your example, that I may be a fortune-teller properly speaking. I am grown weary of my taciturnity, and having served my country many years under the title of the dumb-doctor, I shall now prophesy by word of mouth, and (as Mr. Lee says of the magpy, who you know was a great fortune-teller among the ancients) chatter futurity. I have hitherto chosen to receive questions and return answers in writing, that I might avoid the tediousness and trouble of debates, my querists being generally of a humor to think, that they have never predictions enough for their money. In short, sir, my case has been something like that of those discreet animals the monkeys, who, as the Indians tell us, can speak if they would, but purposely avoid it, that they may not be made to work. I have hitherto gained a livelihood by holding my tongue, but shall now open my mouth in order to fill it. If I appear a little word-bound in my first solutions and responses, I hope it will not be imputed to any want of foresight, but to the long disuse of speech. I doubt not by this invention to have all my former customers over again; for if I have promised any of them lovers or husbands, riches or good luck, it is my design to confirm to them, viva voce, what I have already given them under my hand. If you will honor me with a visit, I will compliment you with the first opening of my mouth; and if you please you may make an entertaining dialogue out of the conversation of two dumb men. Excuse this trouble, worthy sir, from one who has been a long time "Your silent admirer, "CORNELIUS AGRIPPA." I have received the following letter, or rather billetdoux, from a pert young baggage, who congratu lates with me upon the same occasion. "Dear Mr. PRATE-A-PACE, June 23, 1714. "I AM a member of a female society who call ourselves the chit-chat club, and am ordered by the whole sisterhood to congratulate you upon the use of your tongue. We have all of us a mighty mind to hear you talk; and if you will take your place among us for an evening, we have unanimously agreed to allow you one minute in ten without interruption. I am, Sir, "Your humble servant, "S.. T." "P. S. You may find us at my Lady Betty Clack's, who will leave orders with her porter, that if an elderly gentleman, with a short face, inquires for her, he shall be admitted, and no questions asked." As this particular paper shall consist wholly of what I have received from my correspondents, I shall fill up the remaining part of it with other congratulatory letters of the same nature. "SIR, Oxford, June 25, 1714. "WE are here wonderfully pleased with the opening of your mouth, and very frequently open ours in approbation of your design, especially since we find you are resolved to preserve your taciturnity as to all party matters. We do not question but you are as great an orator as Sir Hudibras, of whom the poet sweetly sings, -He could not ope His mouth, but out there flew a trope.' If you will send us down the half dozen well turned periods that produced such dismal effects in your muscles, we will deposit them near an old manuscript of Tully's orations, among the archives of the university; for we all agree with you, that there is not a more remarkable accident recorded in history, since that which happened to the son of Crœsus; nay, I believe you might have gone higher, and have added Balaam's ass. We are impatient to see more of your productions, and expect what words will next fall from you, with as much attention as those who were set to watch the speaking head, which friar Bacon formerly erected in this place. We are, worthy Sir, "Your most humble servants, "Honest SPEC, "B. R. T. D. &c." Middie-Temple, June 24. "I AM very glad to hear that thou beginnest to prate; and find, by thy yesterday's vision, thou art so used to it, that thou canst not forbear talking in thy sleep. Let me only advise thee to speak like other men, for I am afraid thou wilt be very queer, if thou dost not intend to use the phrases in fashion, as thou callest them in thy second paper. Hast thou a mind to pass for a Bantomite, or to make us all Quakers? I do assure thee, dear Spec, I am not polished out of my veracity, when I subscribe myself "Thy constant admirer, "and humble servant, "FRANK TOWNLY." VOL. IX. No. 561. WEDNESDAY, June 30, 1714. BY ADDISON. -Paulatim abolere Sichæum Incipit, et vivo tentat prævertere amore But he VIRG. En. 1. v. 724 Works in the pliant bosom of the fair, And molds her heart anew, and blots her former care. And all Æneas enters in her mind. "I "SIR, DRYDEN. AM a tall, broad-shouldered, impudent, black fellow, and, as I thought, every way qualified for a rich widow but, after having tried my fortune for above three years together, I have not been able to get one single relict in the mind. My first attacks were generally successful, but always broke off as soon as they came to the word settlement. Though I have not improved my fortune this way, I have my experience, and have learned several secrets which may be of use to those unhappy gentlemen who are commonly distinguished by the name of widow-hunters, and who do not know that this tribe of women are, generally speaking, as much upon the catch as themselves. I shall here communicate to you the mysteries of a certain female cabal of this order, who call themselves the widow-club. This club consists of nine experienced dames, who take their places once a week round a large oval table. "I. Mrs. President is a person who has disposed of six husbands, and is now determined to take a seventh; being of opinion that there is as much virtue in the touch of a seventh husband as of a seventh son. Her comrades are as follow: "II. Mrs. Snap, who has four jointures, by four different bed-fellows, of four different shires. She' is at present upon the point of marriage with a Middlesex man, and is said to have an ambition of extending her possessions through all the counties in England, on this side the Trent. "III. Mrs. Medlar, who, after two husbands and a gallant, is now wed led to an old gentleman of sixty. Upon her making her report to the club after a week's cohabitation, she is still allowed to sit as a widow, and accordingly takes her place at the board. "IV. The widow Quick, married within night after the death of her last husband. weeds have served her thrice, and are still as good as new. fortHer "V. Lady Catherine Swallow. She was a widow at eighteen, and has since buried a second husband and two coachmen. "VI. The lady Waddle. She was married in the fifteenth year of her age to Sir Simon Waddle, Knt. aged three-score and twelve, by whom she had twins nine months after his decease. In the fifty-fifth year of her age she was married to James Spindle, Esq; a youth of one-and-twenty, who did not outlive the honey-moon. "VII. Deborah Conquest. The case of this lady is something particular. She is the relict of Sir |