confidering how indifcreetly they talk before men of art, whose proper terms are, "Break that goose;" "frust that chicken;"-"spoil that hen;"

"that capon;"

"fauce

"mince that plover."-If they are so much out in common things, how much more will they be with bitterns, herns, cranes, and peacocks? But it is vain for us to complain of the faults and errours of the world unless we lend our helping hand to retrieve them.

To conclude, our greatest author of dramatick poetry, Mr Dryden, has made use of the mysteries of this art in the prologues to two of his plays, one a tragedy, the other a comedy, in which he has fhewn his greatest art, and proved moft fuccefsful. I had not feen the play for fome years before I hit upon almost the fame words that he has in the following prologue to All for Love:

"Fops may have leave to level all they can,
"As Pigmies would be glad to top a man.
"Half-wits are fleas, fo little and so light,

"We scarce could know they live but that they bite.
"But as the rich, when tir'd with daily feafts,

"For change become their next poor tenant's guests,
"Drink hearty draughts of ale from plain brown bowis,
And fnatch the homely rather from the coals;
"So you, retiring from much better cheer,

For once may venture to do penance here:
"And fince that plenteous autumn now is past,
"Whofe grapes and peaches have indulg'd your taste,
"Take in good part from our poor poet's board
*Such thrivell'd fruit as winter can afford."

How fops and fleas fhould come together I cannot easily account for; but I doubt not but his ale, rasher, grapes, peaches, and fhrivelled apples, might pit, box, and gallery it well enough. His prologue to Sir Martin Marall is such an exquifite poem, taken from the fame art, that I could with it tranflated into Latin to be prefixed to Dr. Lifter's work. The whole is as follows:

PROLOGUE.

"Fools which each man meets in his dish each day
"Are yet the great regalia of a play;

"In which to poets you but just appear,

"To prize that higheft which coft them fo dear.
"Fops in the Town more eafily will pass;

"One ftory makes a ftatutable afs:

"But fuch in plays must be much thicker sown
"Like yolks of eggs, a dozen beat to one.
"Obferving poets all their walks invade,
"As men watch woodcocks gliding thro' a glade,
"And when they have enough for comedy
"They ftow their several bodies in a pie:
"The poet's but the Cook to fashion it;

"For, Gallants! you yourfelves have found the wit.
"To bid you welcome would your bounty wrong:
"None welcome those who bring their cheer † along."

The image (which is the great perfection of a poet) is fo extremely lively and well painted, that methinks I fee the whole audience with a dish of buttered eggs in one hand and a woodcock pie in the other. I hope I may be excufed after fo great an example, for I declare I have no design but to encourage learn

Some criticks read it chair.

King.

ing, and am very far from any designs against it: , and therefore I hope the worthy gentleman who faid that the Journey to London ought to be burnt by the common hangman, as a book that if received would difcourage ingenuity, would be pleased not to make his bonefire at the upper end of Ludgate street, for fear of endangering the booksellers' shops and the cathedral.

I have abundance more to fay upon these subjects; but I am afraid my first course is so tedious that you will excuse me both the second course and the deffert, and call for pipes and a candle. But confider the pers come from an old friend, and fpare them out of compaffion to, Sir, &c.

LETTER VII. TO MR.

SIR,

pa

I Am no great lover of writing more than I am forced to, and therefore have not troubled you with my letters to congratulate your good fortune in London, or to bemoan our unhappiness in the loss of you here. The occafion of this is to defire your affiftance in a matter that I am fallen into by the advice of fore friends; but unless they help me it will be impoffible for me to get out of it. I have had the misfortune to -write; but what is worfe, I have never confidered whether any one would read. Nay, I have been so

very bad as to defign to print; but then a wicked thought came across me with "Who will buy?" for if I tell you the title you will be of my mind, that the very name will deftroy it; "The Art of Cookery, " in Imitation of Horace's Art of Poetry; with fome "familiar Letters to Dr. Lifter and others, occafioned "principally by the Title of a Book published by the "Doctor concerning the Soups and Sauces of the "Ancients." To this a beau will cry " Phough! "what have I to do with kitchenstuff?” To which I anfwer, "Buy it, and give it to your fervants:" for I hope to live to see the day when every mistress of a family, and every steward, fhall call up their children and fervants with "Come, Mifs Betty, how much "have you got of your Art of Cookery? Where did "you leave off, Mifs Ifabel?". "Mifs Kitty, are 'you no farther than King Henry and the Miller ?" "Yes, Madam, I am come to

-His name fhall be enroll'd

In Eftcourt's book, whofe gridiron 's fram'd of gold. "Pray, mother, is that our Master Estcourt?” “Well, "child, if you mind this you shall not be put to your "Affembly Catechifm next Saturday." What a glorious fight it will be, and how becoming a great family, to fee the butler outlearning the steward, and the painful fcullerymaid exerting her memory far beyond the mumping housekeeper! I am told that if a book is any thing useful the printers have a way of

pirating on one another, and printing other perfons' copics, which is very barbarous; and then shall J- be forced to come out with "The true Art of Cookery " is only to be had at Mr. Pindar's, a Pattenmaker's "under St. Dunstan's-church, with the Author's Seal "at the Titlepage, being Three Saucepans in a Bend "Proper, on a Cook's Apron, Argent. Beware of "Counterfeits." And be forced to put out advertisements with "Straps for razors, and the best spectacles, "are to be had only at the Archimedes, &c."

I defign proposals, which I must get delivered to the Cooks' Company, for the making an order that every apprentice fhall have The Art of Cookery when he is bound, which he shall say by heart before he is made free; and then he shall have Dr. Lifter's book of Soups and Sauces delivered to him for his future practice. But you know better what I am to do than 1. For the kindness you may fhew me I shall always endeavour to make what returns lie in my power. I am your's, &c.

LETTER VIII. TO MR.

DEAR SIR,

I Cannot but recommend to your perufal a late exquifite comedy called The Lawyer's Fortune, or Love in a Hollow Tree, which piece has its peculiar embellishments, and is a poem carefully framed ac