portunity of taking a furvey of one of thefe Male Toilets; and, as fuch a curiofity may perhaps prove entertaining to my readers, I fhall here give a defcription of it.

Having occafion one morning to wait on a Very Pretty Fellow, I was defired by the valet de chambre to walk into the dreffing-room, as his matter was not ftirring. I was accordingly thewn into a neat little chamber, hung round with Indian paper, and adorned with feveral little images of Pagods and Bramins, and veffels of Chelfea China, in which were fet various-coloured fprigs of artificial flowers. But the Toilet moft excited my admiration; where I found every thing was intended to be agree able to the Chinese taste. A hokinggifs, inclofed in a whimsical frame of Chincfe paling, ftood upon a Japan table, over which was fpread a coverlid of the finest chints. I could not but obterve a number of boxes of different fizes, which were all of them Japan, and lay regularly difpoted on the table. I had the curiofity to examine the contents of feveral: in one I found lipfalve, in another a roll of pig-tail, and in another the ladies black ticking plaif ter; but the last which I opene very much furprised me, as I faw nothing in it but an mber of little pills. I like wife remarked, on one part of the table, a tooth-bruth and sponge, with a pot of Delefcot's opiate; and on the other fide, water for the eyes. In the middle ftood a bottle of Eau de Luce, and a roll of perfumed pomatum. Almond pates, powder puffs, hair combs,bruthes, nippers, and the like, made up the reft of this fantastic equipage. But among many other whimfies, I could not conceive for what ufe a very finall ivory comb could be deigned, till the valet informed me that it was a comb for the eye brows.

It must be confeffed, that there are fome men of fuch a delicate make and filky conftitution, that it is no wonder if gentlemen of fuch a lady like generation have a natural tendency to the refinements and foftneffes of females. Thefe tender dear creatures are generally bred up immediately under the wing of their mammas, and fcarce fed with any thing lefs innocent than her milk. They are never permitted to itudy, lett it should hurt their eyes, and make their breads ache ; nor fuffered to use any exer

cifes like other boys, left a fire hand fhould be fpoiled by being used too roughly. While other lads are flogged into the five declenfions, and at length lafhed through a whole fchool, thefe pretty mafters are kept at home to improve in whipt-fyllabubs, paftry, and face-painting. In confequence of which, when other young fellows begin to appear like men, thefe dainty creatures come into the world with all the accom. plishments of a lady's woman.

But if the common foibles of the female world are ridiculous even in there equivocal half-men, thefe neuter fomethings between male and female, how aukwardly mut they fit upon the more robust and mafculine part of mankind? What indeed can be more abfurd, than to fee an huge fellow with the make of a porter, and fit to mount the stage as a champ on at Broughton's Amphitheatre, fitting to varnish his broad face with paint and Benjamin-wath? For my part, I never fee a great looby aiming at delicateffe, but he feems as strange and uncouth a figure as Achilles in petticoats. This folly is alfo to be particularly condemned, when it appears in the more folemn characters of life, to' which a gravity of appearance is effential; and in which the leaft mark of foppery feems as improper as a phyfician would feem ridiculous piefcribing in a bag wig, or a ferjeant pleading in the Court of Common Pleas in his own hair instead of a night-cap periwig. As I think an instance or two of this kind would fhew this folly in the most striking light, I fhall heie fubjoin two characters; in whom, as it is most improper, it will confequently appear most ridiculous.

John Hardman is upwards of fix feet high, and ftout enough to beat two of the fturdieft chairmen that ever came out of Ireland. Nature, indeed, feems to have intended John himself to carry a chair; but fortune has enabled him to appear in whatever character he likes beft; and he has wifely difcovered that none will fit fo eafy on him as that of a pretty fellow. It is therefore his study to new-mould his face and perfon. He throws his goggle eyes into leers, languifhes, and ogles; and endeavours to draw up his hideous mouth, which extends from one ear to the other, into a fimper. His voice, which is naturally of a deeper bass than an hurdy-gurdy,

T 2

is in a manner fet to a new tune; and his fpeech, which is very much tinctured with the broad dialect of a particular county, is delivered with fo much nicety and gentleness, that every word is ninced and clipt, in order to appear foft and delicate. When he walks, he endeavours to move his unwieldy figure along in the pert trip, or eafy fhambling pace of our pretty fellows: and he commonly carries a thin jemmy ftick in his hand, which naturally, reminds us of Hercules with a diftaff.

The Reverend Mr. Jeffamy, (who took orders only because there was a good living in the family) is known among the ladies by the name of the Beau-Parfon. He is, indeed, the moft delicate creature imaginable; and differs fo much from the generality of the clergy, that I believe the very fight of a

plumb-pudding would make him fwoon. Out of his Canonicals, his conftant drefs is what they call Parfon's-Blue lined with white, a black fattin waistcoat, velvet breeches, and filk stockings. His pumps are of dog-fkin, made by Tull; and it is faid, that he had a joint of one of his toes cut off, whofe length, being out of all proportion, prevented his having an hand fome foot. His very grizzle is fcarce orthodox: for though it would be open fchifm to wear a bag, yet his wig has always a bag front, and is properly cropt behind, that it may not eclipfe the luftre of his diamond ftock buckle. He cannot bear the thoughts of being fea-fick; or elfe he declares he would certainly go abroad, where he might again refume his laced cloaths, and appear like a gentleman in a bag-wig and sword.

MONG the many exotic diver

Ations that have been tranfplanted

into this country, there is no one more 'cultivated, or which feems to have taken deeper root among us, than that modeft and rational entertainment the Mafquerade. This, as well as the Opera, is originally of Italian growth, and was brought over hither by the celebrated Heideger; who, on both accounts, juftly acquired among his own countrymen the honourable title of Sur Intendant des Plaisirs d'Angleterre.

I have called the Mafquerade a modeft and rational entertainment. As to the fift, no one can have the leaft fcruple about it's innocence, if he confiders that it is always made a part of the education of our polite females; and that the most virtuous woman is not afhamed to appear there. If it be objected, that a lady is expofed to hear many indecencies from the men, (as the maik gives them a privilege to fay any thing, though ever fo rude) it may be anfwered, that no lady is obliged to take the affront to herself, becaufe, as he goes difguifed, the indignity is not offered to

HOR.

T

her in her own proper perfon. Befides, according to Dryden,

She cannot blush, because they cannot fee. As to the rationality of this entertainment, every one will agree with me, that thefe midnight orgies are full as rational as fitting up all night at the card table. Nor is it more ftrange, that five or fix hundred people fhould meet together in difguifes purpofely to conceal themfelves, than that the fame num ber fhould affemble at a rout, where most of the company are wholly unac quainted with each other.

But we can never enough admire the wit and humour of these meetings, which chiefly confifts in exhibiting the moit fantaftic appearances that the molt whimsical imagination can poffibly devile. A common perfon may be content with appearing as a Chinese, a Turk, or a Friar: but the true genius will ranfack earth, air, and feas, reconcile contradictions, and call in things inanimate, as well as animate, to his affittance; and the more extravagant and out of nature his drefs can be con

trived,

trived, the higher is the joke. I remember one gentleman above fix foot high, who came to the Maiquerade dreft like a child in a white frock and leading. ftrings, attended by another gentleman of a very low ftature, who officiated as his nurfe. The fame witty ipark took it into his head at another time to perfonate Fame, and was tuck all over with peacocks feathers by way of eyes: but when he came to falten on his wings, they were (pread to fo enormous a length, that no coach or chair was fpacious enough to admit him; fo that he was forced to be conveyed along the Atreets on a chairman's horfe, covered with a blanket. Another gentleman, of no lefs humour, very much furprifed the company

by carrying a thatched houfe about him, fo contrived, that no part of him could be seen, except his face, which was looking out of the cafement: but this joke had like to have cost him dear, as another wag was going to fet fire to the building, because he found by the leaden policy affixed to the front, that the tenement was infured. In a word, dogs, monkies, oftriches, and all kinds of monsters, are as frequently to be met with at the Mafquerade, as in the Covent Garden Pantomimes; and I once faw with great delight a gentleman, who perfonated one of Bayes's recruits, prance a minuet on his hobby-horfe, with a dancing bear for his partner.

I have faid before, that the Mafquerade is of foreign extraction, and imported to us from abroad. But as the English, though flow at invention, are remarkable for improving on what has already been invented, it is no wonder that we should attempt to heighten the gufto of this entertainment, and even carry it beyond the licence of a foreign Carnival. There is fomething too infipid in our fine gentlemen ftalking about in dominos; and it is rather crael to eclipfe the pretty faces of our fine ladies with hideous malks; for which reafon it has been judged requifite to contrive a Masquerade upon a new plan, and in an entire new taste. We all remember, when (a few years ago) a celebrated lady endeavoured to introduce a new fpecies of Mafquerade among us, by Jopping off the exuberance of drefs; and fhe herfelt first fet the example, by tripping to the character of Iphigenia undrett for the facrifice. I mult own it is a matter of fome furprife to me, confi

dering the propenfity of our modern ladies to get rid of their cloaths, that other Iphigenias did not immediately ftart up; and that Nuns and Vetals fhould be fuffered ever after to be feen among the Masks. But this project, it feems, was not then fufficiently ripe for execution, as a certain aukward thing, called Bathfulness, had not yet been banithed from the female world; and to the prefent enlightened times was referved the honour of introducing, however contradictory the term may feem, a Naked Mafquerade.

What the above-mentioned lady had the hardinefs to attempt alone, will, I am affured, be fet on foot by our perfons of fashion, as foon as the hot days come in. Ranelagh is the place pitched upon for their meeting; where it is propofed to have a Mafquerade Al Fresco, and the whole company to difplay all their charms in puris naturalibus. The Pantheon of the Heathen Gods, Ovid's Metamorphofes, and Titian's Prints, will fupply them with a fufficient variety of undret characters. One fet of ladies, I am told, intend to perfonate WaterNymphs bathing in the canal. Three fitters, celebrated for their charms, defign to appear together as the Three Graces: and a certain lady of quality, who most refembles the Goddefs of Beauty, is now practifing, from a model of the noted ftatue of Venus de Medicis, the most striking attitude for that character. As to the gentlemen, they may most of them reprefent very fuitably the half-brutal forms of Saryis, Pans, Fauns, and Centaurs: our Beaux may affume the femblance of the beardlefs Apollo, or (which would be more natural) may admire themfelves in the perfon of Narciffus; and our Bucks might a&t quite in character, by running about ftark-naked with their mistreffes, and committing the maddeft freaks, like the priefts and priefteffes of Bacchus celebrating the Bacchanalian Mysteries,

If this fcheme for a Naked Mafquerade fhould meet with encouragement, (as there is no doubt but it muft) it is propofed to improve it still further, Perfons of fashion cannot but lament that there are no diverfions allotted to Sunday, except the card-table; and they can never enough regret, that the Sunday evening tea-drinkings at Ranelagh were laid afide, from a fuperftitious regard to religion. They, therefore,

intend

feem to have been the first contrivers of a Naked Mafquerade and laft fummer I remember an article in the news-papers, that several perfons of both fexes were affembled Naked at Pimlico, and being carried before a magiftrate, were fent to Bridewell." This, indeed, is too refined a pleasure to be allowed the vulgar; and every body will agree with me, that the fame act, which at the Green Lamps or Pimlico appears low and criminal, may be extremely polite and commendable in the Haymarket or at Ranelagh.

HOR.

TO MR. TOWN.

AYES in the Rehearfal frequently

W

dent. In a word, as Bayes obviated all objections to his nonfenfe by faying it was new, if a modern writer was afked

that he treads on no man's heels, that he fcorns to follow the steps of others; and when he is afked the reason of in

ferting any abfurdity in his play, he anfwers, Because it is new.' The poets of the prefent time run into the contrary error: they are fo far from endeavouring to elevate and furprife by any thing original, that their whole bufinels is Imitation; and they jingle their bells in the fame road with thole that went before them, with all the dull exact nefs of a packlorfe.

The generality of our writers wait till a new.walk is pointed out to them by fome leading genius; when it immediately becomes fo hackneyed and beaten, that an author of credit is alinoft afhamed to appear in it among fuch bad company. No fooner does one man of parts fucceed in any particular mode of writing, but he is followed by a thousand dunces. A good elegy makes the little fcribblers direct their whole bent to fubjects of grief; and, for a whole winter, the prefs groans with melancholy. One novel of reputation fils all the garrets of Grub Street with reams of hitories and adventures, whee volume is fpun out after volume, without the leall wit, humour, or inci

writing, he might reply, Because it is the fashion.

True genius will not give into fuch idle extravagant flights of imagination as Bayes; it will not turn funerals into banquets, or introduce armies in dif guile; but ful it will not confine itself to the narrow track of Imitation. I cannot help thinking, that it is more owing to this fervile ípirit in the authors of the prefent times, than to their want of abilities, that we cannot now boast a fet of eminent writers: and it is worthy obfervation, that, whenever any age has been diftinguished by a great number of excellent authors, they have most of them cultivated different branches of poetry from each other. This was the cafe in the age of Auguftus, as appears from the works of Virgil, Horace, Ovid, &c. And to come down as late as poffible, this is evident from our last famous fet of authors, who flourished in the beginning of this century. We admire Swift, Pope, Gay, Bolingbroke, Additon, &c. but we admire each for his particular beauties feparate and diftinguished from the reft.

These loofe thoughts were thrown together merely to introduce the following little poem, which I think deferves the

attention

attention of the public. It was written by a very ingenious gentleman, as a letter to a friend, who was about to publifh a volume of mifcellanies; and contains all that original fpirit which it fo elegantly recommends.

ΤΟ

SINCE now, all fcruples caft away,
Your works are rifing into day,
Forgive, though I presume to fend
This honeft couniel of a friend.
Let not your verfe, as verfe now goes,
Be a ftrange kind of meafur'd prole;
Nor let your profe, which fure is worse,
Want nought but measure to be verse.
Write from your own imagination,
Nor curb your mufe by Imitation:
For copies fhew, howe'er expreft,
A barren genius at the best.

-But Imitation's all the mode-
Yet where one hits, ten mifs the road.

The mimic bard with pleasure fees Mat. Prior's unaffected ease; Affumes his ftyle, affects a story, Sets every circumstance before ye, The day, the hour, the name, the dwelling, And mars a curious tale in telling;' Obferves how EASY Prior Hows, Then runs his numbers down to profe.

Others have fought the filthy ftews To find a dirty flip-fhod Mufe. Their groping genius, while it rakes The bogs, the common-few'rs, and jakes, Ordure and filth in rhyme expofes, Difguftful to our eyes and nofes; With many a And much

dafh that must offend us,

Hiatus non deflendus.

O Swift! how would't thou blush to fee, Such are the bards who copy thee!

This, Milton for his plan will chufe,
Wherein refembling Milton's mufe?
Milton, like thunder, rolls along
In all the majesty of fong:
While his low mimics meanly creep,
Not quite awake, nor quite afleep:
Or, if their thunder chance to roll,
'Tis thunder of the muitard-bowl.

The stiff expreffion, phrafes ftrange,
The epithet's prepofterous change,
Forc'd numbers, rough and unpolite,
Such as the judging car affright,

Stop in mid verfe. Ye mimics vile!
1st thus ye cory Milton's dyle?
His faults religiously ye trace,
But borrow not a fingle grace.

How few, fay whence can it proceed? Who copy Milton, e'er fucceed! But all their labours are in vain; And wherefore fo? The reafon's plain. Take it for granted, tis by those Milton's the model molly chofe, Who can't write verfe, and won't write profe.

Others, who aim at fancy, chufe To wooe the gentle Spenfer's muse. This poet fixes for his theme An allegory, or a dream; Fiction and truth together joins Through a long wafte of fiimfy lines; Fondly believes his fancy g'ows, And image upon image grows; Thinks his ftrong mufe takes wond'rous flights,

Whene'er the fings of

WIGHTS,

PEERLESS

Of DENS, of PALFREYS, SPELLS and

KNIGHTS:

'Till allegory (Spenfer's veil
T' inftruct and pleafe in moral tale)
With him's no veil the truth to fhroud,
But one impenetrable cloud.

Others, more daring, fix their hope
On rivalling the fame of Pope.
Satyr's the word, against the times.--
Thefe catch the cadence of his rhymes,
And borne from earth by Pope's strong
wings,

Their Mufe afpires, and boldly flings
Her dirt up in the face of kings.
In thefe the spleen of Pope we find;
But where the greatness of his mind?
His numbers are their whole pretence,
Mere ftrangers to his manly fense.

Some few, the fav'rites of the Mufe,
Whom with her kindeft eye the views;
Round whom Apollo's brightest rays
Shine forth with undiminish'd blaze;
Some few, my friend, have fweetly trod
In Imitation's dangerous road.
Long as TOBACCO's mild perfume
Shall fcent each happy curate's room;
Oft as in elbow chair he fmokes,
And quaffs his ale, and cracks his jokes;
So long, O Brown, fhall laft thy praife,
Crown'd with TOBACCO-LEAF for Bays:
And whofoe'er thy verfe fhall fee,
Shall fill another PIPE to thee.

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