Sacheverel, and I found the oppofite page all on a foam with Politicks. We are now (fays he) arrived at that celebrated year, in which the Church of England was tried in the perfon of Dr. Sacheverel. I had ever the intereft of our High-Church at heart, neither would I at any feafon mingle myself in the focieties of Fanaticks, whom I from my infancy abhorred, more than the Heathen or Gentile. It was in thefe days I bethought myself, that much profit might accrue unto our Parish, and even unto the Nation, could there be affembled together a number of chofen men of the right spirit, who might argué, refine, and define, upon high and great matters. Unto this purpose, I did inftitute a Weekly Affembly of divers worthy men, at the Rose and Crown Alehouse, over whom myself (though unworthy) did prefide. Yea, I did read unto them the Poft-Boy of Mr. Roper, and the written letter of Mr. Dyer, upon which we communed afterwards among ourfelves. Our fociety was compofed of the following perfons; Robert Jenkins, Farrier; Amos Turner, Collar-maker; George Pilcocks, late Excifeman; Thomas White, Wheel-wright; and myself. Firft, of the firit, Robert Jenkins. He was a man of bright parts and fhrewd conceit, for he never fhoed a horse of a Whig or a Fanatick, but he lamed him forely. Amos Turner, a worthy perfon, rightly esteemed among us for his fufferings, in that he had been ho noured in the stocks for wearing an Oaken bough. George Pilcocks a fufferer alfo; of zealous and laudable freedom of Speech, infomuch that his occupation had been taken from him.. Thomas White, of good repute likewife, for that his uncle by the Mother's fide, had, formerly, been fervitor at Maudlin-college, where the glorious Sacheverel was educated. Now were the eyes of all the parish upon these our weekly councils. In a fhort space, the Minister came among us; he spake concerning us and our councils to a multitude of other Minifters at the Vifitation, and they fpake thereof unto the Minifters at London, fo that even the Bishops heard and marvelled thereat. Moreover, Sir Thomas, member of Parliament, spake of the fame to other members of Parliament: who spake thereof unto the Peers of the Realm. Lo! thus did our councils enter into the hearts of our Generals and our Lawgivers; and from henceforth, even as we devised, thus did they. After this, the whole book is turned on a fudden, from his own life, to a Hiftory of all the publick Transactions of Europe, compiled from the News-papers of thofe times. I could not comprehend the meaning of this, till I perceived at last (to my no fmall aftonishment) that all the Meafures of the four last years of the Queen, together with the peace at Utrecht, which have been usually attributed to the E of O- D of O, Lords HB-, and other great men; do here most plainly appear to have been wholly owing to Robert Jenkins, Ames Turner, George Pilcocks, Thomas White, but above all, to P. P. - and The reader may be fure I was very inquifitive after this extraordinary writer, whofe work I have here abstracted. I took a journey into the Country on purpose; but could not find the leaft trace of him: till by accident I met an old Clergyman, who faid he could not be pofitive, but thought it might be one Paul Philips, who had been dead about tavelve years. And upon inquiry, all he could learn of that perfon from the neighbourhood was, That he had been taken notice of for swallowing Loaches, and remembered by fome people by a black and white Cur with one Ear, that conftantly followed him. In the Church-yard, I read his Epitaph, faid to be written by himself : O Reader, if that thou canst read, Look down upon this Stone; L 3 POET LAUREATE. T November 19, 1729. through the neglect Thefe we have ex HE time of the election of Poet Laureate being now at hand, it may be proper to give fome ac count of the rites and ceremonies anciently used at that folemnity, and only difcontinued and degeneracy of later times. tracted from an historian of undoubted credit, a reverend bishop, the learned Paulus Jovius; and are the fame that were practised under the Pontificate of Leo X. the great reftorer of learning. As we now fee an age and a court, that for the encouragement of poetry rivals, if not exceeds, that of this famous Pope, we cannot but wish a restoration of all its honours to poefy; the rather, fince there are fo many parallel circumftances in the perfon who was then honoured with the laurel, and in him, who (in all probability) is now to wear it. I shall translate my author exactly as I find it in the 82d chapter of his Elogia Vir. Doct. He begins with the character of the Poet himself, who was the original and father of all Laureates, and called Camillo. He was a plain countryman of Apulia (whether a shepherd or threfher is not material). "This man (fays Jovius) "excited by the fame of the great encouragement given. "to Poets at Court, and the high honour in which they "were held, came to the city, bringing with him a ftrange kind of lyre in his hand, and at least some |