the four plates of that able historian WILLIAM HOGARTH, whose map of the road to murder is laid down with more accuracy than

of the kind I have seen.

any thing

Our claims to the invention of dice are extremely absurd. This game was played by the antient Germans, and by their descendants the Saxons, Danes, and Normans. Of cards I need say little, as we do not pretend to have done much more than to make them the chief instruments in uniting society and dividing property. But I must not omit to do justice to modern times with respect to the following articles, which I have not been able to trace much farther than the commencement of the

last century; I mean, hunting a pig, running in sacks, and smock races. These, I am inclined to think, are native amusements; but it is not improbable they may migrate into France, as they were observed, not many weeks ago, to have reached the coast opposite to that country. With what dexterity that lively people may catch the pig, or run in the sack, is mere matter of conjecture; but, if we may give credit to the total want of dress in fashionable life, perhaps a shift may be an object of emulation, and those who now affront decency be glad to run for it.

may

With regard to the old-established amusements of the drama, it is not pretended, that we are inventors, although we have the merit of some very important improvements which may truly be accounted novelties; such as mixing comedy and farce in proportions so exact, that the nicest critick cannot distinguish the one from the other; and such as that species of handicraft wit which consists in throwing down tables and chairs, and breaking china, &c. and especially that happy union so long projected, and now completed, between nonsense and musick. Of these inventions, it would be mean jealousy to deprive us ; but as I perceive that the newest things may in time become old, and that in spite of all our ingenuity the clamour for novelty is as loud as ever, I shall for the benefit of all concerned transcribe the following bill, the original of which is in the British Museum, and is about an hundred old.

years

1

"At Crawley's booth, over against the Crown tavern in Smithfield, during the time of Bartholomew fair, will be presented a little opera, called the Old Creation of the World, yet newly revived, with the addition of Noah's flood; also several fountains playing water

during the time of the play. The last scene does present Noah and his family coming out of the ark, with all the beasts two by two, and all the fowls of the air seen in a prospect sitting upon trees; likewise over the ark is seen the sun rising in a most glorious manner; moreover, a multitude of angels will be seen in a double rank, which presents a double prospect, one for the sun, the other for a palace, where will be seen six angels ringing of bells. Likewise machines descend from above, double and treble, with Dives rising out of hell, and Lazarus seen in Abraham's bosom, besides several figures dancing jiggs, sarabands, and country dances, to the admiration of the spectators; with the merry conceits of Punch."

My readers, I trust, will at once perceive why I have taken the trouble to copy this bill, by way of hint to our managers. Many of their late attempts at variety, however wellmeant, do not appear to me to suit the public taste better than the revival of this opera would, especially in summer, or at one of the watering-places. Nor is it necessary that they should borrow one incident from one author, and a second from another, when there is in Mr. Crawley's bill of fare articles enough to

furnish out a complete entertainment, not to speak of a rational repast.

Lastly, I may remark, that pantomimes, although some part may be borrowed from Italy, were in fact but an improvement on puppet-shews; and an improvement, let me add, which eminently proved the liberality of our managers, as, instead of wooden puppets, they generously and at a great expence undertook to employ living ones, who are well known to eat and drink, and bargain for salaries and benefits.

After this humble attempt to illustrate the complaint, that in our amusements at least there is nothing new under the sun, it may perhaps be expected that the author of the PROJECTOR is about to vindicate the honour of his country, by some scheme of prolific genius, and incontestable novelty; but this, if it be his ambition, which he does not positively avow, must be the subject of a future speculation, to which the present may be considered as an historical introduction.

THE PROJECTOR. No 12.

"Difficile est hoc de omnibus confirmare, sed tamen

est certum."

CICERO.

December 1802.

THE fine compliment paid by Cicero to the uses of learning, in the oration from which I have taken my motto, "adolescentiam alunt, senectutem oblectant, &c." happened lately to be repeated with some degree of triumph in a company of men of letters, where I had the honour to be present: and it was followed by remarks, not very uncommon, that the refinement of the age is greatly indebted to the more general diffusion of literature; that it tends to make men wiser, and enables them to regulate the business of life with more discretion. In truth, panegyrics on the benefits of learning may always be expected in the company of those who have in any degree cultivated it. This is l'esprit de corps.

But while we were thus throwing indirect compliments at one another, as is the custom with Projectors, a gentleman who had not