized volume against
a friend of your governor, from whom, alas! he must
therefore look for little favour, in a most gentlemanly
style, adorned with utmost politeness and civility,
replete with discoveries equally valuable for their
novelty and use, and embellished with traits of wit
so poignant and so apposite, that he is a worthy yoke-mate
to his fore-mentioned friend.
Why should I go upon farther particulars, which might
fill a volume with the just eulogies of my contemporary
brethren? I shall bequeath this piece of justice
to a larger work, wherein I intend to write a character
of the present set of wits in our nation; their persons
I shall describe particularly and at length, their
genius and understandings in miniature.
In the meantime, I do here make bold to present your
Highness with a faithful abstract drawn from the universal
body of all arts and sciences, intended wholly for
your service and instruction. Nor do I doubt
in the least, but your Highness will peruse it as carefully
and make as considerable improvements as other young
princes have already done by the many volumes of late
years written for a help to their studies.
That your Highness may advance in wisdom and virtue,
as well as years, and at last outshine all your royal
ancestors, shall be the daily prayer of,
Sir,
Your Highness’s most devoted, &c.
Decem. 1697.
SIR RICHARD STEELE.
(1672-1729.)
XXXI. THE COMMONWEALTH OF LUNATICS.
This paper forms No. 125 of
The Tatler, January 26th, 1709.
From my own apartment, January 25.