wherever he chose to exhibit himself; nay, even to animate the Rev. Mr. Palmer, preacher at Whitehall, at the risk of suspension, to pray for him by name as a patient sufferer under the persecution of the House of Lords, who brought him to trial, Feb. 27, 1709-10, on charges of having maintained that the necessary means used to bring about the Revolution were odious and unjustifiable; that resistance to the Supreme Power was illegal under any pretence whatever; that it was the duty of superior pastors to thunder out their ecclesiastical anathema's against persons entitled to the benefit of the toleration, &c. &c.; which they decreed the Commons had substantiated, contents 69, non-contents 52. After this event he became the idol of the mob, and of several well-meaning but weak people. His vanity led him to make a kind of triumphal journey through the country, where he was generally received as a conqueror, and in some instances by Corporations and the Clergy with flags displayed, ringing of bells, and bonfires. However disgraceful such conduct, he furnished the industrious of many classes with the means of enriching themselves: the Printers and Publishers fattened on his Sermons and his Trial; the Engraver on his physiognomy; and even the Fan-maker sold his "Emblematical fans with the true effigies of the Rev. Dr. Henry Sacheverell done to the life, and several curious hieroglyphicks in honour of

the

the Church of England finely painted and mounted on extraordinary genteel sticks." After this summary of the Doctor's exploits, who will deny his claim to eccentricity, or that he was a most unworthy son of the Church, a teacher of bigotry, not of peace? But he is forgotten; and but one small marble lozenge shews his present resting-place.

In 1711 Gustavus Parker entertained the publick with a specimen of his eccentricity, exhibited in a "Monthly Weather-paper," or baroscopical prognosticks of the description of Weather to happen a month after his publication. He even pronounced whether there would be warm or cold rain, or be clear, for the day and night, and from which point the wind would blow. Though Mr. Parker entered into a laboured explanation of the principles on which he founded his infallible judgment, they were confuted most completely by the observations of an individual, who placed the real state of the weather opposite the anticipated; from which I pronounce him no conjurer.

Politicks had arrived to a dreadful state of effervescence in 1713. Many authors exerted themselves to fan the flames, and but few endeavoured to extinguish them. One eccentric person ("which lived at the sign of the Queen'sarms and Corn-cutter in King-street, Westminster, where a blue sign-board is fixed to the other

that

that shews what cures I perform, viz. the scurvy in the gums, or tooth-ache, likewise the piles and all casual sores, and fasteneth loose teeth, and causeth decayed gums to grow firm and well again") with more zeal than ability collected a farrago of scraps of religion and moral sayings, and connected them in a way peculiar to himself by fervent wishes and pious ejaculations; which he published twice a-week under the title of the "Balm of Gilead, or the Healer of Divisions, by Thomas Smith, Operator."-I consider this Thomas Smith a worthy predecessor of many an Itinerant Methodist.

The public-house is a hot-bed for vulgar eccentricity; and without doubt the following mad exploit of four men in January 1715-16 originated in one of them, which is thus described in the London Post of the 21st. They solemnly bound themselves to support each other in every difficulty and danger that might occur during an excursion up the Thames on the ice for four days, in which they determined to avoid every track made by man, and to explore a way for themselves. They set out provided with poles from the Old Swan near London-bridge; and two of them were seen to fall through air-holes opposite Somerset-house and Lambeth, but the others were never heard of.

I am rather at a loss under what title to place the ignorance and absurdity displayed in the en

VOL. I.

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suing

suing paragraph, copied from the News Letter of Feb. 25, 1716; but, as superstition is closely allied to folly, and eccentricity is a species of folly, I believe this to be the proper one. "The

Flying Horse, a noted victualling-house in Moorfields, next to that of the late Astrologer Trotter, has been molested for several nights past in an unaccountable manner; abundance of stones, glass bottles, clay, &c. being thrown into the back side of the house, to the great amazement and terror of the family and guests. It is altogether unknown how it happened, though all the neighbouring houses were diligently searched, and men appointed in proper places to find the occasion."

The unknown author of the Advertisement which follows appears to have been nearly related to Thomas Smith the Corn-cutter, but far more enlightened. The motives that dictated it must be approved, however extraordinary such a production may appear in the Postman of July 31, 1716. "Whoever you are to whose hands this comes, let the truth it contains abide upon your mind, as what is intended for your greatest benefit. The method taken I know is uncommon; yet, if there is the least probability of success, though it be only with a few, the design will be justified, as intending the glory of God in your salvation. Remember then that you were once told in this manner, that being zealous for names

and

and parties is what will stand you in no stead at death, except you have the life in you that shall never die. Are you a Christian? or, have you only the name from education, as it is the professed Religion of your Country? If you can say on your conscience you have endeavoured to lay aside prejudice wherein you might have reason to suspect yourself of it, and, apprehending your lost condition without a Saviour as revealed in the Gospel, you have devoted yourself to God in him, and therefore hope you are a true Christian, it is well-give God the praise; but, if in your conscience you must say you have no more than the name, stay Man, Woman, whoever you be, consider, think before this go out of your mind or hand how you shall escape, if you neglect so great salvation."

The nobility and young men of fashion of most countries are rather eccentric in their amusements; and surely this observation may safely be applied to those of England in 1717, when a set of escape graces subscribed for a piece of plate, which was run for in Tyburn-road by six Asses rode by Chimney-sweepers; and two boys rode two Asses at Hampstead-heath for a wooden spoon attended by above 500 persons on horseback. Women running for Holland smocks was not uncommon; nay, a match was talked of for a race of women in hooped petticoats; and another actually took place in consequence of a wager of 1000L

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