NUMBER XX.

Veris facilis datur exitus umbris.

To JEOFFRY WAGSTAFFE, Efq.

SIR,

AN

VIRG.

N effay of exquifite humour in your paper of the 6th of February, the hint of which is taken from the fcheme of a proprietor of Laputa, for curing the diseases of the senate, made me turn to that part of Gulliver's Travels, where he gives an account of the grand academy of Lagado. The fame proprietor's propofal for reconciling oppofite parties, is no lefs ingenious: the method is this. "You "take a hundred leaders of each party; you "difpofe them into couples of such whose "heads are nearest of a fize; then let two "nice operators faw off the occiput (or hinder part of the head) of each couple at the fame time, in fuch a manner, that the brain may "be equally divided; let the occiputs, thus "cut off, be interchanged, applying each to Thus, the two

the oppofite party-man.

"half brains being left to debate the matter in "the space of one skull, it produces modera

❝tion,

This project made fuch an impreffion on me, that, when I fell asleep, it occafioned the following train of images, juft in the order I have put them down. If your paper is not engaged for any subject of more importance, this VISION is at your fervice, for the entertainment of your readers.

I am, fir, your humble fervant,

QUEVEDO.

I thought I was feated in the House of Com mons, so as to hear and fee diftinctly every thing that paffed; when fuddenly the mace, journals, pens ink, papers, &c. disappeared, and the table was covered with inftruments of furgery, fuch as knives, crooked fciffars, and a good many faws of different fizes. Two gentlemen, whom I found on enquiry to be the furgeons Richardson and Cunningham, filled the chairs at one end of the table: they viewed their inftruments much in the fame manner as Mr. Sterling and his affiftants examine their pens, when they are preparing to take down the names of a committee, or to transcribe a refolution,

The

The great door of the house was then thrown open, and I faw many perfons walking as it were in proceffion, two by two, till they came oppofite the chairs where Meffieurs Richardfon and Cunningham were seated.

The first couple, Lord Townshend, and the D-e of L-fter, then went off, one to the right, and the other to the left, and each fat down between the legs of his refpective furgeon. The occiput of lord Townfhend was foon taken off by Mr. Richardfon, who seemed to handle his faw with great dexterity; but whether from the extraordinary thickness of the bone, or from what other circumftance I know not, the operation on the D-ke's head lafted much longer; fo that I could hear Lord Townfhend defire his Grace's furgeon to make more hafte, for as he had never before been without his occiput, he might catch cold; befides, he was weary of remaining fo long in the fame pofture. This hint had the defired effect the artift exerted his utmost ftrength, and the feparation was completely performed. The half skulls were then interchanged: and the furgeons, paffing their left arms round the necks, and under the chins of their patients, applied the parts to their proper places in the back of

the

the heads, and preffing them clofe with the palms of their right hands, they adhered immediately. The patients then rofe, and walked away; but not before they had made a civil bow to the furgeons, and paid them for their trouble.

The effect of this operation was almost inftantaneous. The D-ke of L-er's eyes began to acquire an unusual spirit and brightnefs; he faid fomething lively, new, and entertaining to every one that came up to him; and I obferved that a gentleman, whom I afterwards found to be one of the members for Athy, feemed to take particular pleasure in his converfation. They both agreed that a late attempt to cenfure the commiffioners of excife, was no lefs abfurd than illiberal; and the D-ke faid, "he now found his opinion on "that point fo different from what it had been, "he could not account for his having enter

tained it. He was now," he said, " refolv❝ed to make the best amends in his power, by "taking the first opportunity of thanking his.

Majefty for the many honours and favours "he had graciously conferred upon him; and "that, as a farther mark of his reconciliation "with government, he would ask for the next "blue ribband, and for fome honourable pro

"motion

"motion in the law for the friend he was talk"ing to."I heard them both agree, in an under voice, that Sir William Mne was of no fervice to any party, and hoped that he would never again return to Ireland, to perplex and delay the bufinefs of the nation.

Lord Townfhend, in the mean time, with a countenance full of discontent and ftupidity, withdrew in the most ungracious manner from the company that furrounded him, and making to the chaplain's box, he there shut himself up, drawing the curtains close about him: his fecretary, Mr. Malone, the Prime Serjeant, the Provoft, and many other refpectable perfons came to confult with him, but he flounced from one fide to the other of his box, and refused to hear them. To their advice he made no other answer than," that he had taken his refolu❝tion, and it was in vain to argue with him,

for he never changed his opinion for any "man."-On this they left him, with manifeft tokens of wonder. He then pulled out a memorandum book, and a pencil; I could fee he made feveral entries of a very frivolous nature, tho' with a face of much attention and importance; amongst the reft, I remember there was a new receipt for making Fuller's balls, to

take