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sary for giving a full scope to his mental and corporeal activity. But, perhaps, it may be objected, that the Turks, of whom the Grand Seignor is the head, and who possesses a more extensive Haram of wives and concubines than all the monarchs of Europe, has as yet given no proof of his literary prowess: Admitted. This, it must be confessed, is a considerable objection to the general rule, and clearly proves, that a man may sometimes have too much, even of a good thing. But this does not subvert the general principle, which still remains firm and unshaken; Quod erat demonstrandum.

A. F.

LETTER CCXXXIV.

From the same.

Oct. 29, 1790.

Dear Sir, When, in a gay mood, I lately sported a jeud'esprit on the superiority of married men, as to literary productions, and other exertions of the intellectual powers, I did not foresee the dilemma to which your ingenuity has brought me, by your curious argumentum ad hominem-" He is prolific in science; ergo, he is prolific otherwise."

This was turning the tables with a witness; but as I can in no wise admit the premises in this particular instance, I must deny the conclusion; and,

lest you should take it into your head that I am about to thrust my neck into the matrimonial noose, I have a good mind to recant every thing I said in favour of wedlock, which, observe, was but a jest; and, instead of enlarging on the blessed effects of matrimony, write a serious panegyric on celibacy but, on second thoughts, as you will, ten to one, be like enough again to turn the tables, and consider my arguments as ludicrous when I mean to be serious, and vice versa, I had better postpone the design at present, and take you at your word, in committing to your guardianship a dear pledge, the illegitimate, as a living proof that the wild beast has already been happily tamed and bridled. With such living pledges, Bath is said at this time to abound; but as I cannot plead the honour of giving existence to any of them, I shall decline adopting them by proxy, and reserve your kind offer till I can claim, in lawful wedlock, the jus trium liberorum; à circumstance which, though not impossible, is by no means probable at present.

I am, &c.

A. FOTHERGILL.

Dear Sir,

LETTER CCXXXV.

From the same.

Νου. 11, 1790.

I was much entertained with poor Doctor S***'s ingenious method of absolving himself from a vow of secrecy extorted by magnetic Quacks, in which he exhibits a striking instance of the "Insanire ratione modoque." Well may the adepts in Magnetism, and even in Free Masonry, now tremble for their grand secret. The former, lately valued at 50 guineas, has suddenly dropt to 10, 5, nay 1 guinea and though the professors, probably, well know that their secret is not worth purchasing at any price, yet the promised course of Lectures, if we may judge from the introduction, must be highly entertaining. When Doctor S. has fully satisfied our curiosity on these intricate subjects, it is to be hoped, if he is a married man, he will proceed to disclose in the same fair, open manner, the secrets of Matrimony, for the benefit of us Bachelors. Though it has escaped the notice of authors, yet I cannot help thinking that there is a striking analogy between these three occult Sciences, all which alike have their secrets, their mysteries, which none, forsooth, must presume to dive into, but the initiated. The professors alike proclaim, the wonderful advantages,

the comforts, the pleasures, nay, the inexpressibles, of their respective arts. Alike they delight in symbols, hieroglyphics, obscure phrases, and inuendoes, to blind spectators; but are said to throw off the mask when alone, or assembled at their nocturnal orgies. Animal Magnetism has its attractions and repulsions; its nods and its becks, and its squeezings: so has Matrimony. The magnetic professor loves to practise upon delicate females of fine feelings and susceptible nerves. He uses various grimaces and gesticulations; gazing all the time full in their eyes, and tickling their sides till he has wound up their passions to the highest pitch, and till the wished-for crisis comes, which generally terminates in a profound sleep. Now does not the expert Bridegroom practise exactly the same manœuvres, and with the like success? Other instances might be produced, of the affinity between these occult sciences, but enough has been said to demonstrate their similarity. Q. E. D. It would ill become a writer to boast of his own superior penetration; otherwise, I might without vanity assert, that I consider this as one of the greatest and happiest discoveries of the present day. And as you, who are one of the initiated, and consequently must be a competent judge, give such a marked preference to matrimony, when compared with celibacy, I cannot help feeling an itching kind of curiosity to try the experiment, in order to witness these same inexpressibles, as you emphatically style them.

But as this is the true cant language of an adept, and this laconic term may imply inexpressibly bitter as well as inexpressibly sweet, I think it will be prudent to wait the result of honest Dr. S.'s Lectures before I venture my neck in the noose. Meanwhile I am aware you have Horace on your side, when he exclaims, in rapture,

"Felices ter, et amplius,

"Quos irrupta tenet copula."

But was Horace really married?.

Dear Sir, adieu !

A. FOTHERGILL.

LETTER CCXXXVI.

Dr. LETTSOM to Dr. A. FOTHERGILL.

BOOK OF JUDITH, CH. XX.

Jan. 1791.

1 Now in those days, there went forth a wise man, unto the great city of Bath, the city of warm

waters.

2 And he sojourned nigh unto the waters, and many people of all countries and tongues.

3 Those who had legs, but could not walk. Those who had stomachs, but could not eat.

4 Those labouring under grievous pains; and the palsied, and the maimed. Even a great multi

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