try, but to the nation in general, by turning the balance of our mufical commerce confiderably against us. I would therefore humbly propose, that immediately upon the arrival of thefe valuable ftrangers, a writ of ne exeat regnum should be iffued to keep them here. The other modification, which I beg leave to hint at only, it being of a private nature, is, that no VIRTUOSO whofe voice is below a contralto, fhall be taken to the country feat of any family whatfoever; much less any strapping fidler, baffoon or bafs viol, who does not even pretend to fing, or if he does, fings a rough tenor, or a tremendous bafs. The confequences may be ferious, but at least the appearances are not edifying.

I

NUMB. 99. THURSDAY, Nov. 21, 1754.

Prudens futuri temporis exitum

Caliginofa nocte premit Deus;

Ridetque, fi mortalis ultra

Fas trepidat. Quod adeft, memento Componere æquus.

HOR.

T requires very little experience of the world to discover that mankind feldom enjoy the prefent hour, but are almoft continually employing their thoughts about the future. This difpofition may indeed ferve to delude fome people into a happiness, which, otherwife, they would never know; and we fometimes fee men engaging in profpects apparently difadvantageous to themselves, that they may enjoy the comfort

able

able thought of having benefited their families. But unfortunately this is not the general turn of mankind; and, Í am afraid, still less fo of my countrymen than of any others: they are conftantly looking towards the dark fide of the profpect, fearing every thing, and hoping nothing.

;

THIS unhappy difpofition feems to spread its baleful influence more fatally in this month, than in any other in the whole year: for befides the colds, vapours and nervous diforders with which individuals are afflicted, the STATE always fuffers exceedingly during this month. I myself remember THIS COUNTRY UNDONE every November for these forty years. The truth is, that to make amends for that levity and diffipation of thought which horfe-racing and rural sports have occafioned in the fummer, every zealous Englishman fits down at this feafon seriously to confider the state of the nation and always, upon mature reflection, concludes that matters are fo bad, that the business of government cannot poffibly be carried on through another feffion. The products of the prefs, either proceeding from perfons really affected by the season, or cunningly defigning to fuit the gloomy difpofition of the buyer, all tend to increafe this disorder of the mind. Serious Confi derations, The Tears of Trade, The Groans of the Plantations, and the like, are the titles that spread the fale of pamphlets at this season of the year; while The Cordial of low Spirits, and The Pill to purge Melancholy have no chance for a vent, till the fpring has given a turn to the VOL. II.

N

blood,

blood, and put the fpirits into a disposition to be pleased.

THERE are indeed many recreations and amufements in this metropolis, that are defigned as fo many antidotes to the general gloom; but though we have had this year the greatest importation of entertainment that ever was known, I doubt, there are many inhabitants of this city who are at prefent fo totally poffeffed with the fpleen, that they do not know of half the number of dancers, fingers, mimics and beauties, which are already arrived. It is, however, comfortable to reflect on that happy revolution, which is conftantly brought about by the Chriftmas holidays and the lengthening of the days. Those who seemed fo lately to be loft in defpair, grow into fpirits on a fudden; and plays, operas, balls, pantomimes and burlettas diffufe an univerfal ecftafy.

BUT even in the midft of this highest tide of fpirits, I am forry to fay it, the most groundlefs fuppofitions of what may poffibly happen, fhall fpread a cloud over all our joy. The idea of an invafion, a comet, or an earthquake, shall keep the whole town in an agony for many weeks. In fhort, every apprehenfion fhall in its turn make an impreffion on our imaginations, except that of a FUTURE STATE.

THAT this great event fhould not occupy those minds which are totally engroffed by the PRESENT, is not much to be wondered at; but that it should be the only view towards which thefe LOOKERS-FORWARD never turn their eyes, is an inconfiftency altogether unaccountable.

WHEN

WHEN Falstaff's wench is fitting upon his knee, her hint feems to be a little ill-timed, when the advises him to patch up his old body for Heaven; and his reply is fuitable to the place and occafion; Peace, good Doll; do not fpeak like a death's-head; do not bid me remember mine end. Mrs. Quickly was no lefs blameable on the other fide, when finding him so near his end that he began to cry out, the fays, Now I, to COMFORT him, bid him he should not think of God.

I AVOID entering seriously and particularly into this fubject, that I may not give my paper the air of a fermon: and inftead of ufing argu, ments of a religious caft, I defire only to recommend a propriety and confiftency of thought and conduct. It is therefore that I would advife my readers either to throw afide, not for this month only, but for their whole lives, this gloomy curiofity that will avail them nothing, and to enter into a free and full enjoyment of the PRESENT; or if, of neceflity, they must direct their whole attention to the FUTURE, let it be to that expectation, which they may depend upon with the utmost certainty, which will afford the most profitable exercife for their inquifitive thoughts, and which will be the only inftance where an anxious concern for the FUTURE can poffibly

be of fervice to them.

I HAVE been principally led into this train of thinking by a letter which I received yefterday by the penny-post, and which I fhall here communicate to my readers, as a proper conclufion of this paper.

SIR,

To Mr. FITZ-ADAM.

I AM juft returned from a fhort vifit to fome relations of mine, who live in a large old manfion houfe in the country. The gloomy afpect of the place, the unpleafing appearance of nature at the fall of the leaf, and the alteration of the weather with the change of the feafon, made me acquiefce in the received opinion, that there is really fomething dreadful in the influence of this month of November; which, however, we who live in London, have no fuch apparent reafon to be affected with.

THE melancholy impreffion which I received from the place, was greatly increased by the turn of its inhabitants. My uncle and aunt are bleffed with a competent fortune, and two fine children; but they neither enjoy the one, nor educate the other; their whole attention being engroffed by objects, which, in their estimation, are of much greater confequence. My uncle is continually employed in computing the year in which this kingdom is to become a province to France; and my aunt is no lefs occupied in endeavouring to fix the exact time of the Millennium.

A YOUNGER brother of my uncle's, who lives in the family, and who is a very great mathematician, has been bufied many years in calculations, which, he afferts, are of the utmoft importance to the world, as they affect the duration and well-being of it. He is greatly apprehenfive that, from Sir Ifaac Newton's fyftem,

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the