NUMB. 30. SATURDAY, June 30, 1750.

TH

for perfons of modesty to speak their own praises. In fome cafes, however, this must be done for the general good, and a generous fpirit will on fuch occafions affert its merit, and vindicate itself with becoming warmth.

My circumstances, Sir, are very hard and peculiar. Could the world be brought to treat me as I deserve, it would be a publick benefit. This makes me apply to you, that my cafe being fairly stated in a paper fo generally esteemed, I may fuffer no longer from ignorant and childish prejudices.

My elder brother was a Jew. A very respectable perfon, but somewhat auftere in his manner: highly and deservedly valued by his near relations and intimates, but utterly unfit for mixing in a larger fociety, or gaining a general acquaintance among mankind. In a venerable old age he retired from the world, and I in the bloom of youth came into

it, fucceeding him in all his dignities, and formed, as I might reafonably flatter myself, to be the object of univerfal love and efteem. Joy and gladness were born with me; cheerfulness, good-humour, and benevolence always attended and endeared my infancy. That time is long paft. So long, that idle imaginations are apt to fancy me wrinkled, old, and disagreeable; but, unless my looking-glafs deceives me, I have not yet loft one charm, one beauty of my earliest years. However, thus far is too certain, I am to every body just what they chufe to think me, fo that to very few I appear in my right fhape; and though naturally I am the friend of human kind, to few, very few comparatively, am I ufeful or agreeable.

This is the more grievous, as it is utterly impoffible for me to avoid being in all forts of places and companies; and I am therefore liable to meet with perpetual affronts and injuries. Though I have as natural an antipathy to cards and dice, as fome people have to a cat, many and many an affembly am I forced to endure; and though reft and compofure are my peculiar joy, am worn out, and haraffed to death with journies by men and women of quality, who never take one, but when I can be of the party. Some, on a contrary extreme, will never receive me but in bed, where they spend at least half of the time I have to stay with them; and others are fo monftrously ill-bred as to take phyfick on purpose when they have reason to expect me. Those who keep upon terms of more politeness with me, are generally fo cold and constrained in their behaviour, that I cannot but perceive myself an unwelcome guest; O 2 and

and even among perfons deferving of efteem, and who certainly have a value for me, it is too evident that generally whenever I come I throw a dullness over the whole company, that I am entertained with a formal ftiff civility, and that they are glad when I am fairly gone.

How bitter must this kind of reception be to one formed to infpire delight, admiration, and love! To one capable of answering and rewarding the greatest warmth and delicacy of fentiments! <

I was bred up among a fet of excellent people, who affectionately loved me, and treated me with the utmost honour and refpect. It would be tedious to relate the variety of my adventures, and ftrange viciffitudes of my fortune in many different countries. Here in England there was a time when I lived according to my heart's defire. Whenever I appeared, publick affemblies appointed for my reception were crowded with perfons of quality and fashion, early dreft as for a court, to pay me their devoirs. Cheerful hofpitality every where crowned my board, and I was looked upon in every country parish as a kind of focial bond between the 'fquire, the parfon, and the tenants. The laborious poor every where bleft my appearance: they do fo ftill, and keep their beft clothes to do me honour though as much as I delight in the honeft country folks, they do now and then throw a pot of ale at my head, and sometimes an unlucky boy will drive his cricket-ball full in my face.

. Even in thefe my best days there were perfons who thought me too demure and grave. I must forfooth by all means be inftructed by foreign mafters, and

taught

taught to dance and play. This method of educa-, tion was fo contrary to my genius, formed for much nobler entertainments, that it did not fucceed at all.

I fell next into the hands of a very different fet. They were so exceffively fcandalized at the gaiety of my appearance, as not only to defpoil me of the foreign fopperies, the paint and the patches that I had been tricked out with by my laft misjudging tutors, but they robbed me of every innocent ornament I had from my infancy been used to gather in the fields and gardens; nay, they blacked may face, and covered me all over with a habit of mourning, and that too very coarfe and awkward. I was now obliged to spend my whole life in hearing fermons ; nor permitted fo much as to smile upon any occafion.

In this melancholy disguise I became a perfect bugbear to all children, and young folks. Whereever I came there was a general hufh, and immediate ftop to all pleasantness of look or discourse and not being permitted to talk with them in my own language at that time, they took fuch a difgust to me in those tedious hours of yawning, that having tranfmitted it to their children, I cannot now be heard, though it is long fince I have recovered my natural form, and pleafing tone of voice. Would they but receive my vifits kindly. and liften to what I could tell them-let me fay it without vanity-how charming a companion fhould I be! to every one could I talk on the fubjects moft interesting and most pleafing. With the great and ambitious, I would difcourfe of honours and advancements, of diftinctions to which the whole world should be witness, of unenvied

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unenvied dignities and durable preferments. To the rich I would tell of inexhaustible treasures, and the fure method to attain them. I would teach them to put out their money on the best interest, and inftruct the lovers of pleasure how to secure and improve it to the highest degree. The beauty fhould learn of me how to preferve an everlasting bloom. To the afflicted I would adminifter comfort, and relaxation to the busy.

As I dare promise myself you will atteft the truth of all I have advanced, there is no doubt but many will be defirous of improving their acquaintance with me; and that I may not be thought too difficult, I will tell you, in fhort, how I wish to be received.

You must know I equally hate lazy idleness and hurry. I would every where be welcomed at a tolerably early hour with decent good-humour and gratitude. I must be attended in the great halls peculiarly appropriated to me with respect; but I do not infift upon finery: propriety of appearance, and perfect neatness, is all I require. I must at dinner be treated with a temperate, but cheerful focial meal; both the neighbours and the poor fhould be the better for me. Some time I muft have tête-à-tête with my kind entertainers, and the reft of my visit should be spent in pleasant walks and airings among fets of agreeable people, in fuch difcourse as I shall naturally dictate, or in reading fome few felected out of thofe numberlefs books that are dedicated to me, and go by my name. A name that, alas! as the world stands at present, makes

them