nals, which lately sat for the reviving the force of some obsolete doctrines, and drawing up amendments to certain points of faith, have represented the church of Rome to be in great danger, from a treatise written by a learned Englishman; which carries spiritual power much higher than we could have dared to have attempted even here. His book is called An Epistolary Discourse, proving from the Scriptures, and the first Fathers, that the Soul is a principle naturally mortal. Wherein is proved, that none have the power of giving this divine immortalizing Spirit, since the Apostles, but the Bishops. By Henry Dodwell, M. A. The assertion appeared to our literati so short and effectual a method of subjecting the laity, that it is feared auricular confes sion and absolution will not be capable of keeping the clergy of Rome in any degree of greatness, in competition with such teachers, whose flocks shall receive this opinion. What gives the greater jealousy here is, that in the catalogues of treatises which have been lately burnt within the British territories, there is no mention made of this learned work; which circumstance is a sort of implication, that the tenet is not held erroneous, but that the doctrine is received among you as orthodox. The youth of this place are very much divided in opinion, whether a very memorable quotation which the author repeats out of Tertullian, be not rather of the style and manner of Meursius? In illo ipso voluptatis ultimæ astu, quo genitale virus expellitur, nonne aliquid de animâ quoque sentimus exire, atque adeo marcescimus et devigescimus cum lucis detrimento? This piece of Latin goes no farther than to tell us how our fathers begot us; so that we are still at a loss how we I See N° 118. afterwards commence eternal; for creando infunditur, et infundendo creatur, which is mentioned soon after, may allude only to flesh and blood, as well as the former. Your readers in this city, some of whom have very much approved the warmth with which you have attacked freethinkers, atheists, and other enemies to religion and virtue, are very much disturbed, that you have given them no account of this remarkable dissertation. I am employed by them to desire you would, with all possible expedition, send me over the ceremony of the creation of souls, as well as a list of all the mortal and immortal men within the dominions of Great Britain. When you have done me this favour, I must trouble you for other tokens of your kindness; and particularly I desire you would let me have the religious handkerchief, which is of late so much worn in England 2, for I have promised to make a present of it to a courtesan of a French minister. ⚫ Letters from the frontiers of France inform us, that a young gentleman 3, who was to have been created a cardinal on the next promotion, has put off his design of coming to Rome so soon as was intended; having, as it is said, received letters from Great Britain, wherein several virtuosi of that island have desired him to suspend his resolutions towards a monastic life, until the British grammarians shall publish their explication of the words "indefeazable" and "revolution." According as these two hard terms are made to fit the mouths of the people, 2 Pocket handkerchiefs printed with the effigies of Dr. Sacheverell. this gentleman takes his measures for his journey hither. Your new Bedlam has been read and considered by some of your countrymen among us; and one gentleman, who is now here as a traveller, says your design is impracticable; for that there can be no place large enough to contain the number of young lunatics. He advises you therefore to name the ambient sea for the boundary of your hospital. If what he says be true, I do not see how you can think of any other inclosure: for, according to his discourse, the whole people are taken with a vertigo; great and proper actions are received with coldness and discontent; ill-news hoped for with impatience; heroes in your service are treated with calumny, while criminals pass through your towns with acclamations 4. This Englishman went on to say, you seemed at present to flag under a satiety of success, as if you wanted misfortune as a necessary vicissitude. Yet, alas! though men have but a cold relish of prosperity, quick is the anguish of the contrary fortune. He proceeded to make comparisons of times, seasons, and great incidents. After which he grew too learned for my understanding, and talked of Hanno the Carthaginian, and his irreconcileable hatred to the glorious commander Hannibal. "Hannibal," said he, "was able to march to Rome itself, and brought that ambitious people, who designed no less than the empire of the world, to sue for peace in the 4 Dr. Sacheverell, we are told, while under the sentence that suspended him from preaching, made a sort of triumphal journey, and was received in some towns with ringing of bells, and other demonstrations of welcome approbation. most abject and servile manner; when faction, at home detracted from the glory of his actions, and, after many artifices, at last prevailed with the senate to recal him from the midst of his victories, in the very instant when he was to reap the benefit of all his toils, by reducing the then common enemy of all nations which had liberty, to reason. When Hannibal heard the message of the Carthaginian senators, who were sent to recal him, he was moved with a generous and disdainful sorrow; and is reported to have said, "Hannibal then must be conquered, not by the arms of the Romans, whom he has often put to flight, but by the envy and detraction of his countrymen. Nor shall Scipio triumph so much in his fall, as Hanno, who will smile to have purchased the ruin of Hannibal, though attended with the fall of Carthage "." I am, SIR, &c. Will's Coffee-house, June 19. THERE is a sensible satisfaction in observing the countenance and action of the people on some occasions. To gratify myself in this pleasure, I came hither with all speed this evening with an account of the surrender of Douay. As soon as the Battlecritics heard it, they immediately drew some com s This alludes to an allegorical piece, the publication of which was then recent: "The History of Hannibal and Hanno, &c. collected from the best Authors, by A. M. Esq." It is reprinted in the Life and Posthumous Writings of its author, Arthur Maynwaring, Esq. Lond. 1715, 8vo. 6 See N° 65. fort, in that it must have cost us a great number of men. Others were so negligent of the glory of their country, that they went on in their discourse on the full house which is to be at Othello on Thursday, and the curiosity they should go with, to see Wilks 7 play a part so very different from what he had ever before appeared in, together with the expectation that was raised in the gay part of the town on that occasion. This universal indolence and inattention among us to things that concern the public, made me look back with the highest reverence on the glorious instances in antiquity, of a contrary behaviour in the like circumstances. Harry English, upon observing the room so little roused on the news, fell into the same way of thinking. 'How unlike,' said he, Mr. Bickerstaff, are we to the old Romans! There was not a subject of their state but thought himself as much concerned in the honour of his country, as the first officer of the commonwealth. How do I admire the messenger, who ran with a thorn in his foot to tell the news of a victory to the senate! He had not leisure for his private pain, until he had expressed his public joy; nor could he suffer as a man, until he had triumphed as a Roman.' STEELE. 7 See No 182. Wilks died on the 27th of Sept. 1732. |