"CURRENT OF POLITICS, often fatal to those "who venture on it." I could not but take notice of a poor wretch on the opposite shore, fastened by the ears to a terrible machine. This, the GENIUS informed me, was the memorable Defoe, fet up there as a land-mark, to prevent future mariners from splitting on the same rock.

To this turbulent prospect fucceeded objects of a more placid nature. In a little creek, winding through flowery meads and fhady groves, I defcried feveral gilded yachts and pleasure-boats, all of them keeping due time with their filver oars, and gliding along the smooth, even, calm, regularly flowing RIVULETS OF RHYME. Shepherds and fhepherdeffes played on the banks; the fails were gently fwelled with the foft breezes of amorous fighs; and little Loves fported in the filken cordage.

My attention was now called off from thefe pacific scenes to an obftinate engagement between several ships, diftinguished from all others by bearing the Holy Cross for their colours. Thefe, the GENIUS told me, were employed in the Holy War of Religious Controversy; and he pointed out to me a few Corfairs in the service of the Infidels, fometimes aiding one party, fometimes fiding with the other, as might best contribute to the general confufion.

I OBSERVED in different parts of the ocean feveral gallies, which were rowed by flaves. "Thofe, "faid the GENIUS, are fitted out by very oppref"five owners, and are all of them bound to the "COAST OF GAIN. The miserable wretches, "whom you fee chained to the oars, are obliged "to tug without the leaft refpite; and though "the voyage should turn out fuccessful, they

have little or no share in the profits. Some few 66 you may observe, who rather chufe to make a ❝venture on their own bottoms. These work "as hard as the galley-flaves, and are frequently "caft away: but though they are ever so often "wrecked, neceffity ftill constrains them to put "out to fea again.

Still muft the wretch his shatter'd bark refit ;
For who to ftarve can patiently submit?

IT were needlefs to enumerate many other particulars, that engaged my notice. Among the reft was a large fleet of Annotators, Dutch-built, which failed very heavy, were ofte and continually ran foul on each othe whole occan, I also found, was infefte

ound,

The

by pi

rates,

1

rates, who ranfacked every rich veffel that came in their way. Most of these were endeavouring to make the COAST OF GAIN by hanging out falfe colours, or by forging their paff-ports, and pretending to be freighted out by the most reputable traders.

about it.

My eyes were at last fixed, I know not how, on a spacious channel, running through the midst of a great city. I felt fuch a fecret impulse at this fight, that I could not help enquiring particularly "The discovery of that paffage, faid "the GENIUS, was firft made by one Bickerstaff, "in the good ship called The TATLER, and who "afterwards embarked in The SPECTATOR and "GUARDIAN. These have been followed fince "by a number of little floops, fkiffs, hoys, and cock-boats, which have been moft of them "wrecked in the attempt.

Thither alfo must

-At this inftant

your course be directed."the GENIUS fuddenly snatched me up in his arms, and plunged me headlong into the inky flood. While 1 lay gafping and struggling beneath the waves, methought I heard a familiar voice calling me by my name; which awaking me, I with pleasure recollected the features of the GENIUS in those of my publisher, who was standing by my bed-fide, and had called upon me for copy.

T

NUMB.

NU MB. IV. Thursday, February 25, 1754.

Conjugium vocat, hoc prætexit nomine culpam.
VIRG.

Where matrimony veils th' inceftuous life,
And whore is fhelter'd in the name of wife.

T is with the utmost concern I have heard myself within this week past accused at several tea-tables, of not being a man of my word. The female part of my readers exclaim against me for not having as yet paid my particular addreffes to the fair. "Who is this Mr. Town? fays one: "Where can the creature live? He has faid "nothing yet of the dear Burletta girl." Another wonders, that I have not recommended to the ladies Mr. Hoyle's New Calculation of Chances; for understanding which, nothing more is required, we are told, than the First Principles of Arithmetic; that is, to know how to tell the pips, and fet up one's game. But I find the whole fex in general have expected from me some shrewd remarks upon the MARRIAGE-BILL. To oblige them in fome measure, I fhall at present recommend to their notice the following Advertisement, which has been fent me with a request to make it public.

To All whom it may concern,

The Reverend Mr. KEITH,

(Who has had the honour to perform before feveral of the Nobility, Gentry, and Others)

Gives this public NOTICE,

HAT he fhall continue at his Chapel in May-Fair no longer than the present month. He will then fet out on his progress through the principal Market-Towns, where he will exhibit publickly, without loss of time, any hour of the day or night. He will perform to no less than two perfons, and will wait on any Gentleman and Lady privately at their own houses.

We have no connexion with the FleetParfons, or other Pretenders. Beware of Counterfeits. Ego fum folus.

I MAY perhaps take a future opportunity of enlarging on this very important subject, the MARRIAGE-BILL; but fhall at present oblige the ladies by celebrating an order of females lately sprung up among them, ufually distinguished by the denomination of DEMI-REPS ;-a word not to be found in any of our dictionaries.