This piece being on the same subject, and very rare, que have thought fit to add it, though not written by the fame hand. N. B. In the Dublin edition it is faid to be written by the late N. Rowe, Efq; which is a mistake: for the reverend Dr. Yalden, preacher of Bridewell, Mr. Partridge's near neighbour, drew it up for him. 'Squire BICKERSTAFF Detected; OR, THE Aftrological IMPOSTOR Convicted: BY JOHN PARTRIDGE, Τ Student in Phyfic and Aftrology. IT is hard, my dear countrymen of thefe united nations, it is very hard, that a Briton born, a proteftant aftrologer, a man of revolution principles, an affertor of the liberty and property of the people, should cry out in vain for justice against a Frenchman, a papift, and an illiterate pretender to fcience, that would blaft my reputation, most inhumanly bury me alive, and defraud my native country of thofe fervices, which, in my double capacity, I daily offer the public. What great provocations I have received, let the impartial reader judge, and how unwillingly, even in my own defence, I now enter the lifts against falfehood, ignorance, and envy but I am exafperated, at length, to drag out this Cacus* from the den of obfcurity where he lurks, detect him by the light of thofe ftars he has fo impudently traduced, and fhew there is not a monster in the fkies fo pernicious and malevolent to mankind, as an ignorant pretender to phyfic and aftrology. I fhall not directly fall on the many grofs errors, nor expose the notorious abfurdities of this prostituted libeller, till I have let the learned world fairly into the controverfy depending, and then leave the unprejudiced to judge of the merits and justice of my cause. It was towards the conclufion of the year 1707, when an impudent pamphlet crept into the world, intitled, predictions, &c. by Ifaac Bickerstaff, efqi- Amongst the many arrogant affertions laid down by that lying fpirit of divination, he was pleased to pitch on the cardinal de Noailles and myfelf, among many other eminent and illuftrious perfons, that were to die within the compafs of the enfuing year; and peremptorily fixes the month, day, and hour of our deaths: this, I think, is Sporting with great men, and public fpirits, to the fcandal of religion, and reproach of power; and if fovereign princes and astrologers must make diverfion for the vulgar 02 * A thief seized in a cavern by Hercules. why why then farewel, fay I, to all governments, ecclefiaftical and civil. But, I thank my better ftars, I am alive to confront this falfe and audacious predictor, and to make him rue the hour he ever affronted a man of science and refentment. The cardinal may take what measures he pleases with him; as his excellency is a foreigner, and a papist, he has no reafon to rely upon me for his juftification; I fhall only affure the world he is alive--but as he was bred to letters, and is master of a pen, let him ufe it in his own defence. In the mean time I fhall present the public with a faithful narrative of the ungenerous treatment and hard ufage I have received from the virulent papers and malicious practices of this pretended aftrologer. A true and impartial account of the proceedings of Ifaac Bickerstaff, efq; against me. The 28th of March, anno Dom. 1708, being the night this fham-prophet had fo impudently fixed for my laft, which made little impreffion on myself; but I cannot answer for my whole family; for my wife, with a concern more than ufual, prevailed on me to take somewhat to fweat for a cold; and, between the hours of eight and nine, to go to bed the maid, as fhe was warming my bed, with a curiofity natural to young wenches, runs to the window, and afks of one paffing the street, who the bell tolled for? Dr. Partridge, fays he, the famous almanac-maker, who who died fuddenly this evening: the poor girl provoked told him, he lyed like a rascal; the other very fedately replied, the sexton had fo informed him, and, if falfe, he was to blame for impofing upon a stranger. She afked a fecond, and a third, as they paffed, and every one was in the fame tone. Now, I do not say these are accomplices to a certain aftrological 'fquire, and that one Bickerstaff might be fauntring thereabouts; because I will affert nothing here, but what I dare atteft, for plain matter of fact. My wife at this fell into a violent diforder; and I must. own I was a little difcompofed at the oddness of the accident. In the mean time one knocks at my door; Betty runs down, and, opening, finds a fober grave perfon, who modeftly inquires, if this was Dr. Partridge's? fhe taking him for fome cautious city-patient, that came at that time for privacy, fhews him into the dining-room. As foon as I could compose myself, I went to him, and was surprised to find my gentleman mounted on a table with a two-foot rule in his hand, measuring my walls, and taking the dimensions of the room. Pray, fir, fays I, not to interrupt you, have you any bufinefs with me? only, Sir, replies he, order the girl to bring me a better light, for this is but a very dim one, Sir, fays I, my name is Partridge: oh! the doctor's brother, belike, cries he; the staircafe, I believe, and thefe two apartments hung in clofe mourning, will be sufficient, and only a strip of bays round the other rooms. The 0 3 The doctor muft needs die rich, he had great dealings in his way for many years; if he had no family-coat, you had as good use the efcutcheons of the company, they are as fhowish, and will look as magnificent, as if he was defcended from the blood-royal. With that I affumed a great air of authority, and ́demanded who employed him, or how he came there? Why, I was fent, fir, by the company of undertakers, fays he, and they were employed by the honeft gentleman, who is executor to the good doctor departed and our rafcally porter, I believe, is fallen faft afleep with the black cloth and sconces, or he had been here, and we might have been tacking up by this time. Sir, fays I, pray be advised by a friend, and make the best of your speed out of my doors, for I hear my wife's voice, (which, by the by, is diftinguishable) and in that corner of the room ftands a good cudgel, which fomebody has felt before now; if that light in her hands, and the know the bufinefs you come about, without confulting the ftars, I can affure you it will be employed very much to the detriment of your perfon. Sir, cries he, bowing with great civility, I perceive extreme grief for the lofs of the doctor diforders you a little at prefent, but early in the morning I will wait on you with all neceffary materials. Now I mention no Mr. Bickerfaff; nor do I say, that a certain star-gazing fquire has been playing my executor before his time; but I leave the world to judge, and he |