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have known a whole Edition go off by vertue of two or three well written etc

-'s.

A sprinkling of the Words Faction, Frenchman, Papist, Plunderer, and the like significant Terms, in an Italick Character, have also a very good Effect upon the Eye of the Purchaser; not to mention Scribler, Lier, Rogue, Rascal, Knave, and Villain, without which it is impossible to carry on a Modern Controversie.

or

Our Party-writers are so sensible of the secret Vertue of an Innuendo to recommend their Productions, that of late they never mention the Q-n P―t at length, though they speak of them with Honour, and with that Deference which is due to them from every private Person. It gives a secret Satisfaction to a Peruser of these mysterious Works that he is able to decipher them without help, and, by the Strength of his own natural Parts, to fill up a Blank-Space, or make out a Word that has only the first or last Letter to it.

Some of our Authors indeed, when they would be more Satyrical than ordinary, omit only the Vowels of a great Man's Name, and fall most unmercifully upon all the Consonants. This way of Writing was first of all introduced by T-m Br-wn, of facetious Memory, who, after having gutted a proper Name of all its intermediate Vowels, used to plant it in his Works, and make as free with it as he pleased, without any Danger of the Statute.

That I may imitate these celebrated Authors, and

H

publish a Paper which shall be more taking than ordinary, I have here drawn up a very curious Libel, in which a Reader of Penetration will find a great deal of concealed Satyr, and if he be acquainted with the present Posture of Affairs, will easily discover the Meaning of it.

,

"If there are four Persons in the Nation who endeavour to bring all things into Confusion, and ruin their native Country, I think every honest Engl-shm-n ought to be upon his Guard. That there are such every one will agree with me, who hears me name *** with his first Friend and Favourite ** *** not to mention * * * nor These People may cry Ch-rch, Ch-rch, as long as they please, but, to make use of a homely Proverb, The Proof of the P-dd-ng is in the eating. This I am sure of, that if a certain Prince should concur with a certain Prelate (and we have Monsieur Zn's Word for it), our Posterity would be in a sweet P-ckle. Must the British Nation suffer, forsooth, because my Lady Q-p-t-s has been disobliged? Or is it reasonable that our English Fleet, which used to be the Terror of the Ocean, should lie Windbound for the sake of I love to speak out and declare my Mind clearly when I am talking for the Good of my Country. I will not make my Court to an ill Man, tho' he were a B- -y or a Tt. Nay, I would not stick to call so wretched a Politician, a Traitor, an Enemy to his Country, and a Bl-nd-rb-ss, etc., etc."

a

The remaining Part of this Political Treatise, which is written after the manner of the most celebrated Authors in Great Britain, I may communicate to the

while I shall leave this with my curious Reader, as some ingenious Writers do their Enigmas, and if any

sagacious Person can fairly unriddle it, I will print his Explanation, and, if he pleases, acquaint the World with his Name.

I hope this short Essay will convince my Readers it is not for want of Abilities that I avoid State-tracts, and that if I would apply my Mind to it, I might in a little time be as great a Master of the Political Scratch as any the most eminent Writer of the Age. I shall only add, that in order to outshine all this Modern Race of Syncopists, and thoroughly content my English Readers, I intend shortly to publish a SPECTATOR that shall not have a single Vowel in it.

Addison.

-Dum recitas, incipit esse Tuus.-MART.

I WAS Yesterday in a Coffee-House not far from the Royal Exchange, where I observed three Persons in close Conference over a Pipe of Tobacco; upon which, having filled one for my own use, I lighted it at the little Wax Candle that stood before them; and after having thrown in two or three Whiffs amongst them, sat down and made one of the Company. I need not tell my Reader, that lighting a Man's Pipe at the same Candle is looked upon among Brother-smokers as an Overture to Conversation and Friendship. we here lay our Heads together in a very amicable Manner, being intrenched under a Cloud of our own raising, I took up the last SPECTATOR, and casting my Eye over it, The SPECTATOR, says I, is very witty to

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