day the vender of powder and wash-balls, who, if I am rightly informed, goes under the name of Powder-Wat.

I must not here omit one particular absurdity which runs through this whole vociferous generation, and which renders their cries very often not only incommodious, but altogether useless to the public; I mean, that idle accomplishment which they all of them aim at, of crying so as not to be understood. Whether or no they have learned this from several of our affected singers, I will not take upon me to say; but most certain it is, that people know the wares they deal in, rather by their tunes than by their words: insomuch that I have sometimes seen a country-boy run out to buy apples of a bellows-mender, and ginger-bread from a grinder of knives and scissars. Nay, so strangely infatuated are some very eminent artists of this particular grace in a cry, that none but their acquaintance are able to guess at their profession; for who else can know, that "work if I had it," should be the signification of a corn-cutter.

'Forasmuch therefore as persons of this rank are seldom men of genius or capacity, I think it would be very proper that some man of good sense and sound judgment should preside over these public cries, who should permit none to lift up their voices in our streets that have not tuneable throats, and are not only able to overcome the noise of the crowd, and the rattling of coaches,

peculiar tone the cant words which passed into his name, Colly-Molly-Puff. There is a half-sheet print of him in the 'Set of London Cries.' M. Lauron, del. P. Tempest, exc. Granger's 'Biographical History of England.'

but also to vend their respective merchandises in apt phrases, and in the most distinct and agreeable sounds. I do therefore humbly recommend myself as a person right qualified for this post; and if I meet with fitting encouragement, shall communicate some other projects which I have by me, that may no less conduce to the emolument of the public. I am, sir, &c.

ADDISON.

6 RALPH CROTCHET.' C.

No. 252. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19. Erranti, passimque oculos per cuncta ferenti. VIRO. Exploring every place with curious eyes.

6 MR. SPECTATOR,

"I AM Very sorry to find by your discourse upon the eye (No. 250) that you have not thoroughly studied the nature and force of that part of a beauteous face. Had you ever been in love, you would have said ten thousand things, which it seems did not occur to you: do but reflect upon the nonsense it makes men talk, the flames which it is said to kindle, the transport it raises, the dejection it causes in the bravest men; and if you do believe those things are expressed to an extravagance, yet you will own, that the influence of it is very great which moves men to that extravagance. Certain it is that the whole strength of the mind is sometimes seated there; that a kind look imparts all that a year's discourse would give you in one moment. What matters

Brit te mrs to vor? See how she locks, is

the mind is this summed up and expressed in a gante, did you never coserve a sudden joy arise In the countenance of a lover? Did you ever see the attendance of years paid, over-paid, in an Instant? You a Spectator, and not know that the intelligence of affection is carried on by the eye only; that good-breeding has made the tongue falsify the heart, and act à part of continual constraint, wille nature has preserved the eyes to herself, that she may not be disguised or misrepresented. The poor bride can give her hand, and say, I do, with a languishing air to the man she is obliged by cruel parents to take for mercenary reasons, but at the same time she can not look as if she loved; her eye is full of sorrow, and reluctance sits in a tear, while the offering of the sacrifice is performed in what we call the marriage-ceremony. Do you never go to plays? Can not you distinguish between the eyes of those who go to see from those who come to be seen? I am a woman turned of thirty, and am on the observation a little; therefore, if you or your correspondent had consulted me in your discourse on the eye, I could have told you that the eye of Leonora is slily watchful while it looks negligent: she looks round her without the help of the glasses you speak of, and yet seems to be employed on objects directly before her. This eye is what affects chance-medley, and on a sudden, as if it attended to another thing, turns all its charms against an ogler. The eye of Lusitania is an instrument of premeditated murder, but the design being visible, destroys the execu

tion of it; and with much more beauty than that of Leonora, it is not half so mischievous. There is a brave soldier's daughter in town, that by her eye has been the death of more than ever her father made fly before him.* A beautiful eye makes silence eloquent, a kind eye makes contradiction an assent, an enraged eye makes beauty deformed. This little member gives light to every other part about us; and I believe the story of Argus implies no more than that the eye is in every part, that is to say, every other part will be mutilated, were not its force represented more by the eye than even by itself. But this is heathen Greek to those who have not conversed by glances. This, sir, is a language, in which there can be no deceit, nor can a skilful observer be imposed upon by looks even among politicians and courtiers. If you do me the honour to print this among your speculations, I shall in my next make you a present of secret history, by translating all the looks of the next assembly of ladies and gentlemen into words, to adorn some future paper. I am, sir,

Your faithful friend,

DEAR MR. SPECTATOR,

6 MARY HEARTFREE.

I have a sot of a husband that lives a very scandalous life, and wastes away his body and fortune in debaucheries; and is immoveable to all the arguments I can urge to him. I would gladly know whether, in some cases, a cudgel may not be allowed as a good figure of speech, and whe

* The Duke of Marlborough's second daughter.

ther it may not be lawfully used by a female Your humble servant,

orator.

6

MR. SPECTATOR,

'BARBARA CRABTREE.'

Though I am a practitioner in the law, of some standing, and have heard many eminent pleaders in my time, as well as other eloquent speakers of both universities, yet I agree with you, that women are better qualified to succeed in oratory than the men, and believe this is to be resolved into natural causes. You have mentioned only the volubility of their tongues; but what do you think of the silent flattery of their pretty faces, and the persuasion which even an insipid discourse carries with it when flowing from beautiful lips, to which it would be cruel to deny any thing? It is certain too, that they are possessed of some springs of rhetoric which men want, such as tears, fainting fits, and the like, which I have seen employed upon occasions with good success. You must know I am a plain man, and love my money; yet I have a spouse who is so great an orator in this way, that she draws from me what she pleases. Every room in my house is furnished with trophies of her eloquence: rich cabinets, piles of china, Japan screens, and costly jars; and if you were to come into my great parlour, you would fancy yourself in an India warehouse: besides this she keeps a squirrel, and I am doubly taxed to pay for the china he breaks. She is seized with periodical fits about the time of the subscription to a new opera, and is drowned in tears after having seen any woman there in finer clothes than herself: these are arts of