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 PERKINS LIBRARY 
 
 Duke Unlversitj 
 Rare Dooks 
 
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Ifaac Onis. Aaron Monce^SPTcJacob Bi-ito./^^m^^/^s^ 
 
 JE^WISH LETTERS . , , i n u - 
 
 to Don Quixote, SanchoPanchafe Mailer Nicholas the Barber. 
 
THE 
 
 JEWISH SPY: 
 
 BEING A 
 
 Philosophical, Historical and 
 C R iTi G A L Correfpondencey 
 
 By LETTERS 
 
 Which lately pafs'd between certain J £/F 5 
 
 in Ttirkyy Italy^ France, l^c, 
 
 Tranflated from the O r i c i n a l s into French, 
 
 By the M A R Q^u I s D'A R G E N S ; 
 
 And ficiv done into Englilh. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 V O L. J. 
 
 L O I^ D O N : 
 
 Printed for D. Browne, without Temple-Bar \^. Hett, 
 in the Poultry \ J. vSiiuckburgh, in Fleetjheet \ 
 J.Hodges, on London Bridge i and A. Millar, in 
 the Strand. M DCC XLIV, 
 
r-^^M'^4/£y(z^Zf.'. 
 
Mr. JAMES, 
 The PR I N T E R's £)^i;/7. 
 
 Find, Mr. ^ames, that you 
 are extremely punctual in de- 
 livering the Letters which I 
 fend twice a Vv'cck to your 
 Mafler. Give me Leave to 
 return yoa my Tiiraiks, aivJ to (licw yoa 
 my Gratitude in an EpiJi!eT>edicatorj, 
 
 You hereby receive an Honour that 
 has been paid to the greateft Heroes, and 
 has alfo been indulged to many a T^ajlard, 
 But as for the Incenfe bcftow'd upon ei- 
 ther, the former were oblig'd for it to 
 their Merit, the latter only to their Mo- 
 ney. As for your Part, Mr. James, you 
 are neither a Great Man, nor a Rich one j 
 for your Mafter affures me that \i d. tl 
 Week is all your Gains j therefore I fhall 
 hardly be fufpeded of aDefign to tickle 
 your Vanity, in order to touch your 
 A 2 Trea- 
 
 5248^3 
 
iv DEDICATION-. 
 
 Treafure. But in fhort, poor as you arc, 
 I value you more with all your Wants, 
 than I do a Financier of France, whom 
 the Neceflities of his Country have ren- 
 der'd Fat, and Purfc-proud. 
 
 You are an honeft Lad 5 whereas the 
 Officers of the Revenue are generally ar- 
 rant Sharpers. One of their Names 
 would indeed have done admirably well 
 at the Head of the Lettres Jtdves, by 
 rcafon that fo many of the Farmers-Ge- 
 neral, Tax-Gathcrers, and other public 
 Robbers bear fuch a Refemblance to fome 
 of the modern Ifraelites : But fmce 
 Yours is prefixed to thefe Letters, it fhall, 
 if you plcafe, remain there. 
 
 / am^ Mr. James, 
 
 Tout mojl Httmbky andmoji 
 
 Obedient Servant^ 
 
PREFACE- 
 
 By M. D 
 
 %^ ^ vfJ 
 
 WHEN 1 was tranllating the Jews 
 Letters, I was aware of cer- 
 tain Inconveniencies that inighl at- 
 tend the Publication of them^ and fhould never 
 have confented to part with the Copy to the 
 Prefsy if my Friends had not reproached me for 
 endeavouring to flifie a ff^ork, in which mt 
 only Philofophers^ but every courteous Reader 
 might find Amufement, i'hey encouraged me 
 not to fear the Hatred of the Monks •, ajid at 
 length convinced me that ftnce the Refpefi due 
 to the Perfons of Sovereigns was entirely pre 
 fervid in thefe Letters, and fince the Maxims 
 they contain\i were only fuch as conduced to 
 the Public Happinefs and tranquility^ the ju- 
 dicious Reader would not fuffer himfelf to he 
 prejudiced by the 'Declamations of any Bigots^ 
 or Blockheads^ zvho thi?tk that the umnajking 
 of Vice and Hypocrify is an Attack on the Deity 
 •himfelf 
 
 NEVERTHELESS, what I forefaiO 
 is come to pafs. Some People have even juf- 
 "peEled my Religion, and endeavoured to make 
 me refponfible for the Sentiments cf my Origin 
 nals. But is it 7iot abfurd to expeEl 'to find h 
 Jew approving of Maxims and Manners 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 wbkb are dlre5ily contrary to his Law^ and to 
 his Prejudices ? Was any Offence taken at the ' 
 Letters of the Turkifli Spy, tho^ they are in- 
 finitely holder than thofe that I have iranflated ? 
 Tet^ after all. Men of Candor never thought 
 that the French- man ought to he accountahle for 
 the Maxims of the MufTulman. 
 
 IF the Approhation of Good Judges^ a?id 
 the Succefs of a Perforfnance are any Compen- 
 fat ion to an Author for the Uneafinefs that cer- 
 tain Difcourfes may give him, I need not value 
 the Criticifm of certain Blockheads, 7ior the Ca- 
 lumny of certain Bigots, I have had Letters 
 from fundry Parts of Europe which congratu- 
 late 7ne on the Good Senfe of Aaron Monceca ; 
 tind very lately my Copying Clerk at the Hague 
 fent me the Original of a Letter from my 
 Lord ****', in which, while he was in Hol- 
 land, he gave his Frrend his Noughts of the 
 Jews Letters, in fuch a manner that nothing 
 tould to me he more ohliging,- I know that € 
 violent Catholic will like them never the hetter 
 for the Approhation of a Protefttrot, and that 
 fofne pleafant Turns upon the Qeremontes of the 
 Church have given feveral People Offence. At 
 the fame tune however^ they cannot hut difcern^ 
 that tho* the Bark, or as we may call it the 
 needlefs and fuperfluous Branches of Religion are 
 cenfur^d, yet the Suhfiantial and. Solid Part of it 
 is fet off with a great deal tf Accuracy and 
 Perfpicuity, The Thing that has difgufted the 
 Bigots is not any Banter upon the Romilh 
 
 Church" 
 
PREFACE. vii 
 
 Church-Ceremonies^ hut the expofing their Prieft- 
 crafty their Fraud and their Hypocrifies ; and it 
 has mortiffd them,, the more^ hecaufe the Work 
 has had a Run infpite of all their Oppofttion. 
 
 I F^the Regard I have for fome Perfons of the 
 firft Rank did not check mefro?n boafting of their 
 Approbation^ it would be eafy for me to Jhew^ 
 that even in the Centre of Paris, the Jews Letters 
 have met with as great Patrons as they have in 
 Holland, and in England. If we do but take 
 Pains to pleafe Men of the befi Senfe^ what mat- 
 ters it if we are cenfur'd by a Cojnpany of School" 
 Boys, Ignoramuses^ Monks and Hypocrites ? 
 Is any thing a jot the worfe for their condemning 
 it? 
 
 SOME Learned Men indeed ^ to whofe 
 Tajle I Jhall ever think it an Honour to fuh- 
 fcribe, wijh*d that Aaron Monceca had given 
 an Extra5l of fome new Books, 7'his he might 
 have eafily done : And I have fever al Letters 
 from hi?n tranflated and made ready for the 
 Prefsy which relate only to Literature ; but the 
 Bookfeller^ more deftrous to entertain the Pub* 
 lie in general^ than the finall Number of Men 
 vf Learnings chofe firfl of all to publijh ihofe 
 Letters that relate to Manners and Cufloms, 
 which being a Suhje^ of more univerfal Curio- 
 fity^ goes off the fooner in the Market, In the 
 Second Volume of this Work we fhall endeavour^ 
 in their Jurm^ to pleafe the Learned^ the Fine 
 Gentlemen^ and the Ladies^ who ought to be 
 mentioned frfl. Peace is alfo declared with the 
 
 Monks^ 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 Monks, of whom the next Volujne makes very 
 little mention \ Gallantry, Literature and Man- 
 ners, being its principal Subje^s, 
 
 LETTER from M. D***, to his Book- 
 feller at the Hague. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 jjT length I have obtained of Aaron Monceca 
 "^ what you fo earnejlly deftre. He confents that I 
 Jhould regularly fend you the Tranflaiion of the chief 
 Letters which he Jhall write upon fuch SuhjeSis as hi 
 ■thinks worthy of his RefieSlions, He has alfo ■proms'' d 
 to give me the Anjwers of his Friend Ifaac Onis, a 
 Rabbi at Conftantinople, and thofe of Jacob Brito, 
 a Genoefe Jew, his Correfpondent in Italy, jis he 
 has changed his Name fine e his Arrival in France, he 
 needs not be under any Refiraint. Therefore, Sir, all 
 the Secrecy you are to obferve, is to conceal your Tranf- 
 lator, whom you would put under a Necejftty, if he 
 were known, to difguife the Na?nes of the Perfons * he 
 fpeaks of in thefe Letters, and to foften certain Ex~ 
 prejftons which paint the true Sentiments of his He- 
 brew Philofophers, as it were to the Life, 
 
 I am. Sir, &c. 
 
 * The Adventures which are told in thefe Letters arc 
 ftri^ly true. 
 
 P R E^ 
 
PR E F A C E, 
 
 By the Englifli Tranjlator. 
 
 TH E Jews that are the Correfpondents 
 in the following Letters, appear to be 
 Men of no fmall Abilities and Confequence 
 in the World. They arc even reckon*d not 
 inferior to the mofl eminent Jews^ of whom 
 there are Numbers, not only in Holland^ but 
 at Venice and LondoUy whofe Opinion of 
 Writings is not inferior to the beft Judges. 
 
 Ifaac 0ms ^ the Rabbi, who dates his Let- 
 ters in this Volume from Conftantinople^ was 
 for feveral Years at Vienna^ Warfaw^ Copen- 
 hagen^ Berlin^ and all the Northern Courts, 
 always apply'd himfelf to Study, and is per- 
 fedl Mailer of the French and German Lan- 
 guages. 
 
 Aaron Monceca^ who figns his from PartSy 
 is a Philofopher, who was bred up among 
 the French and Englijh Gentlemen and Mer- 
 chants at Conftantimple^ with whom he had 
 frequent Converfation, and was well ac- 
 quainted with their Languages, and their 
 beft Authors, even before he arrived in 
 France. 
 
 Jacob Brito had his Education at Genoa till 
 he was 12 Years of Age, when he went to 
 Conftantinople^ and from thence we find he 
 
 proceeded 
 
X PREFACE. 
 
 proceeded to Rofm^ Genoa^ and Turin \ from 
 all which Places he dates his Letters. 
 
 The Gentleman who tranflated thefe Letters 
 from the Originals, and communicated them 
 to the Prefs, is the Marquis UArgens, He 
 is an Author to whom the Public has been 
 already oblig'd for feveral curious Pieces, 
 equally entertaining and inftrudive; and 
 who, like our celebrated Countryman that 
 wrote the Chrijiian Hero^ has made it very 
 evident, that the Military and Literary Pro- 
 feflions, as different as they are in Thern- 
 felves, are far from being irreconcileable, 
 when they are united in, and fupported by, 
 a fublime Genius. For at the fame time that 
 the Marquis was an Author, he was a Cnptain 
 in the Duke of Richlieu's Regiment, in the 
 late War betwixt France and Germany^ and 
 ferv'd as fuch during the whole Campaign of 
 Philipjhurg^ in 1734, foon after which he 
 quitted the Service. 
 
 Since his clofer Application to Affairs of 
 Literature, and fince he publifh'd his Tranf- 
 lation of the Jews Letters^ he complains, in 
 his Prefaces to fome of the Volumes, of his 
 having been malicioufly and unjuflly cenfured 
 by Ignorant and Wicked Scribblers, Men 
 that are the Peft and Scandal of Civil Society, 
 and incapable of Blufhing, or of the lead Re- 
 morfe : But he declares, that tho* the expofing 
 of Vice and Impoflure in all Shapes and Cha- 
 raders had created him fo many Enemies, it 
 
 Ihould 
 
PREFACE. xi 
 
 fhould never deter him from fpeaking the 
 Truth, and that boldly too, where he thinks 
 it may prove of Service to the Caufe of Vir- 
 tue; etft f radius illahatur Orbis, At the fame 
 time he triumphs over the impotent Efforts of 
 his Adverfaries to Hop the Currency of the 
 Jews Letters^ which he has had the Satisfa(5lion 
 to fee printed not only in French^ but tranf- 
 lated into the Low-Dutch, and German Lan- 
 guages, and reprinted at Avignon and Lau- 
 fanne ; tho' the French Edition publifh'd at 
 the Hague y of which this is a Tranflation, 
 is acknowledged to be the only perfedl one. 
 To render this Volume ftill the more cpn- 
 formable to the Hague Edition, the Bookfel- 
 l.ers have adorn'd it with the Effigies of M. 
 D'Argens, and. another curious Frontifpiece, 
 alluding to fome of the principal Subjedls of 
 the Letters ; and they have moreover added a 
 copious Alphabetical Index, in which laft ref- 
 pecl it is even preferable to the Edition at the 
 Hague, 
 
 ' As for the humorous Dedication which the 
 Marquis has made of this Volume to the 
 Garcon Libraire, or Bookfeller's Errand-Boy, 
 the Tranflator hopes he v/ill pardon him for 
 the Liberty he has taken to alter the Name of 
 his Patron into one of the fame Rank, which 
 is more familiar to our Authors and Bookfel- 
 lers, and even to the Generality of Englijh 
 Readers ; efpecially fince the Explanation of 
 a late Sage of the Law has taken away the 
 
 Prejudice 
 
xii PREFACE. 
 
 Prejudice which Numbers of good People 
 had conceived againft this ^able Mercury''^, 
 *Tis thought proper to acquaint the Reader, 
 that the whole Colledion makes five more 
 fuch Volumes ; and if this meets with a fa- 
 vourable Reception, the reft, which are alfo 
 preparing for the Prefs, fhall be publifli'd 
 in the fame manner with all convenient 
 Speed; 
 
 * At the Tryal of a Libel, fome Years ago, at the 
 Old Baily Seflions, where the Printer's Errand-Boy was 
 prefent, and mentioned more than once by the Name of 
 
 Ijeroi/, the Lord Chief Juftice K , then on the 
 
 Bench, perceiving the Countenances of fome of the Jury 
 to change, thought it necefTary to remove their Terror, 
 by affuring them that he was Incarnate, and that tlie 
 Boys that attended to take oiF the Sheets at the Print- 
 ing-Prefs had this Nick-name from being daub'd with 
 the Printer's Ink. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 JEWISH SPY. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 Aaron Monceca ^^Isaac Onis, 
 Rabbi, at Conftantinople. 
 
 Dear Isaac, 
 
 Paris 
 
 AFTER a great deal of Fatigue I am ar- 
 riv'd at Paris ; and this is the firft Oppor- 
 tunity I have had to let thee hear from me 
 fmce I left Conflaniinople. I wou'd fain 
 have wrote to thee from Mar fellies ; but my Stay 
 there was fo ftiort, and I had (o much Bufmefs up- 
 on my Hands, that I was oblig'd to defer it. 'Twas 
 well for me that I underftood the Language of the 
 Country, or elfe I fhould never have finifh'd my 
 Affairs. 
 
 Since I arriv'd in France I have not been the 
 
 better for the Advice thou gaveft me before my 
 
 Departure, nor for thy Inftru6lions founded upon 
 
 B t!ic 
 
2 T^^ Jewish Spy. Let. i. 
 
 the Obfervations thou mad eft in thy Travels to the 
 Courts of Germany^ Pnland^ and the North. 
 
 'Tis impofTible to learn any thing in traverfing 
 a Country with fuch Expedition, that one has but 
 juft Time for the neccflary Refrefiiment of Food 
 and Sleep. Thou may 'ft therefore be fatisfy'd with 
 fome curfory Remarks, that arofe from the Con- 
 verfation I had with three of my travelling Com- 
 panions, and fome Accidents that happen'd to me 
 on the Road. And in my next Letter I ftiall fup- 
 ply the Deficiency of this ; for tho' I have been 
 here t)ut twenty-four Hours, I perceive that I ftiall 
 not want Matter to maintain our Philofophical Cor- 
 refpondcnce. 
 
 The Merchant at Mar fellies having recommend- 
 ed me to his Correfpondent at Lyons^ abfolutely 
 infifted upon my lodging with him ; and the Morn- 
 ing that I fet out for Paris he attended me to the 
 Coach. We were four in that Vehicle, two Mer- 
 chants, an Officer, and myfelf. We had fcarce tra- 
 vell'd tv/o Leagues, when we were as fociable as if 
 we had been acquainted half a fcore Years. They 
 were fo complaifant as to anfwer what Queftions I 
 afK'd them with all the Civilitv and Good-nature in 
 the World j and I have already difcover'd that^the 
 Frejich have generally a much greater Regard for 
 Strangers when in their own Country, than when 
 they are out of it. This is plainly their Foible at 
 Conjiantinople^ where they approve of nothing but 
 what comes from France or is made there. Two 
 Days Journey from Lyons *, as we alighted at the 
 Inn, we heard a furprizingNoife ; and feeing a great 
 Croud of People gather'd about a Houfe in the 
 Neighbourhood, we afk'd what was the matter; 
 v/hich a Man ftanding by told us was this : ' Gen- 
 ' tlemen, faid he^ the Houfe at w^hich you fee fuch 
 
 # At Chalons upon the ^oane, 
 
 rCon-- 
 
Let. I. TZ?^ Jewish Spy. 5 
 
 Concourfe of People, belongs to Mr. AfirGbclan^ 
 who is an Apothecary, going to make a flaring 
 Figure in the World, and will hereafter be rank'd 
 among the illuftrious Saints of the numerous Fra- 
 ternity. He caught Mrs. Miroholan in a flagrant 
 Crime with one of his Journeymen, which fo 
 enrag'd him, that he laid hold of an old Gun and 
 would have difcharg'd it at his Rival, but the Gur? 
 mifs'd fire, and the Lover jump'd out of the Win- 
 dow into the Street ; upon which the Wife call'd 
 out to her Neighbours ; who flocking to the Place, 
 and feeing Mr. Miroholan with Fury in his Eyes, 
 and a Gun in his Hand, belabouring the dear Half 
 of his Perfon with the Butt- end of it, have had 
 much ado to refcue her from his Wrath.' And 
 what is to be done, faid /, to this Adulterefs r What 
 would you have done to her ? rcpl/d he : She goes 
 and enters a Complaint againfl her Hufband, who 
 having no Evidence of the Injury he pretends to 
 have been done to his Honour by the Journeyman^ 
 will be oblig'd to allow her a feparatc Maintenance 
 at her Relations, to whom fhe is going to retire. 
 You don't think fo ? faid I. What wou'd you force 
 a Man to pay Money for his Wife's Falfenefs to 
 him ? Our Laws will have it fo, reply' d he ; and our 
 Lawyers, the very Patterns of complaifant Huf- 
 bands, have approv'd and maintain'd thofe Laws by 
 a thoufand Volumes of their Writings. 
 
 What thinkeft thou, dear Ifaac^ to fee fo much 
 Confufion and Diforder in the Manners and Cufl:oms 
 of the Nazarenes? They are eternally boafting of 
 the Beauty and Regularity of their Morals, and yet 
 Adultery pafles with them for no more than Gal- 
 lantry ! How wide is the Difference between the 
 Innocence of Ifrael and the Debauchery of the Infi- 
 dels ! Our Women reckon it the 2;reateft Honour to 
 love none but their own Hufbands 3 'tis from their 
 B 2 Ten- 
 
4- The Jewish Spy. Let. i. 
 
 Tendernefs to their Huroands that they expe6l that 
 Lamp which is to give Light from the one Hemi- 
 fphere to the other ; and if at any time their Good- 
 nature and Frailty get the better of their Chaftity 
 and Rcafon., they ieiFen the Guilt of their Crimes 
 in a good meafure, by the Care they take to con- 
 ceal them from the Knowledge of the Public. 
 
 With the Nazarenes the Infidelity of their Wives 
 is an inexhauflible Subject of Banter and Joke. The 
 OfHcer, my Fellow-Traveller, laugh'd at my Sur- 
 prize. What he faid is fo deeply rooted in my 
 Mind, that I will, as far as I am able, make ufe of 
 his own very Words, by which thou wilt difccrn the 
 fame Extravagance in the Expreflions as in the f^a6ls 
 xvhich they relate to. I plainly perceive, faid /;<?, 
 that you are come from t'other fide of the Globe. 
 What, furpriz'd at the Gallantries of a Woman ! If 
 ycu flay any time In this Country, you will drop 
 that rigid Virtue of yours, and become fociable. 
 What, Sir, faid /, are fuch Scenes as this frequent 
 here ? No, faid he ; all Hufbands are not fuch 
 Fools as }Ar. Mirohclan^ to make their Family Con- 
 cerns public. Surely then^ faid I, People mufl be 
 very ill match'd in this Country, and that which 
 fhould make Life happy renders it altogether mifer- 
 able. You are milraken, faid hey we are us'd to 
 Accidents of this fort. Tiie Fate of our Neigh- 
 bours, Relations, and Friends, tells us what we are 
 to expecb onrfelves, and takes away the Bitternefs 
 of it. Befides, Marriage is with us a fort of Traf- 
 fick. We chufe a Wife as we do a Piece of Cloth, 
 only the one we meafure by the Ell, the other by 
 the Lev/id'or. ^Tis my Opinion, faid /, that a 
 Woman can't be very fond of a Hufband who va- 
 Uies her only for her Money, and that flie ought not 
 to be forry for the Lofs of him. ' There are very 
 ' kvr^faidbs with a Smik^ that break their Hearts 
 
 'for 
 
Let. I . The I E w I s H S p Y. 5" 
 
 for being Widows \ yet they obferve a great deal 
 
 of Ceremony. 
 
 ' As (oQw as a Woman has loft her Hufband, you 
 
 would think (he was going to follow him. She 
 ' iliiits hcrfelf up in licr Apartment, v/hich is firip- 
 ' ped of all its ufual Ornaments. Picftures, Lvook- 
 ' ing-Glailes, all are condemn'd, and black and dit- 
 
 * inal Hangings put up in their place : So that one 
 ' would ahnolt imagine Ihe was retired to a 1 omb. 
 ' On the leail: mention of the Deceafed, her E;'es 
 ' are like two Fountains, from whence flow Toi - 
 ' rents of Tears ; and her Cries and Complaints are 
 ' loud enough to be heard by the Public. Obferve 
 ' her in private ; there fbe gives ear the fn (I Mc- 
 
 * ment to the Comfort which is adminifter'd to her 
 ' by her Intimates. A Friend takes the Opportu- 
 ' nity to tell her, that ihe is not yet of an Age to 
 ' bury herfelf alive. You are youngs lovely^ and 
 ' handfome. JVou*d you retire from the JVorld with 
 
 * fo ?nany Charms ? There are few Men hut woud 
 ' rejoice to fucceed your late Hnjland. Believe me^ 
 ' dear Child ^ ihe Advice I give you is- what I fiould 
 
 * tah rnyjclf. Yon are not ignorant what Opinicn 
 ' the Chevalier has of you. He had a Rcfpe£l for you 
 ' vjhile your Hifband was living. Dont you think 
 
 * he zvcud be glad to fupply Jm Place?' At this 
 Difcourfe the Widow turns her Eves to the Ground 
 and fimpers. The Lover at this Indant makes a 
 complimental Vifit j his Prefence carries his Point, 
 and the HufDand is but juft laid in his Coffin when 
 the Widow marries again. 
 
 Are not fuch I^.lanners and Cuftoms as thefe vifi- 
 ble Tokens of God's Wratii ? He drow^ned Pharoah 
 and tlie Egyptians h.cretofore in the Red Sea : He 
 plunges the Nazarrnes in a Gulph of Perdition and 
 Reprobation ; but he has preferv'd his own People 
 from thefc Extrav:^.gancies, and Vice cou'J never 
 li 3 gain 
 
6 TZ?^ Jewish Spy. Let. i. 
 
 gain root amongft us. Our Wives have lifted up 
 their Hands to Heaven with us ; they have blefsM 
 the God of Ifrael, and he has not fcatter'd the Spirit 
 cf Perdition either upon them or their Children. 
 
 Didft thou ever duly refleil, dear Ifiac, upon the 
 Temper of the Jew- Women ? They are the only 
 Women in the World who are not influenced by the 
 Cultoms of Countries : They have every where the 
 iame Freedom and the fame Difcretion. They are 
 alike virtuous in Europe, Afia^ and Africa 5 but it 
 is not fo with the Women of other Religions. The 
 Alah cruet anW oxnQu are only kept virtuous by Bolts, 
 Doors, and theVigilance of Eunuchs, otherwife they 
 are as much inclin'd to be vicious as the Na%a- 
 renes^ and are even more eafy to be debauch'd. 
 When a fair Opportunity prefents, they foon com- 
 ply v/ith iifiQ Lover's Declaration ; for the Reftraint 
 they are kept under obliges them not to let the firft 
 Moment flip. But Virtue is the only Rule of the 
 Daughters of Sion, Vv'ho tiave as much Freedom in 
 Ajla as the EuropeanV/ omen, have, but are as care- 
 ful of their Honour as the Mahometan V/ omen, and 
 preferve it even amidft the Debaucheries of the N'a- 
 zarene Countries, without being drawn afide or 
 tempted by bad Example. 
 
 What this OfHcer told me of his Country -Wo- 
 men, made me defirous to know more of their 
 Characi:er. I was of opinion, that the Hints he 
 v/ould give me might be of Service to me when I 
 came to Paris, and that otherwife I ftiould be con- 
 founded to fee Manners and Cuftoms fo different 
 from our ov/n. Sir, faid I, zvhat you have been 
 telling me raifes my Cu.7'iofity. Give me leave, as I am a 
 Stranger, to defire you to make me better acquainted 
 with the Charaifer of the French Women ; and if you 
 will pleafe but to oblige me with fo?ne general Ideas of 
 them^ I may be better enabled to judge of the?n my f elf. 
 
 ' Our 
 
Let. 3! . The JewishSpy. j 
 
 < Our Women, faid Zv, may be divided into two 
 ' ClafTes, which include all the reft. The Wo- 
 ' men of Fafhion form the firft Clafs ; and the Re- 
 ' clufes, or thofe of Devotion, the fecond. Their 
 
 < Way of Living, tho' in two ClafTes fo different, 
 
 * tends neverihclefs to the fame Point ; they botli 
 ' fteer, tho' by different Courfes, to Gallantry ; and 
 
 < this is the Mark at which they join in Character. 
 
 * To give you a more diftincSt Idea of it, I will treat 
 ' of them feparately. 
 
 ' The Woman of Fafliion never rifes till tv»'o or 
 ' three o'Clock in the Afternoon ; and becaufe it 
 ^ would be unhandfome to take a Share of her Huf- 
 ' band's Bed, fhe has her feparate Apartment ; (he 
 ' fometimes does not fpeak to him for Weeks toge- 
 ' ther, nor indeed fo much as fee him, unlefs it be 
 
 < in tlie public AfTemhlies, at a Ball, or the Play- 
 ' houfe, where the 1 lufband is very (hv of approach- 
 ' ing her, or fpeaking to her, unlefs he has a mind 
 ' to pafs for a paltry Citizen, or a jealous fplenetic 
 ' Fellow. Madam is fcarce drefs'd, but fhe fends 
 ' one of herDomeftics with her Compliments to \\\t 
 
 * Houfes of fomeLady Marchionefs, Baronef?, or 
 ' the Prefident's Lady ; and the whole Aftcrftoon 
 ' is fpent in Ceremony. The Clock ftiikes Fi\e 
 ' before fhe has determin'd whether to go to the 
 ' French Comedy or the Italian. Having made an 
 "• Appointment to fup at the Porchcrcns, or Port a 
 ' r Anglois^ fhe gives the Preference to the Opera. 
 ' She returns from thence full of the Maxims file 
 ' learn'd there, to which \Vine, good Cheer, and 
 « the P>eedom of Converfation at the Supper, add 
 
 * new Force ; and flie is fo abfolute a Profclyte to 
 
 * them, that before flie goes home again, fhe puts 
 ' tliem in pra6lice with her Lover till five in the 
 ' Morning, when Day-light, fore againft her Will, 
 ' carries her home. 
 
 B 4 « Tlie 
 
S 77?^ Jew I SH Spy. Let. i. 
 
 ' The Devout Lady, on the contrary, fhuns thefe 
 
 * rattling Airs, and this diforderly Way of Living, 
 
 * and puts her Pafiions under a fort of Conftraint. 
 
 * A Beau is ofFenfive to her, and a fprightly w^ild 
 
 * Behaviour does not fuit her Temper. A young 
 ' fallow of this Cafl might happen to blaft the 
 
 * Reputation which fhe may have gain'd by three 
 
 * Years Confinement : An Abbe, v/ho is equally 
 
 * oblig'd to be as cautious as herfelf, is therefore 
 
 * the Spark fhe chufes for her Gallant. 'Tis both 
 
 * their Intereft to keep the Affair fecret, fmce the 
 ' leaft Rumour might taint the Reputation of the 
 
 * Lady, and deprive the Abbe of the Bifhopric, 
 
 * which by his Hypocrify he hopes foon to attain 
 ' to. 
 
 * All Women cannot have Prelates and Canons : 
 
 * Thefe are Treafures that are deftin'd only to thofe 
 
 * that are the moft fortunate ; but there's a fecond 
 ' Ciafs of Ecclcfiaftics, whom they make ufe of 
 ' upon Occafton. Thefe are our Monks, a vile fort 
 
 * of People of no Service to the Government, and 
 ' who are in Affairs of Gallantry v/ith the Devout 
 •• Ladies the fame as the Siuifs are in France, auxi- 
 *" Itary Troops, v/hich enjoy all the Privileges of the 
 ' Countf}'. Secrecy being their Livelihood, they flip 
 
 * their Heads into Families under the Denomination 
 ' of Spiritual Directors, and Guides to the Way 
 '- of Salvation, and promife to hand every one of 
 - the Familv to Heaven, not excepting the Wait- 
 ' ing-Woman's Lap-Dog. The Hufband is the lirft 
 
 * v;ho fv/ailows the Bait, and every Day applauds 
 •■ i'^imfelf for having made fo happy an Acquaintance 
 ' with tl^e Man that difhonours him.' 
 
 What Extravagance, dear Ifaac, and what Irre- 
 gularity is here ! I will confefs to thee, that while 
 the Officer was giv'ing me this Account, I was in 
 Pain, and could hardly give credit to its but I fhall 
 
 take 
 
I 
 
 Let. 2. 77^ Jewish Spy. 9 
 
 take the Trouble of enquiring into the whole. If he 
 has not iinpofed on ine, judge whether when I come 
 to Particulars, I fhall want Matter for our Corre- 
 fpondence. 1 confefs to thee, that 1 blefs my Stars 
 every Day that I was born a yew. I cou'd not have 
 accuftom'd myfelf to fuch Diforders, and fhou'd 
 rather have chofe to have been deftitute of the agree- 
 able Title of Father, than to have married a Naza- 
 rcne Woman. Thou knoweil: better than any body 
 the true Value of Jew- Women, and thou haft in 
 Sarah the moft accomplifti'd Perfon, who only- 
 employs her time in Houfewifcry, and who, when 
 Ihe has taken care of thy Houfhold AfFaiis, to help 
 thy Servants drefs tliy Victuals, and to bring thee 
 thy Coffee and Sherbet with her own Hands, in- 
 ftru<Sls lier Children in the Principles of our Hob/ 
 Law: That's her Diverfion, that the Time of her 
 Recreation. I beg thou wou'dft fliew her my Let- 
 ters, which may ferve to amufe her. 
 
 I have had no Tidings yet either from Marfc'iUes 
 or Genoa. I have fcjit a Letter to Leghorn to Ja- 
 cob Brito^ and expe6l his Anfwer every Day. 
 
 LETTER IL 
 Aaron Monceca io Isaac Onis, 
 
 Rahbiy nl Conftantinople. 
 
 P,7ns 
 
 TH O U would 'ft not know me again, my dear 
 Ifaac^ if thou didli but fee me in my new 
 Drefs ; I have left off my Levar.t Robe for a cloie- 
 body'd Coat : And inltead of a furr'd Cap lined wiih 
 a Soufaincur * Skin, wiiich kept my Head warm, I 
 
 * A furkijh Word, which fignifies a fable Fur. 
 
 B 5 -wcsi 
 
10 7^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 2. 
 
 wear a Perriwig that expofes it to the Cold. I 
 would fain have kept on my old Habit, but was ob- 
 lig'd to drefs inyfeli" after the French Manner, or 
 expecSl to be ftared at by all the Eyes of Paris. My 
 Taylor has afiur'd me that my Clothes are made 
 after the neweft PVifhion, and in a very elegantTafte. 
 A Beau, with vv'hom I am acquainted, and lodges 
 in the fame Houfe with me, had the Direction of 
 them. He wou'd have them made after his, which 
 is the tip-top Fafliion, and whereof he himfelf was 
 the Inventor. He protefted to me, that he had 
 ftudied a whole Month for the Cut of the Sleeves, 
 and the reft took him up a great part of the Sum- 
 mer. Surely^ faid I to him, you miijl have Bufe- 
 nejs of very little conjequence upon your hands ^ ftnce 
 you fpend fo much Time in fuch Trifles. ' What, Sir, 
 faid he ^ do you call the Invention of a new Fafhion 
 a Trifle ? One may eafily fee that you are come 
 from fome barbarous Country, where there's no 
 fuch thing as Good Tafte. It requires more Ta- 
 lents, Wir, and Knov/lege to contrive the Pa- 
 tern for a Suit of Clothes, than to build a ftately 
 Palace. Do you imagine it to be an eafy Matter 
 to enlarge the Shoulders of little Men, or to make 
 Clothes fit fmooth and even upon thofe that have 
 round ones ; to give Hips to thofe that have none, 
 to make a Skirt, a Plait, or a Sleeve graceful ac- 
 cording to the Rules of Good Tafte ? I'll afTure 
 you it requires long Study and profound Medita- 
 tion to attain to fo much Science, and that there 
 muft be a Genius to affift the Application, or 
 otherwife one can never be Mafter of it. The 
 Talent of Drefs is a Gift from Heaven. Many 
 are very eager to be poflefs'd of it, but few have 
 the Happinefs to obtain it. ' 
 Ilaugh'd, my dear Ifaac^ at the Mention of fuch 
 Trifles. Whatever Oddities I thought Men capable 
 
Let. 2. 7Z-^ Jewish Spy. ii 
 
 of, I did not imagine they could ever be (o wcaiv 
 as to think a Plait more or lefs, a ferious Affair. I 
 afk'd 2i French Gentleman who has more important 
 lliings to attciid to tlian new Fafhions, whether 
 there were m^ny People at Paris intoxicated witli 
 fuch Fooleries r ' There are, Jaid hc^ more than 
 ' you imagine. Fafhion is the Foible of our Na- 
 tion, and the Frenzy of tiieFair Sex. A \A''oniim 
 ' leaves her Toilet in the Morning, a great Part of 
 which {he has fpcnt in drefTmg herfelf with the 
 ' Clothes {he bought ihc Day before, and goes lo 
 the Play. The Fa{hion tlut was in the Moi Jiing 
 changes at three in the Afternoon, and The is fur- 
 ' priz'd to fee ten Gowns of a new JMode. Sh.c 
 ' thir.ks her Drefs old-fa{hioned, and can't bear to 
 ' be feen in it, and therefore fhe goes out at the 
 ' fccond A£i:, anc fliuts herfelf up till half a fcore 
 ' Skmp{l-reflbs who work all Night put her in a Con- 
 ' dition to appear again next Day. 
 
 ' Nor does Fafhion extend its Sway over Dref> 
 ' only, but governs every Action of Life; and Rc- 
 ' ligion itfclf is fuhjecf to its Sovereignty. Such an 
 ' one was lafr Week the fplritual Guide of four 
 ' hundred Ladies of Diilin^tion, who is now the 
 ' Confcience-Keeper of no more than two or three 
 « Servant-Maids. A Mathurin^ a Rctolet^ and an 
 ' Augujlin Fryar have fupplanted him, as they ha\e 
 ' been in their Turns fupplanted by a Mimm Fryar, 
 * who in a Day or two will have the fame Pare a-j 
 ' they had. The Word of God, the MyRerics of 
 ' Faith, muft all be iji the Falliion. A Preacher 
 who is not a Man in Vogue, preaches to the Pcu s 
 ' of the Church, or to the Rabble. He is to the 
 {ine Gentlemen like a Mandarin of C/;/;;^, preach- 
 ing the Doilrine of 6>77/"//c77^i, tho' perhaps Ci'- 
 rioiity might carry them to hear the latter. The 
 way of thinking about Religion i? ulfo fubject to 
 B 6 ' Fa{ljiin, 
 
1 !? 'The ] E \V I S H S P Y. Let. 2 . 
 
 ' Falhion. Timevv-as Vv-hen A'lolhiijhwtvt In vogue, 
 ' af>erw;iiJb they were all y.7.'.yf'7/7/'/j. 'Yhtn Moli- 
 *- 711 fm came up again. 'JanfsNiJm bears Iway now, 
 ' and tc-inoirow perhaps v/ili be thelaflDay of its 
 ' Reign. 
 
 ' The Tafle for Novelty extends even to the 
 ' Saints. St. Peter and St. Paul have been obhg'd 
 
 * to make room for St. Gen(vieve. The Credit of 
 
 * St. Genevisve is gone, and St. Paris is in theSad- 
 *■ die, till fome other mounts into his Place. The 
 
 * Love of God has even been fubje6i: to the Fafliion 
 ' pf the Age. There was a Time when People 
 
 * tliouglit they might be difpenfed from it. The 
 ' very Perfons who valued themfelves for the Au- 
 
 * flerily of their Manners, were they who intro- 
 *- duced tills abominable Doftrine, and fupported 
 ' it by Arguments pitiful and ridiculous. ' 
 
 What think'ft thou, dear Ifaac^ of a Religion 
 jiable to fo many Changes ? Stability and Imm.uta- 
 bility are the Marks of Truth. This Daughter of 
 Heaven never varies, rambles not after Novel- 
 ty, nor does fhe give ear to the chimerical No- 
 tions cf Mankind. Did''{l thou ever in Paganifm 
 (I don't mean the inlighten'd State of Paganifm., 
 but the mofi: grofs Idolatry) read of any thing fo 
 monftrous as a Debate, whether the Creature ought 
 to love the Creator ? At the very Inftant that God 
 gave the Lav/ to his People," that was his firft Com- 
 mandment. The Nazarenes believe, teach, and 
 keep the fame Commandments that v/ere written 
 upon Mount Sinai; how comes it that they don't 
 guard them againft fuch Errors .? It feems to me, 
 as if the God of Jbraha?n has difFus'd that Spirit of 
 Pcrverfenefs amongft them, which hinders them 
 jVom m.aking ufe of the cleareft Notions. They 
 every Day tax us with Obilinacy and Indocility. 
 Wuu'd they have us embrace a Law that difpenfes 
 
 witli 
 
 
Let. 2. 27W? Jewish Spy. t^ 
 
 with our Love of God, and which by the help of 
 two Syllogifms and one Enthymem, throws an Ob- 
 fcLuity over the cleareft and moft necefTary Com- 
 mand ? Let us leave them, dear Ifaac^ in their 
 Blindnefs, and 2;ive no farther Attention to their 
 Opinions and tiicir Manners, than as they may 
 ferve for our InfrrucSlion. 
 
 The Frenchman that talk'd to me fo notably was 
 ths Chevalier de Mcufin^ who has been a great Tra- 
 veller. He has been in Italy^ Egypt^ and at Grand 
 Cairo. He adores Merit wherever he meets with 
 it, and is prejudic'd againft no Religion or Nation 
 whatever. He underfbnds Hebrew and Greek 
 perfectly w^ell. I made him a Prefent of a AIS. of 
 Horner^ which I brought from Smyrna. He is con- 
 verfant here with all the Men of Learning, and cul- 
 tivates the Belles Leitres. He is qualify'd to intro- 
 duce me into fuch excellent Acquaintance as will 
 furnifh me with Matter for our Philofophical Cor- 
 refpondence. 
 
 The Beau, who is call'd the Marquis de Farfin^ 
 has taken upon him to prefent me to a great many 
 fine Ladies and Gentlemen. He was yefterday to 
 have carried me to the Opera which belongs to his 
 Jurifdi(Slion, but he was oblig'd to go to the French 
 Theatre to (how a MufF and Girdle of a new Tafte, 
 which will add very much to his Reputation. The 
 Chevalier de Maifin however accompany'd me thi- 
 ther in his ftead. 
 
 I had not a true Idea of that which they call the 
 Koyal Academy of MufiCf which Error of mine was 
 partly owing to its pompous Title. 1 entered into 
 a Room, at the farther End of which there was a 
 Stage, and round the other Part were three Rows 
 of Boxes raifed one above another, and fiU'd with 
 Perfons of both Sexes. In the jnidft of this Build- 
 ing 
 
14 T/?e ]ev/isu Spy. Let. 2. 
 
 ing there was a great Number of People Handing *, 
 who with the help of Spying-GlafTes obferv'd the 
 Looks and Drefs of all the Women. No fooner 
 was one of thefe Perfpe^Stives levelPd at any Wo- 
 man, but I obferv'd her Eyes had a languilhing 
 Turn, her Lips an amiable Simper, and her Fin- 
 gers were prettily cmplov'd at play with her MufF 
 or her Fan. This Amufement lafted till the Oglers 
 began to examine her next Neighbour, who alfo 
 acled the fame Part. 
 
 Sir, fald I to the Chevalier, Pray fell me who ihofe 
 Geyitlemen are that feern to he fo curious^ and why thofe 
 Ladies take all that Care and Pains? ' Thofe 
 Gentlemen you fee there, /aid he^ are a fort of 
 Beaus, who are born to be the Examiners and 
 Comptrollers of the Drefs of the Women. 'Tis 
 they who judge finally of their Merit, their W"it, 
 and alfo of their Virtue. Don't you fee that Lady 
 whom they are ogling at this Inftant ? Prefently 
 it will be reported for a Certainty that fhe has 
 made a new Conqueft ; that the Abbe whom fhe 
 kept in pay, or if you pleafe in play, all the Sum- 
 mer is cailiier'd, to make room for that young 
 Officer there, who waited on her t'other Day to 
 the Italian Comedy, yefterday to the French one, 
 and to-day to this Mufical Academy. The Lady, 
 whom they examined before her, has had a Ver- 
 didlpafs'd on her not fo favourable. Her Kead- 
 Drefs was found fault with, her Smile was not 
 thought graceful enough, nor her Eyes fo lively 
 asthey fhould be.' 
 No fooner had the Qh.^v2X\QX de Maifin inform'd 
 me of thefe Particulars, which 1 never fhou'd have 
 fo much as guefs'd at by any Obfervation of my own, 
 but I heard a furprizing Symphony of Mufick. I 
 ? In the Pit. 
 
 turn'd 
 
Let. 2. 27?^ Jewish Spy. if 
 
 turn'd my Eyes towards the Performers, and faw 
 ihem feated in the Bottom of the Theatre, as if 
 they had been bury'd in a Hole *. In a very little 
 time a Woman appeared, follow'd by feveral others, 
 ftalking five or fix Paces behind her very gravely, 
 who upon her finging joined their Voices with hers: 
 And fome Men came on prefently, who increafed 
 the Concert. I foon perceiv'd that what they call'd 
 an Opera was a Comedy in Miific, of which I had 
 firft conceiv'd a Notion in the Chorus's of the an- 
 tient Greek Tragedies. I was fo pleafed with the 
 Singing, Machinery and Dancing, thati wav'd afrC- 
 ing any more Qiicftions for a while ; but Curiofity at 
 lengtli prevailed on me to defire the Chevalier to tell 
 me the Names of fome of thofe Ladies whoform'd 
 this Royal Academy, who I guefs'd were Ladies of 
 the firfl Rank at Court, not imagining that they 
 were only a Rabble of meer Stage-Players, to whom 
 they gave the Title of Royal. ' What, faiei he, do 
 ' you want to know the Names of thofe Ladies of 
 ' Quality ? Do you think them to be fuch ? Why, 
 ' they are only hir'd to fmg. That Queen o( Crete 
 
 * is la Peliffer alias Memo?!, who was formerly a 
 ' Mender of old Clothes at Rouen. The other that 
 ' reprcfents the Princefs her Sifter is la Hermance., 
 ' whofe Father was a Coblcr. There are few of 
 ' thefe Princefles and thefe Queens but what have 
 ' been more than once in their Lives at the Saltpetre 
 
 * Houfe, or fome public Stews, not to mention 
 ' their Abfence fometimes, when they have been 
 
 < fecreted at the Houfe of fom^e fkilful Surgeon. 
 
 ' All thefe People, continued he., that you fee upon 
 ' this Stage, are excommunicated and feparated from 
 
 < our Church; our Priefts deem them unworthy of 
 ' Chriftian Burial, which Difparagement of them 
 
 ? In the Orcheftre. 
 
 Is 
 
i6 Z'/^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 2. 
 
 ' Is in part the Occafion of their Debaucheries. 
 ' Why then, faid /, are they tolerated? Why are 
 ' People fufFer'd to come and hear them, and by that 
 ' Means to be the Inftruments of their Ruin ? Thea- 
 ' trical Reprefentations, faid he^ are necefTary in a 
 ' great City. They are an agreeable Entertainment 
 ' to the Public, a Relaxation of the Mind to the 
 ' Studious, and anAmufementtotheMenofFafhion! 
 ' They fave Gameflers their Money ; they filence 
 ' for the time thebackbiting and flanderousTongues 
 ' of the W^omen, and put a Stop to the Drunken- 
 ' nefs, Roaring and Ranting of the young P^ellows.' 
 TVJoy then^ faid I, don't you hinder your Priejis 
 from fcandalizing Ferfons fo ufeful to Society ? I fee 
 that in your Country Religion and Government have 
 their feparate Fundions and Maxims. ' You are in 
 ' the right, faid the Chevalier. NecefTity com- 
 
 * mands and requires it fliould be fo. If our Re- 
 ' liglon were as fimple or plain as yours, our Priefts 
 
 * would find it a harder Tafk to perplex it 3 'twould 
 ' then come nearer to Nature and the univerfal 
 
 * Law ; but with us it is all Adyftery, all Revela- 
 *- tion. Whatever the Depofitaries of our Faith lay 
 < their Hands on becomes facred, and while their 
 
 * Ambition prompts them to extend their Claims 
 ' to all Matters whatfoever, the State could not 
 *• poffibly be fafe and free from the Invafions of Re- 
 
 * ligion, were it not for the Difference of its Man- 
 *■ ners^ Cuftoms and Maxims. The Church ex- 
 ' communicates a Man every now and then for a 
 
 * Caufe which renders him dear to the State, and 
 
 * gets him a Penfion from the Prince.' 
 
 What this Frenchman faid put me in mind of 
 what I have fo often feen at Confiantinopk^ where 
 many Mahometans make no fcruple to drink Wine, 
 to break the Faft of Ramadan^ nor to mifs their 
 Pilgrimage to Mscca, 'Tis the Fate of Religions 
 
 that 
 
Let. 3- 27?^ Jewish Spy. 17 
 
 that impofe an inOjpportable Yoke, and a Parcel 
 of ufelefs Maxims, not to be obferv'd : For Man, 
 who is born for Liberty, at length breaks thofc 
 Chains which keep him in a Slavery that deprives 
 him of the Ufe of Life and of civil Society. 
 
 Take care of thy Health, dear Ifaac. If thou haft 
 been pun61ual in thyAnfvvers to my Letters, it cannot 
 be long before one of them will come to my Hands, 
 
 LETTER IIL 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis, 
 
 a RaWii at Conftantinople. 
 
 Paris ' 
 ^Tp HE Sciences are efteem'd and cultivated in this 
 -*■ Country, but they muft not be purfucd far- 
 ther than fuch a Point. The French are not allow- 
 ed to meddle with great Subjeds ; the Court and 
 the Priefts being two infurmountable Barriers that 
 check the Difcoveries which might be the EfFe6l of 
 Study and Meditation. A Mctaphyfician muft ac- 
 commodate his Philofophy to State-Policy, and to 
 the Dreams of the Monks, or elfe he is oblig'd to 
 communicate his Ideas in private only to his moft: 
 intimate Friends : For if his Sentiments blaze abroad, 
 the Clergy excommunicate him, and the Magiftrates 
 banifli or imprifon him. 
 
 About five or fix Months ago, a Frenchman who 
 had acquir'd a Reputation * thought fit to publifli a 
 Book, in which he advanc'd Notions that were pretty 
 bold, and fupported them by Arguments that were 
 perfuafive and full of Wit f. llie Monks rofe up 
 againfthim. It was in vain for him to pretend tojufti- 
 
 * FoUair. f The Philofiphical Letters. 
 
i8 27?^ Jewish Spy. Let. j. 
 
 fy himfelf, he was profcrib'd the Kingdom, and- his 
 Jinemies punifhed him not fo much for Errors which 
 they thought they had difcoverM in his Work, as for 
 fome Banter which itcontain'd upon them. 
 
 The Learned in this Country are treated with 
 Oftacifm*, a Punifhment which the Gm-zW,^ inflid- 
 ed on their Fellow-Subie(Sls. As foon as a Man be- 
 comes illuflrious for his Learning, and raifes himfelf 
 by his Genius above others, he is banifii'd. What 
 I tell thee may feem to thee extraordinary, but it 
 is ftricStly true. That famous Des Cartes^ whofe 
 Philofophy thou haft read with fo much Pleafure, 
 was oblig'd to retire far into the North, being pur- 
 fued thither by Monkifh Ignorance and Malice ; 
 and tho' he is in his Grave, yet they daily attack 
 him. The greateftof the Divunesf , whofe Works 
 were the ftrongeft Support of the Faith of Naza- 
 reth^ was banifh'd to Flanders^ and a long while after 
 they demolifh'd, burnt, and raz'd to the Ground 
 the Adufseum or Retreat of a Number of learned 
 Men !|, v/hofe Writings will live to lateft Pofterity. 
 The Monks themfelves commanded the Troops that 
 were fet apart for the Execution of that Defign, and 
 they triumph'd over the Houfe as the Greeks tri- 
 umph'd over Troy : Nay, they went flirther ; for 
 Achilles did not take He£for out of the Grave, and 
 drag him to the Camp, but the Monks caus'd the 
 dead Bodies to be taken out of the Ground ; and 
 after having committed a thoufand Outrages againft 
 them, left a great Number of them a Prey to the 
 devouring wild Beafts. 
 
 I can by no means approve of this whimfical 
 
 * A Einifhment for ten Years, to which the Athe- 
 nians condemn'd fuch of their Fellow- Citizens as were 
 too powerful. 
 
 + M. JrnauU. 11 The Port-Royal. 
 
 Tafte 
 
Let. 3- 21^^ Jewish Spy. ip 
 
 Tafte of the French ; they love the Sciences, and 
 yet are afraid that any of the Profeflbrs fliou'd there- 
 fore be celebrated ; for which they are reproach'd by 
 the EngliJJ?^ who having nothing in view but Truth 
 and Goodnefs, endeavour to dete61: Falftiood and 
 difcover the Truth, the latter of which they purfue 
 with Eagcrnefs, and reward them who find it out. 
 The Learned of France may be compared to Birds 
 whofe Wings are clipp'd, fo that they cannot foar 
 above a certain Pitch. Whatever be the Genius of 
 this Nation, it puts fuch an Air of Conftraint upon 
 their Writings, as cramps both the Author and the 
 Reader. Several learned Men have recourfe to fo- 
 reign Printers, to prevent their falling into thefe Im- 
 perfections, and that they may exprefs their Thoughts 
 more naturally ; but their Books are look'd upon as 
 Goods prohibited and infcCled. The Guards are 
 watchful on the Frontiers of the Kingdom to fee 
 that none are imported; and if any force a Paflage 
 into it, it is by Craft and Fineffe. 
 
 This perpetual Curb hinders the AfTemblies of 
 the Learned from producing perfect Performances. 
 There are feveral Societies at Paris that have the 
 Name of Academies, of which the chief and the 
 moflantient is the French Academy, tho' hitherto it 
 has produced nothing but a Syfteni of Compliments. 
 It confifts of forty Perfons, who meet three times 
 a Week, and pay their Attendance very regularly, 
 bccaufe the King caufes a Silver Medal to be given 
 to every one that comes, the Medals of thofe that 
 are abfent being beftow'd upon them who are pre- 
 fent. Their Meetings for near fourfcore Years 
 part have been fpent in Harangues of Congratula- 
 tion and Reception, and in prafmg each other to 
 the Skies : Tiiey applaud one another for their Ta- 
 lents and theirl\lerit, and then return home. They 
 are fometimes taken up in fettling a Word or a Syf- 
 
 Jable 
 
20 77^^ Jew I SH Spy. Let. 3. 
 
 lable ; upon which Occafion the whole Academy la- 
 bours, difputes, and ftudles for about fix Months, 
 and then paiTes a Sentence, which condemns fome 
 Expreilion to death ; but it often happens that the 
 Public has fo little Regard for its Judgment, that fo 
 much Care and Pains are of no avail. This Aca- 
 demy was fifty Years about a Di(Stionary, of which 
 they gave prodigious Encomia before-hand, but 
 when it came out 'twas univerfally defpis'd. That 
 which completely ruin'd its Character, was another 
 Dictionary compos'd by only one Member of the 
 Academy, which was printed at the fam.e time, and 
 generally likM. The Academy was refolv'd to re- 
 venge their injur'd Honour, and to ruin the Man 
 effe61:ually ; and therefore they cxpell'd from their 
 Body an Author *, who had been guilty of no other 
 Crime than meriting the Efteem of the Public. 
 
 In Lezvis XlVth's Time all the great Men were 
 Members of this Academy, and admitted by his 
 Order j but fince his Death they have been fucceed- 
 ed by a Rabble of Ecclefiaftics, Prelates, and 
 Fops : Nay they have admitted Stage- Players f 
 into their Afiembly, and preferr'd two or three Buf- 
 foons and Merry- Andrews, to five or fix Men of 
 the firft Clafs, v/hcm they have for ever excluded 
 from their Body for having banter'd a Behaviour 
 fo ridiculous. 
 
 'I'here's a fecond Literary Society, call'd the J- 
 cadcmy of Sciences^ a Society which deferves un- 
 feigned Praifes. The Members Time is taken up 
 in profound and ufeful Studies, tho' they cannot 
 carry their Refle6tions on Metaphyfics beyond a cer- 
 tain Point. They make a thoufand Difcoveries e- 
 very day in Aftronomy, Phyfic, if^c. v/hich are 
 ufeful, necefl^ary, and curious. If the Learned, who 
 
 * M. Furetiere, f The French Comedians. 
 
 com- 
 
Let. 3- T*/^^ Jewish Spy. ' 21 
 
 compofe this AfTembly, were not cramp'd and re- 
 ftrain'd, I doubt not, my dear 7/"^^r, but they wou'd 
 foon publifh to the World fuch Mailer-Pieces in the 
 Arts and Sciences as wou'd foon open the Eyes of 
 the Deluded ; but Ignorance has in this Kingdom a 
 firm Support from the Monks : For 'tis their Intereft 
 that the People fhou'd not fee clear, becaufe they 
 wouM then know the Tricks and Cheats of thofe 
 falfe Dodors ; and of this the Ruin of their Opi- 
 nions, and of their Credit, wou'd foon be the Confe- 
 quence- 
 
 What thinkcft thou of a Religion, the Depofita- 
 ries of which demand to bebeliev'd upon their Word, 
 and without rendering any Account? I look upon a 
 Theologue as a Merchant who wou'd have his 
 Goods receiv'd without being examin'd. Thus does 
 the fovereign Pontiff of the Nazarcnes * vent all 
 his idle Notions. He expects that thofe of his Faith 
 fliould receive his Ordinances and his Rules fin the 
 fame manner as the Thrh receive the Bowflring, 
 which is fent them from the Grand Signior. Thou 
 knoweft that they kifs the Inftrument of their Death. 
 The Pope requires the Na7M7'enes to rejoice in the 
 Chains with which he loads them. His blind Am- 
 bition prompts him to fuch a degree, as to afTume 
 a Title that is due only to the Melliah J, who (hall 
 come one Day, to make the Glory of Ifrael to (hine 
 out again. 
 
 I have nicely examin'd to what Caufe it is owing 
 that the Monks have acquir'd fo much Credit. I 
 have had feveral Converfations upon that Head with 
 difmterefted Men of Learning, who difcours'd with- 
 out Prejudice and Pallion. I foon difcover'd that 
 Hypocrify and Fraud had been their principal Mo- 
 
 * The Pope, f His Bulls. J Lieutenant or Vice- 
 gerent of God upon Earth. 
 
 tives. 
 
22 716^ Jewish Spy. Let. 3. 
 
 tives. The Vulgar fufFer themfelves to be captivat- 
 ed by the firll Obje6ls that ftrike them. They are 
 taken with Appearances, and never go to the bot- 
 tom of Things. The auftere Lives of the Fryars, 
 their coarfe Apparel, their humble and contrite Air 
 hinder the common People from obferving their 
 Irregularities and Debaucheries. Of this I will now 
 tell thee a Story, which I had from the Chevalier de 
 Maifirij whom I mention 'd to thee in my laft Let- 
 ter. 
 
 In one of the chief Cities of the Kingdom there 
 liv'd a young Carmelite Fryar, known by the Name 
 of Father Ange^who often vifited a certain Sempftrefs 
 there, and attended upon het more than upon his 
 Fun6lion. His Converfation did not run upon re- 
 ligious Matters, for he amufed himfelf with a Subje£l 
 that was fome what more gay. The Fryar, infhort, 
 aflum'd the Privilege of the Gr^^iPriefls, and tho' his 
 Rules forbad him the carnal Ufe of Women, he 
 thought he might exempt himfelf from fo rigorous 
 a Conftraint : For above fix Months he had no 
 Difturbance, and his Happinefs never met with 
 Interruption, till one day that an old Woman 
 who lodg'd in a Room over the Sempftrefs's, per- 
 ceiv'd a Hole in the. Floor, thro' which (he cou'd fee 
 what pafs'd in the Chamber underneath ; and the 
 firft time that flie had the Curiofity to peep, (he faw 
 the Carmelite and the Sempftrefs in a Situation that 
 was far from being confiftent with Modefty, for the 
 Monk was bufy in the Conftrudlion of a little An- 
 choret. Surpriz'd at fuch a Vifion, fhe calls the 
 NeighboursandmakesamightyHubbub. ThePeople 
 flocic thither in Shoals and all the Quarter is in an 
 Uproar : one thinks the Houfe is on fire ; another 
 that fome body is murder M or robb'd. When the 
 old Woman has mentioned the Caufe of her Alarms, 
 and thereby quieted their Fears, the Neighbours, 
 
 think 
 
Let. 3- 21?<? Jewish Spy. 23 
 
 think of nothing but how to catch the amoroiis 
 Fryar; they barricade the Chamber-Door on the 
 out-fide, which he had barrM on the in-fide ; and. 
 they tell him that the Father Prior is fent for, to 
 come and be a Witnefs of his Gallantry. Father 
 Bonaventtire arrives in a fhort fpace of time, and 
 with a magifterial Tone demands the Door to be o- 
 pen'd. The Monk finding there was no way to get 
 out of the Scrape, was quite defperate, and fwears he 
 will not obey ; upon which the Superior caufes the 
 Door to be broke open, and in the fight of the Popu- 
 lace, whom fuch a Scene had drawn together, he 
 carries back the ftray'd Sheep to the Fold. 
 
 Thou belicveft, no doubt, dear Ifaac^ that this 
 Monk receiv'd the Puniftimcnt which was fuffcr'd 
 by the Veftal Nuns, among the ancient Romans : 
 But his only Chaftifementwas two Days of Fafting 
 and nine Lafhes, nor had he been corrected at all but 
 for the Scandal he gave ; fince, if his Crime had 
 been known to his Fraternity only, it wou'd have 
 been deem*d but a Peccadillo. 
 
 Adventures of the fame nature happen every day, 
 yet the filly Vulgar are never the wifer, there being 
 no Fraud but what they have Faith enough to be- 
 lieve in. If any one is for lighting up the Torch of 
 Reafon, he is lookM upon as an Innovator, and as a 
 fufpedcd if not a confirm'd Heretic ; fo that 'tis fafer 
 for a Nazarene^ who is for a quiet Life, to defpife 
 God than the Fryars. 
 
 What a happy Religion is ours \ dear Ifaac ; how 
 happy is our holy Law ! Our Do6tors were never 
 for purchafing a vain Efteem at the expence of our 
 Blindnefs. They have not only imprinted an infi- 
 nite Averfion in our Hearts to Wickednefs but they 
 themfelves abhor it. Our Rabbles look upon us as 
 their Children, and we confider them as our Fathers. 
 They condu<^ us by Reafon, and defire to merit 
 
 our 
 
24 ZZ'^Jewish Spy. Let. 5. 
 
 our Efteem only by their Care to inflrud us. I de- 
 fy the Nazarenes, if they can, to reproach our Doc- 
 tors with fuch Enormities. Let them attack them 
 as much as they will upon their pretended Vifions: 
 Every Man of Candour will own that it wou'd be 
 eafy to prove, that there is more Impofture and Ab- 
 furdity in the fmgle Volume of * Maria Alacoque, 
 than in the huge Works of all our Rabbies. When 
 the Merchant a; Prr^Ient usthatBook, and afTur'd us 
 ^twas wrote by a Biiliop, a learned Divine, I thought 
 all along he was an Enemy of the Bifhop, and that 
 he laid fuch a Heap of childifli Things to his charge, 
 on purpofe to jftain his Reputation. But fmce I 
 came to France^ I have heard that this Prelate values 
 himfelf on being the Author of fo ridiculous a 
 Piece. 
 
 If thou haft been pun6lual in writing to me, I 
 fhall receive one of thy Anfwers by the next Poft. 
 'Tis needlefs for me toadvertife thee to be cautious. 
 I am in a Country where the Chara(5ler of a Fo- 
 reigner renders him fufpc(Sl:ed in a time of War, and 
 my Letters may probably be intercepted. If thou 
 doft expe6t that I fliou'd give thee an exaft Ac- 
 count of what may pofTibly come to my Ears, and 
 tend to the Glory of our holy Law, and to the Know- 
 ledge of the Manners and Cuftoms of the Countries 
 thro' which I pafs, fay not one Word in thy Let- 
 ters relating to the Government of States, and the 
 Perfons of Sovereigns. A Man of your good Senfc 
 J^nows that in every Country, they to whofe Con- 
 dud God has committed the People, challenge Re- 
 fpe61:, and that the Difference of Religion can be no 
 Excufe for not paying it; of which our Books have 
 tranfmitted a famous inftance in Mardochai^ who had 
 
 f ^ht Myjlic Life, or Secret Hijiory of a Saint. 
 
 fuch 
 
Let. 3- 7"^^ Jewish Spr. 2f 
 
 fuch a tender Regard to the Life of JhafueruSy who 
 kept Ifrael in Captivity. 
 
 Fare thee well, my dear Ifaac^ and may the God 
 of our Fathers pour his BklTings upon thee in a- 
 bundance. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT, 
 
 Since I wrote my Letter the Chevalier de Malfin 
 fhew'd me one that he has receiv'd from a Friend of 
 his in Holland: I was {o pleas'd with it, that I prevail'd 
 on him to let me copy a part of it, and I doubt not 
 but it will divert 3'ou. 
 
 ' I have infinite Obligations to you for apprizing 
 ' mc of the Birth and Adventures o{ oux Hollandizsd 
 
 ' Abbefs, the pretended Madam dej *. I 
 
 ' know full well by the Defcription you gave mer 
 
 * of her that it muft be that fame Tcurirre f v/ho 
 
 * ran away from die Convent, into which fhe was 
 
 * forc*d for efcaping with her Lover out of her for- 
 ^ mer Nunnery : And the Notice you give me of 
 ' the time when fhe was Chamber- Maid to the Wife 
 ' of the Phvfician Helvetius^ fully convinces me of 
 
 * it: She is eternally talking of him, and never fpeaks 
 
 * of him but as of herBofom Friend. 
 
 ' When fhe arriv'd in Holland (he took up lier 
 ' former Trade, and enter'd herfelfasGovernefs in 
 *' a Merchant's Houfe at Rotterdam^ where a young 
 
 * brifk Fellow that was a Servant in the fame Houfe 
 
 * made her commit another Breach of her former 
 
 * See the Memoirs of Madamoifelle de Malnnjille^ 
 p. 214, ^V. 
 
 f This is the Name of chofe Nuns that attend on the 
 Tour, or Turning-Box, in the Wall of the Nunnery ; 
 whereby the Sifters, unfeeing and unfeen, receive in and 
 deliver out Letters, Provifions, b*c. 
 
 Vol. L C « Vow5 
 
6 TZ?^ Jewish Spy. Let. 3, 
 
 Vows of Chaftity ; which being difcover'd by the 
 Dutch Burgher, he turn'd her out of his Houfe. 
 < She repaired to the Hague^ where for a long 
 time file bubbled the charitable People of that 
 Place, and is finceremov'd to AmJ}erda7n^ where 
 fhe continues to play the fame Game. 'Twas at 
 the Hague that I knev/her, where fhe chang'd her 
 Stile and Manner upon her very firft coming, and 
 faid fne was of a Family of fome DiilincStion, tho' 
 file was puzzled to find out a Name for it. She 
 knew not whether fhe had befl take that of fome 
 private Gentleman, or of fome Family that had a 
 Title tho' it were in the Baflard Line. In fhort 
 file chofe the latter, and and faid fhe was allied to the 
 Family of Bouillon, All the Noblemen of that 
 Family were her near Relations ; one was her 
 Coufm, another her Brother, another her Nephew, 
 fo that for want of due Precaution fhe diflributed 
 the Degrees of Kindred to fo many, that none was 
 left but the deceas'd Cardinal to be her Father. 
 Somebody was fo arch as to caft this Reflec- 
 tion upon her, and tho' fhe had rather derive 
 her Defcent from a Cardinal than from a plain 
 Burgher, yet fhe could not bear the Joke, and 
 therefore now fhe makes a Myflery of her Birth, 
 and is content to leave the Nobility of her Extrac- 
 tion dubious. 
 
 ' As Q;_ialityand Titles will fetch nothing at the 
 Hague ^ fhe turn'd Salefwoman, and hawk'd about 
 Linnen, l^c. among the Ladies, having kept 
 Company with Jeivs^ who advanced her a lit- 
 tle Money before-hand. 'Twas at the Houfe of 
 a Tradefman of my Acquaintance, whither fhe 
 often carries Embroidery, that I had the Oppor- 
 tunity of feeing her. I had the Curiofity to in- 
 quire what fhe was, and am oblig'd to you for the 
 Information you gave me. I return to Amjler- 
 
 * dam 
 
Lct.4- 77?^ Jewish Spy. 27 
 
 « ^/^7/z the firft opportunity ; think whataPlcafuie 
 
 ' it will be to me to fee how confounded fhe will be, 
 
 ' when I make her fenfible that I know moil of her 
 
 * Adventures. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 AaronMonceca/(? Isaac Onis, 
 
 a Rabbiy at Conftantinople. 
 
 Par, 
 
 I 
 
 Have a crabbed Queftion to propofe to thee, and 
 defire thee to communicate it to other Rabbies 
 of thy Acquaintance, that I may know both their 
 Sentiments and thine. I have difcover'd a vaft 
 number of Je^us at Paris, who don't believe they are 
 yeius, or know any thing at all of the matter. Thou 
 wilt think perhaps that I only jeft, yet nothing is 
 more true. All that they call here Men of Wit, 
 fine Gentlemen, Women of Fafhion, only make 
 outward Profeffion of the Nazarcne Religion, for 
 there are very few that believe it from the bottom 
 of their Hearts. They think 'tis enough to believe 
 one God. Many there are that think the Soul im- 
 mortal ; and there are very many others, who, hke 
 the Sadducees, maintain that 'tis liable to Death. 
 Ihe latter of thefe I deem to be in an Error ; but as 
 to the former I know not how we can lefufe them 
 the Title of jfews. They believe a God, who cre- 
 ated the World, who rewards the Good and pu- 
 nifhes the Bad. What more do we believe ? Is not 
 that the whole of our Religion, except a few Cere- 
 monies that have been enjoin'd us by our Doctors 
 C 2 and 
 
2S The Jewish Spy. Let. 4. 
 
 ^nd Priefts? But the Ceremonies are not indifpenl^ 
 ably nccefTary, of which it is eafy for me to give 
 l])ec convincing Proofs. 
 
 Tliou know'il that our Brethren flill fwarm in 
 "Spain \ notwithfbnding the Perfccution they fufFer 
 there is fuch that the bare Sufpicion of Judaifm is 
 enough to condemn a Man to the Fhimes. The 
 Spa?ii/i-) "Jews therefore have been forcM to leave off 
 Circunicifion; becaufe on every little Sufpicion of 
 a Perfon 'twere fo eafy a matt^er to prove it : Thus 
 Iiaih the moft ellcntial of our Ceremonies been 
 tJifpenfed with by Ncceflity. If thou do'ft but re- 
 flecSl: a little on what I have been telling thee, thou 
 mufi: needs acknowledge this Number of Partifans 
 that 1 have been mentioning, to be the Children of 
 Ifrael. It wcu'd be a great Advantage to our 
 Holy Law if they cou'd be taught to know what 
 Religion they are of, and be reconciled to our 
 Communion. 'Tis pity but fome ikilLful Rabbi 
 was fent to them, who was able to open their Eyes ; 
 and if fome Perfons did not care to go thro^ the Pain 
 of the Operation of Circumcifion, they might be in- 
 dulg'd die fame Privilege as the Spam/hzndPortugueJe 
 yews \ only fpecial Care muft be had that fuch Con- 
 verfions don't come to the Ears of the Miniftry. 
 In Spain fuch prudent Meafures are taken, that tiiofe 
 of our Religion are feldom difcover'd. A Father 
 does not let his Child know he is a 'Jew till he is 
 arriv'd to Years of Difcretion ; and before he trufts 
 him with the Secret, he confiders after what man- 
 ner he fhall impart it. If he has a Doubt that the 
 Lad will renounce Chriftianity, he leaves him in 
 his Error ; and from the very Moment that he has 
 trufted him with fo dangerous a Secret, if he will 
 not embrace the Faith of Ifrael he is doom'd tolofe 
 his Life. Neceffity is the Law for this Cruelty, 
 and he is poifon'd without delay ^ for there are a 
 
 great 
 
Let. 4- TZ'^ Jewish Spy. 2(> 
 
 great many yt'w Phyfic'nns m Spain, who furnifli 
 the Fathers of Families with a fubtle Poifon, which 
 they make up and rcferve for the Occafion. 
 
 Thefe Things, my dear /fiac, muft alw?.ys be con - 
 ceal'd from our Enemies; who, if thev knew them, 
 wouM accufe us of Barbarity and Trcacliery; tho\ 
 if they themfelves h:'.d more Hum:.mity we fhouM 
 not be forc'd to fuch Extremities; for the Blood of 
 thofe Children, whom the Fathers are thus oblig'rf 
 to facrifice, will call for V^engeance upon our Ty- 
 rants, and upon thofccrucl Tnquifitors, whofegrcatelu 
 Pleafure is to hunt after us like wild Beads ; and the 
 Day when tiiey condemn a "Yz^iu to the Flames, is 
 to them a Day of Mirth and Triumph. 
 
 If any Rabbies (hou'd come to Pari;, they need 
 not fear fuch PuiiKhment, for in this Country they 
 who profefs a different Religion from that of the 
 Prince, are only banifli'd theJCingdom; the worli 
 that can happen to them, is to fend them Letters 
 de Catchcty to go and keep Company v;ith fome 
 ^anfentj} Divines a Name they give to certain Doc- 
 tors who are for introducing new Doctrines. If 
 they were in Spain they wou*d not come ofF Uy 
 clieap, for they wou'd be treated as cruelly as we 
 are. 
 
 I have often talked to thee in my former Letters 
 of the Chevalier de Maifin. He is of great fervice 
 to me in this Country, infomuch that were it not 
 for him, it wou'd be impoffible for me to penetrate 
 that Chacs of Ideas which all the Novelties that I 
 fee create in my Aiind. Of this I will now give thee 
 an Inllance. 
 
 Tho^ I fliou'd make no fcruple to enter into a 
 Church of the Na'zarcnes^ being rcfoiv'"d to fee every 
 thing with my own Eyes ; yet I happened to be in 
 one of tliem yederday without knowing it. I went 
 in:o a private Street, not much frequented^ where 
 
 C3 \ 
 
JO 27?^ Jewish Spy. Let.4. 
 
 I faw a Room with the Door open, in which every 
 body convers'd with Freedom. I took it to be 
 feme puhlic Hall, and never once imagined it to be 
 a Temple. Aslenter'd it/lperceivMfomethingvery 
 much hke what I had feen at the Academy of Mufic. 
 There was a whole Range of Boxes, which lookM 
 like thofe at the Opera-Houfe. In one of 'em fate 
 the Mufictans, whofe Concert I thought very me- 
 lodious. The middle of this Edifice was full of Men 
 and Women, with this Difference only, that they 
 were feated, whereas thofe in the Pit were (land- 
 ing. Every body talk'd, and the Women behav'd 
 juft as I had ken them at the Theatre. The Men 
 rambled about in a v/ild manner, making ufe of 
 their Spying-GlafFes. I had not the Chevalier de 
 Maifin with me, to undeceive me. I was never in 
 any of the Nazarenes Churches before; and the 
 Luftres, the Images, ^the Pj6lures that I faw there, 
 that Symphony which ftruck my Ears did not ferve 
 to clear up my Mifbake, becaufe 'twas very near 
 the fame tiiat I had feen and heard at the Opera. I 
 did not dare to impart my Sufpicions to any body, 
 I lock'd about every where for the Theatre, but 
 cou'd fee none. At length I perceiv'd a little fort 
 of a Pew, againft one of the Pillars cf the Room, 
 in which I faw a Man enter v/ith a Grotefque fort 
 of a Habit, which I kncv/ not what to make of. He 
 had put his Shirt over his Clothes, and had a black 
 Cap upon his Head with four Corners to it. I did 
 not doubt but this was the Comedian that was to 
 open the Play. I thought he was going to talk, but 
 he ftaid fome time without fpeaking a Word. He 
 look'd upon the Aflembly, cough'd, fpit, kneel'd, 
 mov'd his Lips, lifted his Flands to his Shoulders, 
 crofs'd his Stomach and Belly. I doubted no longer 
 that he was a Pantomime, and the AlTemblv, which 
 
 I 
 
Let. 4. The J e w i s h S p v. 31 
 
 1 imaffin'd was to liave no other Entertainment from 
 him, was [o attentive to all thofe Grimaces, thiit, 
 thought I, they mud needs thoroughly underftand 
 that Language. Yet, when I leail of ail expeiSled 
 it, tins Man gravely utter'd a Latin Phnife, and 
 then, fpeaking French^ he made a Difcourfe, which 
 I thought a very good one, upon the Dangers to 
 which Comedies expofcd People, by ftirring up the 
 PafTions. I was very attentive, and couM not ima- 
 gine why he declaim'd fo much againft his Frater- 
 nity : For I fhou'd never have taken him for a l^oc- 
 tor thatreveal'd God's Law; efpecially, when 1 faw 
 his Gefture, his Contorfions, hisPaflion, his Tone, 
 fometimes violent, fometimes moderate ; and his Air, 
 which was gentle one Minute, wild and furious the 
 next. 
 
 While I was under fo great a Miftake, I pcrceiv'd 
 tlieChevalier de Maiftn at the other end of theRoom, 
 and taking the Privilege tliat others did, I forc'd my 
 way thro' the Croud, and went to join him. Let 
 vie know^ faid I, what Place this is^ for I own to 
 you I ca?mot guefi where I am. ' You are, faid /;r, 
 ' in one of our Churches, hearing a Sermon from a 
 ' very good Preacher.' JFhat^ faid I, do yo7i call 
 that Man tJjere who has fuch Jgitations in that 
 Box a Preacher ; and what he rehearfesy a Ser- 
 men? Nay the latter ^ continu'd I, fecm^dgoode- 
 ncugh ; hut why does not he deliver it gently ? 
 ' 'Tis to give it more Gr2iQCy faid the Chevalier^ to 
 ' touch the Hearts of his Hearers the more to the 
 < quick, and to give the more Force to his Do6lrine.' 
 Surely^ faid I, you mujl have very hard Hearts^ or 
 your Aiorals mujl he very had^ if there mufi he fuch 
 Contorfions^ and fuch Bawling to excite you to Virtue. 
 During this Convcrfation of ours the Preacher made 
 an end ; he concluded his Difcourfe with the fame 
 C 4 Grimaces 
 
32 7/6^ Jewish Spy. Let. 4. 
 
 Grimaces that he began with, and difappear'd, by 
 finking thro' a Hole in the Pillar. 
 
 He had fcarce done fpeaking when the Chevalier 
 dc Mmfm propos'd to me to go to the French Co- 
 medy. Alas ! faid I, do you forget what the Preacher 
 Jald to you hut juji now? ' He exercifes his Trade 
 
 * fald the Chevalier^ as we do ours. This Man is 
 
 * paid for exclaming againft Pleafurcs > and he crieth 
 
 * aloud ; but let us leave him to get his Money in 
 
 * quiet, and not be fuch Fools as to be alarm'd with 
 
 * vain Fears. You fliall fee the Preacher himfelf 
 
 * this Night at the Play. He is an Abbe of no 
 
 * mean Figure, and is a conftant Frequenter of the 
 
 * Theatre. He will change his long Caflbc pre- 
 ' {tVi'Oi^j into a fliort Cloke, and therewith put off all 
 
 * his Gravity. Thefe Women that you fee here 
 
 * are alfo going thither this Moment. As their Cu- 
 ^ riofity to hear the Abbe, who is celebrated for his 
 
 * Wit, brought them hither, this fame Curiofity 
 
 * v/ill -carry them to the Comedy. There will be a 
 
 * new Playacted to-day, and I wou'd fain be there, 
 '• the Author bein^: a Friend of mine.' 
 
 I attended the Chevalier to the Comedy: When 
 we came, all the Places had been taken for a good 
 while, fo that we cou'd fcarce get a Seat. As foon 
 as the Aclor had faid fome Verfes, there was a clap- 
 ping of Hands to applaud him. At the end of every 
 Scene there was the fame Noife, which inter- 
 rupted the Attention of the Auditory. I was 
 mad with thofe unfeafonable Plaudits. As' foon as 
 the Comedy was over, I ask'd the Chevalier, why 
 they did not flay till the End of the Performance 
 before it was applauded ? ' Mofl: of thofe People, 
 ' fa'idhe^ who have clapp'd their Hands, were pray- 
 ' ed or paid for it. The Author, who had a con- 
 ' fiderable Cabal againft him, wou'd have feen 
 ' liis Piece condemn'd, if he had not a ftronger and. 
 
 ' more 
 
Let. 4.. The J e wish S p y. 3 j 
 
 ' more numerous Party in theHoufe than Jifs Ene- 
 
 ' mies.' But why ^ /aid I, do ycuih'ink itivoiid not 
 have fucceedcd^ fmce^th excellent? ' That's no Rca- 
 
 ' Ion, y^/.''/ /?^, why itfliouM not be cnticis'J. The 
 
 ' beft Pieces upon the Stage have fallen to tl.c 
 
 < Ground at firir, and it requires time for People 
 ' of the bcft Senfe to wean the Public from their Pre- 
 ' judices. For one Perfon of good Undcrftanding 
 ' that comes to the Comedy, there's a hundred 
 *- that have not Common Senfe ; but are led by a 
 ' Pack of half-witted, pragmatical Fellows, who- 
 ' are ccnftant Enemies to Merit and Good Works- 
 ' In order to balance thofe modern Zoilus's^ and to- 
 ' drown their Criticifms, recourfe is had to this 
 ' clapping of Hands and to thefe Applaufes, which 
 ' draw afide the ignorant Vulgar, prepoflefs thcm^ 
 ' and make them believe that to be excellent whicli 
 ' they would often find fault with, upon the Au- 
 
 < thority of others, and without any Knowledge 
 '■ of their own.' 
 
 But, fa id I, when a Perforrnance h to he critkWd: 
 and renderW contettiptible^ there ?nuji be 7nater'u{L 
 Faults in it. For let People he ever fo much inclhid ta 
 find faults, what can th^y fay of a good Perfcrmance? 
 What can they fay of it?, reply' d the CJ^evalier 
 de Maifin. That 'tis worth nothing. Tliey don't 
 enter into Particulars; they only cry out, Thau 
 ' 'tis deteftable, abominable, ill written, full of 
 thread-bare Thoughts. If any one is for debat- 
 
 * ing the Matter, and demanding what Fault there- 
 
 * is in it, they fay the fame thing over again, That 
 
 * the v/hole is deteftable, abominable arid ill writ- 
 
 * ten. The Man of Wit, fhrugs up his Shoulders,, 
 *- and grieves to fee the Scholar at the Mercy of the 
 ' Blockhead, who by meer Dint of Bawling draws. 
 
 * in all of the fame Cart to join with him/ 
 
 C 5 Man- 
 
34« Ti6^ j E\visH Spy. Let. 4. 
 
 Mankind, my dear Ifcwc^ has been in all Ages 
 the fame. In the pall Centuries a noble Emulation 
 has been the Spur of great Genius's, and bafe Envy 
 has been the Portion of vile and fordid Minds : And 
 'tis juft the fame nov^. 
 
 A very merry Adventure happen'd yefterday in 
 the Suburb of St. Martin. Tw^o young Muflceteers 
 being; Tit down to Supper with their MiftrefTes, at 
 a Houfe of not the beft Reputation, were furpriz'd 
 by the Commiflary of the Qiiarter, who proceeded 
 immediately according to the Duty of his Office, 
 and after having fcribbled upon fome Paper, was 
 juft going to lay hold of the Girls ; but as he was 
 prefentino; the Paper to be fign'd by the Mufketeers, 
 who had time to confult together while hewas writ- 
 ing it, one of them advanc'd to the Girls and the 
 ether put out the Candle, and drawing his Sword, 
 cry'd killj kill The CommiiTary and his Archers 
 being ready to die for fear, and being apprehen- 
 five "that they fhou'd be wounded, fell with their 
 Faces flat to the Ground, to avoid the Swords, 
 Vv'hich they thought flew about the Room. During 
 this the Mufketeers whipp'd to the Door, carry'd 
 off the two Damfels, and as they went out turn'd 
 the Lock upon the Commiflary ; who when the 
 Noife was ceas'd, and the Danger, as he thought, 
 all over, try'd to get out, but was under a Necefli- 
 ty of forcing the Door open, which, fmce he 
 groped in the Dark,was not an eafyMatter. During 
 this, the two loving Couples found means to get 
 away. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac^ and may the God of 
 our Fathers blefs thee with Riches, and a numerous 
 IfTue. 
 
 LET. 
 
Let. f. T^e Jewish Spy. 
 
 35 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis,' 
 a Rabbi at Conliantinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 1 N my former Letters I have fent thee fome Re- 
 •*■ fledcions of iiune upon fuch Things as have hi- 
 therto ftruck. me molt at this City, and 1 expelled 
 to have had, at Icaft, one Letter from thee in an- 
 Aver ; but 'tis a Comfort I have not yet obtained : 
 Which Deficiency of thine, I am more wilHng to 
 impute to want ot" Opportunity than to Idleneis. 
 
 Neverthelcis, tho' J have not receiv'done Letter 
 from thee, I know what is doing at Conjlaiitinopley 
 and in the principal Towns of the World. A printed 
 Paper is publifli'd here 'twice a Week, in which 
 are contain'd the chief Tranfadions of the Day. 
 The Author of it has a Communication with People 
 of all Nations, and knows from his Cabinet what 
 is pafTmg at IJpahan. 'Tis true, that he is fometimes 
 deceiv'd by his Correfpondents, and that in his Turn 
 he deceives the Public j but wlien he has propagated 
 a falfe Piece of News, and knows it afterwards to 
 be fuch, he has the Honefty to own hisMiftake. 
 
 There's an infinite Number of other Papers that 
 fly about, of which fome treat of Literature, others 
 of Politics, and fome of Gallantry : The laft of 
 thefe are moft in Requefl:, efpeciaily by the Ladies 
 and the Abbes. Thofe which treat of Literature are 
 not iQ much in vogue, yet they have their Admirers : 
 C 6 But 
 
36 77?^ J E WISH Spy. Lcr. f. 
 
 But the moft ridiculous of all are certain political 
 Writers, who pretend to be thorowly acquainted 
 with the Intereft of Princes. The Emperor con- 
 ceals nothing from them : The King of France lets 
 them into all his Secrets. They advife one Ger- 
 man Prince to be cautious how he ligns a Treaty 
 that may be againfl his Interefi:, and tell another 'tis 
 for his Good to accede t<:> it. There's not theleaft 
 Movement atCourt but they know the feeret Springs 
 of it. If thou imagine that the Writers of thefe 
 political Pieces are Men train'd up in State-Affairs, 
 educated in the Minillry, or fuch as have any the 
 leaft Correfpondence with the Miniflcrs, thou 
 wou'd'fl be miftaken: For they are born in a Con- 
 dition that fets them at a great Diftance from the 
 Adminiftration of Affairs, and have no other Cer- 
 tainty for what they treat of, than certain wild Spe- 
 culations, and pofitive Prejudices ftrengthen'd by 
 Ideas of their own Conception, 
 
 There are other Works of more Tm.portance, 
 which are publifh'd,fome every three Months, others 
 every fix Months. Thefe are called Journals, of 
 which there are two or three worth reading, efpe.- 
 cially that cali'd the Journal des Savam, which de- 
 ferves the Efteem of tlie Ingenious. But of Works 
 of this fort there are fo many that they almoft fur- 
 pafs the Number of Authors. Thefe Pieces may be 
 confidered as public Cryers paid by the Bookfellers 
 to commend the Books they print, and to promote 
 the Sale of them by prepoffefling the Public in their ■ 
 favour. Every Bookfeiler keeps a Jcurnciliil: in Pay 
 to commend the Works of his own publ;fhing, and j 
 to cry down thofe in the Shops of his Brethren. i 
 There's a Society of Na%arene Dodors here, who 
 have feveral of them at their Command, and make i 
 ihcm write upon what Subje61s they pleafc. They j 
 give them the iirft Hints, and r-itdel their Expref- ^ 
 
 iionsj \ 
 
Let. f. The Jewish Spy. 37* 
 
 fions ; and thefe Authors are * properly no more 
 than Secretaries or Tranfcribcrs, and are therefore 
 generally defpifed, and have no other Readers but 
 I'uch as thro' Fear or Ambition are attach'd to thofe- 
 iV^z^n';?^ Do61ors f, whofe Credit is powerful, and 
 Hatred implacable. A confiderablc Party of Eccle- 
 fiaftics, their {launch Enemies, printapublicPaper H,. 
 which has put them all in a Rage. They have la- 
 bour'd in vain to find out the Author, who has had 
 the Art to conceal liimfclf, and 'tis happy for him 
 that he has ; for if he had been difcover'd,he v/ou'd 
 have been feverely punifn'd ; and indeed he deferves 
 a Punifhment that is exemplary, not for having writ- 
 ten againft the Monks and Pricfts, but for leaving 
 fail'd more than once of theRefpeft due to the So- 
 vereign, the Miniftry and the Nation. This part 
 of my Letter leads me imperceptibly to fpeak of 
 the Refpc6l which Subjects owe to their Sovereigns.. 
 '7'is my Opinion, dearT/^*^^, that theWelfare of 
 the People depends on their SubmiiTion to the Laws 
 of the State, and to the Orders of thofe to whom 
 has been committed the Government of it. The 
 Tranquility and Peace of a Kingdom confift In the 
 Harmony and Union between the Sovereign and 
 the Subjeds: When that Union does not fubfift, 
 every thing is in a Combuftion, and the frequent 
 Shocks which Difcord gives to a State muft make 
 it tumble and fall to pieces. The 0//^;?2^;z Empire 
 can never be ruin'd but by its own Forces : It har- 
 bours its moft cruel Enemies in its Bofom, and its 
 clianging of Viziers, dethroning of its Sultans, and 
 the ConduiSc of its Janizaries always ready to revolt, 
 are fo many Fits of Rage as tear its Entrails to 
 pieces. 
 
 * The JournnliUs de Tre^voux. •)- The Jefuits. 
 j{ The Ngu-velies Ecclejiajiiques, 
 
 This 
 
58 The ]e\v IS H Spy, Let. f. 
 
 Thismuft be own'd in Juftice to the French, that 
 they love their Monarch, and we fee none of thofe 
 Cataftrophes here which are (o common at ConJ}an- 
 t'mople. But what will appear ftrange to thee is, 
 that thedomeflic Troubles of this State are not oc- 
 cafion'd either by the Great Men, or by theNobility, 
 or by the Troops, or by the common People. Thou 
 wilt take this to be a Riddle, and wilt be at a lofs 
 to imagine what elfe can be the Caufe of them. Thy 
 Surprize will be greater ftill, when I tell thee that 
 the Authors of them are the Monks and Clergy, 
 who play the fame Pranks here as the Janizaries and 
 Spahis do in Turky^ and are divided into two Parties, 
 as oppofite to one another as are thofe two military 
 Bodies. The caufe of their Hatred is an Order iflued 
 by the fovereign Pontiff, by which he enjoins all 
 the Nazarenes to believe, write, and maintain, tliat 
 he thinks juftly, when he is in the wrong *. This 
 Order occafioned the Revolt of a great many Peo- 
 ple, and efpecially fome mathematical Do6tors,who 
 could not find that this Propofition could be proved 
 geometrically. They therefore appeal'd to the Ma- 
 jority of the Votes of all the fubaltern Pontiffs; but 
 tho' they had no Reafon to expe£l it, they were con- 
 demn'd, and thofe Pontiffs determined that theirSo- 
 vereign had Reafon on his fide, and that he thought 
 right when he thought wrong. The Do£lors, who 
 cannot be reconciled to fuch a Determination, and 
 will not fubmit to it, not knowing at the fame time 
 what Reafon to alledge for not obeying it, have 
 thought fit to maintain, that the Decifion of the 
 Pontiffs ought to have been made in a general Af- 
 fembly, wherein all fhould have been prefent, and 
 that this Queftion could not have been legally de- 
 cided, becaufe they had given their Votes feparately, 
 
 J The Infallibility of the Pope. 
 
 and 
 
Let. f. 77?^ Jewish Spy. 39 
 
 and each in his own Country *. The others have 
 exclaim'd againfl: aPropofition fo extraordinary, and 
 faid their Enemies only requir'd thisAfrembly(vvhich 
 was by the way impoiTible to be held) to have a 
 Pretence for maintaining their Error, and that 
 'twas plain that a Man did not change his Opinion 
 by being oblig'd to travel. 
 
 The Miniftry, tir'd out with all thefe Difputes, 
 commanded both Parties to be fdent, but neither 
 obey'd; and, to give a Colour to their Difobedience, 
 they thought of this pleafant Expedient : They ac- 
 cufed each other of being bad Subjects, Enemies 
 to the State, and Rebels to the King; and, under 
 pretence of defending the Prince's Interefts, they 
 attack'd each other more vigoroufly than ever. That 
 State of Peace and Inactivity which the French 
 then enjoyed, whofe Genius is naturally fond of 
 Novelty, made a great number of People take part 
 in this Quarrel, the Confequences of which prov'd 
 dangerous to the State ; but the War, and the Pu- 
 nifhment of fome, who wou'd not believe that the 
 fovereign Pontiff argued rationally when hedoated, 
 has very much appeas'd the Divifions. 
 
 I will confefs to thee, my dear Ifaac^ that if I 
 had been one of the Miniftry of France at the Be- 
 ginning of this Affair, I fhould have forefeen the 
 Confequences, and prevented them. The Venetians^ 
 to whofe Genius in Politics thou art no Stranger, 
 often receive thefe Pontifical Writings, and throw 
 them without Perufal among many others into a 
 Cheft, which fcrves always for that purpofe. It 
 would have been prudent to have obferved the fame 
 Conduct here: But when the Sovereign declared 
 that he would have this Writing received, and that 
 he looked upon thofe who refufed it, to be Ene- 
 
 f Diocefe, 
 
 mies 
 
40 The Jewish S p r. Let. f. 
 
 mies of the Government, the Difobedience of the 
 Subjects became a Crime ; for tlie public Good, 
 and the Peace and Tranquih'ty of the Country, de- 
 manded this Complaifance at their Hands. 
 
 Not, my dear Ifaac^ that I allow the King that 
 blind and defpotic Power which the Sultans exer- 
 cife ; no, that's not my Opinion. I would have a 
 King be the Father of his People, and not their Ty- 
 rant. But I maintain, that, for the Welfare of the 
 State, he ought to have a fuperior Power, and that 
 ^tis necefTary he fhculd be as much above his Peo- 
 ple, as the Laws ought to be above him. Nay, I 
 will add, that if he violate the Laws, the Punifhment 
 he deferves for it cannot, and ought not, to be cog- 
 nizable by his Subjects, but muft be left to the 
 Judgment of Heaven. What Confufion, Difturb^ 
 ance and Divifion wou'd there not follow from 
 the contrary Prmciple ? When there are two Par- 
 ties in a State, 'tis impolTible for a King to pleafe 
 both alike. The Malecontents might eafily plead 
 the Neccffity of preventing the Breach of the Laws 
 in Excufe for their Rebellion. 
 
 We feldom find in our Books that our Forefa- 
 thers took Arms againfi: the Kings of Ifraely and if 
 they did, God permitted that they fhould be fe- 
 verely punifhed, both they and their Leaders. The 
 Fate of Abfalom may ferve for a Warning to thofe 
 who fufFer themfelves to be drawn afide by the Spi- 
 rit of Rebellion. I hope thou wilt think my Re- 
 flecSlions juft. I know that they are not unanfwerable, 
 but am of Opinion, that they have a Tendency to 
 preferve the Peace of Society. 
 
 The Letters I write to thee may fufHce to giv'e 
 thee an Idea of thofe Papers I have been fpeaking 
 of to thee. If I were to communicate them to any 
 body that fhou'd take it in his Head to make them 
 public, he wou'd print UiCm perigdically ; in v/hich 
 
 Cafs 
 
Let. f. The J e w i s h S p y. 41 
 
 Cafe they might be approvM by fome, and be cen- 
 fur'd by others \ but I behev^e they wou'd find dan- 
 gerous Enemies in the Monks, who wou'd never 
 forgive me for the free manner in which I treat 
 them. The Feats of their Gallantry, of which I 
 fometimes acquaint thee, wou'd be Affronts for 
 which fooner or later they wou'd take Revenge. 
 They are continually preaching up the Neceffity of 
 Forgivenefs, and yet never pradfife it themfelves ; 
 of which I will now give thee a Proof. 
 
 Some time ago a Recollc6l Fryar, whom they^ 
 call Father Flacide^ had the Tuition of a very lovely 
 Lafs, who was a Lady's Chamber-maid. The Op- 
 portunities that he commonly chofe to give the fair 
 Penitent his Inflrucftions, were when her Miftrefs was 
 out of the way. He did not waite his Moments in 
 trifling Chit-chat, but made fo good ufe of his time, 
 that 'twas his own Fault if he did not give his Pu- 
 pil a P^oretafte of the Pleafures which he promis'd 
 her in the World to come ; for the canting Monk 
 had made the Girl believe, that he had a Preroga- 
 tive to take away all the Crime of fuch an Action. 
 Jeanneton^ who was a mighty Devotee, and who 
 Vvould not for all the World tranfgrefs his Law, 
 wou'd not have excliang'd her Lover for the great- 
 eft Prince upon Earth ; fuch a Veneration had (he 
 for the Man that had the Power of blotting out fuch 
 a Sin. Father^ faid fhe to him one Day, / wcnder 
 that my Miftrefs has to do with the Chevalier D — ^ — > 
 and that Jhe does not rather take to one or other of your 
 Fryars ; but perhaps they have not the Power of tak^ 
 ing away the Sins of married IVomen, No^ faid he, 
 ive poor Monks have not a Power fo extenfive ; Adul- 
 tery is a Cafe refervd to our Prelates. Nay., you 
 would lofe the Indulgence I give you^ and fall into a 
 greater Crime if ever you foould reveal zvhat paffes 
 betwixt us. Fear nothing^ faid J<fanneton , and h- 
 
 ajfur'd 
 
42 T^e Jewish Spy. Let. f, 
 
 ajfur'd of my Secrecy. For near fix Months nothing 
 happened : But one Day when this fpiritual Director 
 had overdone himfelf in his Inftrudlions, he was fo 
 heartily tir'd, that he could not bear to fit in his 
 full Habit, but dofF'd his upper Garments, and fat 
 in his Sandals, Breeches, and Waiftcoat. When he 
 was in this airy Garb, JeannetGn's Miftrefs came 
 home at the very Inftant quite unexpecSbcd. She 
 call'd Jeanneton^ but had no Anfwer ; and hearing 
 a Buftle in her Chamber, Curiofity induc'd her to 
 peep through the Key-hole, when fhe perceiv'd the 
 Fryar at her Toilet putting on his Cowl and Cloak. 
 Whatever was her Surprize at fuch a Sight, flie re- 
 folv'd to put away the Scandal from her, and there- 
 fore with an Air of Authority fhe commanded the 
 Door to be open'd, threatning otherwife to call in 
 People, and to have it broke open. Then the Monk, 
 with a very demure Countenance, came to open it, 
 and cafting his Eyes down to the Ground, Madam^ 
 fa id he, your Pardon, I was not willing that the 
 Sacrament of P enance jhould he interrupted^ and I was 
 come to the Words ^ I abfolve you, jujl as you call'd 
 y^rjeanneton Father y faid the Lady interrupt- 
 ing him, you jhall not he under fo much Rejiraint for 
 the future. Be gone^ both /he and you^ out of my 
 Houfe^ and take can how either of you be ever feen 
 here again. 
 
 Thou would'ft be apt to think, dear Ifaac^ that 
 the Monic Ihou'd have blefs'd his Stars that he came 
 fo well out of the Scrape ; but he v/as refoWd to 
 take a Reveno;e for the Affront he thou2;ht had been 
 put upon him. feanneton having told him, that the 
 Chevalier Z) * * * had an Amour with her Miftrefs, 
 what does the PVyar but writes an anonymous Let- 
 ter to herKufoand full of Slander, in which he dif- 
 covers the whole Affoiir to him. It was found out 
 afterwards that he was the Author of the Letter ; 
 
 but 
 
Let. 6. 77?^ Jewish Spy. 43 
 
 but the Lady was To wife as not to punlfli him for 
 it, becaufe fhe did not care that the AfFair fhould 
 be talk'd of abroad. 
 
 LETTER VL 
 Jacob Brito to Aaron MoncecaJ 
 
 Rome — 
 T Dirc£l: my Letter to thee at Parts^ becaufe fmce 
 ■■• I had thy laft from Marfcilles^ I doubt not but 
 thou art by this time arriv'd there. Having been 
 obhg'd to go to Rome, where I ftill continue, I had 
 not an Opportunity to difcharge the Commlflions 
 thou gaveft me in charge on the part of Ifaac Onis, 
 As foon as 1 return to Genoa, I will dilpatch what 
 he has defir'd of me, and fend it to him by the 
 fame Ship that has brought me from Conjlantinople, 
 If v/hat thou fceft in France furprize thee as much as 
 many things which I find here do me, I doubt not 
 but we fh'cill both be great Gainers by communi- 
 cating our Reflections to each other. 
 
 Thrcj forts of People are almoft the onlv Inhabi- 
 tants of thisCitv, i}iz. Fryars, Painters, and Whores. 
 'Tis as rare to meet with a Shoemaker, a Taylor, 
 and a Merchant at Rome, as 'tis to meet with a 
 Prieil and a common Strumpet in other Countries. 
 The Naxarene Doctors here teach the People that 
 there is but one God. They homage him as a 
 great King, compofc a magnificent Court for him, 
 and give him a great Number of Princes and Lords 
 to adorn it ; and the Clergy are the Men in whom 
 the Right of granting the Letters Patent to thofe 
 
 who 
 
44 77?^ Jewish Spy. Let 6, 
 
 who are to enjoy thofe Ports is vefted. As the (iiid 
 Employments are fold very dear, and the fovercigii 
 Pontiff finds his Account in the Sale, he takes care 
 every now and then to make numerous Promotions ; 
 which in the Nazarene^cvms are call'd The Cancn- 
 izing of Saints ; the Writ for which purpofe cofls 
 100,000 Crowns per Head. They whofe Heirs 
 are able to give fuch a Sum, are exalted to this 
 i.igh Rank -, but others, who have poor Families, 
 let their Merit be ever fo great^ are content with 
 being beatify' d. The former of thefe may be com- 
 par'd to Dukes, and the latter to MarquifTes. They 
 are all noble, but different in Dignities. Confe- 
 quently, my dear Aaron^ if thee and I fhould die 
 Nazarcnes^ whatfoever Efteem we may have liv'd 
 to acquire upon Earth, we couM never expert to 
 be higher than the Rank of Marquifles in Paradife. 
 
 Politics in this Country are ilrain'd to the utmoft 
 Degree. Avarice bears alfo vaft Sway. 'Tis the 
 common Sin of the People, who make Profit of 
 every thing. And fmce they fet the Honours and 
 Dignities of the other World to Sale, judge what 
 they mufl make of the Offices and Employments 
 of this. 
 
 I have found a notable Refemblance between the 
 Government of Ro?ne and that of Corifiantinople. 
 As foon as a Perfon is promoted to the Dignity of 
 a Grand Vizier, all the Creatures of his PredecefTor 
 are difplac'd, and often difgrac'd. He gives and 
 fells all Employments. So 'tis here. No fooner is 
 hePontiffdead, but his Nephews lofe all their Cre- 
 dit. The Kindred of the new-one alTume the Reins 
 of Government, and fell and grant Oifices. The 
 Vizier compels the Bafnas to make him confiderabie. 
 Prefents ; the Bafhas make themfelves amends by 
 extorting others from the Governors of Towns^ 
 who to raife the Money fleece and opprefs the Peo- 
 ple.. 
 
Let. 6. The J e w i s h S p r. 4^5: 
 
 pic. The foverelgn Pontiff demands a Tribute of 
 the Prelates *. Thcfe lay confiderable Taxes on 
 the Pricfts ; and the Piiefts make the People pay 
 even for the Ground which ferves them for Burial. 
 
 I will pufh this Parallel farther, and thou wilt 
 find it a.s true. When the Grand Signior wants Mo- 
 ney, he fends a Ring of Hair of his own making -j- 
 to theBaflia of Cairo ^ and -a Bow or a Javelin to the 
 Bafha of S?nyrna. The Honour of receiving fuch a 
 Prefent is always requited with a great many Purfes 
 from the Pcrfon to whom it is fcnt. The fovereign 
 Pontiff behaves in the fame manner. 'Tis true he 
 does not employ himfeif in manual Operations like 
 the Sultans, and therefore fends neither Bow nor 
 Ring ; but he direds a Writing to all the fubaltern 
 Pontiffs, by which every Nazarenc to whom they 
 diftribute it, on the Payment of a certain Sum of 
 Money, is difpenfed from a certain Article of Re- 
 ligion, as eating no Flefh, fafting during Lent, i5c. 
 There are a great many People, who for their Con- 
 venience buy this Merchandize. There is another 
 of a greater Price, but not {o commonly fold, which 
 is negociated when Perfons are to marry one of their 
 Kindred. Befides the Merchandize of this fort, 
 "which cannot be had, if not paid for according to 
 the Tariff at which they are fix'd, there's a great 
 many other Things, the Price of which is left to 
 every body's Generofity, and which go under the 
 Denomination of Alms. 
 
 In order to ftir up the Charity of the Nazarcnesy 
 the Pontiff every now and then opens the Gates of 
 Heaven. Formerly this happen'd but once in a hun- 
 dred Years. Indeed when it was perceiv'd that Men 
 did not live fo long, the Ceremony was performed 
 
 every 
 * The Bulls for Biihoprlcs. 
 -J- The Grand Signiors all learn fome Handicraft, 
 
4.6 The Jewish Spi^. Let. 6. 
 
 every twenty-five Years, and fometimes they did not 
 ftay till that Term was expir'd. It muft not be ima- 
 gin'd, that the Road to Heaven is abfolutely {hut up 
 at other times, but then the PaiTage is narrower, and 
 the Impofts paid for entering it are the more confi- 
 derable. During the Jubilee, Paradife is a free Fair, 
 and the Cuftom-houfe Duties are abated one half. 
 As foon as the Days of Privilege are expired, the 
 fame Duties and Cuftoms are renew'd as before. 
 
 The other Day I went to fee the Temple of St. 
 Peter ^ the Grandeur, Magnificence, and Regularity 
 of which ftately Building are amazing to behold. 
 Its Splendor put me in mind of the famous Temple 
 of yerufalem^ of which we have a Defcription in 
 our Books. As I was furveying the Beauties of this 
 of St. Peter^ I faw five or fix Priefts * fitting in 
 little Wooden Boxes f, with long Wands in their 
 Hands, with which they touch'd the Heads of thofe 
 within their Reach, who as they pafs'd by bent the 
 Knee. I inquired what this Ceremony was : Thefe 
 Men^ faid they, are grand Penhentiaries -, they have 
 a Right to abfohe from all Sins : and as it wou'd be 
 impojfible for them to hear the Cri?nes of People of 
 all the Nations in the Worlds that come to them for 
 Confeffion, they wajl) and cleanfe the Soid from its 
 Impurities^ and purge it from Crimes^ by touching 
 the Head with the End of their Wand, I thought 
 this a ridiculous Ceremony \ however I did not fay 
 a Word. 
 
 From St. Peter's Church I went into another juft 
 by it; and while I was viewing it, two Men attend- 
 ed me with a Plate, and ask'd me to beftov/ fome- 
 thing for the Support of St. James. Being always 
 ready to relieve the Unfortunate, I put my Hand 
 in my Pocket, and gave them a Tefioon. But as 
 
 f Grand Penitentiaries, f Confeffion-Chairs. 
 
 foon 
 
Let. 6. 27?^ Jewish Spy. 47 
 
 foon as I was got into the Street, I defir'd a Mer- 
 chant of my Acquaintance that went along with 
 me, to tell me who that St. fames was that was in 
 fuch Want, and whether that was he to whom I 
 had given the Alms. After he had laugh'd heartily 
 at my Qtieftion. This St. James, faid he, who you 
 think is in JVant., is a Saint that lacks for nothi?7g ; 
 for 'tis above 1600 Tears that he has been dead. And 
 zuhy then, faid I, do they beg Relief for himP '77y, 
 replied he, for the Maintenance of the Pricfls ivho 
 ferve in his Temple. I prefently perceiv'd that this 
 was one of the iVlethods made ufe of by the Monks 
 \.o get Money, of which till then 1 had no Notion, 
 To be fure there are many others too that I know 
 nothing of, and which I will impart to thee when 
 I find them out. 
 
 The Temple of St. fames was formerly but a 
 plain Chapel, and owes its Building to a Miracle. 
 When St. Peter' z Church was finifliing, all the Co- 
 lumns and Capitals which were carried to adorn that 
 famous Edifice, pafs'd by St. farnesh Gate, who for 
 a while put up with that little Refpedt which was 
 paid to him, hoping that when the faid Church was 
 built, they wou'd think of a better Lodging for him. 
 As he faw in Procefs of Time, that the Romans did 
 not think of him, he refolv'd to take what they 
 wou'd not give him ; and one Day perceiving two 
 Pillars of marble Granite, which two Carts were 
 carrying to St. Peter's Church, he liked them fo 
 well that he form'd a Defign to make them his own. 
 He waited till they came near his Gate, and then, 
 by his Almighty Power, he depriv'd the Horfes of 
 their Strength, fo that they were not able to draw 
 their Burden. The Carter, who knew nothing of 
 St. James's Contrivance, fmack'd his Whip, and 
 fwore bitterly, but all wou'd not avail to make the 
 dumb Creatures ilir} fo that 'twas fuppos'd they 
 
 were 
 
48 The Jewish Spy. Let. 6. 
 
 were quite tir'd, and fix more Horfes put to ; but 
 'twas never the better. At laft, they put a hundred 
 to each Cart, yet they cou'd notfiir a foot forward, 
 till fomebody of more Senfe than the reft, difcover'd 
 St. James's Defign, and faid they muft be drawn to 
 the Gate of his Church. To make the Miracle 
 the more evident, they left but two Horfes in each 
 Cart, which went a full Trot, and as if they had 
 no Load, to carry the Pillars, which James had a 
 fancy for, to his Chapel ; which was foon after 
 pull'd down and a Temple built, wherein they were 
 placM : And in memory of this Miracle, the People 
 gave it the Name of St. James's Shake-Hoi'fe *. 
 
 Pr'ythee, fend me word if thou feeft or heareft 
 of any thing near fo abfurd as this in France. How 
 happy is it for us, ^Q2iX Moncecay that we were born 
 Jews I Such Chimaeras never find room in our 
 Imagination ; and under what Mafk foever Impo- 
 flure and Ridicule appear before us, we never adopt 
 them for Miracles. 
 
 Fare thee well, and may the God of Ifrael crown 
 thee with Wealth and Abundance. 
 
 * There's not a Man in Rome but affirms this Faft to 
 .be true, and in memory of the pretended Miracle the 
 Church retains the Name of Chiefa di San Giacsma 
 Scoja-Ca'vallo, i. e. St, James'i Shake-Horfe, 
 
 LETTER 
 
Let. 7- T/:?^ Jewish Spy, 
 
 49 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 Aaron Monceca to Jacob Brito. 
 
 Dear Jacob, Paris 
 
 T Receiv'd thy Letter, and congratulate thee on 
 ■^ being more pundlual in thy Anfwers than Ifaac 
 Onisy from whom I have not yet had a Line. I doubt 
 not, but thou art as much aflonifh'd at what thoir 
 feeft at Ro?ne, as I am at what I find at Paris, All 
 tJiings that occur to our View were unknown to us, 
 fo that it ieems as if we were tranfported into a new 
 World. Yet thou ought'ft not to be fo much afto- 
 nifh'd as I. Thy Father was a Gencefe^ thou waft 
 bred up in the Country of the Nazarenes till tlioa 
 waft ten Years of Age ; and tho' thou then went'ft 
 to Conjlantinople, and art but juft come away from 
 thence, to be fure, thou haft a confused Idea of 
 what thou faweft in thy Childhood. 
 
 I was pleas'd to read thy Account of the Superfti- 
 tion of the People at Ro77ie. We have convincing 
 Proofs every Day of the Exceftes into wliich Men 
 are liable to be drawn by it. At the very JuncSture 
 I am writing this to thee, there are, perhaps, two 
 thoufand People at Paris that are attack'd with Va- 
 pours, as if they were poftefs'd with the Devil ; and 
 yet the extravagant and mad Things they do, pafs 
 for Miracles. The Affair, which has turn'd the 
 Brains of all thofe People, is no lefs than an Order 
 from the fovereign Pontift'. The Fa61: Is this : 
 
 No doubt thou haft heard People talk, at Rome, of 
 
 a certain Conftitution, which makes a very gr.^at 
 
 D Noife 
 
fo The JEWISH Spy. Let. 7. 
 
 ^oife in France. A certain Prieft *, that adher'd to 
 the Oppofers of that Conftitutlon in this Kingdom, 
 died feme Years ago ; who, in his Life-time, was 
 unknown to the whole World ; but after his Death 
 had a P'ame that was aflonifhing. Some of the 
 Opponents of the Conflitution endeavoiir'd to pro- 
 cure him one of thofe Commifllons, of which thou 
 doft fay the Pope is the fole Difpenfer, and by 
 which a Man is acknowledg'd to be a Lord of the 
 Court of Heaven. As they did not expe£l that the 
 fovereign Pontiff wouM confent to it, tliey refolv'd 
 to make him the Author of fuch Great Things, that 
 the People (hou'd grant him the faid Dignity, with- 
 out the Pontiff's Confent. Xhey had recourfe to 
 a Miracle, wiiich is the Grand Method to ftrike the 
 Imagination i and in Matters wherein they had a 
 mind that the Virtue of their departed Brother fhou'd 
 operate, they diffus'd a Gaiety, and adorn'd them 
 with the Pomp of Shew. They thought that while 
 they amus'd the People with delightful Objects, their 
 Miracles wou'd make a greater Im.preiBon than if 
 they happen'd fmgly ; and therefore refolv'd to give 
 their New Saint the Power of curing thofe that re- 
 forted to him by Songs and Dances. A certain 
 Abbe f , after having ftudy'd a good while in private, 
 was the firft that open'd the Exercife. He danc'd 
 a Dance upon the Tomb of this Prieff, in which he 
 gave a Bound, call'd, T!he Carp's Leap^ or, Top-over- 
 Taih, which he perform'd to Perfe6tion, and to 
 the prodigious SatisfacStion of the Public. He had 
 one Leg fhorter than tJie other by fourteen Inches, 
 and pretended that every three Months it lengthened 
 the twelfth part of an Lich. A Mathematician, 
 
 * Monfieur Pan's. He was only a Deacon, 
 -f- The Convulfions of tke Abbe B^cheran, upon the 
 Tomb of the Abbe Paris, 
 
 who 
 
let. 7- T')^^ Jewish Spy. fr 
 
 who computed the time when he wouM be perfectly 
 cured, reckonM it wouM take up fifty-five Years 
 Capers. Many People were charm'd with a Re- 
 prefentation of this Trifle ; they went thither to fee 
 it, and afterwards fcveral try*d to dance themfelves, 
 fo that there were few Companies of Rope-Da ncers 
 Co compleat. Thofe of the contrary Party wou'd 
 fain have engag'd the French and Italian Comedians, 
 to petition the Parhament to put a ftop to an En- 
 tertainment which did them a Prejudice : But whe- 
 ther the Comedians were brib'd, or whether they were 
 not willing to hinder their Brethren from gaining 
 their Livelihood, they kept Silence. 
 
 Mean time, thefe Dancing-bouts difpleas'd the 
 King, who caus'd * the Gate of their Hall to be 
 wall'd up, and forbad them to continue their Exer- 
 cifes upon grievous Penalties. Being no longer al- 
 low'd to frilTc it in public, they did it privately at 
 their own Houfes. But as the Number of thofe 
 Dancers was very much increas'd, and as their Ca- 
 pers, accompany'd with barbarous Tunes, fung by 
 coarfe Voices, made a frightful Noife, fomc Pre- 
 lates, who had fate up pretty late, being thereby a- 
 waken'd out of their Sleep too foon in tlie Morning, 
 obtained an Order for arrefting fuch as were in their 
 Ql»arters, and for committing them Prifoners to the 
 Caftle of Vincennes', where there were near three 
 hundred confin'd. Judge what a fine Noife they 
 muft make when they began their Crofs-Capers. 
 Some, that were quite fick of their Confinement, 
 promised to renounce Dancing and Mufic for good- 
 and-all, and were reftor'd to their Liberty. Others 
 were detained, and continued their Exercifes. Be- 
 fides thofe, there are others above two Miles from 
 JParis^ who have not been arrefled. 
 
 * The Church-yard, in which was the Tomb of their 
 pretended Saint. 
 
 D 2 You 
 
fi Z/^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 7. 
 
 Ygu muft own, my dear Brito^ that they who 
 thus deceive a People, lb eafy to be leducM, deferve 
 •fevere ChaiHfement. I admire the Clemency of 
 the King of France. Such Tumblers at Conjianti- 
 fiople, wou'd foon have been impal'd alive ; or wou'd 
 have been for ever difabled from cutting Capers, 
 It feems to be the Deftiny of this People, to be in- 
 ceflantly bubbled by the Invention of turbulent Spi- 
 rits. They run into every Snare that is laid for 
 them, and are no fooner out of one but are intangled 
 in another. 
 
 A Friend of mine told me a pleafant Story of the 
 Simplicity of a 'VVom.an, which he faw with his 
 ovv^n Eyes. In a certain Town of the Franche Comte *, 
 a Prieft had been interr'd f , who was Member of 
 a Society that was diametrically oppofite to the 
 Dancers I have been talking of. He was accus'd, 
 v/hilft living, of having put the Devil in PofTeflion 
 of a Woman, that he might have the Opportunity 
 of debauchina; her. The Affair being; carried be- 
 fore a fovereign Tribunal, he was acquitted. His 
 £nemies faid, that his Deliverance out of that Scrape 
 •was owing to a certain Protection ; tho', for my 
 own part, I will confefs to thee, that after having 
 inquir'd into tlie Fa6l, I thought it was a Trick 
 v/hich was play'd him by theCaperers, to whom he 
 v/as a declar'd Enemy. His Brethren, who were all 
 extremely concerned for the Noii^^ which this Trial 
 made, in order to repair, after liis Death, the Wrong 
 which he had done them in his Life-time, refolved 
 to procure for him a Writ of Canonization, of the 
 iirft Clafs ; and this it was eafy for them to obtain, 
 hy their Intereft with the fovereign Pontiff; but 
 fuch waG the Prejudice entertain'd to his Difad- 
 vantage, that nothing lefs than a Miracle cou'xl re- 
 move k. 
 
 ^ Dole. f Father Girard, a Jefuit. 
 
Let. 7- 71^^ Jewish Spy. f-^_ 
 
 A Woman, who had loft her Siglit for feverali 
 Months, caus'd Wax-tapers andliKenfe to be burnt^ 
 to the Honour of all the Saints of Paradife. Yet 
 irot one of them v/as complaifant enoiin;h to offer 
 to reftore it to her ; they were all deaf to her Prav- 
 ers, and the good Woman loft both her Time and 
 her Prefents. Her DirccSlor advifed her to perfojnv 
 aNeuvain, or nine Days Devotion, at tliel\)mb of 
 the deceafed P'ather, who, by the Perfecutions which 
 he had fuffer'd, deferv'd to be in the firft CLifs of 
 the BlefTed in Heaven. The blind I>idy confcnted 
 to it, and indeed (he won'd Iiave offer'd Vow^ to 
 Mabo?}ict^ if flie thought flie eou'd have had Relief 
 upon the ninth Day. As (lie was faying her Prayers 
 at the I'omb of this Demi-Saint *, the Sun diredled 
 it.-? Rays upon her Eyes thro' one of the Cluirch- 
 Windows : As fne always perceiv'd a GlimmetinT 
 of Light at Noon-dav, tho' without diftin2;uif}iip.vv 
 any Object, thofe Sun-Beams being render'd brighten- 
 by the Reflexion of the Glafs, difcover'd a pakfott 
 of Light to her, which fo furpriz'd lier that flie 
 cry'd out, ftje coiCd fee ; and in the firft Start of licr 
 Joy, mrdcing three or four hafty Steps, without be- 
 ing led, file ran with her Head full-butt againft a. 
 Pillar, and got a Bump in her Forehead, which cave- 
 a great Shock to the new Saint's Reputation, ^and 
 was a Remora to the Difpatch of the Writ that was 
 to be granted to him for Canonization. At the 
 fame time this Adventure has very much tarnifli'd 
 the Credit of certain little Shreds of Stuff", which the 
 People cut off from* his Gown when he was buried, 
 and which they kept very choice f . 
 
 * It is in a Chape! near a Window, 
 f When Father Glrard was interr'd at Dole, x\\t Po- 
 pulace cut off Pieces of his Robe to preferve as Rehques. 
 
5+ T^e ] Ewisu S?Y. Let. S. 
 
 I queftlon, my dear Brifo, whether Superflition 
 lifes to a higher Pitch in the Country which thou 
 inhablteft. Do'ft not thou think that the Caperers- 
 at Paris are a proper Parallel for the Adventure of 
 St. James Ska ke-Horfe? The Populace everywhere 
 are alike credulous. Thou art not a Stranger to the 
 fervile Refpedt the Mahometans pay to their Santons 
 and their Dcrvifcs. And we ourfelves, I muft own 
 to thee, do fometimcs give too blindly into the No- 
 tions of our Rabbles. I will, fome Day or other, 
 let thee know wliat I think of this Matter. 
 
 Fare thee v/ell, and may the God of our Fathers 
 heap his P^iches on thee \r\ abundance. 
 
 LETTER VIIL 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis> 
 
 a Rabbi at Conftantinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 I 
 
 Wonder every Ehy at the great Pov/er of the 
 King of France^ and can no longer qucftion the 
 Truth of what I heard from fome Merchants at 
 Fera ; iho' I did not eafily give Credit to v/hat they 
 faid, when they aflhr'd me that their Prince was 
 3n a Condition to execute Undertakings, which 
 the Grand Signior wou'd not dare to think of. His 
 Grandeur is principally owing to three Things, viz. 
 the Affection of his Subjects ; the Abafement of 
 the Great Men, v/hom the Kings his Predeceflbrs 
 have humbled and impoverifli'd ; and the happy Si- 
 tuation of his Provinces, which are vaftly populous. 
 As I was boafting of the flourifl">ing State of this 
 Kingdom, to the Chevalier de Ma'if.n \ Ten onty fce^ 
 
 raid 
 
Let. 8. !r^(? Jewi SH Spy. 5-5- 
 
 (aid he, the Ruins of cur Grandeur. We have 
 undone ourfehes \ and our inteftine Divifions have 
 availed more to that End than all the E [forts of cur 
 Enemies. 
 
 ' The People having been divided, continued he^ 
 
 * for near two hundred Years, about fome Pcints 
 ' of Religion, our Divines fplit into Parties j tlie 
 
 * Court declaring for the one, and a part of the 
 ' common People and of the Nobility for the other, 
 ' For a while there was nothing more than bare 
 
 * DIfputation, but by degrees Hatred and Jealoufy 
 ' inicrfer'd in the Affair: The Court did not liice 
 
 * that there fhou'd be different Sentiments in the 
 < Nation from their own, and therefore the King 
 ' laid Jiis Command on his Subjefts to conform j 
 
 * but we have too often feen, by fatal Confc- 
 ' quences, that tliere's nothing fo dangerous as put- 
 ' ting a P\»rce upon Confcience. Tliofe of the 
 
 * French., who were call'd Innovators, refus'd to fub- 
 ' mit, and pleaded, that notwithftanding the Allc- 
 ' glance which tiiey ow'd to their Prince^ they were 
 ' not tlicrefore to fail in the principal Articles ot 
 ' their Religion. This Refufai of tiieirs gave their 
 ' Adverfaries a Handle to perfecute them. A great 
 ' Number w^as put to Death. Several honed Men 
 
 * were even burnt ; and what is furprizing, is, that 
 ' the Perjecution increas'd the Number of the Innrr- 
 ' vators inftcad of dimini(hing tliem ; fo that tlieir 
 
 * Party grew formidable, being augmented and ren- 
 '^ der'd confiderable b)' fome Princes of the Blood, 
 ' Vv'ho became their Leaders ; and during the Reigns 
 
 * of two or three Kings, we tore one another to 
 ' pieces. In fine, the Court-Party prevailing, the 
 
 * Innovators were banilh'd. the Kingdom. The 
 ' Government chofe rather to lofe a fourth part of 
 ' their Subjcdh, and to fee their Gold and Manu- 
 ^ Uctures carry 'd mto foreign Countries, than fuffer 
 
 D4 ' the 
 
f6 The Jewish S p t. Let. 8. 
 
 ' the People to pray to God in the French Language, 
 
 * or to eat A^Tutton upon a Friday, After that Ba- 
 ' nifhment a Union was expedled, but fcarce were 
 ' thofe Citizens profcribed than others were look'd 
 ^ upon as a frefh Sett of Innovators. Of thefe 
 
 * there's a great Number ; and if the fame Remedy 
 
 * was to be "made \\{q of as was employ'd to deftroy 
 
 * the former, the Kingdom wou'd foon be like a 
 
 * Man, whom too frequent Blood-letting had throwa 
 
 * into a Confumption.' 
 
 Does it not look, my dear Ifaac^ as if the God 
 of our Fathers takes care to revenge our Caufe on 
 the Naxarenes and Infidels. Tho' he fuffers us to 
 be in a State of Captivity, and that we fliou'd bear 
 the Yoke of thofe haughty Tyrants, he fcatters a 
 Spirit of Perverfenefs and Delufion among them, to 
 f].;ew us by their Errors the Truth of that Law Vv'hich 
 Gcd himfelf gave to Mofes. 
 
 I know not whether thou did*ft ever refiedl: on the 
 Perfecution which the Nazarenes fufFer from one 
 another. For my part, I always confider'd it as a 
 palpable Inftance of God's Chaftifcmcnt of them,, 
 for the Outrages they have been guilty of againft us. 
 That Inquifition which thirfteth after the Elood of 
 Jjrael^ and the Horrors of which have even movM 
 the Pitv of our cruellefl: Enemies, coft Spain the 
 Vniied Prcvlnces^ which revolted, and received our 
 Brethren into their Bofom, gave them Shelter, and 
 are become the Depofitaries of the Riches of the 
 Univerfe, and the Guardians of oppreiTed Liberty. 
 
 Compare, dear Ifaac^ the Carriage of the People 
 of God with that of the Nazarenes. When the 
 Ten Tribes feparated, we did what we cou'd to re- 
 duce them into the right Way ; but did v/e, under 
 feigivd Promifes, bring them into the Temple to be 
 offer 'd up there as Victims ? Did a Levite ever 
 •think that the Death of any Sadducee wou'd advance 
 
 him. 
 
Let. 8. 7^^^ [e WISH Spy. <j 
 
 him to a High Prieft ? Does God require that we 
 fliou'd fpill the Blood of our Brethren ? Nay, does 
 jie not exprefly forbid it in the very Terms of the 
 Commandment of his Law ? 
 
 I have obferv'd, that among the Infidels they are 
 quite mad to make Profelytes. The Mahonutans 
 and Nazarenes put all Methods In Pradice for thi'^ 
 End ; and being difcourag'd at their ill Succefs 
 amongft us, after having made ufe of Threats, Pu- 
 nifbments, and Promifes to no pur|X)fe, they have 
 turn'd their Arms one againfl another. 
 
 The Naz-arcnes have religious Soldiers *, who 
 make a folcmn Vow to facrifice as many Turks as. 
 they poflibly can, for the Glory of God ; and the 
 latter, in revenge, have made it an Article of their 
 Law, to pay them in the fame Coin. Is not that a 
 pitiful way of inlightening the Mind and. the Heart'' 
 Is not that a merry fort of Faith which is foundccl 
 upon Fear, where a Man only believes becaufe he is 
 afraid not to believe ? 'Fhe fmalleft Difficulty, the 
 moft trifling Difpute, arms thofe Infidels one againft: 
 another. They cut one anotlier's. Throats, and 
 murder one another for the leaft Matter in Ditpute ; 
 and no fooner is one Point decided, but auothci' 
 is trump'd up. 'Fhe Greeks at ConfianUmple liatc 
 the Rouians worfe than they do the Maijunetmn ; 
 and there is not a Merchant at Pera^ but had ra- 
 ther be a Turk than what he calls a Sthifemilu. 
 Thou knoweft the Antipathy between the Turks anil 
 Perfians^ and the Divifion into the Sedls of Omar 
 and Jly. 
 
 I look upon Mahomctif?)! and Nazarcnlfm as tVv'c>- 
 great Towers like that of Babcl^ which are conti- 
 nually producuig a Medley of confounded. Difpuccd 
 and Ideas. 
 
 * The Knigbts of Malh7^ 
 
58 The ]'E\7i^n Sty. Let. 8. 
 
 The Nazarenes objedl that as a Reproach to us, 
 which is the Glory of our holy Law ; they pretend 
 that our Difperfion upon the Face of the Earth is 
 the Alark of Reprobation : But that Unity cf Faith 
 and Belie f^^ which we have preferv'd ; that Simpli- 
 city in the effential Articles of our Religion, which 
 neither Time, nor Misfortune, nor the Difference 
 of Climates cou'd ever alter, are they not evident 
 Proofs of the Majefty and Truth of our holy Law ? 
 Confuficn, Diforder, and Change are the Lot of 
 Human Inventions, and Stability and Confidence 
 the Marks of the Finger of God. 
 
 Write to me, dear Ifaac^ if thou think'ft my Re- 
 flc6lions juft. 1 am in a Country where I dare not 
 fpeak what I think, any farther than may ferve to 
 clear my Doubts ; nor afk Queftions more than 
 may be excufable from the Curiofity natural to Fo- 
 reigners. 
 
 I was yefterday at the Interment of a Nazarene, 
 Tlie Ceremonies appear'd to me as ilrange as thofe 
 which I had feen in their Church before. A great 
 Number of Monks walk'd tv/o and two in the Streets, 
 •ringing feme doleful Ditty : Among thofe Fryars, 
 there were fome clad in feveral Fafliions, and dif- 
 ferent Colours. Some were drefs'd in grey, wore 
 a long Beard, and had no Stocking or Shoe, but 
 wooden Sandals. Others w^ore black and white, 
 without any Beard at all. Some had a greenifh 
 Habit. Ail thefe Fryars form'd feveral different 
 Companies, and %vere divided according to their 
 Garbs. At the Head of every Company a Stan- 
 
 * By the Term, 'U,'nty of Faith and Belief, Aaron 
 Monceca only means the principal Articles of tlie Je^vijh 
 Doftrine ; and therefore does not at all attend to the Dif- 
 ference of Sentiments between the Gsrmanj Fortnguefe^ 
 Jfiatic, and African Jen.»j^^ 
 
 dard 
 
Let. 8. The J E w I s H S p r. ^^ 
 
 dard was borne, in P'orm of a Crofs, very much re- 
 fembling the Enfigns of the Bafhas, only they had 
 no Horie-Tail hanging to their Staves. Thofe firft 
 Priefts, who form'd as it were the Van-guard, were 
 follow'd by otliers, covered with a fort of Mantles, 
 very much like the Cloaks of the Shepherds of Ara- 
 bia ; and certain Men held up one End of their Robe. 
 Iliey had each a long Flambeau in their Hands ; 
 and you might have taken thefe for Pikemen, who 
 conftituted the Body of the Army. T'iiey form'd 
 a fcjuare Battalliun, as it were, round the dead Man, 
 who was carried o\\ the Slioulders of four Perfons. 
 The Rear-Guard, which ciofed the March, was a 
 Croud of People drcf^M in Black, with a Man {talk- 
 ing at the Head of 'cm, cover'd all over with black 
 Crape. Cuiiofity tempting me to fee the End of 
 a Ceremony fo extraordinary, I follow'd the Funeral 
 Convoy ; which was no fuoncr arrived in tiie 
 Church, but the dead Body was plac'd in the midft 
 of fcveral flaming Torches, and furroundcd by Priefts, 
 who took their leave of it, by fniging certain Airs, 
 and Songs. I was too far ofF to diffijiguifli wi»it 
 they faid to the Corpfe, but it feem'd to me as if 
 they wifiv d it abundance of Peace, Tranquility, and 
 a perfe(Sl Prcfervation of Sight ^. Before the Dc- 
 eeafed was let down into the Vault, they had a mind. 
 to fee, by way of Precaution, if he was not in a. 
 Swoon only ; for which end, a young Man brought 
 a Pot full of Water f , and every one fprinkled it on 
 his-P'ace. As he gave wo Sign of Life, he was ihut 
 
 * Aaron Mcjiccca alludes to tho^e Words in the Ofnce 
 ©f the Dead, Do^a eis Requiem, ^ Lux pcrpetua lucent 
 eis, i. c. Grue them R.fjl^ and let Light e'verlajiingfijinc 
 upon them. 
 
 f Holy Water, which the Prices fprinkle upon the 
 dead Bodies, to keep ofF evil Spirits. 
 
 P 6 intQ 
 
6o 7^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 9. 
 
 into a Tomb ; after which another little Air was. 
 fung at his Grave, by way of taking the laft Fare- 
 Vv'ell of him. I cou'd not guefs at the Reafon of 
 this Ceremony. I wou'd fain know, methinks, 
 whether the Nazarenes believe that the Dead in the 
 other World are metamorphos'd into little Children, 
 snd to be hufh'd to Sleep by Lullabies. 
 
 We are charg'd with having too many Ceremo- 
 nies in our Religion. Can there be any more ridi- 
 culous, or in greater Number than there are among 
 the Nazarenes F What muft a living Perfon think 
 to fee People fmging at the Grave of the Dead ? I 
 know no greater Folly, except it be that of dancing 
 at it. 
 
 Farewell, dear Ifaac^ and thank God for having 
 leveal'd his Law to thee. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 Isaac Onis, a Rahhi, at Conftantinople. 
 
 B 
 
 io Aaron Monceca. 
 
 Cotiflantinople 
 
 Y the Captain of a Ship that arriv'd yefterday 
 in this Port, I have juft receiv'd four of thy 
 Letters. 'Tis like they were floppM at Marfeilles^ 
 but our Correfpondent has fent them all by the fiime 
 Vcflel. I make no doubt of thy Surprize at the 
 Novelties thou haft feen. The firft time that I fet 
 cut from Conftantinopk for Viennay I was in the 
 fame Cafe as thou art. Being bred up to the Le- 
 i)antme Manners and Cuftoms, I thought every 
 thing €Xtragrdinary that did not refembje them. I 
 
 Jaugh'd 
 
Let. p. 7^/6^ Jewish Spy. 6j 
 
 laugh'd heartily at thy Miftake about the Singers at 
 the Opera, and thy Confufion at the Sermon. I 
 fhtw'd thy Letters to Ofman Bajha *, who for 
 fome Days paft has been in this Country. He thought 
 thee very right in thy Judgment, as to the State of 
 the Sciences in France. Thy ReflecSlions upon our 
 Rehgion occahon'd a fmart and merry Dilpute be- 
 tween his Secretary and me. He is a young Man, 
 who has been about three Years a Mahoiiutan. He 
 was one while a Monk ; after which, being tir'd of 
 the Nazarcne Religion, he turn'd Turk. The Bafha 
 feeing him, and finding him to be a Man of fome 
 Genius, took him into his Service. He wou'd fain 
 have prov'd to me, that the Mahometan was the 
 true Religion; that it contain'd Judaifm refin'd, fuch 
 as it was at the Time that God gave the Tables to 
 Mofes, I was furprizM to fee him fo zealous for 
 Mahomet, I thought that he was as bad a Turk as 
 he was a Nazarctis. The Arguments he mads ufe 
 of in the Difputation, were fuch an Amufcment to 
 Ofinan^ that he order'd him to make a Summary 
 of them, that he might examine the fame at his 
 Leifure ; and I herewith fend thee a Copy of it, as 
 it was drawn up by the Secretary ; and fetting afide 
 all Prejudice, pray fend me word what thou think'ft 
 of it. 
 
 The Sentiments of i/^/)', Secretary to Ofman Bajha^ 
 formerly Count de BonnevaL 
 « We MufTulmen have the fame Ceremonies and 
 
 * the fame Faith as you Jews in all Articles of Im- 
 
 * portance. One God alone, the Immortality of the 
 « Soul, the Punifhment of the Wicked, the Reward 
 ^ of the Righteous, the Circumcifion, the Abhor- 
 < rence of Images, the Obfervation of the Sabbath- 
 ^ Day ) and our Mofques as well as your Synagogues 
 
 ; The Count de Bmne^aK 
 
 *■ are 
 
62 The Jewish Spy. Lcr. p. 
 
 are not polluted with Idols. When we faft, we 
 don't eat, any more than you, till afterSun-fet. We 
 have a Refped for the Memory o{ Mofes^ and the 
 Prophets. We look with Veneration upon the 
 City of Jerufalefn. We abftain from prohibited 
 Meats. This is in all Points antient Judoifm ; 
 this is the Faith of Ij'racl in its greateit Luflre, 
 and fuch as fubfifted in the Time of David. 
 ' Let us now examine who have mofl: alter'd it, 
 and added to it, whether v/e or you. 
 ' One of the two things which vou reproach'd us 
 for, confifts in the Worlhip we pay to the Mejpah *. 
 But why are not you willing that we fhould ac- 
 knowledge he is come into the W^orld, when there 
 are fo manv evident Proofs of it ? How do you 
 fettle your eternal Expectation of him with the 
 Weeks of Daniel? You have loft your Reckon- 
 ing ; and tir'd as you are with making imperfedt 
 Calculations, you have rather chofe to fay tliat 'twas 
 a Myftery you wou'd hearken to no longer. You 
 get off much in the fame manner as to the Ex- 
 planation of that Prophecy, wherein 'tis fo clearly 
 laid, that the Sceptre fiiall not depart from the 
 Houfe of "Jiidah till the Arrival of him tliat is to 
 come. I know you argue thiit the Prophecy does 
 not mean a Sceptre, but that the V/ord there us*d 
 fignifies a Kod of Tribulation ; and by the Help 
 of a forc'd Turn, whidi you give to this Paffage, 
 you wou'd make it ferve yourPurpofe. Yet, not- 
 w^ithftanding all the Endeavours of your Rabbies 
 to throw a Cloud over the Prophets, you know 
 the Story of one of your moft famous Doctors,. 
 When he was dying he fent for his Family, and as 
 they were rang'd about his Bed, he faid to them, , 
 / am afraid that Jefus of Nazareth, whom our 
 * The Turks look upon tlie Mejfah as a great Prophet j 
 and alfo have a great Veneration for the Apoflles. 
 
 ^ Fathers 
 
Let. 9. Tke Jewish S p y. 63 
 
 ' Fathers crucify* d^ is the Meinah. He died foon 
 
 « after, and all their Endeavours to conceal this Rab- 
 
 ' bi's Doubts from the Public were to no purpofe. 
 
 ' But after all, fuppofing for once that we are 
 
 ' mifl-aken in thinking that the McJJiah is arriv'd, 
 
 ' let us fee, whether our Deviation from true Ju- 
 
 * daifm in any material Article, is the Confequtnce 
 
 * of our holding that Opinion. Not at all, for we 
 ' ftill believe in the fame Ceremonies, the fame 
 ' fundamental Points which fix'd the Law of Ifraely 
 ' when Jerufalcm was in its Glory. What Harm 
 ' can it be to honour a Prophet, a great Man, a 
 *• Legiflator, whofe Morals are fo beautiful, and fo 
 
 * conducive to the Peace and Tranquility of Society ? 
 
 * If he has taught us to make any Addition to an- 
 ' tient Judaifm, they are Sentiments fo refin'd that 
 < 'tis plain they come from Heaven ; and if Alofcs 
 
 * did not infpirc the anticnt Jews with it, 'twas be- 
 
 * caufe he knew that their Hearts were too much 
 
 * hardened to imbibe them. We have therefore 
 
 * made no other Changes in the ancient Religion 
 ' than refining the moral Part, and rendring to the 
 
 * Preacher of it to us the Glory which was due to 
 ' him. We have not carried Matters to an Extre- 
 
 * mity as the Chriftians, and whereas- they are en- 
 
 * tirely departed from Judaifm, we have done no- 
 
 * thing more than refin'd it. 
 
 ' You reproach us alfo with the profound Vene- 
 
 * ration we have for Mahomet. Why may not we 
 
 * be allowed to honour the Ambaflador. of God, 
 
 * the Perfon who, after Mofes and Jejus^ came to 
 
 * bring Light upon the Earth, and to complcat the 
 
 * Law of God, of whom he is the Favourite ? 
 
 ' Let us now fee if you have not made Altera- 
 
 * tions that are more confiderable. Since your Dif- 
 
 * perfion you have fail'd in themoft neceflary Points 
 
 * of the Law. You have left off Circumcifion \n 
 
 * Spain y and yet notwithftanding the Danger of it, 
 
 ' nothing 
 
^4 27?^ Jewish Spy. Let. g. 
 
 ' nothing could oblige you to difcontlnue another 
 . ' material Ceremony. One while you bought and 
 ' facrific'd Infants in i^r^«^^ ; and, contrary to the 
 ^ Will of God, you fprinkled the Altars which you 
 ' eredled to him witli human Blood, tho* you were 
 
 * exprefsly forbid to facrifice out of Jerufalem. I 
 ' do not mention all the idle Dreams of your Doc- 
 ' tors. Where have you found in the ancient Books, 
 
 * that you were forbid to cut Bread with certa?n 
 
 * Knives, and that you were not allov/ed to drink 
 
 * the Wine of Grapes, which yourfelves had not 
 
 * prefs'd. In what part of Genejisy D cuter ommy^ or 
 *• the Pfalms of David^ have you read that wicked 
 
 * Principle, that it is an Article of Religion to de- 
 
 * ceive all thofe that are not of yours? I know 
 
 * that you don't own publicly that you entertain 
 
 * thofe Sentiments. The Reafon of it is evident, 
 
 * People would be much more upon their Guard, 
 ' and you would find it a hard matter to perform 
 ' the P'unftions of your new Judaifm. Agree then, 
 
 * that you have only the Name of the antient JewSy 
 < and that the Mufliilmen have the Religion. ' 
 
 'Twill be eafy for thee, my dear Monceca^ to dif- 
 cover the weak fide of this Writing, and the So- 
 phiftry with which it abounds. I will confefs to thee 
 that I have found out the Whim of it. Many Per- 
 fons have reproach'd us with being in an Error, but 
 no body ever attempted to prove to us that the Ma- 
 hometam were true yews under a different Name. 
 
 I wifh that fo fmgular an Opinion may be as ac- 
 ceptable to thee as thy Letters are to me, which put 
 me in mind of every thing that I faw in Germany ; 
 where I met with all the Charadters thou feeft in 
 Parisy fuch as Feths Maitres^ gay Ladies, hypocri- 
 tical Monks, Knaves, l^c. 
 
 If one takes a general View of Mankind, we 
 may perceive a very great Refemblauce betv/ixt one 
 
 Nation. 
 
Let. 9. The J e w i s h S p y. 6^ 
 
 Nation and another. The DIfFerence of Climate 
 does not change their Hearts, they drefs after the 
 Fafhion of the Country, and that's all. People are 
 in love at CojiftantinopU as much as at Paris. The 
 Turks are as much addicted to Gallantry as the Pa- 
 ■rifians ; but 'tis in a different Tafte. Here Silence 
 is the Life and Soul of an Intrigue ; the leaft Indif- 
 cretion hazards all : Neceflity, and not Inclination, 
 forces a Lover to be filent. A different Cuftom ex- 
 cufes a Frenchman from fo many Precautions : and 
 if he is not fo very careful of concealing the Fa- 
 vours of his Miftrefs, 'tis becaufe he has not fo much 
 to fear. A Turk wou'd perhaps be altogether as in- 
 difcreet, if his Intereft did not oblige him to the 
 contrary. Thofe Airs of the Pet'its Maltrcs^ their 
 ?.ffe61ed P^afhions and Manners, are not unknown in 
 Turky. They appear under other Forms, yet are 
 the fame. The Plumes, the lac'd Clothes, the Spy- 
 ing or Ogling Glaffes, the Canes, the Snuff-boxes, 
 are transform'd here into the Habit of the ChcUbi *, 
 into a Turban trimm'd with fine Muflin, into a 
 Box of Perfumes, into a Pocket-Book for writing 
 down Love-Verfes, and into Pipes of a very ffay 
 Tafte. 
 
 In all Countries the Foible of the Women is 
 Drefs. The Dcfiie of pleafmg a Lover who has 
 won their Hearts,, and their Boldnefs in leaving no 
 Stone unturned till they have fucceeded, is a PaiTion 
 which is natural to them. All the Difference is 
 how they fhall come at their Point. In France and 
 in Germany a Chambermaid deceives the Hufband, 
 while file carries Letters and does Service to the 
 Miftrefs. An Eunuch aits the very fame part here. 
 When the Frenchimn perceives it, he laughs at it, 
 or bears it with Patience. The Mahometan raves 
 
 * Chelihi; a young TurkiJ? Nobleman. 
 
 and. 
 
66 T^e ]e\vi SH Spy, Let. io. 
 
 and ftorms, but his Paffion makes no Alteration in 
 his Fate. Whether he bears it peaceably or not^ 
 he muft fubmit to it. The Monks too, at wJiofe 
 Adlions thou art amaz'd, may be match'd here for 
 their Avarice, their Knavery, their Hypocrifv, their 
 Sloth, and their Unprofitablenefs to the Ccmmon- 
 Weal. All is alike to a Nazarenc Fryar and a Ma- 
 hometan Dervife. 
 
 Don't complain ix^ thou doft not receive my Let- 
 ters punaually : for the few Ships that fail from hence 
 put it out of my pov/er to be regular in that refpe6t* 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis 
 a Rabbij at Gonlkntinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 ABundance of grotefque Figures and Idols are 
 carry'd about the Streets here with great Cere- 
 mony, which they call the Shrines of Saints. They 
 are convoy'd in the fame manner as I acquainted' 
 thee, the Dead v/ere carry'd to their Graves ; and 
 except their Veftments, which are not black, there 
 is no Difference. Thefe Pagods have their particular 
 Days, mark'd in the Courfe of the Year, for their 
 Proceffion. The one don't incroach upon the Rights 
 of another j and be an Idol ever fo impatient to 
 take the Air, and vifit the Streets, it mufl flay till 
 its Feftival comes. 'Till then 'tis carefully laid up, 
 and never flirs out of its Cafe without the Leave of 
 the Ciiurch- Wardens. Every one of thefe Shrines has 
 Its particular Province in the Government of Na- 
 ture. One commands the Winds, another the Seas, 
 aaother prefides over the Fruits oi the Earth. One 
 
 of 
 
Let. lo. T/:?^ Jewish Spy. 6j 
 
 of the moft confiderable is that which has the Power 
 of bringing down Rain, upon w^hich account 'tis 
 the iirft in Rank, and has the Prerogative of being 
 carry 'd abroad oftner than the others. There are 
 many others, whofe Pov/er is more circumfcrib'd. 
 lliefe prefide over the Eye-fight, the Tooth-ach, 
 the Gout, the Peftilence, Voyages, Enterprizes, 
 Trade, the Difcovery of Thing5 loft ; and have the 
 fame Attributes as the Houfhold Gods of the An- 
 cients that were called Lares ox Penates. The Peo- 
 ple's firm Belief in the Power of thefe Shrines, is 
 like to occafion a new Syftcm in natural Philofophy;, 
 a Phyfician having by the Help of thofe Shrines 
 found out a Method for the eafy Explanation of all 
 the Secrets of Nature ; and as this Philofophy is 
 perfcdly agreeable to tlie Monks, 'tis probable they 
 will do every thing in their Power to bring it into 
 vogue. 
 
 1 have formerly acquainted you of fcveral Things 
 relating to the learned Men of this Country, tho' I 
 could not then enter into Particulars : but having 
 fuice made an acquaintance with fome of 'em, am 
 now better qualify'd to fatisfy you upon that Head,. 
 
 The learned Men o( Paris maybe diftinguifli'd, as 
 tlicGrrt^h divided their Deities, into Gods and Demi- 
 Gods. The Sciolifts, or Smatterers in Knowledge, 
 fwarm in France. Every body here afFe6ls to be 
 witty; 'tis the Poible of the Nation, infomuch that 
 they had rather be reckon'd Knaves than Block- 
 heads ; and the Man who does not value any Cen- 
 fure on the account of the Scandaloufnefs of his Be- 
 haviour, v/ould be extremely forry if he be not 
 thought capable of gucfling at the i^nigma's in the 
 lylcrcnrc Galemt, and compofmg a Madrigal. 
 
 The Women too aficdl: to be fovereign Jadgts of 
 the Merit of Compofitions, and what is fomewhat fm- 
 gular, their Decificns are often preferable to thofc of 
 
 the 
 
6S Tl^^ Jewish Spy-. Let. ro. 
 
 the Men. They have a certain natural Delicacy, 
 which not being deprav'd by ill-digefted Studies, 
 renders their Tafte much nicer and more folid than 
 that of the Sciolifts. The fuperior Genius's that 
 liv'd in the Reign of Lewis XIV. have not had their 
 Places fupply'd for thefe fifteen or twenty Years 
 paft ; and it feems as if Nature chofe that Period to 
 form a Number of great Men in the Arts and Scien- 
 ces, that every thing might be anfwerable at the 
 fame time to the Greatneli of that Monarch. 
 
 Yet there are ftill feveral illuflrious Men, whom 
 we ou2;ht in Juftice to place in the firft Rank. The 
 oldeft of them all * is an excellent Philofopher, a 
 good Poet in his youthful Days, an able Critic, and 
 a great Natural Philofopher in his riper Age.Would'ft 
 thou believe, that a Man endow'd with fuch uncom- 
 mon Talents ihould be fo vain or fo weak as to take 
 a wrong Turn at laft? He abandon'd his Brethren 
 the Men of Learning, and fet up for the Head or 
 Patro;\ c> ^he Pigmies and Novices of Parnajfus, 
 He proftituted his learned Pen to defend their Re- 
 veries, and the Public was furpriz'd to fee fuch a 
 Man as he defending fo bad a Caufe. The Point 
 in queftion was to prove the Superiority of the Mo- 
 derns over the Antients. As chimerical as this En- 
 terprize was, perhaps their Equality might be de- 
 monftrated, if this Subje6twas treated with the Ex- 
 a61:nefs and Impartiality that it requires. But this 
 ridiculous Difpute was carry 'd to fuch a Height, as 
 to affirm that Ho?nerw2.s 2i Dotard, DemoJIhenes a 
 Brawler, Virgil a very ordinary Poet ; they wanted 
 to be taught how to fpeak their own Language. 
 They are reproach'd with lovv' Expreffions, ignoble 
 Terms ; and a Man born upon the Banks of the 
 Seir.e^ three thoufand Years after the Death of Horner^ 
 l^retended to tell him the Choice of Words, and 
 
 thje 
 * Eontenelle. 
 
Let. lo. The Jewish Spy. 6^ 
 
 the Dignity of the Greek Phrafes. What was pretty 
 fingular in this Difputc was the Difference betwixt 
 the Adverfarics. All the Men of true Learning, all 
 the Genius's of the firft Clafs,-were for the Party 
 of the Antients j they own'd their Obligations for 
 what they knew, to the reading of tlieir Works, and 
 faid that their Opponents were the Scandal of Lite- 
 rature, and the very Excrement of the Belles Let- 
 ires. Confequently they were foon reduc'd to Si- 
 lence, and in their Confufion they apply'd themfelves 
 to the learned Man of whom I Jiiade mention to 
 thee. They offer'd to own him for their Mailer, 
 He was tickled with the pleafmg Idea of being the 
 Head of a Party, and wrote very bad Things witii 
 a great deal of Wit. In all probabihty he will foon 
 condemn them ; for the Naznreties are oblig'd upon 
 their Death-Bed to confefs the Lyes they have told 
 in their Life-time ; and as he is far advanc'd in Years, 
 I fancy ''t will not be lono; before he makes fuch 
 an authentic Reparation to the good Writings that 
 he has criticised, as will ferve to wipe out the only 
 Stain with which his Honour has been tarnifh'd. 
 
 The Cuftom of the Nazannes to confefs all their 
 A6lions to their Priefts, makes them Mafters of 
 the Secrets of all Families. The fovereign Pontiff, 
 while he fits on his Throne in the middle of the 
 City of Ronie^ may know the very Thoughts not only 
 of an European and an African but an Indian Na- 
 zarene. If he does not care to know Particulars, 
 'tis always in his Power to know them whenever 
 he defires it ; and to give a perpetual Proof of the 
 Authority he has of reading in People's Hearts, he 
 referves to himfelf the Cognizance of certain Crimes 
 throughout Chriftendom, of which he alone has the 
 Power of granting Pardon. To ftrike a Fryar, to 
 write againll: him, if^c. Thefe are Crimes which 
 he alone can abfolve. If I was a Nazarene^ the 
 
 Letter 
 
70 T/je ]ewish Spy. Let. lO. 
 
 Letter I write to thee wou'd oblige me to take the 
 Tour of Italy, but had I murder'd half a dozen 
 Men, and robb'd half a fcore Families, I fhouM be 
 excus'd, by confefTmg it to the iirft Monk I met 
 with, and fully abfolvM on the Depofit of fome Alms 
 for the ufe of him, or his Convent. Was I very 
 rich, perhaps I might be oblig'd to make fome pi^ 
 ous Foundation ; But then I fnould have the Re- 
 mainder of my Abfolution, and might make ufe of 
 the Cudgel into the bargain, without its being charg'd 
 to my Account, the iirft time that I return'd to 
 make a Report of it. 
 
 This Abfolution, of which the Priefts are the 
 fole Depofitaries, is to them as valuable as if they 
 had the Mines of Peru and Potofi. They look upon 
 it as Land, the Cultivation of which, maintains 
 them; they have fettled the Revenues of it at 
 three different Payments, which they demand on the 
 Days of their three chief Feftivals ; and by a fpecial 
 Favour they have granted to the young Lords and 
 Ladies of the Court the Privilege of paying it at 
 once, from which nothing however can excufe 
 them. Yet there are many People who cheat the 
 Priefts of their Duties. There was one Man who 
 in the very articulo mortis^ confefs'd that he had 
 been a Smuggler this way for twenty or thirty 
 Years paft. The Men of Drefs, and of Learning, 
 are very apt to cheat in this refpe6l. There are 
 many of the former who never pay but in Extre- 
 mity, when they are oblig'd to it by Diftempers, 
 Prejudices and Fear ; and among the latter, feveral 
 die without paying their Debts. The Monks alfo 
 take care to declaim againft fuch Abufe j and to 
 remedy it as far as in their power, they have made 
 a Contract with the Fallen Angels \ by which the 
 latter oblige themfelves to lay hold on all fuch as 
 die without having paid the Duties. The Monks 
 
 have 
 
L€t. 10. The Jewish Spy. 71 
 
 have made this Contract public, and very often 
 take care to renew the Memory of it. This Alli- 
 ance which they have contracSled with the infernal 
 Spirits, has prov'd fo aftonifhing to feme Nazarenes^ 
 that they cou'd not find in their Hearts to die, tho* 
 they had paid the Duties. They ftill fear'd that the 
 Devils would play fome Tricks with them. To 
 allay their Fears, fome Nazarene Doctors invented 
 a fort of Receipt to ferve them as a Pallport, and 
 they laid a fmall Duty upon this Acquittance, which 
 increafed their Revenues, by means of the Precau- 
 tion taken by many people to provide tliemfelvcs 
 therewith, before their Departure to the other 
 World. Thefe Paflports put me in mind of a cer- 
 tain Sentence of the Alcoran, wliich fdmefuperftitious 
 Turks caufe to be laid in the Grave with them, not 
 doubting but their Prophet will think the better of 
 them for fo pious an AcSlion. 
 
 What Error, dear Jfaac^ what Blindnefs is here! 
 We fhall have no fafe Condu6l after we die but 
 our good Deeds : 'Tis a pure Confcience that gives 
 us a noble Aflu ranee, when we are ready to under- 
 take this Voyage. When a Man hasliv'd innocent, 
 what need he fear Death, which puts an end to all 
 our Troubles ; whereas here we are unfortunate Pil- 
 grims, the Dupes of PafTions, and a Prey to all the 
 Rigours of Fortune that can give us Vexation ? If 
 Heaven had not commanded us not to attempt our 
 own Lives, I fhouM approve of the Cuftom obferv'd 
 in certain Towns in the time of Pompey^ when 
 a Man who was very unfortunate was allow 'd to 
 demand Poifon, which was kept for that Purpofe 
 in the Republic, and of which the Magilfrates 
 were the wife Difpenfcrs, and judg'd whether the 
 Misfortunes complain'd of, were fo violent as to 
 deferve the public Remedy. But how could their 
 Judgments be jufl? Man only fees thro* the Veil 
 
 of 
 
ji T';6^ Jewish Spy. Let it. 
 
 cf his Paflions, and is by them always determin'd. 
 An unfortunate Lover would fay, that he ought to 
 have all the Poifon, that was ready to die for the 
 Lofs of a Miftrefs. A Gamefter wou'd think that 
 he ought rather to have the Dofe that had loft his 
 Money. An ambitious Perfon wouM grant it witli 
 more Pleafure to a difgracM Courtier. And I am 
 of opinion, that thofe Judges, when they were not 
 fenfible of the fame Paftions as he who prefented 
 his Petition, granted it to him oftner out of pure Fa- 
 vour than from a real Perfuafion that he wanted it. 
 
 The Poft is juft going oiF, and I conclude my 
 Letter. Take care of thy Health, dear Ifaad and 
 profper every day more and more. 
 
 L E T T E R XL 
 Jacob Brito/oAaron Monceca, 
 
 Rome 
 
 T Still continue to examine the Beauties of Rom^^ 
 •*■ and am equally pleas'd and aftonifh'd to fee the 
 Ruins of the Grandeur of thofe famous Romans. 
 i went yefterday to fee the Capitol. On the Ruins 
 of that ancient Pile they have built a modern Pa- 
 lace, of which Michael Angelo the famous Architect 
 gave the Model. After having examin'd all the Cu- 
 riofities of it, a wide Field open'd to my Reflexions, 
 I faid to myfelf. If Marius, Sylla, Caefar, Sertorius 
 and Pompey, were hut to return to the Worlds and 
 to he carried to Rome, without knowing hef ore-hand 
 the Alterations it had midergone^ how greatly would 
 they he furpriz^d! They wou'd think to take their 
 Places in the Capitol, and wou'd fee them fill'd by 
 
 a dozen 
 
Let. II. 7)5'^ Jewish Spy. 73 
 
 a dozen of Lords. They wou'd find the old Senators 
 metamorphos'd into Abbes, and the Order of Knights 
 chang'd into a Swarm of Monks. Inftead of the 
 Li6lors and Fafces that preceded and follow'd the 
 Roman Confuls, they would fee a Prelate guarded by 
 his Tipflaves, or elfe fome Cardinal going abroad ia 
 FiQco^ as they call it, or in State. JVloat are become 
 of the Legions^ they would fay, are they encamped near 
 Rome ? They would go to the Field of Mars, and 
 find nothing there but Brambles and Serpents. O 
 ye Romans, they wou'd cry, what is become of your 
 Love of Glory ? IFhat have you done with that mar- 
 tial Ardour which rendered you the Majlcrs of ths 
 TVorld ? At thcfe Qiicflions the People wou'd laugli 
 heartily. If they wanted to vifit the Arfcnals, to fee 
 the Condition of the Arms, and the Expence which 
 the Republic is capable of la^'ing out, they would 
 be carried into the Vatican Library, where they 
 would be (hewn the Bulls of Excommunication that 
 have been fulminated, or that are ready for \c upon 
 the^firfl Opportunity. If they wanted to know the 
 true Stare of the P'inanccs, the Funds which produc'd 
 ilicm, the Method taken to raife the Subfidics, 
 Chefts would be open'd to them that are full of In- 
 dulgencies. Bulls, and Nominations to Benefices. 
 If tJiey were curious to enquire what Rewards arc 
 given to Citizens that have diftinguifhed thcmfelvcs, 
 and what Statues are eredled to them, they wor.'d 
 be fliew'd Strings of Beads, Agmis-DePs, and Re- 
 liques blefs'd by the Pope. If they enquired where 
 the triumphal Crowns were, Mitres, and Red Caps 
 wou'd be fet before them. If they ask'd to fee the 
 Kings of Bithynia, Comagcna, Armenia^ Pontus, and 
 many other Sovereigns, daily making their Court to 
 the leaft of the Senators, they wou'd prefent ycu 
 Vv'ith the Pretender and his two Sons. And, if their 
 Curiofity reached fo far, as to know the Princes 
 Vol. I. E they 
 
74 T/^^ Jewish Spy. Let. h. 
 
 they have conquer'd, they would be told of the Af- 
 faiTiiiation of Kenry III. and his SuccefTor, Hen- 
 ry IV. 
 
 l^o'9i think, dear Aaron^ that were thofe illuftrlous 
 Men, full of the antient Grandeur of their Coun- 
 try, but to fee how low 'tis funk, they wou'd be , 
 lefs furpriz'd than we are at the Novelties we fee ? I 
 fancy they wou*d be more fo ; and that if Ccefar 
 were now alive, 'twould be more difficult for him 
 to find out an old Roman in a modern Italian^ 
 than it wou'd be for thee to guefs at the true Ufe 
 and Purpofe of the moft intricate Ceremony of the 
 Na'zarenes. 
 
 Pleafures have taken a new Face in this City, 
 the Carnival Seafon having render'd them more 
 lively. I went yeflerday to the Opera, at w^hich 
 there were no Singers but Men. I ask'd the Rea- 
 iow of it ; and was anfwer'd, That it was not con- 
 venient for Women to perform in public in the 
 Holy City. But I mufl tell thee, that there is no- 
 thing fo ridiculous as this prepofterous Delicacy. 
 There are in two Streets at Rojne^ call'd La Sereine 
 and La Longare^ no lefs than 2 or 300 Whores. 
 'Tis a Miftake that they pay a Tribute to the Pon- 
 tiiF, as is commonly faid ; but they are tolerated, 
 and even protected, by the Governor of Rome. I 
 beg thee to confider which is more worthy of the 
 Holy City ; either 300 Houfes of Debauchery, or 
 a Couple of fmging Women, whofe Behaviour 
 is very regular. Befides, their Places are fupply'd 
 by Men, who, that they may have good Voices, 
 are depriv'd of tlie Means of becoming the Fathers 
 of Families. 
 
 This Crime, which, in my Opinion, favours of 
 Barbarity, and which the Turks thcmfelves would 
 not fuffer, were it not for their exceflive Jealoufy, 
 is pradis'd every day in the Heart of Rome. A Fa- 
 ther, 
 
Let. II. Tke ]e\vish Spy, jf 
 
 ther, for vile Lucre, renders his Son, at his very 
 Birth, incapable of perpetuating his Family, and 
 puts him in a State wherein he is neither Man nor 
 Woman. I cannot conceive how they can tolerate 
 fuch a Cuftom. Are not Men unhappy enough 
 thro* the Misfortunes to which they are fubje6l by 
 Nature, without procuring them new ones ? By a 
 fundamental Law among the Naxarenes^ all Eu- 
 nuchs are excluded from Ecclefiaftical Honours and 
 Preferments : Neverthelefs, the Pontiff has found 
 out a Salvo for this Law. As he cannot repair the 
 Damage caus'd by the Operation, he allows the 
 Prieflhood to be given to fucli as wear a leathern 
 Pouch at their Breafl:, containing the fad Reliqucs 
 of their Shame. 
 
 Nor is this the only comical Expedient made ufe 
 of by the Pontiffs to accommodate the Lavrs of their 
 Predeceffors to their own Whimfies : They invent a 
 thoufand things every day, that arc altogether as 
 ridiculous. This is a Reflraint upon them, whicji 
 they are obliged to fubmit to, or otherwife they couM 
 not fupport their Infallibility : For, If one altered 
 ^nd condemned what was done by another, there 
 would be no fuch thing as Security In their Determi- 
 nation. And it is an effential Article of the Kaza- 
 rene Religion, as I have already informed thee, to 
 believe, that the Pontiff thinks rationally, even when 
 he is miftaken. 
 
 The Honours that are paid to him refemble thofe 
 which are referv'd to the Deity. There is Pruilra- 
 tion made at his Feet, and they kifs his Slippers with 
 RefpecSl. A Ceremony, from v/hich the grcatell of 
 the Nazarene Kings are not excufed, but look upon 
 it as an Honour. 
 
 When the Pontiff is defied, he is feated on the 
 Altar of the chief Temple of the Nazarenes f, where 
 t On the high Altar of St. Peier"^ Church. 
 
 E 2 the 
 
7^ T/oe Jewish Svw Let it. 
 
 the People, being alTembled, fall on their Knees, 
 wcrfhip him, deiire him to give them the BlefTings 
 of this World, and pray to him to fecure to them 
 thofe of the World to ccme. The High Priclt in- 
 clines to their Prayers. For a Pledge of his Promife, 
 he extends two Fingers of his Hand, and m.akes a 
 Motion v/ith the Arm ; by which fmgle Geflure, 
 their Sins are remitted. Mankind becomes virtuous, 
 and nature changes its Face : So heretofore Jupiter 
 among the Pagans mov'd Olyfnpus with a Glance of 
 the Eye. He is afterwards carried in Triumph to 
 his Palace. To complcat the Happinefs of the Ro- 
 mans^ he has nothing more to do, than foon to de- 
 part this Life. 
 
 What I am now faying will feem odd to thee ; 
 and, unlefs I explain it to thee, thou wilt not com- 
 prehend the Meaning of it. Every Eledlion of a 
 Pope is of ccnfiderable Advantage to the City. It 
 brings a Concourfe of Foreigners, makes a Change in 
 the Miniftry, and in Offices 5 and every one propo- 
 fcs to get fomething by the Alteration, except the 
 Kindred of the deceas'd Pontiff, who are great Lo- 
 fers by his Death. The Favour which they enjoy 
 in his Life-time is called Ntpotif?n. As the High- 
 Priefts have no lav/ful liTue, becaufe they are not 
 marry'd, this Tei-m is thought very proper to explain 
 the Power of their Family during the Courfe of their 
 their Pontificate. There has been a Favourite, who 
 has carry 'd Nepotifm to a greater Height than De- 
 fpotifm is at Conjiantmople^ and who has plundered 
 more in 3 Years, than 20 Viziers have done in 50. 
 
 The Romans^ when they wifh for a new Pon- 
 tiff, don't underftand their Interefts. It would be 
 better for them to gratify the Avarice of one, 
 Avho, after being cloy'd, wou'd let them be quiet, 
 tiian to be a Prey to the infatiable Appetites 
 
 oi 
 
Lcr. IX. TZ^ Jewish Spv. 7/ 
 
 of 30, rucceeding one another in a little fpace of 
 Time. 
 
 To repair the Evils owing to thi."-' Nepotifm, the 
 Fiigh-Prieflii have affum'd an abiblute ov/ay ovck 
 the Seafons, the Elements, and the Fruits of the 
 Earth, by which means they reflore to the Pcopl j 
 ^or at kail- make them believe fo) what their Fami- 
 ly and Favourites take from them. 
 
 Some time ago there was an aflonifhing Number 
 of Caterpillars which gnawM and dcftroyM all tlu 
 Trees, and every one coaiplain'd of 'em. Recoiu .V 
 was had to the fovcreigii Pontiff, who [promifcd to 
 drive thefe Infcdts out of tiie Land ; but, being not 
 fure that he cou'd do it, and doubting v^'hcther the 
 Caterpillars were fo complaifant and tractable as to 
 die at his Word of Command, he dcferiM it for a 
 good while under various Pretences, 'till at h-jigth 
 the Scafon being for advanc'd, and tjie cold Wca- 
 tlicr coming on, he imagined, that, with the help 
 of the approaching Winter, he might rifciue ]}is Au- 
 thority againft thofe Infedls ; he therefore fi.nt a 
 flngle Pjicft to excommunicate them in hio Name, 
 and to order them to prepare for Death with the ut- 
 moft fpeed. This they obey'd the more readily, be- 
 caufe it froze hard but 5 or 6 Days after the Decree 
 was publifh'd. The People cry'd out, J Aiiracle !. 
 Proceffions were made thro' the City, Shrines were 
 carry 'd in Triumph, and the Monks received a great 
 many Charities, to pay them for their Prayers. 
 
 Not long after this, an inferior * Pontiff afFecle'i 
 to imitate his Sovereign, but did not fucceed. His 
 Country was ravag'd by Grafhoppers, which he ex- 
 communicated three Years fucceillvelv^ ; but, pro- 
 bably, being of the Janfemj} Race, they appealed 
 againft it as an Abufe of the Pontiff's Decree, and. 
 
 * The PontifF of Aries. 
 
 E 3 did 
 
yS 77'^ Jewish Spy. Let. rz. 
 
 did not think fit to die, 'till the Year in which they 
 were not excommunicated. 
 
 Take care of thyfelf, dear A^onceca \ and may 
 thy Riches furpafs thy Defires. 
 
 ^^^m 
 
 LETTER XIL 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac OniSj 
 
 a RaWi at Conftantinople. 
 
 Parb 
 
 I 
 
 Went yefterday to an Afiembly of gay Ladies 
 and Gentlemen. The Marquis de Farfin^ of 
 whom I made mention to thee in the Beginning of 
 mv Letters, was the Man that carry'd me to it. I 
 h-id an Opportunity there of making Refle61ions on 
 the Craft of the Women, and the Treachery of the 
 Men. When I came in, I found them running 
 their Banter upon a certain Countefs, to whom, at 
 the fame time, they all pretended a Friendfhip. 
 
 I know not^ faid a young Woman, where the Couti" 
 iefs picks up all the old Stories that /he has been tiring 
 us with. Really 'tis not right for People to doat before 
 their Time. ' You are miftaken, Madam, faid a 
 ' Spark ivith an affected Air \ if Age gives a Right. 
 
 * to Perfons to be tirefome to the Public, the Coun- 
 *• tefs has been In pcffeflion of that Sanation for 
 
 * above a Year.' Tou are unlucky., reply'd another 
 V/ornan, Tkncw the Coimtejs ; Jke is not yet come to 
 her D eating- Age. She zcas marrfd the Tear that I 
 zvas born., at which time J})C ivas hut 24 Tears of Age ^ 
 mid I am now hut 32. ' Hov7, Madam ! cry'd 
 a certain CQ.vcoTnh^ ivith an Air of Swprize^ ' You 
 
 ' Ipolj; 
 
Let. 12. 77^ Jewish Spy. 79 
 
 ' look to be but a Child, and are you 32 Years of 
 
 * Age ! What you fay now is as furprifrng, as it Is 
 
 * incredible that the Countcfs (houH be but 56, 
 
 * tho'ftie owns no more than 40.' 
 
 Juil as they were determining the xA^ge of this 
 Countefs, fhe came into the Aficmbly, and they all 
 changed the Difcourfe ; v/hen that very Womar,,. 
 who had juft before (o liberally pafsM her Verdict on 
 her that fhe was 56 Yeais of Age, faid to her, Js 
 I hope to be fcru'd^ Madam, you have fuch a Mixture 
 of the Lilly and the Rofe in your CoinpkSiion^ and you 
 look fofrejhy that you dont fcem to he 30 Years of 
 Age. Yet I am fom.ething more, replyM the Coun- 
 tefs, with a Simper, and an artful Turn of her Eyes, 
 biting her Lips at the fame time, to render them 
 more of the verm ill ion Colour ; ' I have not, faid 
 
 * JJoe^ flept a Wink, all Night ; I was aft'iighted at 
 
 * my felf this Morning when I lookM in my Glafs, 
 
 * and really had refolved not to be fcen to-day, only 
 
 * my Impatience to join good Company determin' J 
 ' me to go abroad.' We ft.ould in that cafe have 
 been prodigious Suff'crers^ faid tlie Spark who had juft 
 before been tearing j^er Character to pieces ^ for no- 
 body^ Madam, diffufes more Gaiety in an Affenihly^ 
 than you do. I can fafely fwear^ that I had rather 
 hear Dne of the little Stories, with which you are fome- 
 times pleas' d to entertain uSy than the beji Tale iu Bcc- 
 cace or Fontaine. 
 
 I was aftonifh'd at what I heard, and thoiidit this 
 Treachery infufF&rable. I could not approve of the 
 Pleafure with which People caft a Ridicule on a Per- 
 fon with whom they conversed every day, and to 
 whom they gave the Title of Friend : But I was yet 
 more provok'd at the grofs Panegeric that was la- 
 vifli'd upon her, which I look'd upon as an Affront 
 of the deeper Dye, becaufe it eontain'd an Irony, 
 E 4. wiil*. 
 
8o Ti&^ Jewish Spr. Let. 12. 
 
 with which all that v/ere prefent were perfeilly ac- 
 quainted. 
 
 As foon as I had quitted this Afiembly, I couM 
 not help expreffing my Surprize to the Marquis 
 cle Farfiri. If all the People^ {aid I to him, with 
 vjhomyon True are fuch Dijfemhlcrs^ I pity you \ for you. 
 ea'ii't eafily give cndit to what one another fays. Who 
 tan afjlire you that People don^t talk fo extrava- 
 gantly of your J elf behind your back, as they do of 
 this Countefs ? Tloofe falfe-hearted People pretend to 
 he her Frieiids^ as they protefl to be ymirs. ' lliat 
 
 * gives me no pain, faid the Marquis^ I know Man- 
 *■ kind too well to be deceived by its vain Protella- 
 
 * tions of Friendfhip, or crjolKd by its fulfome 
 
 * Pralfes, thrown away without Difcernment, and 
 
 * without Foundation. I comply with Cuftom and 
 
 * Mode. I myfelf often commend what I think 
 
 * ridiculous, refervlng to myfelf the Power of laugh- 
 
 * ing at it, as Opportunity prefents. But^ faid I, 
 io what Purpofe ferves all this Difguife ? Why are the 
 Sc?itime?its of your Heart continually betrayed? Tour 
 jVlouth never interprets your Meaning : Sincerity is a 
 Virtue quite unknown to you. ' This, faid he ^ is the 
 
 * manner of living in this Country ; Diffimulation is 
 
 * the firmeft Knot of Society. As 'tis plain that no 
 
 * Man can be fo fure of his Heart, as to have a fin- 
 
 * cere AfFedion for a great many Perfons with whom 
 
 * he converfes, Reftramt is pra6lis'd. Artifice fup- 
 
 * plies the Place of Truth, Politenefs ftands for Sin- 
 
 * cerity, and Neceffity has rendered this Difguife ex- 
 
 * cufable.' 
 
 This, my dear Ifaac, is one of the principal Cau-- 
 fes of that Politenefs fo much boafled of among 
 the French, They owe this Quality, of which they 
 make fuch a public Oftentation, to nothing but the 
 want of Candour and Sincerity. Their Compliments, 
 their Civilities, their Flatteries, are the Confequences 
 
 of 
 
Let. 1 2 . The Jewish Sp v. Si: 
 
 of their DifTimiilation. A Philofopher ought to lock 
 upon their Praife, as fo much Poifon infus'd in a Li- 
 quor cieliclous to the Tafle. 
 
 A Man in this Country thinks of nothing more,, 
 tlian how to give fupcrficial PleafLire to all that he. 
 meets with. He falutcs one, flatters another. He 
 embraces a Perfon, of whom he has but a flight 
 Knowledge, with Marks of I'endernefs. One wouM 
 fwear, that every Frer.ch??ian wtiS a Titus ; r.nd that they 
 reckon the Davs in which they have not made fome 
 PeTfon iiappy, as fo many Days loll : But when one 
 fearches tlieir Temper to the bottom, their Trea- 
 chery foon appears. You fliall fee a Man Vv'ho h.as 
 been praihng another for ten Years together, an{( 
 yet loies no Opportunity to give a mortal Stab to 
 his Reputation, purely to gratify his latirlcal Vein. 
 The Genius of the French is turn'd to Scandal, 'l^is 
 the Foible of the Nation ; ' One Frienvi often facri-- 
 * fices another to the Pleafure of a Jeft, and thcjc: 
 ' are few Friendfliips in this Country ti^.at can ftand 
 ' the Tefl of a fmart Joke.' Nay, it is a hard mat- 
 ter to find People fo happy in any Acquaintance, 
 as to make them the Confidants of their Trotblc--,., 
 or the Depofitaries of their Secrets : And, as true 
 Friends are fcarce every where, they arc more fo iii 
 France^ than any where. 
 
 This cenforious and backbiting Teniper, which 
 prevails among the Fre?ich, puts a prodigious Con - 
 ftraint upon all their A6lions. They are cautious ot 
 the lealt Step they take, becaufc they know thac 
 they are inceflantly canvafs'd by jealous Eyes whicii 
 are on tlie Watch to ridicule them. So in all pub- 
 lic Aficmblies, at the Theatres, and in the Walkr,. 
 they take great heed of their Gefturc, their Mann i^i; 
 of v/alking and laughing,, the lone of their Voice,., 
 and efpecially of their Drefs. The Vv^omen carry thir. 
 Tail Article to a furprifing height. A General df>c j. 
 E 5 j;c.tr. 
 
82 The Jewish Spy. Let. ir. 
 
 not deliberate v/ith more Attention in a Council of 
 War, upon the Event of a Battle, than a Coquet 
 with her Chambermaids examine the good air of her 
 Gown and Head-drefs. The placing of a Patch at 
 the Corner of the Eye, to render it more lively, or 
 near the Lips, to make them of a more ruby Colour, 
 is an Affair that calls for a profound Attention. 
 Twenty Locking-glafles are confulted before they 
 come to a Determination. The Charms of this 
 fort have particular Names affix'd to them, which 
 exprefs their Qualities and Advantages. A Patch at 
 the Corner of the Eye, has its Name from that of 
 an AiTafrm. 
 
 A Woman wou'd not be fo uneafy to be confin'd 
 a Prifoner to her own Houfe for ten Years together, 
 as to be feen undref^'d but for a Moment in the Tmi- 
 hTics. This is a Name that is given to the Gardea 
 of the Kifig's Palace, which is the iineft, and moft 
 agreeable Walk in Parisy is very much frequented 
 in the line Seafon, and the common Rendezvous of 
 the Beans and Belles, who are always upon the 
 Look-out for Objefts to fcandalize. / can^t conceive^ 
 jays one, ivhat the Prefident's Lady means by taking 
 tije Abhc de * ^ ^ with her to the Tuilleries. Let her 
 flay with him all day long at home, Jhe has my Confcnt ; 
 buty fiire, foe ought not to cany him to the Walks ; 
 that^s fetting the Public at Defiance^ with a Witnefs, 
 « And why ihou'd not fhc, faid another ^ There's the 
 ' Marchiontfs and the Chevalier together ; fhe has 
 
 • been parted from her Husband about a Week ; 
 « but the Town-Talk gives her very little Uneafi- 
 
 * neft, and fhe carries it off with a good air.' 
 Scandal is the only Bufmefs of great part of the 
 
 Company that comes to v/alk in this Garden. There's 
 
 another * frequented by Perfcns of a different Cha- 
 
 racler, whofe fole Converfation is about News, 
 
 + Luxmhgurgo. 
 
 They 
 
Let. 12. The Jewtsit Sft. 8j 
 
 They interfere in the Affairs of all the Princes of 
 Europe. One affirms he has it from good hands, 
 that Thamas KouH-Kan will never enter into a Ne- 
 gociation with the Porte. Another proteils he is 
 fure of the contrary. A third gives his Judgment 
 on the Prehminaries of Peace between the Emperor 
 and France-, he offers to lay a hundred Pifloles that 
 it cannot be firm and durable, and that the War will 
 break out again in the Spring. An old Reformado 
 affirms that France will be oblig'd to make a Peace, 
 and that 'tis impofiible for her to carry on the War- 
 As a Proof of this, he takes notice how much fupe- 
 ripr the Soldiers of his Days were, in point of Cou- 
 rage, to thofc of the prefent Time ; and affirms, that 
 the Perfon who has not feen M. de Turenne^ cannot 
 be a Man of Courage. He laments for the Siege of 
 Philipsburg., which he treats like a little paltry Town, 
 and thinks, that the King's greatefl Strength confift:.' 
 in his Companies of Invalids. 
 
 * There's a third Garden, which indeed is not fo 
 much frequented now as when the Duke Regent was 
 alive, but is the Spot where Love and Plealure 
 fix'd their Refidcnce. There pafs'd but few days^ 
 in which fome Adventure did not happen to the pre- 
 judice of the Flonour of Hufbands. There Cupid 
 was perpetually at war with Hymen .^ upon which. 
 SubjeiSl 1 have been told a pleafant Story. Several 
 private Families have Doors of their own whiclilead 
 into this Garden. A Lover was conceal'd in a By- 
 Place expecting his Miftrefs, who had promis'd to 
 give him a Meeting in the Night, and was as good as 
 her word, by making her Hufband believe, after 
 Supper, that fhe wanted to take a turn but purely 
 for the Air: He the more readily confen ted to it^ be- 
 eaufe hmifelf had raade an AHignation in the fame- 
 Garden} and therefore, foon after (he was gone„ 
 * The Fatah RojaL 
 
 E 6. ks; 
 
$4 Z7j^ Jewi SH Spy. Let. 12. 
 
 he went In queft of his Miftrefs. The Place he chofe 
 to cool his own PaiTion, happen'd not to be far 
 from the very Spot where his Wife was cooling an- 
 other's. He heard a little Noife; and the Wife rea- 
 dily imagin'd,, that the People that fo were near her^ 
 were not fooling away their Time in idle Prattle. 
 Two or three Perfons that were walking in the Gar- 
 den, and coming near the Place where the Scene of 
 A<Slion was, interrupted the Performers, and forc'd 
 them to change their Situation. How great was 
 the Surprize of the two Gallants, when they found 
 that they v/ere even with one another, and that the 
 Wife of the one was the Miftrefs of the other! At 
 the firft Dafh theycou'd not (o far contain themfelves 
 but the People tho' unfeen, over-heard 'era, and 
 became fo well acquainted with the Adventure, that 
 jiext day they made it public. The unfortunate 
 Hufbands had no other way to check the Currency 
 of the Report, but by a perfect DilTimulation of their 
 Refentment, and by conforting themfelves v/ith the 
 Pvefle6lion, that they had been reveng'd on one anor 
 tber by Lex Talioms. 
 
 Farewell, dear Ifaac, They fay here that Ofmark, 
 Bafia t is dead. Pray, let me know whether it 
 be true; and, if fo, fend me the Particulars of the 
 Death of a Man fo extraodinary. 
 
 f The late Count de Bonm'vaL 
 
 LETTER 
 
Let. I J. The J e \v i s h S p y. 8 j 
 
 LETTER XIIL 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis, 
 
 a Rahbiy at Conftantinople. 
 
 'arts- 
 
 I 
 
 Went a wlille ago to make a. Vifit to the public 
 
 Libraries, of which there are feveral at Parisy_ 
 that have Manufcripts worthy of the Ciiriofity of 
 the Learned. Thefe Libraries are open upon cer- 
 tain Days of the Week, when the Librarians attend' 
 to fliew the Place of any Books that are wanted, as 
 well as to fee that none are carry'd away. 'Tis a 
 great Help to all thofe who apply to the Sciences, to 
 have the Conveniency of the ufe of fo many Writ- 
 ings, the bare collc£ling of which for thefe fcveral 
 Years, has cofl: a great deal of Pains and Money. 
 
 In thefe Libraries there are all forts of Books, even 
 tl^ofe the Naxarcnes look upon as prohibited ; whicli 
 renders them much more compleat and ufeful : for 
 thou can'ft not imagine how many Writings that de- 
 ferve the Efteem of the lateft Pofterity are prohibited! 
 When a Book comes out that treats of Philofophy, 
 'tis examined by the Monks ; and if the Syftem which 
 it contains be not thoroughly rehfhed by them, 'lis 
 condemned, and the Copies fupprefs'd. If it treats 
 of Politics, 'tis a Subje£l that oblig'd die Author to 
 be more upon the Referve, becaufe it concerns the 
 Miniftry. Nor can Hiftory be written with that 
 Freedom which it demands. 'Tis dangerous for the 
 Living to fpeak of the Dead ; an Author being oblig'd 
 to palliate many Fafts which happen'd in former 
 Reigns, for fear of difobliging powerful Families, 
 and numerous Bodies of Men in Authority. 
 
 An Hiftprian who- would give a faitliful Account 
 
 el 
 
S6 The Jewish Spy. Let. ij. 
 
 of all Tranfa6lions from the Reign of Henry III. to 
 the prefent, has no other Chance or Choice, but the 
 Pleafure of telling the Truth, and the Sorrow of be- 
 ing baniih'd his Country, and to feek Protedlion in 
 foreign parts againft the Perfecution he has drawn 
 upon himfelf. For there are certain Friars * who 
 would never forgive him, were he to write a faithful 
 Account of the Murder of Henry III f . There are 
 others || who wou'd employ their Credit, to be re- 
 veng'd on any Author that fhou'd but give a faithful. 
 Account of the Wickednefs of their Father Gui- 
 guard%. And, infliort, all wou'd join together, if 
 they were accufed, to have been indirectly the Au- 
 thors of the Afiaiiination of Henry IV. by their fe- 
 ditious Preachments, and by their defamatory Libels,, 
 and by their infamous Declamations, while the 
 League fubfifted. 
 
 The Authors who write of tJiofe Times have 
 not been able intlrely to conceal the Knowledge 
 ofthefe Fadl:s; but they partly difguife them; and 
 they endeavour to foften them according as they find 
 their Advantage^ in it, or as they arejbrc'd to it by 
 any Check or Conftraint upon them. 
 
 Some time ago, a Monk ** who had v/rote feve- 
 ral Hillories in v^^hich he was reproach'd to have 
 falfify'd a great many Fafts, took it into his head, in 
 order to retrieve his Reputation, to relate the Di- 
 fputes of fome of the foverign Pontiffs according to 
 the exa6left Truth f f . As foon as his Book came 
 out, he was profcrib'd at Ro?ne. The Ncizarens 
 Pontiff was horribly provok'd that any one iliou'd 
 dare to trouble the Manes of his Predeceffors. He 
 
 * The Jacobins, f This flagrant Crime was com- 
 mitted by y'ames Clement, a Jacobin. || The Jefuits. 
 \ Tlie Jefuit who v/as hang'd for the AfTairination of 
 Henry IV. ** Maimbourg the Jefuit, ff The Schifm 
 of the Weil, 
 
 • thought 
 
Let. 1 3 . The Jewish Spy. 87 
 
 thought that their Irregularities were a Myftery which 
 no mean Mortal fhou'd pretend to dive into. By 
 bis Order the Monk was turn'd out of his Convent, 
 punifh'd for having wrote the Truth, and he loft 
 the Favours and Rewards which he had got by his 
 Lyes *. 
 
 In the mean time, the Prohibition of Books is 
 the wrong way to fupprefs them, becaufe, no fooner 
 is a Book prohibited to be read, but every body is 
 eager to buy it. The Bookfeller thereupon raifes 
 the price of it, when 'tis fold for much more than 
 it was before; and fome Works have had half a 
 fcore Impreflions, of which there wou'd not have 
 been fold 200 Copies, if the Curiofity of the Pub- 
 lic had not been excited by the Prohibitions of the 
 Magiftratcs and Pontiffs. That which ftill raifes the 
 Credit of fuch prohibited Books is, that they are 
 generally good and inftru6tive, and arc calculated for 
 Men of Wit and Learning; whereas moft of thofe 
 Books which are publicly fold, are but Romances 
 and Stories, fit to divert filly Women, and fonie 
 Abbes, a Man of Genius chufmg rather not to write 
 at all, than to write againft his Sentiments. 
 
 I have already mentioned fome of the learned 
 Men of this Country to thee, and I know feveral 
 more. One of 'em f has juft publifhed a political 
 Piece, which, tho* it has a good deal of Fire, Wit, 
 and good Senfe, yet the Author has given into fome 
 falfe Notions, into which he has been mifled by 
 Fears and Prejudices. The Hopes of fome Reward 
 has determin'd him to publifh fome new Writings 
 in fupport of the Abfurdities of his former ones. 
 He renders Subjects, by his Syftem, not only 
 Slaves, but alfo deprives them of the Confolation 
 *The Pope had wrote a Letter to Maimhourg, to 
 congratulate him on his Hiilory of the Schifjn of the 
 Qmku t The Abbe de St. ?krru 
 
§S 21^^ Jewish Spy. Let. i^, 
 
 of carrying their Complaints to the Foot of the 
 Throne *, and of procuring Reh'ef to their Griev- 
 ances, by making them known to thofe who are 
 beft able to give it. But upon all thofe Topics 
 where he has been ahk to write with Freedom Rea- 
 fon has every where fhone out with Splendor, and 
 take the Flattery out of his Book, 'tis a compleat 
 Piece. 
 
 There is another Author J whofe Stile is lively, 
 and pathetic. 'Tis plain he has a brilliant Genius^ 
 but 'tis fuperficial ; his Writings being agreeable No- 
 things^ if any thing which amufes without inflruciing. 
 may be call'd by that Name. 
 
 A certain Fryar f fome Years ago publifii'd a 
 Hiftory of France^ written with Purity, and even, 
 with Sincerity, down to the Reign of Francis I» 
 From that time the Truth began to fufter an E» 
 clipfe, and was intirely immergM in the following 
 Reigns. 
 
 Another Author !'|| has been more free in a Hi- 
 Hory which he has publifh'd of feveral of the anti- 
 ent Nations. ^Tis a compleat Piece, and is written 
 with Purity, and the greater Sincerity and Freedom,., 
 becaufe among the Medes there were no Jefidts^ 
 and becaufe the Court is little, if at all, concern'd as 
 to the Affairs that happen'd in the Time of Philip of 
 Macedon^ and that of Alexander his Son. 
 
 A young Gentleman %% has wrote Comedies and. 
 Fliftories of Gallantries, which are very taking-, but 
 his Stile is bombaftic ; for there is in his Writings a 
 certain affe<Sled Strain, which is far from being na- 
 tural ; fo that in reading of his AVorks, one would, 
 be apt to think fometimes, that the Author invents^ 
 and the Fops writes. 
 
 * The Abbe de St. Pierre feems to difapprove of the 
 Eemonftrances of Parliaments. % The Abbe ce Fontaines^ 
 'j- Father Daniel. |! jl M, Kolliiu %% M. Marivmx^ 
 
 I'hs 
 
Let. 1 5. The J e \v is h S p y. 8,5^ 
 
 The Son of a celebrated Poet || publifhcd a Satire 
 fome time ago, with more Malice thaii Wit, oa 
 ths Difturbances and Troubles occafion'd by the 
 Difputes of the Janfemjls and Molinijls f, of which 
 I have already given thee an Account in fome of my 
 former Letters. He knew what he had to expe(Sl 
 from the Indignation of liis Enemies, whom he there- 
 by drew upon himfelf, and It was with great DliH' 
 culty that he efcapM their Revenge. 
 
 The French are naturallv lively, and quick of Ap- 
 prehenfion; and if they were at liberty to give their 
 Genius its full Scope, there are no People that 
 wou'd carry their Refle£l:Ions as far as they. *Tis a 
 Folly for the Englijh to flatter themfelves that they 
 reafonmorejuftly : All their Advantage is, that they 
 can let their Fancy rove more at large, without re- 
 ducing It at every Turn to Principles which are al- 
 ways oppofite to the Truth. How is it poflible to 
 go to the bottom of any Subje£t, wloen a Man is 
 every moment check'd, and always oblig'd to ftudy 
 for ways and means to reconcile Reafon to Chi- 
 masra's, and Truth to Falfhood ? 
 
 It ought to be remark'd as fomewhat furprifing, 
 that there are fo many People of prodigious and fub- 
 lime Talents In this Country, where every thing is 
 done that is pofBble to keep the Minds of the Sub- 
 je6i:s within a certain Sphere, for .fear they fliou'd 
 foar too high. The Education which they have 
 from their very Childhood, tends rather to give them 
 chimerical and confus'd Ideas, than to teach them 
 how to argue juftly and clearly. The Monks who 
 have the ca^re of their Education, and train them up, 
 in their own Principles, keep them out of the light 
 Method of Study. When a Lad is come to be nine 
 or ten Years of Age, he is {hut up in a College, 
 
 II Crehillon, the Son. f The Title of it was Z^'^^^v 
 mair j or, the Skimmer^ 
 
 whers: 
 
5)0 716^ Jewish Spy. Let. ij. 
 
 where he is taught the Sciences in fuch a manner as 
 to give him an Averfion to them, and they put him 
 out of conceit with good Authors, by their Method 
 of explaining them. They talk to him of Gajfendi^ 
 Des Cartes and Newton^ as Perfons of but a mode- 
 rate Ge?iius. There is fcarce a Regent of Philofo- 
 phy, but proudly takes Precedency of thofe great 
 Men, and fets greater value by his Notes, than by 
 the Works of Mallebranche. There is a Society of 
 Friars, * who teach the Belles Lettres with good Suc- 
 cefs, but h^ve fuch an Averfion to true Philofophy,. 
 that they are become the Scourge of it. 
 
 The mcft celebrated of thefe Colleges, Is that 
 which they call the Sorbonne ; and it is likewife the 
 moft antient. There are feveral others under its 
 Dire(Slion. Its Reputation was in fome former Cen- 
 turies confiderable, but for above thefe hundred 
 Years pad it has been every day declining. It render'd 
 Itfelf contemptible by its Decifions in the time of the 
 League, when it favoured Aflaflination among other 
 Crimes, and efpoufed the part of that Rebellion 
 and Impiety, which were covered with the Veil of 
 Religion f. It endeavoured afterwards every now 
 and then to do fomething to be talk'd of worthy of 
 its former Character, but it could not fucceed ; for 
 the Majority of its Members carry'd it againft the 
 Opinion of the Minority, who were for openly 
 
 * The Jefuits. 
 
 f In the Year 1 5 89. the Sorhonne was {o infolent, as to 
 pafs a bloody Decree againft Henry III. and it was none 
 of their fault that the Crown did not pafs to the Family 
 of the Guife, or that it did not fall a prey to the Spaniards^ 
 whom the Rebellion cover'd with the Malk of Rehgion,. 
 bad brought into the heart of France. 
 
 Sa^pius olim 
 l^eligtQpeperit , fcelerofa atque ifnpla faSia. 
 
 Lucret. de Rer. Nat. Lib, 1. 1/. 84. 
 
 main- 
 
Let. i^. Z/^^ Jewish Spy. 91 
 
 maintaining their Privileges, and thofe of their 
 Church, with a high Hand. 
 
 By what I tell thee, thou may'fl judge how diffi- 
 cult it is for a Frenchman to rife to a certain Point, 
 The Studies of his Youth are fo far from a Poffibi- 
 lity of being ufeful to him, that they only ferve to 
 obftru6l his Advancement, and to put him out of 
 the Road of Truth. Scholaftic Philofophy is Poi- 
 fon to the Mind, and renders it incapable of that 
 juft Reafoning, which is only to be acquir'd by pro- 
 found Meditation. Yet there are feveral French- 
 men^ who without any Afliftance raifc tliemfelves ta 
 a Degree of Eminence. But then they muft have 
 the more Genius and Imagination, becaufe they 
 have not only Ignorance to overcome, but the Pre- 
 judices of Childhood, and thofe of Education, which 
 they imbib'd from their firft Mafters. I cou'd tcU 
 thee, dear 7/W, fome of their philofophical Thefes 
 for the Exercife of the Scholars in this Country, 
 v/hich wou'd make thee laugh. The following is 
 one of the moft confiderable of a School kept by the 
 JMonks ■* ; God ?nay have created the Worlds and yet 
 the World he eternal ; of which the following is a 
 Proof .There is no Time in God \ in him the Effe£i 
 always follows the TVill. Suppofe that God had plcafed 
 that the JForld Jhoud have been from all Eternity^ the 
 World wou'd then have been fo, A Child knows that 
 a Thing cannot pafs from a Non-Entity to an Ex- 
 iftence, without having had a Beginning; confe- 
 quently, if the World was made, there muft have 
 been a Time when it had not a Being ; therefore it 
 is not eternal. 'Tis in Quirks of this kind, and fuch 
 chimerical Arguments, that the Youth pafs theTime 
 of their Studies; and, after having labour'd many 
 Years, they are no wifcr than when they began. 
 
 .* The School of the rho?niJis, 
 
 Take 
 
5)2 The J E \v I s H S p y. Let. 14. 
 
 Take care of thy Health, dear Ifmc. In my ne?a 
 Letter I will make amends for the Gravity of this* 
 I endeavour to write to thee alternately for thy A- 
 raufement and thy Inilrudion. I fancy that thou 
 hc.fl an Liniverfal Tafte to gratify ; and I treat of Va-- 
 riety of Subjeas, as they rife to my Imagination. 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onisj, 
 
 a Rabbiy at Conftantiiiople. 
 
 Parts ' ' 
 T Told thee In my laft, dear Ifaac^ that I had been 
 "*■ to take a View of the Libraries. I there turned 
 over the Works of the antient Do£l:ors, whom the 
 Nazarmes call the Fathers^ in which I found many, 
 excellent Things worthy of the Attention of a Phi- 
 lofopher ; but I was furpriz'd at the Acrimony and 
 Gall which I difcover'd in the Writings of Men 
 who are cry'd up as Patterns of Moderation. In 
 my Opinion, the Books of fome of the Pagan Au- 
 thors (fuch as Tidly's Offices^ and the Precepts of 
 EpiSfetus) contain a purer Syftem of Morality, and 
 more conformable to the Law of Nature. Tiie 
 Na%arene Do6lors, purely to blacken their Adverfa- 
 ries, and to excite the Public Hatred againft them, 
 have in every Age leflen'd the Value of their Work? ; 
 which Paflion, fo contrary to Magnanimity and Wif- 
 dom, has carry M them into the greateft Extrava- 
 gance. As loon as they began to be fupported.by 
 the Authority of Princes, or that of the People, they 
 i^reach'd a2;ainll Toleration, and thougrht themfelves 
 
 authonz d. 
 
Let. 14- 2"^^^ Jewish Spy. 9^ 
 
 authorlz'd not to fpare the moft venerable Perfon- 
 ages, but abufed Sovereigns and Subjeclis all alike. 
 
 The French of the prefent Age exclaim now againft 
 tht horrid Licentioufnefs yy^ the Preachers in the 
 Reigns of Henry III. and Hc?iryW , They public- 
 ly condemn the Tranfa6lions of thofe Incendiaries ; 
 and as for them who think it lawful to rebel againil 
 their Prince, becaufe he happens to be of a different 
 Religion from his People, they look upon that Opi- 
 nion to be contrary to the public Goo^l, and to the 
 Charailer of an honeft Man. They don't confider 
 that what happened in the Time of the League, was 
 •the Prailice a little after the Death oi Confl ant'ine \ 
 that is to fay, as foon as the Clergy had Credit 
 enough to excite Diflurbances and Divifions. The 
 ieditious Preachments of Bmichcr againil: Henry IV". 
 are not more contrary to the Refpe6t which is due 
 to the Perfons of Sovereigns, than the outragious 
 Jnve6fives of Gregory of Nazianzen againifl the Em- 
 peror 'Julian. This Nazarcne Do£lor thought he 
 liad good Caufe to write the fevereil: Things againft 
 that Prince, becaufe 'when he came to the Empire^ by 
 "profane Sacrifices and abominable Myjleries^ he can- 
 ceird the Initiation which he had received into the holy 
 Myjleries *, and defiVd the Water of his Baptifm, 
 The Meaning of this in few Words is, that he 
 thought he ought to abufe the Perfon of Julian^ be- 
 traufe he had quitted the Nazarene DocSlrine. The 
 Seditious Boucher made ufe of the fame Pretext to 
 declaim againft Henry IV". whom he accus'd of 
 Anti-Fapifm^ or Protefiantifm. I can't comprehend, 
 dear Ifaac^ how that which was innocent 1400 
 Years ago, can be thought a Crime now, EitJier 
 it muft be own'd that Boucher was juflifiablc in rail- 
 
 Ai^LoCli fAsv ovK TO 7\tilfovy airofv^tioHf rn xu9 mac 
 TiXnoicretf t>j, reXnuaiv re fjiva-aq uvIPaQek;. Gregorii Na- 
 
 ■aianzeni Invetoa I. in Julianum, p. 58. 
 
 iiig 
 
94 T'/J'^ Jewish Spy. Let. 14. 
 
 ing at Henry IV. (which is a fliocking AfTertion) 
 or that Gregory of Nazianzen was in the wrong to 
 go about to ftain the Memory of the Emperor Ju- 
 lian^ who was a mild, fober, chafte, learned, liberal, 
 and intrepid Prince, and poiTefs'd all the moral Vir- 
 tues in an eminent Degree. 
 
 Many of the Nazarenes^ dear Ifaac^ "have left ofF 
 that Worfhip and Adoration, which was heretofore 
 generally paid to all tlie antient Doftors. And of 
 late there have^been feveral Men, who, fhaking off" 
 the Yoke of Prejudices, have publicly condemn'd 
 every thing in the Writings of thofe Fathers, which 
 is contrary to right Reafon and Equity. 'Tis even 
 furprizing that their Eyes were not fooner open, and 
 that it was fo long before they difcover'd the Re- 
 femblance of the Conduft of the antient Dodlors to 
 that of the Moderns, which had been fo fharply 
 ■cenfurM. 
 
 In looking back to the primitive Ages oi Naza" 
 renifm^ I find, dear Ifaac^ among the Clergy, the 
 fame Manners, the fame Phrafeology, and the fame 
 Maxims as among the Moderns. Eufcbiiis defcribes 
 to me, in the Perfon of Faulm Sarnofate-afis^ the 
 Haughtinefs of the Prelates of Italy^ France^ Ger- 
 77ianyy England^ Sec. Not to ?nentio?2, faid this Au- 
 thor, his Pride €ind Arrogance on account of the fe- 
 cular Dignities he was vejied wiih^ he chofe rather to 
 have the Title of Duceyiary^ than that of Bijhcp. He 
 walked out in Pomp to the public Places^ reading and 
 diSlating Letters^ and encompafs'd zvith his Guards^ 
 of whom fome went before him^ and others behind. 
 His Prtde and Arrogance had rendered the Chriftian 
 Religion odious to the Gentiles *. Cou'd tliere be a 
 
 more 
 
 * 
 
 OvTt uq v^^>^ix, 9po''E* ^^^ vTTviflcci fioaiJUinu cc^tufjLcT.ct ; 
 
 KUi 
 
Let. 14- T'/6^ Jewish Spy. pf 
 
 more exadl PIdlure, dear Ifaac^ of a Cardinal march- 
 ing in Fioco in the Streets of Rojne ? A Man wou'd 
 think the PafTagc extracted from the Books of fome 
 modern Hiftorian, were only the three laft Words 
 alter'd, and were it faid, that his Pride and Arro- 
 game had rendered the Romifh Religion contemptible 
 to the Jews, in/lead of the Chriftian Religion to the 
 Gentilcsr. 
 
 As the antient Nazarene Do61:ors and Prelates 
 had the Haughtinefs of the Moderns, fo they had 
 the fame domineering Spirit. They took the fame 
 Care to intereft the Sovereigns in their Caufes, and 
 to perfuade them that Religion requir'd, that they 
 fliou'd perfecute thofe whom they did not look upon 
 as orthodox. 'Twas by their Advice that the Em- 
 peror Jujlinian did not think he committed Murder, 
 when they whom he condemned to Death made 
 profeilion of a different Religion from his own *. 
 
 I alfo difcover, dear IJaac^ among the antient 
 Nazarene Pontiffs, an Inclination to pufh things to 
 an Extremity, to animate the Populace to excite Se- 
 ditions when they liad a Tendency to augment their 
 Power. Cyril of AlexaJidria was a perfedt Car- 
 dinal de Rctz^ for he did the fame thing in Egypt 
 which the latter did in France. This is a Truth 
 which the Nazarene Writers, let them be of what 
 '^itOi they will, are all agreed in, ' St. Cyril^ hys Bar- 
 ' beyrac f, was, in the Opinion of the Abbe duPin^ 
 
 Wi^iv (pQoveij-Qxi icoci [/.io-BiaOon ^icc 7ov oyxov av% x.on rttv vtti- 
 fri(poc.nccv Tnq xaf^iccg. Eufeb. Hill. Ecclefiaft. lib. vii, 
 cap. XXX. p. 280. Edit. Valef. 
 
 Ovyuq ot iooxn ^ovoq ut/QfWTrov £»(»«», nv yt [/,ri rn<; ocvla ^o^y}^ 
 9i T£>^Evlu]P.£q TVKcconv ovliq. PrOCOpius in Aysji^ojcn;, p. 60. 
 
 t Preface to tbie Law of Nature and Nations, p. 46. 
 
 * ah 
 
c}6 The Jewish "^-^ r. Let. 14. 
 
 an ambitious turbulent Man, who having nothing 
 at heart but the Increafe of his Power, no fooner 
 faw himfelf advanc'd to the Epifcopal See, but 
 by his ov/n Authority he drove out the Novatians^ 
 and depriv'd their Bifliop of his Eftate. He at- 
 tack'd the y^i'ji in their Synagogues, and, at the 
 Head of his People, took them out, banifh'd them 
 from Alexandria^ and fufFer'd the Chr'iftians to 
 plunder them ; having, no doubt, the holy Maxim 
 of the Bifliop of Hippo for his Warrant, That every 
 thing appertains to the Believers ^ and that the 
 "Ungodly have a Right to nothing. St. Cyril alfo 
 embroil'd himfelf with Orejles the Governor of 
 Alexandria, upon whofe Authority he was conti- 
 nually incroaching* Five hundred Monks, with 
 their Bifliop at their Head, furrounded the Go- 
 vernor one Day, wounded him with Stones, and 
 wou'd have kill'd him, if his Guards and the Peo^ 
 pie had not ftopp'd their Fury. It coft a Monk 
 his Life, who was taken and put upon the Rack. 
 St. Cyril made him pafs for a Saint. A famous 
 Pagan Philofopher, nam'd Hypacius^V72.s the Vidim 
 which the Bifhop*s Partizans facrificed to thtManes 
 of their Martyrs ; for he was cruelly torn to Pieces, 
 becaufe he was accufed of having exafperated the 
 Governor againft the Prelate.' 
 Were not the Troubles caus'd by the Frondeurs^ 
 my dear Ijaac, the very Picture of thefe ? 'Tis true, 
 that the Cardinal de Retz did not take a Guard of 
 500 Monks v/ith him v/hen he went to the Parlia- 
 ment, but he employ 'd a great Number of them in 
 Several Things which were altogether as ufeful to 
 iiis Defigns. Methlnks, in the Perfon of the Egyptian 
 "Governor, I fee the Cardinal Ma'zarine obliged to 
 flv from Paris j and in that of Cyril, I find the Pride, 
 Audacioufnefs, Ambition, and the fediticus Spirit of 
 tlie Parifian Pontiff. I don't think there can be 
 
 found 
 
Let. 14,. The Jewish S p y. c^j 
 
 found two Chara6lers To like to each other as thefe 
 Nazarcne Prelates : Yet, by fome aftonifliing Ca- 
 price, of which the human Mind alone is capable, 
 the one is lookM upon as a Saint, as an Author 
 wliofc Writings ought to be the Bafis of the Naza- 
 rcne Morality ; and tlie other as a feditious Man, a 
 -Knave, and one unworthy of the Rank he flood in. 
 The Reafon, perhaps, of fo abfurd an Opinion is, 
 that one liv'd 1300 Years ago, and the other, to 
 his Misfortune, was born in thefe latter Times. If 
 he had been Patriarch of Alexandria^ he might 
 with Impunity have beficgM the Governor at the 
 Head of an Army of Monks, made the People re- 
 bel, and excited them to tear a Woman to Pieces, 
 whom her Sex and Superiority of Genius wou'd not 
 protect from Monaftic Fury, and^his Memory woulcf 
 not have been tarnifh'd by A(5lions fo contrary to 
 his Character. 
 
 'Tis happy for many People, that they were bora 
 hi fome Ages ; they arc as much oblig'd to Super- 
 ftition and Ignorance, as many Conquerors are to 
 Circumftances and Chance. \^ Alexander h.^AXw'' A 
 \\\ the Age of Ccsfar and Pcrnpcy^ he woYild have 
 been a petty King of Macedon^ who would have 
 thought himfelf happy to have ferv'd under one or' 
 thofc Ro?nans : He would not have made a more 
 confpicuous Figure in the World, than a Dclotarusy 
 a Ptolemy^ and fuch fort of Sovereigns. If the Cy- 
 rils^ the Gregorys of Nazianzen^ the Augu(lins^ and 
 divers others, had written in the Reigns of Henry 
 211. «nd IV, tliey wouM have been deem'd, eiiher. 
 as feditious Perfons, or fuch as preach'd up a Sy- 
 flem of Morality intirely contrary to natural 
 Equity. Is there any thing in FatSl: that is more 
 dire6lly oppofite to Humanity, than the Opinion 
 which was advanc'd by Augujiin? He pretends. 
 That according to the Dhhie Law, the Jud and 
 
 Vol. I. F ' the 
 
5)"3 The Jewish Spy. Let. 14. 
 
 the Believers have a Cla'mi to every thing ; and that 
 Jlerettcs have a Right to nothing that they pojfefs. A 
 modern Writer has feverely reprimanded this Do6lor 
 ior an Opinion (o contrary to the public Tranquil- 
 lity. This ohoniinahle Pri?2ciple, fays hs, turfis human 
 Society topfy-turvy *. 
 
 An Opinion, the Confequences of which have 
 hecn Co often pernicious to the whole Race of Man- 
 kind, cannot be condemned with too much Warmth. 
 Tihe greatefl Misfortunes of States are commonly 
 owing to no other Source than the dangerous Opi- 
 nion, That it was lawful to feize the Eflates of 
 Unbelievers, and to force them to change their Re- 
 llo-ion. What was it gav€ rife to that horrible 
 MaiTacre on St. Bartholometu^s Day, but this per- 
 nicious Maxim ? How have all Men of Probity ex- 
 daim'd againfl the Divines for flirring up the People 
 hy their feditious Difcourfes? How did they deteft 
 the Libels, the Preachments, and all the Pieces that 
 came from the Pens of the Leaguers ? Yet all thefe 
 "Works only contain the fame Principle maintain'd 
 *w'ith fuch Vigour by Jugujiin. The modern Preach- 
 ers, by what they have faid or done, have only pa- 
 raphrased the Difcourfes of the antient Doftors. They 
 pretended that Henry IV. ought not to be recog- 
 riiz'd for King, and that his Partizans ought to be 
 extirpated. Upon what did they ground their Opi- 
 nions ? Upoa the Authorit)'' of the Fathers, and of 
 Auguftin in particular, who faid. That Heretics 
 ought to be d^ftroy'd, to be punifh'd with Death, 
 jind be deprlv'd of their Eflates. I will fuppofe my- 
 felf for once, dear Ifaac^ to be the Preacher 
 Boucher. As foon as I had convinc'd my Auditory 
 ^f the RetSlitude of Jugit/lin's Morality, I would 
 
 * Barbeyrac\ Preface to the Law of Nature and Na- 
 tion?, p. 36. 
 
 prove 
 
Let. 1+. 7>^^ Jewish Spy. ^y 
 
 prove to them, that they ought to aflaffinate Hemy 
 IV. and to extirpate all his Adherents, if they have 
 a mind to do an Adion praife-worthy. The follow- 
 ing is an Argument, to which there is no Anlvvcr. 
 ' St. Jujfin s Books contain none but ufcful Pre- 
 ' cepts, and fuch as ought to be look'd upon as ef- 
 
 < fential to Religion. (Due of thofc Precepts cxprtf- 
 
 < ly orders Heretics to be punifh'd with Death, and 
 « to be depriv'd of their Eftates. Henry IV. is a 
 
 < Heretic excommunicated by the Pope ; and they 
 
 * who are attach'd to him are as criminal as he; 
 
 < therefore he, and all his Partizans, muil be ex- 
 « communicated. Whoever holds the contrary O- 
 « pinion, is in an Errof, and refufes to fubmit to 
 
 * the Authority of the Fathers of the Church.' 
 W^hen one rcfle6ls, dear I/aac, upon this Ob- 
 
 jedion againft the blind Belief which many of the 
 Nazareucs place in the Writings of their antient 
 Do£lors, ^'ithout offering to diflinguifti the good 
 from the bad, one is furpriz'd at the Force of Pre- 
 judice. If the extravagant Admirers of the FatJiers 
 only faid, that there are excellent things in their 
 Works, they would be in the right : But to go about 
 to admit the Errors therein difcovered, as certain 
 and evident Principles ; and to fuppofe, that bccaufe 
 Augnfliny Gregory of Nazianzen^ Chryfofl:m^ and 
 others, advanced an Opinion contrary to the Law of 
 Nations and the Light of Nature, Vicience muft 
 therefore be done to Mankind for feveral Centuries, 
 and good Senfe put to the Torture ; is to require Men 
 to look upon others of their Fellow-Creatures for 
 Gods, who had no other Advantage than that of 
 living before them. An Author may declare his Sen- 
 timent as to the particular Opinions of Bojfuet^ du 
 Phi^ Barcnhus^ or Bellarmm^ becaufe Lhey have not 
 been yet dead a thoufand Years ; But when their 
 F 2 Vv'ritin^s 
 
3O0 Tke J E w I s H S p r. Let. i ^, 
 
 'Writings have livM ten Centuries, the Errors that 
 are found \\\ them will be chang'd into certainTruths. 
 This being the Cafe, the Books of the Nazareyte 
 Do^lors refcmble tlie Cheefes of Bj'ie^ which are 
 not good till they are of fuch an Age. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac^ live content and hap- 
 py, and keep a flridi: Guard againft the bad Maxims 
 of the Fathers. 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 Is A A c On IS, a Rabbi, at Conftantinople, 
 lo Aaron Monceca. 
 
 Ccn/fantinople 
 
 Now anfvver that Letter of thine, dear Monceca y 
 in v/hicli thou gaveft me an Account of the 
 
 I 
 
 sntient h-azarene Do6lors. I cannot but approve 
 of thy Obje£l:ions againft fome of their erroneous 
 Opinions, which are alfo contrary to the public 
 Good ; but, methinks, while thou blamefi: the 
 Faults in thofe Authors, thou haft not done Juftice 
 to their good Qualities. 1 allow that the Generality 
 •of 'em have often fallen into great Irregularities ; 
 that Paflion has carried them too far ; and that an 
 outragious Zeal prompted them to advance Senti- 
 ments dire{9:ly oppofite to good Morality. They 
 were Men, and as fuch, fubjed to human Errors ; 
 Hatred, Superftition, and Prejudices, have made 
 them deviate from the right Way : But who are 
 -the Doctors to whom, this has not happened ? Di- 
 vines of ajl Religions are but Mortals, and by con- 
 
 fequence 
 
Let. If. 77;^ Jewish Spy. toi 
 
 fequence frail Creatures, who deceive thcmfelvesy 
 and are the Bubbles of their own PafEons. 
 
 The Philofophers arc the only Writers capable of 
 avoiding iuch Irregularities. As they are difpaflicn - 
 ate Perfons, they endeavour to convince by cahn 
 Reafoning, and not by Violence and Authority ; j'v 
 that if their Vivacity or Self-conceit carry them out 
 of the way, they foon own their Faults, correct their 
 Sallies, and return into the right Path, being enligiit- 
 ned by the Law of Nature, which God has granted 
 to Mankind, to ferve thcin for their Guide ; and 
 which Philofophers arc always very careful to con- 
 fult. Therefore, my dear Monceca^ in the antient 
 Nazarene Do£l:ors, the Divine muft be diflinguilh- 
 ed from the Philofopher. When they write of con- 
 troverfial Points, they did as the Writers of this Ag:^^ 
 do; when Arguments fail them, they have recourfc- 
 to Injuries, endeavour to blacken tlieir Adverfaries^ 
 give the Name of hdy and pious Teal to their Cholcr, 
 and murder the Reputation of thofe againfl whom, 
 they write, for the greater Glory of God. 'Twas- 
 thus that yuricit the Minifter a6ted in thefe latter 
 Days towards Arnaukl and Bayk ; and thus did Je- 
 rome behave heretofore to Rufinus : But when die 
 antient Do6lors treated of philofophical Matters,, 
 which tbey always debated witliout being carried' 
 away by their PafTion, they have often ccualiM tlie- 
 Glory of the greateft Men. 
 
 To be convinc'd of this Truth, we need only 
 give feme Attention to the Writings of St. Jugujiin,. 
 Thofe where he treats as a Philofopher are as good,, 
 as thofe in which he difcufTes Controverfial Points 
 are full of Sophifms, and Principles contrary to croodi 
 Morality ; in the Number of wliich is the Maxim 
 he edablifhes, when tlie Difputes that he had with 
 tiie Dotiatifts had put him in an ill Humour : He 
 maiiitain'd, that. Heretics ouo:ht to be exterminated. 
 
 ^ a ^ If 
 
-102 The Jewish Spy. Ler. 15',. 
 
 If Tome of this Nazarene Dodlor's Writings had been 
 his only Pieces tranfmitted to Poftenty, I fhould 
 think him as a Man worthy of the Efteem, and 
 even of the Admiration of the greateft Philofophers, 
 The Des Cartes^ the Mallehranches^ the Lockes^ are 
 oblig'd to him for feveral Ideas, and the Things 
 which they have borrowed from this African^ are 
 Dot the leaft Ornaments of their Works. 
 
 Perhaps thou did'ft never refiecSl on what I am 
 tclhng thee. *Twil] be eafy for me to make it very 
 plain to thee, that the modern Metaphyficians have 
 drawn their chief Opinions from the Books of this 
 'Nazarene Doclor, who ought to be ccnfider'd as 
 the chief Rcflcrer of Metaphyfics. 
 
 I will inftance iirft in Mallehranche^ wbofe Syftem 
 upon the Ideas, by which we fee all in God, is de- 
 fcribcd at full length hy Aiguji in. ' God, fays this. 
 
 * Modern *, is very flridtly united to our Souls, by 
 ' his Prefence ; fo that it may be faid, that he is the 
 *^ Repofitary of Spirits, in the fame manner as Spaces 
 ' are the Repofitaries of Bodies. This being grant- 
 < ed, 'tis certain, that the Spirit is capable of difr- 
 
 * cerning what there is in God, who reprefents the 
 "- Created Beings, becaufe, this is very fpiritual, very 
 •• intelligible, and very prefcnt to the Mind ; con- 
 
 * fequendy the Spirit may fee in God, the Works 
 <• of God, fuppofmg !.hatGod vouclifafes to difcovejr 
 
 * to it, what there is in him^who reprefents them.' 
 And thus /peaks the antient Author : ' O God Al- 
 ' mighty, thou haft created all Beings, and thou 
 
 * giveft them Life. Thou art in all Places, thou 
 ^ filled: all alike. The Spirit may difcern him, but 
 
 * cannot know him. Thou art prefent every where, 
 ' either to reward Virtue, or punifh Vice. All 
 
 * Things that exift have their Exiftence in thee. Tq 
 
 * Recherche de la Verite, lib. iii. cap. vi. p. 199. 
 
Let. I f. The Jewish S p y. i c>j 
 
 * fome thou giveft Life, to others Difcernnient *.'' 
 I am of Opinion, dear Alcnccca^ thiit I am in the 
 right to aflert, That the Syllem of the French Plii- 
 lofophcr was not unknown to the African. All the. 
 reft of the Chapter, from which I have quoted tiiio 
 PaiTagc, corroborates my Opinion, and Alalkhranch^ 
 himfclf fecms to own, that this Opinion had been 
 leceiv'd and even adopted by Augiiflin. 
 
 The Syftem of innate Ideas, io dear to theG;r/.^' 
 fiansy is alfo to be found in his Vvorks ; nn*.! fr-jMr 
 thence the modern I-.tetaphyficians have taken ail 
 their Arguments. ' I think j therefore I am ; fa^s 
 ' one cfthe Uluftrious Followers of Des Cartesf . Nov/, 
 ' we could not Jiave any Certainty of tliii Propofi^ 
 
 * tion, if we did not diftindlly conceive what ic 
 *• is to Be, what it is to Think. If therefore it can^ 
 
 * not be deny'd, but we have in us the Ideas of Be- 
 
 * ing and of Thought, I afk by what Senfcs they 
 
 * enter'd ? Are they luminous or colourM, (o as to 
 
 * be admitted by the Sight ? Are they of a grave cr 
 ' acute Sound, to be admitted by the Ear? Of a 
 
 * good or a bad Smell, to be admiLted by tlie NofcP 
 ' Of a good or a bad Savour, to be admitted by the 
 ^ Tafle ? Are they cold or hot, hard or ic^t^ to be 
 
 * admitted by the Touch ? — And if no rcafonabib 
 ' Anfwer can be return'd to tiiis, it muft be corr- 
 ' felled, that the Ideas of Being and of Thought do 
 
 * Qai folus viviiicas omnia; qui creaili omnia; qui 
 ubique es, Sc ubique totus ; qui fentiri potes, videri ncn 
 potes ; qui nufquam dees ; — qui ubi non es per gratiam,, 
 ades per vindidam ; qui omnia tangis ; — qua^dam etiam 
 tangis, ut fmt & vivant^ non tamen ut fentiant & di(- 
 cernant, qua:dam vero tangis, ut vivant^ & fentiant, ^. 
 difcernant, — & omnia contines fine ambitu, & ubique pra:- 
 fens es fine fitu Sc inotu. Auguj}. liipponenf. Epif. Me- 
 ditat. cap, xxix. num. 3 & 6. 
 
 \ L*Art de Penfer, part i. cap. i, p. 12. 
 
 F 4 « i» 
 
1 04 The Jewish S p y. Let. i f . 
 
 * iVx no fort derive their Origin from the Senfes.' 
 Thefe, my dear Monceca^ are the ftrongeft Argu- 
 ments that are brought againft the Syilem, which 
 derives all the Ideas from tlie Senfes. They ferve 
 alfo to prove, that v^^e have an innate Notion of the , 
 Deity, which the Soul brings with it. ' For, fays 
 
 * the fame Author^ whom I have jujl nozv quoted^ we 
 ' are naturally inclin'd to think that our Opinions 
 
 * are erroneous, Vv'hen we plainly fee that they are 
 ' contrary to the Idess of Things : Therefore, we. 
 ^ could not judge with Certainty, that God has not 
 
 * Parts, that he is not corporeal, that he is every 
 
 * where, that he is indivifible, if one had no Idea 
 *• of it but by the Help of the Senfes.' 
 
 All thefe Objedlions are to be found, almcfl: ver- 
 hatim^ in the Writings of Augufi'm^ who proves, in 
 a ftrong and perfuafive manner, that we muft en- 
 deavour to know God in himfelf, and not in exter- 
 nal Things ; the Senfes not being capable of con- 
 veying any true Idea of the Deitv. ' I have err'd a 
 ^ longtime, like a Sheep gone afLray, faui this'Ns.- 
 ^ zarene DoHor^ feeking for thee, without me, 
 ^ whilil thou vvab't vjithin me. 1 fent out all my 
 ^ Senfes as Scouts to get Intelligence of Thee, but 
 they could bring me none ; and if thou hadft not 
 e^ilighten^d me, my God, and convinced me that 
 thou refldeft in my Mind, I Ihould never have 
 known Thee, becaufe I could never have come at 
 it by the Help of the Senfes *.' 
 
 * Ego erravi ficut ovi?, q'j?e perierat, qu?Erens to ex- 
 tcrius qui es interius ; & multuni labonivi, quserens te 
 extra me, & ta habitas in me. — Mifi Nuncios meos 
 omnes fenfus e.xteriore?, ut qusercrent te, & non inveni : 
 quia male qusrebam fom, quod erat intus. Video enim, 
 lux mea Deiis, qui illuminalti me, quia male te per illas 
 quasrebam, quia tu es intus, & tamen ipfi ubi intraveris 
 nefcierunt. Jugujf. ScJilo^, cap. xxxi, num. i. 
 
 After 
 
Let. Tf. !r/5> Je w IS H Spy. lof 
 
 After having laid down the innate Idea of the 
 Deity for a Principle, he proves it from the fame 
 Arguments which the CarUftan Philofophers make 
 ufc of to demonftrate that the Notions of Beins; and. 
 Thought cannot come by the Senfes. ' If I ask 
 ' my Kyes, chntiniied he^ they tell me, that fmce 
 ' they are not coloured, it is not by them that thou 
 ' entreil into my Mind. My Ears tell me, that 
 ' not being fonorous, thou did'ft not come in by 
 ' them. My Noftrils have no fhare in thy Idea, 
 ' which can have no Scent ; nor my Moutli, be- 
 '- caufe it cannot be tailed ; And all my Senfes de- 
 
 * dare, that fince thou art not corporeal, they have 
 ' not been able to give me any Notion of thcc> I 
 ' know now that this Notion was engraved in my 
 ^ Soul, b-V. * 
 
 After having demonftrated to thee, my dear Mcn- 
 trca^ that not only the principal metaphyfical Opi- 
 nions of the C<7//^i7«j, but alfo the Arguments by 
 v/hichthey fupport them, are taken out of the Writ-- 
 ii'gs of Augujiin ; I will fhew thee with the fame 
 f^afe, that Locke was obliged to that Na%arenc Doc- 
 tor fur the Proofs of the Being of a God, and of the:- 
 Creation of the World. ' 'Tis of mathematical 
 ' Evidence, fays that great Englifn BhilGfophei^ 
 
 * Locke -j-. That fomething has exited from all E- 
 ' ternity, becaufe what was not from all Eternity had. 
 
 * Nam oculi dicunt, £i coloratus ncn fuit,, per ncii 
 son intravit. Aures dicunt, fi fonitiuTi non facit, per; 
 liQS non tranfivit. Nafus dicitj.fi non oluit, per me non 
 venit. Gullus dicit, fi non fapuit, ncc per ms' iiitroivit> 
 Tadus etiain addit, fi corpulentus non eil, nihil rue dc 
 hac re interrogas — Abfit ut ilia credercm Deiim meum^. 
 qaie etiam a brutalium fenfibas comprehenduntur. Ju- 
 gujiinus, ibid. num. 2. 
 
 f Locke of Hiunau Undenlanding, 5th Edit:, bock r\. 
 chap. X. p. 525, 
 
 ^ 5:.. '' ^ ^^- 
 
jo6 7^^ Jewish Spy. Let. if. 
 
 ' a Beginning ; and that every lliing which has a 
 *- Beginning miift be produc'd by fome other Thing; 
 ' 'Tis alfo mathematically evident, That every Be- 
 
 * ing Vvhich derives its Exiftence and its Beginning 
 ' from another, derives alfo from another all that it 
 <• has, and all that belongs to it. It muft be con- 
 
 * fefs'd, therefore, that all its Faculties corne to it 
 ' from the fame Source. Theretbre, the eternal 
 ^ Source of all Beings muft alfo be the Source and 
 
 * Principle of all Powers and Faculties ; fo that this 
 ^ eternal Being, muft be the Almightv.' AugujVDi 
 was of the fame Opinion as I.ocke. He exprefs'd 
 them indeed in a Stile not fo clear, nor fo philofo- 
 phicaL ' I aslc'd the Earth, fcys he^ if that was 
 ' my God ? It told me, that it was but a meer Crca- 
 '^ ture, liable to Corruption and Change. All tha 
 
 * Beings which it contains confefs'd the fame Thing. 
 
 * The Sea and the Creatures tlierein, the Air and the 
 
 * Birds, the Sun, Moon and Stars gave me the like 
 
 * iViifwer, We are but Beings like thy felf, created 
 
 * by the iirft Mover of all Things. If thou would 'It 
 
 * find out the Deity, look back to the Source and 
 
 * Origin of all T^hings f .' 
 
 The Tellimony of the whole World therefore 
 proves to me the Exiftence of Almighty God. 
 When one contemplates the Creatures, I fee 'tis 
 evident, that every Being which derives its Beginning 
 
 f Intcrrogavi terram fi efTet Deus meus ? Et dixit 
 xnihi, quod non ; & omnia c^use in ea funt, hoc idem 
 confefTa funt. Interrogavi mare, & abyflbs, & reptilia, 
 qu.T in his funt, & refponderunt : Non fumus Deus tuus ; 
 qucere fuper nos. Interrogavi flabilem aerem, & inquit 
 univerfus aer, cum omnibus incolis fuis ; Fallitur Anaxi- 
 menes, non fum ego Deus tuus. Interrogavi coelum, lu- 
 nam & i^ellas j Neque nos Junius Deus tuus, inquiunt. 
 Juguji. Soliloq, lib. cap. x;i.Yi. jium, 4. 
 
 from 
 
Let. If. Tke Jewish Spy, i©/' 
 
 fro7n another Beings derives a If o from another all that 
 it has. T'tiQ Exiftence of the Creatures is a con- 
 vincing Proof of that of the Deity, and an Attefta- 
 tion tiiat cnnot be rcjccSced, if 1 make ufe of the 
 Terms of Augujlin f . 
 
 Let us now 'ee what Refcmblnnce there Is be- 
 tween tliis D.-clor:. Proofs and t'hofe oi Locke ^ as 
 to the Neceffitv of the Creation of Matter by an 
 intelligent and fpiritual Being. I begin with the 
 Objections of die latter. ' Others imagine, fa)s 
 ' he^ that Matter is eternal, tho' they acknow- 
 ' ledge an eternal cogitative and immaterial Ce- 
 
 * ing. // muj}., fay they, he ackncwlcdgd that 
 ' Matter is eternal. TVhy ? hccaufe you camioi cck- 
 
 ceive hoiu it can be made out of Nothing. IVhy^ 
 then don^t you look upon your own felf as eternal V 
 You will anfwer, That 'tis, perhaps, becaufe 
 *- you began to exift but twenty or forty Years ago : 
 But if I ask you what you mean by this Word^ 
 ' youy which then began to exift, you will be at 
 ' a lofs what to fay. Tlie Matter of which you 
 ' are composed did not begin then to cxift, be- 
 
 * caufe if it did, it would not be etcrnah It or.U' 
 ' began to be formM and rang'd in the manner 
 "^ which v/as necefTary to compofc your Bo^h'. But 
 
 * this Difpofition of Parts is not Ton. It dees not 
 
 -f- Et dixi omnibus his qui clrcumf^ant /ores carn\s 
 mese, Dixifis mihi de Deo 7?ico, quod I'os nan eflis^ diiitg 
 mihi aliquid de illo. Et claniaverunt omnes voce grand;, 
 Ipfe fecit nos. Intcrrogavi denique mundi molem. Vic 
 mihi Ji es Deus rneus an non? Et refpondit voce forti, 
 Non fum^ inquit, ego ; fed per ipfum fu7n ego. Queai 
 quzeris in me, ipfe fecit me. Interrcgatio creaturaruai 
 profunda eft confideratio ipfarum. Rcfponfio earu:^ c:'t- 
 teftatio ipiarum de Deo. Augufin, Soliloq^, lib. ,c.^p^. 
 xxii. num. 5, 
 
 E 6 « Gcnr- 
 
loS The [EwisFf Sfy. Let. 15-. 
 
 conftltute that Thinking Thing which is in you, 
 ' and which is your felf. When was it then, that 
 ' that this Thinking Thing, which is in you, began. 
 
 * to exifl ? If it never began to exifl, you muft there- 
 ' fore have been a Thinking Thing from all Eternity, 
 
 * And if you can acknowledge, that a Thinking 
 
 * Thing was form'd out of nothing, — Why can't 
 ' you acknowledge, that an equal Power is capable 
 
 * of producing a material Being out of Nothing * ?' 
 
 Locke proves the Power of the Creator, by the 
 Reiledion which Man makes on himfelf. Augufthi: 
 makes ufe of the very fame Objedion j ' I refle6ted, 
 
 * fays he f , on my own Exiflence, and confider'd 
 
 * my Condition ; I fav^ that I was a rational mor- 
 
 * tal Man. From whence then, faid I, tinlefs from 
 
 * the firfl Source of all other Beings^ can fuch a 
 
 * Creature ccme? ii God has not created them, 
 
 * every Thing muft needs be its own Creator ; 
 
 * which I know by my own Exiftence to be impof- 
 
 * fible : Therefore, of NeceiHty, ail Things that 
 
 * Be muft have been produced by a firft Being, fo- 
 
 * vereignly Powerful, Intelligent and Eternal. 
 
 * Locke''s PJiilofophical Efiay on the Human Under^ 
 pandingy bock iv. cap. x. p. 535. 
 
 -f- Et redii r.d me, & intiavi in me, & aio ad me % 
 y« qui es F Et refpondi mihi ; Homo rationalis ^ mor- 
 falis. Et incepi difcutere quid hoc efTet, & dixi ; unde 
 hoc tale aniraal, Domirie Deus meus ? Unde nifi abs te ? 
 Tu fecifti me, & non ego ipfe me. Quis . tu per quem 
 vivo ego ; tu, per quem vivant omnia ? Die qusefo per 
 miftir.tiones tuas, unde hoc animal nifi abs te ? An 
 quifquam fefc faciendi erit artifex ? An aliunde quam a 
 te, traditur elTe & vivere ? Nonne tu es fummurn t^e, 
 a quod efl: omne effe ? Quicquid eft, a te eil, quia fme 
 Ce nihil €il, ^i'gtijf, §gIiio^, lib. cap. xxxi. r.um. 3 fc 4. 
 
 The 
 
Let. id^ T*/^^ Jewish Spy. lop 
 
 The Refcmblance, dear Adojiceca^ between the 
 chief metaphyfical Opinions of the greateft modern 
 Philofophers, and that of AuguR'm^ ought ta en2;age 
 thee whenever thou readefl this Writer, to diUin- 
 guifh as I told thee in the Beginning ^.^^ my Letter, 
 the controverfial Divine from the Pliilofopher. If 
 thou obfervefl the fame Rule in the reading of the 
 other ancient Nazarene Do<5lors, thou, may 'ft be the 
 better for a great many ufeful and inflrucStive things 
 that aic in their Works, the Knowledge of which 
 is necefiary for all Men of Learning, let them be of 
 what Religion they will. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Mor.ccca ; live contented and 
 liappy, and ever while thou livefl:, cultivate the Sci- 
 ences with Care. 
 
 LETTER XVL 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis-^ 
 
 a Rabbi at Conftantinople. 
 
 arts ■ 
 
 CINCE the Letter I receiv'd from thee, dear 
 IJhcic^ in favour of the anticnt Naxarene Doc- 
 tors, I have made it my Bufmefs to fearch for the 
 iieauties and Imperfcilions in their Works. Not- 
 wlthftanding the pompous things thou haft faid to 
 me in praife of Jlugnjlhi^ I find him guilty of con- 
 fiderablc Faults, independent of thofe into which 
 he has been carry 'd by Paftion and Whim. An 
 outragious Zeal, v/hich may juftly be called the 
 Exccfs of Ambition, has been the Fault of ahnof^ 
 i^ll ihv Djvi:i:s^ to whcm the Nazawies^ by way oi- 
 
no 77?^ |e WIS H Spr. Let. 16^. 
 
 Eminence, give the Title of Faihers. The Jell of 
 it is, that they have fcattered a good number of 
 very fine moral Precepts through fome of tlieir 
 Works, at the fame time tliat they were preaching 
 againft Toleration, cabailing againft Princes, and 
 perfecuting their Adverfaries. Thou art in the right, 
 my dear 7/^<7t:, when thou fay'ft, that among the Fa- 
 thers, the Divine ought to be diftinguiibM from the 
 Pliilofopher ; for there are very few People that, 
 like thtm, can blow hot and cold in a Breath, or 
 unfay what they have faid. Chryfoftctn^ for inftance, 
 who is very properly cali'd the Augujlin of the Greeks ^ 
 and who w^as as choleric and as tefty as that Jfr'ican^ 
 cries up Clemency to the Skies ; for he does not 
 fcruple to fay, that 'tis a Virtue which makes Men 
 refemble the Deity f ; tho' whoever thought he put 
 tliis Maxim in Pra61:ice, would be fi^rewdly mif- 
 taken. The firft thing he did, when he was chofe 
 Pontiff at Conjiantinofle^ was to follicite the Empe- 
 ror Arcadius to pafs a fcvere Decree againfl: the Flu- 
 nGinians and the Montanifts, He obtain'd his Re- 
 qiieft, and tliereupon thofe Nazarenes^ who were 
 cali'd Heretics, were banifh'd not only from- the 
 Imperial City, but the moft confiderable Towns of 
 Empire, and were forbid to hold Aflemblies on pain 
 of Death. 
 
 This Aiiguftin of the Greeks did not ilop there ; 
 for having no more Mcntanifis to banifh, he vented 
 his Choler upon Perfons of the greateft Diftinciion, 
 and made public Harangues, or rather Inveftives 
 againft them. His fallen Temper rais'd him fo ma- 
 ny Enemies at lait, that many of the Naxarene 
 PontifFs, in a full AfTembly, depos'd him 3 and the 
 
 f Nihil eft quod fic Dei fijniles faciat, ut malignis at- 
 que lasdentibus effe placabiicm. Chryfoji, thmil 20* 
 2tpn Matthi'vj. 
 
Let. 1 6. 71^ Jewish Spy. tii 
 
 Emperor, who conGrm'd their Sentence, banifn'd 
 Chryfo/icm ; but after he had been forne time in 
 Exile, he was recalled, and reflor'd to his Dignity. 
 Mean time the Evils which he had fufFered, had 
 made no Alteration in his Temper : He declaimed 
 moll indecently a^ainil the Emprefs Endoxa^ who 
 again banifli'd him from CcnJlarAinople ; but as they 
 were carrying him in Exile to Pitytis^ upon the 
 Black Sea^ he died. 
 
 This Chryfoftom is the Patriarch of the MoViniJlsy 
 as Aug'iijlin is of the Janfen'iJIs. Neverthelefs, it 
 may be faid, that if thefe two Authors are of very 
 different Opinions as to tlie Points of the Nazarene 
 Faith, they unite in the Opinion that combats 
 Toleration, and dcflroys the firft Principle of the 
 Law of Nature, which enjoins that we fhould not 
 do to another, v/hat we would not have done to 
 our felves. Now, I ask, whether any Nazarene 
 wou'd like it, if the Tiirk'^ fhould order all that live 
 in their Country to believe in Mahomet^ or be put 
 to Death. 
 
 The Works of Chryfojlcm are v/rittcn with very 
 great Purity : His Stile comes much nearer to that 
 of the Vv'^r iters of old Jthcns^ than that of Augujihi 
 does to the Eitgance of the Writers of the Auguftan 
 Age. The Greek Fathers, in general, have wrote 
 with greater Purity than the Latin. Bafd's Homi- 
 lies may be con-'par'd, for the Language, to the Phi- 
 lipics of Dcmcjfhenes. Jerom was the laft Nazaretie 
 Dcc^tor that wrote in elegant Latin. 
 
 Were it not for the fake of fome good Things, 
 which we find in fome of Augujiln's Works, his 
 Stile would be intolerable. 'Tis the Stile of a De- 
 claimer ; for he repeats the fame Thought twenty 
 ^I'imes, and twenty different Ways. Is there any 
 thing, for inffance, fo puerile, any thing fo bom- 
 bafiic as that Palliige, where, after having iiiewn. 
 
r r 2 The Jewish Spy. Let. iG. 
 
 as thou obferveft in thy laft, that the Senfes cannot 
 convey any Notion of the God-head to the Soul,, 
 he new-vamps the Objection he had been juft ma- 
 king in this manner. ' NcverthekTs, when i leek 
 
 * my God, I feek a Light above all Light, v/hich 
 ' the Soul does not perceive. I feek a Voice above 
 ' all Voices, v/hich the Ear doth not hear. I feek. 
 '- an Odour above all Odours, which the Nofe can- 
 ' not fmell. I feek a Subftance above all Sub- 
 
 * ftanccs, which the 7'ouch cannot feel *.' The 
 fame Thought is exprefsM over and over by a String 
 of new Antithefes f '- And he did not find in his 
 heart to drop it, till he had fpent a couple of Pages 
 in turning it all manner of ways. This declama- 
 tory Stile does infinite prejudice to the bell of An- 
 guftm\ Writings. 'Tis irkfome and difgurting to 
 the Reader to fee a Philofopher having recourfe to 
 falfe Brilliants, and crufliing good Senfe by the 
 
 'Weight of dull and childifli Antithefes. 
 
 This vicious manner of Writing in Aimifiin^ has 
 fpoil'd and brought into Contempt, the Works of a 
 number of the antient Nazarene Dodlors, who 
 have endeavoured to imitate him. They have a- 
 doptcd his Stile., without being able to acquire his 
 Genius ; and are fo infinitely fhort of coming up to 
 their Model, that they have taken but a bad Copy. 
 The Divines of the Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth 
 
 ^ Attamen cum Deum meum qnasro, qiisro riihil- 
 ominus quandam lucem fuper omnem luceir., quam non 
 capit oculus : quendamvocem fuper omnem vocem quam 
 non capit auris ; quandam dulcorem fuper omnem am- 
 piexum, qaem non capit taclus. Div. Auguji. Soliloq. 
 lib. cap. 31. num. 3. 
 
 f Ida lux quidem fulget ubi locus non capit. Ifla vox. 
 fonat ubi fpiritus non capit. Odor ifte redolet ubi flatus 
 npn fpargit. Sapor ifte fapit, ubi non eit edacitas. Am- 
 pkxus ilte tangitur ubi nofl.deveiiitur. Idm, ibid- 
 
 *" CtT,i" 
 
Let. 1 6. The J E \v T s H S p r. 115 
 
 Centuries have fallen into thefe ridiculous Antithefes. 
 Their Writings are only ftufFed with Sophiflry, ex- 
 prefs'd in pompous Terms. Anfchn the Archbifhop of 
 Canterbury^ who llv'd in the Eleventh Century, in 
 order to prove the NecefHty of fulfilling a Myftcry 
 of the Naxarene Do6lrine, makes a very tedious Dif- 
 courfe, in which he fays nothing to the purpofe. 
 After having ftartcd an ObjecSlion, he only refolve? 
 it by a Quibble, or playing upon Words. ' Where 
 *- was the NccefTity, fays he^ for the Moft High (o 
 ' todebnfe himfelf, and for the Almighty to take fo 
 
 * mucli Pains, as to cloath himfelf with a Humari 
 ' Body to fave Mankind ? The Almighty Being 
 ^ needs only to will a Thing, and the EffecSb is fure 
 
 < to follow it. Men might therefore have been fav'd 
 ' the very Moment that he had thought it fitting. 
 '■ Byconfequence the Incarnation was ncedlefs. But 
 
 < no, it was not, becaufe it was folely operated by 
 
 < the Will of God, who is always juft. He thought 
 
 * it proper, not becaufe he was under a NecefTitv of 
 ' faving Mankind in that Way, but becaufe the Hu- 
 *- man Nature was to fatisfy the Deity by this In- 
 - carnation. God had no occafion to fuffer; but 
 ' Man ftood in need of the StiftcTing of God to be 
 ' redeem'd from the Pains of Hell. God alone 
 ' cou'd be fufficient for that Purpofe; and had it not 
 ' been for the Incarnation, Man could not have re- 
 '^ cover'd the Purity of the Angels *. 
 
 Is 
 
 * An allqua neceflltas coegit, ut Altiflimus fic fe humi- 
 Jiaret, & omnipotens ad faciendum aliquid tantum labo- 
 raret? Sed oirinis ncceffitas & impofnbilitas ejus fubjacet 
 voluntati ; quippe quod vult ncceffe eft eiTc, & quod non 
 vult impoffible eft eife. Solo ergo volente, & quoniam 
 ejus voluntas fempcr bona eft, fola fecit hoc voluntate, non 
 s;nim Deus egebat ut hoc modo honiinem Cilvuni face- 
 ret ;, 
 
114 T/:?e Jewish Si^Y. Let. i6. 
 
 Is not this, dear Ifiac, a beautiful CoIIecSlion of 
 Phrafes that are unintelligible, or at leaft inugnifi- 
 cant? After he had faid, that the Deity was able to 
 have fav'd Mankind in wjiat manner he pleas'd, is 
 it not ridiculous to conclude, that he could not ilive 
 them any other way than by cloathing himfelf with 
 the Human Nature, becaufe the Divine alone could 
 fuffice to that End? One finds througliout this whole 
 Difcourfe, a playing upon Words, which render 
 the Ideas of the Author perfectly incomprehenfible. 
 Should a Divine of thefe Days explain himfelf after 
 fo loofe a manner, with Arguments fo inconclufive, 
 he would expofe himfelf to a kvcre Reprimand. 
 The Bojpuets and the Arnaulds^ the Drel'incourts and 
 the Claudes did not write after this manner; ye.t 
 to all thefe learned Men, thofe of their Religion 
 have not given the pompous Name of Fathers. It 
 muft be confefs'd, that there was a Time when the 
 Nazarenes were very lavifh of this Title, and grant- 
 ed it to very mean Genius's. St. Bernard^ who 
 liv' d in the Twelfth Century, was not only illiterate, 
 but a dcclar'd Enemy to all v/ho cultivated t\\Q 
 Sciences; infomuch, that 'tis no thanks to him, that 
 they had not been entirely extinguifn'd by Ignorance. 
 l^hisMan, by counterfeiting the Spirit of Prophecy, 
 
 ret J fed humana natura Indlgebat ut hoc mode Dcmino 
 Deo fatisfaceret. Non egebat Deus ut tarn laboriofa pa- 
 teretur; fed indigebat homo, ut fic de profando inferni 
 erucretur divina natura. — Hsec omnia humanam naturam, 
 ut ad hoc reftitueretur, propter quod fa<5la erat, necefTe 
 erat facere. Sed nee ilia, nee quidquid Deus non eil, 
 poterat ad hoc fuIHcere ; nam homo ad quod inilitutus 
 eft non reftituitur, fi non ad limilitudinem angelorum, in 
 quibus nullum eft peccaturn, provehitur. Anfelmi, Archir 
 epifc. Cantiiarknfis, Medit. de Redemptione Generis 
 Humani, cap. iii. num< i. 
 
 gain'd 
 
Let. i6. The Jewish Spy, iif 
 
 gain'd an infinite afccndant, not only over the Sub- 
 jects but the Sovereigns alfo; and by his falfe Pro- 
 miies, he caus'u a prodigious number of Naza-» 
 renes to lofe their Lives, who had taken the Crofs 
 upon them, to go and conquer Pakjiine, upon 
 tihe certain AfTurances which he gave them of 
 Vi(£lory. When he had no more Turks ro perfe- 
 cute, he vented his Gall upon Men of Learning, 
 ofv/hom Abelard vf2iS his firft Victim, who did his 
 utmoft to defend the Philofophy of Arijlotle^ which 
 they had begun far fome Years to teach in France, 
 It would have been furprifing to have found any ex- 
 cellent Performances, and fuch as were proper to 
 form Human Underftanding, in an Author of this 
 Charadlcri nor has he left any Writings, but 
 v^hat ai-e fitter for the ufe of myflical Devo- 
 tees, than for Men of Learning and Philofo- 
 phers. In fome there are Expreffions fo low, 
 and which convey fuch obfcene Ideas to the Mind, 
 that all tlie vicious Licentioufnufs in the Stile of P^ 
 ironius^ feems covered with a decent Veil, in com- 
 parifon of the Expreffions of this Divine. What am 
 I? fays he (in a Book which is very improperly in- 
 tituled, MoJ} devout Meditutkns) A Man ?nadc cf 
 liquid Matter. The MGiv.ent my Exiftence co77mien- 
 ced^ I zvas fcrmd by Human Seed-y and afterward 
 this Froth coining to coagulate and grow ^ it was chan* 
 gedinto FI'/Ij^ &c.* 
 
 It mufi: be confefs'd, dear Ifaac^ that thefe arc 
 Meditations very v^cU becoming Phyficians ; but 1 
 can't think they are very proper for the Education 
 
 * Quid fum ego? Homo de humore liquido. Fui e- 
 nim in momento conceptionib de humano femine concep- 
 tus. Deinde fpuma ilia coagulata, modicum crefcen- 
 do caro fadla eft. Divi Bernardi Meditationes denjotij/i- 
 vice ad humancc conditionii cogiiitionctn^ cap. ii. 
 num. I. 
 
 of 
 
ii6 The Jewish Spy. Let. iG,, 
 
 of Youth : For how can a Lad or a Girl, from Fif- 
 teen to Tv/cnty Years of Age, think pioufly and 
 without Diftra6tion, of that frothy Seed which comes 
 afterwards to coagulate? 'Tis ridiculous to give to 
 fuch Difcourfes the Title of fjiojr devout Meditations, 
 Were this to be admitted, one might as well admit 
 this Italian Jeft am.ongft edifying and pious Senten- 
 ces, Penfo^ e ripenfo^ come /' Huomo Jia fatto del fpou- 
 to d'un Caxzo f . "Which is a Phrafe that tallies ex- 
 adlly with the Expreliion of the Na7.arene Doctor. 
 Albert^ and Thomas of Aquinas^ who came after 
 Bernard^ v/ere much more learned than he. They 
 profited by the Study of Arijiotle^s Books, of which 
 the Prophet of the Croifadoes had been pleafed to 
 forbid the Reading. In the Time of thefe two Au- 
 thors, the Sciences began to fparkle and revive from 
 their Afhes. The Writings of the iirft are in the 
 fame Stile as thofe of his PredecefTors*. But they 
 are not fo lavifh in Antithefes and playing upon 
 Words, nor are the Sophifms near fo frequent and 
 fo offenfive. Thou art not a Stranger to the Works 
 o^Tljcmas of Aquifias^ which, it mufl: be own'd, con- 
 tain feveral excellent Things; but they are obfcur'd 
 and difgrac'd by a great many others, that are pue- 
 
 -j- The Licentloufnefs of this Italian PafTage mufl be 
 pardon'd, for the fake of its Refemblance with that of 
 St. Bernard. 
 
 * Sunt quasdam vitia, qu^e libenter five frequenter 
 fpeciem virtutis prstendunt, ut cum vere vitia fmt, ere- 
 duntur effe virtutes : ficnt feveritas putatur effejuftitia, 
 amaritudo mentis dicitur maturitaS; — Diffolatio creditor 
 fpiritualis mentis lastitia, pigi'itia five inordinata triilitia, 
 judicatur morum gravitas, &c. Alberti Magni Paradif. 
 Anim. de Virtute. Lib. i. Prolog. I'his Enur/ifiration 
 of Vices ^<.vhich are honour'' d nxiith the "Name of VirtueSy. 
 takes up tn.vo great Pages, and indeed is of the fame. 
 Stamp iL'ith St. AuguftineV long-nvindt^d Antithefes. 
 
 rile-,. 
 
Let. i6. Z/j^ Jewish Spy. 117 
 
 rile, impertinent and abfurd, which Ignorance and 
 fcholaftic Superflition have, however, confecrated 
 under the Name of Theology, and cover'd with the 
 Veil of Rvrligion. The Stile of Thomas of Jquinas 
 is little, if any thing, more rcfin'd than tiiat of the 
 Authors who went before him. That ill Tafte in 
 the manner of Expreffion and Writing, fubfifted 
 even in the Fifteenth Century, and was not totally 
 «xtinguifli'd till the Difhirbanccs which arofe among 
 the Nazarous. The Thcologucs having at that 
 time form'd feveral Sc6i:s, faw themfclvcs reduc'd 
 to the Neccilitv of plcafmg their P.cadcrs ; and for 
 this End were for imitating great Models, fo that 
 ihz Language of Cicero and Virgil came again into 
 Faftion ; and in a Ihort time after, the Method of 
 Argument underwent as great a Change as Diction 
 Jiad. 
 
 If Kiizaren}f?}i had never been diflurb'd by in- 
 tcftine Divifions, perhaps the modern StiJe wou'd 
 have been as confus'd as it was in the Time of Tho- 
 mas of Jquinas, It does not appear, that tlic Naza- 
 renc Dodiors who came feveral Years after him, had 
 done much toperfc(ftTafl:c, or made any great Pro- 
 grefs in the right way; it feems, on the contrary, that 
 ibme deviated flill further from it. Rnymond Jordan ^ 
 wholiv'd in the Fourteenth Century, and publifhM 
 his Writings by no other Name than that of Idlota^ 
 has ftuff'd them with affeded Antithcfcs ; and his 
 *3tile is much more vicious than that of Auguflin. He 
 runs incefTantly in chafe of 1 houghts v/hich are ra- 
 ther Childifh than Brilliant. The Charader he 
 gives of Divine Love feems to have been written 
 by fome honeft Capuchin of a Country Village. 
 ' Love, fays /v, confolidates things that are broken. 
 ' It renders fickle Minds conftant. Love teaches. 
 
 * Love knows no Enemy. Love praifes. Love cen- 
 
 * fures. Love knows no criminal Jealou fy. Where 
 
 * Love 
 
ii8 716^ Jewish Spy. Lct.i6, 
 
 ' Xove is wanting, nothing that is done is good for 
 ' any thing. On the contrary, where there is Love, 
 *• -every thing is good. Love makes the Heart glad, 
 
 * and raifes it above terreftrial Things. Love is 
 ^ never idle, but always operates and always in- 
 
 * creafes. Love is the Life of the Soul, and he that 
 ' doth not love, doth not enjoy Life. Love requires 
 ' no Reward, altho' it deferves it. Love makes 
 ' Mankind perfe<5l : It fupports every thing, and 
 ' bears all things patiently, iffc *.' 
 
 Here I make a Stop, dear Ifaac, for there is ano- 
 ther Page ftill of all the Attributes of Love. A Re- 
 colle£l MifTionary, after having inferted this long 
 Paflage, in a Sermon, might add, Love creates Cue- 
 holds ; Love debauches Girls ; Love begets Bajlards ; 
 and, dear Sifters, of all Things take care of Love, 
 Such a PafTage wou'd not be the moft impertinent 
 in a Sermon. 
 
 Take care of thy Health, dear Ifaac^ and live con- 
 tent and happy. 
 
 * Amor confrafta folidat, deprefTa fublevat, mutan- 
 tem animum conftanter reddit. Amor docet & addifcit, 
 & inimicum nefcit. Amor laudat, amor reprehendit. 
 Amor prava fufpicione caret. Ubi amor defuerit, nihil 
 valet quidquid agitur. Contra omnia valent quae cum 
 amore aguntur. Amor hominem laetificat, & a terrenis 
 fublevat. Amor nunquam eft otiofus, fed femper aliquid 
 operatur, femper crefcit & augetur. Amor vita eft ani- 
 mae, & qui non amat mortuus eft. Verus amor non re- 
 
 quirit pretium etfi mercatur. Amor hominem perficit, 
 
 omnia iuftinent, omnia patienter portat, &c. Idioio', 
 Viri doSii i^ fan^ii Contemplatioties de Amore Di^ino, 
 £ap. i. num. 2. 
 
 L E T- 
 
Let. 1 7- 27?^ Jewish Spy. 119 
 
 LETTER XVIL 
 
 Isaac Onis, a Rahbi at Conftantlnopic 
 lo Aaron Monceca. 
 
 I 
 
 CoJiflantlnople — 
 
 F the Winds have hecn favourable to the Captaia 
 to whom I dehver'd my former Letter, thou 
 mud have receiv'd the Minutes which T fent to thee 
 of Of man Bajha's Secretary. I fhall be impatient to 
 hear thy Opinion of it. There were fome very odd 
 Notions in it ; but it plainly difcover'd that Hatred 
 which the Mahometans and 2<la%arenes bear to the 
 Ifr a elites. 
 
 I have often reflected that our Law muft be very 
 good and very conformable to right Reafon, fmce 
 it is attack'd with fo little Succefs. Thofe of all 
 Religions write perpetually againift us, and we ne- 
 ver, or but very feldom return an Anfwer to the 
 Works of our Adverfaries. Notwithllanding our 
 Silence, we lofe few of our Brethren, Rnd we fel- 
 dom foe any Jcivs that turn Turks or Nazarenes. 
 It happens on the contrary, that the latter very often 
 turn Mahc7Tietans ; and thefe are ftill the lefs cxcuf- 
 able, becaufe nothing but meer Libertinifm is their 
 Motive for this Alteration. 
 
 I cannot imagine how a Man who has the firil 
 Ideas ,of meer Reafon, can give the leaft Credit to 
 Mahomefs Vifions, and am even allonifli'd that fuch 
 as are born in that Religion, don't penetrate into the 
 JRidicule of it, in fpite of the Prejudices imbib'd in 
 
 the 
 
I20 7"/&^ Jewish Spy. Let. 17. 
 
 their Infiincy. 1 know not whether tliou liaft 
 ever examin'd the Chain of Impertinences that is 
 formM by the Mahometan Law. I defy the moii 
 diftra6led and the greatcft Enthufiafts to produce any 
 thing To chimerical and lb monflrous. How is it 
 poilible for any Man to be fo weak as to fancy that 
 hcfhall tafte Carnal Pleafures after Death ; that one 
 of the chief Bleilings which the Deity fhall beftov/ on 
 him, will be the Enjoyment of feveral Women, al- 
 ways Virgins? 'Tis amaz;ing how the Pagans could 
 -believe the Stories and Fables which their Poets told 
 -of the Elyfian Fields, in which the Heroes were again 
 to find Chariots, Arms, Horfes and Crgwns of Lau- 
 rel '^ '. But are not fuch Notions every whit as pro- 
 bable as the others? Are the Puniihments inflicted by 
 the dark Angels anything more orlefs than the plung- 
 ing of Souls in Tartarus and Phlcgcton F Yet we are 
 aftonifhed every Day at the Credulity of the Pagans, 
 and fay nothing of that of the Turks^ becaufe Cu-ftom 
 and Habit have made it familiar to us. 
 
 Befid-es the ridiculous part, the Mahometan Reli- 
 gion has fomething in it that is favage or rather 
 brutifh. The Weaknefs of the Turks to believe 
 that a Statue fliall demand a Soul in the other World 
 from the Hands cf the Sculptor, induc'd them to 
 deftroy all the antique Fragments which they met 
 with in Greece. Mahomet., who was fenfible that the 
 Belles Lettres gave the Mind a certain Faculty of 
 Penetration, was for ihuttuig the Eyes of his Fol- 
 lowers againft every thing that might make them 
 
 * Arma procu!, currufque viriim miratur inanes 
 Stant terra defix^ haftae, paffirnquefoluti 
 Per campos pafcuntur equi, quae gratia curraum 
 Armorumque fait vivis, quae cura nitentes 
 Pafcere equos i eadem fequitur tellure repoftos. 
 
 Firg. j£?ieidy hb. vi. ver. 707. 
 fen- 
 
Let. 1 7. The y E w I s H S p y. 121 
 
 icnfible of the Ridlculoufnefs of his Precepts. Ke 
 knew that his Religion could not bear the flighteft 
 Examination ; and therefore he forbad all manner of 
 Difputation but with Sword in Hand. If fuch had 
 been the Maxim of the Nazarcne Monks, I queftiou 
 whether there would been have fuch a Multitude of 
 different Opinions am.ong them. TheDccSlorswho 
 difputed, only battled it with the Pen, v.jiile thofe 
 who embraced their Party, cut one another's 
 Throats, for Opinions which they did not under- 
 fland. 
 
 The common People have at all times been liable 
 to be feduc'd, cafy to be dcceiv'd, and difHcult to 
 be fet right. Tliey are fond of Novelty and always 
 follow Objc61:s that flrike tlicm. They are ftcpt 
 and caught by outward Appearances ; it mufl hi 
 ibmething uncommon which touches them. Plain 
 Reafon, ftript of Cliimseras, appears too naked ; 
 ihcy are for fomething that is marvellous to fill their 
 Imagination. 'Tis owing to this, tint the Reveries 
 of the Poets met with Belief among the Pagajis^ and 
 tliat the Alahometans look -upon the Fables of the Al- 
 coran as true. 
 
 Yet notwithftanding the Abuirditics o^ the TurkiJJ) 
 Religion I will own to thee, that I think it con- 
 tains Precepts worthy of the Admiration of thie 
 greateft Philofophers. That Clvirity which is fo 
 often enjoin'd in their Books, and the Pardon of 
 their Enemies, are two Points v.'hich include the 
 moft refined Morality : But what they are moft to 
 be comimended for, is, that they don't only believe 
 thofe Maxims, but ftridly prac^ife them. Tho'j. 
 knoweft how far their Charity extends to the Poor, 
 infomuch that it is beforehand with their NecciTi- 
 ties. There are few Turks but crivc confider^iblc 
 Alms in their Life-time, which are apply'd to the 
 Relief of the Unfortunate. 1-he Caravanferas, the 
 
 Vol. I. G Wells, 
 
12 2 The J E'W I sn Spy. Let. i j. 
 
 Wells, the Fountains, built upon the Road, for the 
 Convenicncy of Pilgrims and poor Travellers, of 
 ^what Religion foever they be, are everlafting Monu- 
 jTients of the Goodnefs of the ^dahometam. Their 
 'Compainon for the Miferable extends ftill farther. 
 They have Hofpitals for Incurables, for thofe that 
 are maim'd, and for Lunatics. For the latter they 
 even retain a fort of Veneration, and look upon 
 them as Pcrfons whom God has only deprived of 
 the ufe of Reafon, to give them the Opportunity 
 of beins; the more {xcq from Sin. If thou waft not 
 thy felf a Coij/IaniinGpolitan^ thou wouldft hardly be- 
 lieve that there are any Tttrh vvlio leave Legacies on 
 their Death-beds, to ferve for the common Nou- 
 riifhment of the Dogs of their Quarter. This is 
 really carrying Charity very far ; but there arc other 
 Virtues to which they are not Strangers, There are 
 few People who have a ftrl(5ler Regard to their Pro- 
 jnifes ; infomuch that they are Slaves to their Words, 
 ^nd the DiiFerence of Religion docs not ferve them 
 as a Pretext to deceive thofe with whom they have 
 any worldly Dealings. 
 
 The Re rpe6t which the Mahometans pay to their 
 Parents is worthy of Praife. At Confiantinople^ few 
 of thofe Children are to be feen that make Nature 
 blufh,, which is fo common in tlie Nazarene Coun- 
 tries. The Head of a P'amily amongft the Turks 
 •preferves that Authority over his Children, which 
 -our antient Patriarchs had. The Tartars and the 
 Jrablans are ftill more zealous Obfervers of filial 
 'Obedience : But what I admire them moft for, is, 
 their Averfion to Calumny, infomuch, that 'tis a 
 Rarity to hear them worrying one another's Reputa- 
 tion. They are ignorant of the Art of poifoning 
 their Difcourfes; their Converfation is not made 
 up of Slander, nor ftufPd with fcandalous Tales. I 
 iiave been confidering what it is that guards them 
 
 againft 
 
Let. 17- T/:^^ Jewish Spy. 125 
 
 againft this Vice ; for Men being very much alike 
 in all Countries, I could not comprehend what it 
 Was that exempted the Turks from this Weaknefs, 
 till I perceiv'd that it was owing to their Manners 
 and way of Liviiog. They have little Commerce 
 with one another, unlefs in the Aftairs of their 
 Offices and Employments. We fee none of their 
 Houfcs fet apart for the Harbour of illuftrious Drones. 
 They are ignorant of the Art of fpending part of the 
 Day fhut up in an AfTembly, to tell one another of the 
 Adventures that happcn'd the Night before. When 
 they go to the Coffee-lioufes, which are the only 
 public Places, they there drink Sherbet or other 
 Liquors that are tolerated ; and fometimes, tho* 
 rarely, they play at Chefs, or at Mangala *, with 
 all the Silence in the World, and foon after return 
 home. 
 
 The ImpofTibility of feeing the Women is ano- 
 ther fubftantial Reafon why Backbiting prevails (a 
 little at Covjluntimplc, The Ladies in Europe are 
 the chief Fomcnters of Calumny, Hatred, Jealoufy 
 Ambition ; the Defire of obliging ; all thcfe PaiTions 
 put them upon a6ling either againft their Rivals, or 
 againft fuch Perfons as may tinvart their Views. 
 'Tis eafy for them to draw in a great nujnber of 
 fine Fellows, who are zealous Admirers of their 
 Whimfies, and Slaves to their Will and Pleafure. 
 The Cortftraint under which the Turkifo Women 
 live, does not leave it in their Power to plav the 
 fame Springs ; and the utmoft they can do is to ca- 
 bal in their Houfes, and againft their Rivals ; 
 which can never be extended beyond the Precin(5l of 
 their Habitation, and carry'd to the Knowledge of 
 the Public. ^ 
 
 * A Tu'kifi Game, which they play with h'ttle Shells, 
 
 G 2 The 
 
i:^ 7/^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 17. 
 
 The filent and taciturn Humour of the Turks is 
 snother Prefervative againft Slander. Great Bablers 
 and Tell-tales are commonly inclin'd to this Vice. 
 This is the Method they take to gain Attention ; 
 and the Heart of Man which is more addicSled to 
 Cenfure than Praife, is eafily captivated with Slan- 
 der. Th^Nazarene Eeaus, who are miglity Boafters 
 of their Occupation, a,re, as thou haft obferv'd, 
 very liable to this Failing. 
 
 That Candor for v/hich the Maho?netans are fo 
 :much commended, has often put me upon ferious 
 Reflexions. I will own to thee, dear Aaron^ that 
 I am touch'd to the quick, when I confider what 
 will be their Fate after Death. I cannot help being 
 concerned for the Deftrudion of fo many honeft 
 Men guilty of no other Crime than having followed 
 the Prejudices of their Education, and given too 
 blind a Belief to the Dreams of their Imans and Der- 
 vifnes. The Turkljh Monks here play the fame 
 Part as the Nazarene Monks, They deceive and 
 >cheat the Vulgar, fill their Heads with Chimjera's ; 
 and under the Veil of Religion give a San6^ion to 
 their Vices and diforderly Behaviour. 
 
 I will now tell thee a Story of a Dervifh that hap- 
 pen' d when I Vv'as at Adrianople^ which thou v/ilt 
 aind to be a juft Parallel to thofe that thou writefl to 
 me fometimes concerning the Nazarene Fryars. This 
 Dervifli was retired to a Hermitage about half a 
 League out of Town, where he flay'd whole Weeks 
 together, without {lining out, and his Gate was al- 
 ways fhut. It was faid that he had Extafies at that 
 time, during which time the Angel Gabriel came 
 snd talk'd with him familiarly. His Reputation in- 
 <:reas'd far and near. People flocked from all Parts 
 to confult him, and ^ great many actually v/ent 
 to lodge with him. The Women, who had a great 
 Cunofity to be acquainted with this holy Perfon, 
 
 went 
 
Lcr. I/. 7aV Jewish Spy. 12 f 
 
 went to the Hermitage, and came away mightily 
 edify M : But thefe frequent Vifits were what the jea- 
 lous Temper of the 'Turks cou'd not brook, and thf^^ 
 Hufbands forbad their Wives to go to the Derviih 
 any more j upon v/hich they went and complain'd to 
 the Cadis, that their Husbands would not let them 
 go to the holy Man : But the Judge would have no- 
 thing; to fay to it, and fent 'em home about their 
 Bufinefs. This Afiair made a Noife, and the Der- 
 vifh being informed of it, refolv'd to improve it to 
 his i\.d vantage, fie was very far from being that 
 devout Man he pretended, as could be prcv'd by 
 above three of the Women that Vv'ent to viilt him. 
 There was a Church-yard near his Hermitage, whera 
 he open'd the Tomb of a Man that had been lately 
 interred, made a Eunuch of the Corpfe, and hung 
 up the dead Member in his Cell, near his Bed's 
 Head, betwixt two Sentences of the Alcoran. This 
 done, he v/rapp'd himfelf up in his Cloak, and werst 
 to Bed. 'i'he fuTt Pcrfons that happen'd to vifit 
 him, perceiving the Spoil of this Operation, were in 
 a great Surprize. / tuas vj'illingy faid the Dervifh, 
 to preijent all Caufe of Slander^ and to put myjcif in a 
 Capacity of inJlruLling all the Pair Sex without Dan* 
 ger. This A6tion of the Dcrvifli doubled People's 
 Efteem for him, and the Women were almofl: ready 
 to ftone their Husbands, that had given Occafion to 
 this pious Deed oi the Hermit. The Women now 
 return'd in Crouds to vifit him, of v/liom the Der^- 
 vifh undeceiv'd Ibme, and the Hufbands had no Suf- 
 picion of the Matter. He livM for many Years. 
 with a good Reputation ; but at length Jealoufy un- 
 _ did him. The Wife of a Merchant, provok'd at 
 the Preference which he gave to her Rival, accus'ci 
 him before the Cadis of attempting to raviih her. 
 She tcld the Story of the Corpfe, which the Hermiti 
 had imparted to her, in Confidence j and offered. 
 
126 77.'^ Jewish Spy. Let iS. 
 
 ^f {he was found In a Lye to fubmit to the feverefi 
 Chaftifement. The Dervifh was thereupon order'd 
 to be fearch'd ; and it appeared he was very far from 
 being: an Eunucii. But the Judge gave order that 
 he Oiould undergo the real Operation as a Punifh- 
 mcnt for hij Crime. So nv:iny were the Hufbands 
 who had Reafon to complain, that they comforted 
 one another ; and for all their Jealoufy, they would 
 neither tell, nor hear any thing of the Matter. I fancy 
 thou wilt be of Opinion that this Act of the Derviih 
 is of a Par with the pious P'rauds of the Monks. 
 Sloth, Unferviceablenefs to the public "Welfare ; 
 Hypocrify, Knavery, is all one between a Nazajen^ 
 .Vryar and a Aduhometan Dervifh. 
 
 LETTER XVIII. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis* 
 
 a Rahhi at Conftantinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 I N this Country Virtue alone v/ill not ennoble a 
 •^ Family. A Defcent from half a Score of An- 
 ceftors ,whofe Candor and Sincerity were defe: ving of 
 the public Efleem, is not as good as that from a Fa- 
 tlier, who happens to be the King's Secretary.^ No- 
 bilitv is purchas'd like Merchandlfe. A Farmer 
 of the Revenue who is fatten'd v/ith the Blood of the 
 People, gets his '^n a Noblemaa's Tiik y where- 
 as 
 
Let. i8. The]E\YisH Sfw 127 
 
 as the Son of an able Hiflorian, or an eminent Poet, 
 who often inherits the Talents of his Father, lias no- 
 other Rank or Honours to pretend to, thnn thofc 
 which are the Gift of j4pGllo. The niofl: fliiiiing 
 Merit, the mod extcnfivc Learning is not fo good: 
 as the Employrnciit of ?.\\ Uncier-farmer, for attain- 
 ing to Wealth and Grandeur. "We fee People 
 every day at Paris, who at firft fetting out were but 
 Lackeys, and are now drawn in fine Coaches, and 
 lodg'd in magnificent Ptdaces. Thefe Frolics of 
 Fortune arc vt:ry coni^inon here: But wliiit will fur- 
 prize thee is, that thofe IVIcn who nrc look'd upvMi 
 as the Scandal of the Nation, and the Lilhunieni. 
 of the People's Misfortunes, meet with a great 
 many P'olks who debafe themfclves fo low as to- 
 make their Court to them. Their Table, which is- 
 magnificently fcrv'd, draws a great mnp.y Parafites 
 to it. The very Nobility fccm to pay rlicm Homaae, 
 a Complaifdncc to which they are forc'd for the Con- 
 venlency of borrowing Money : Nay, they are fomc- 
 times fo filly as to contracl: Alliances with thofe Fi- 
 nanciers, the ill State cf their Affairs obliging them Xo 
 take a Step fo unworthy of their Birth. 
 
 When a Farmer of the Revenue finds himfil^'^ 
 pofil'fb'd of great Wealth, he endeavours to pur- 
 chafe a young Woman of Q^udity. The Parents 
 conclude the ?vlarrIage-Treaty. Mifs is taken out 
 of the Convent, and file is furprlz'd when (he finds 
 her Hufband to be her Chamber-maid's Coufm^. 
 llie Financier having a ficfh Luffre added tohim^- 
 by this new Alliance, totally fojgets his former 
 Condition, as v/cll as the Opprefiions by which he 
 acquir'd his Riches, and the Misfortunes he has 
 brought upon the Widow and the Orphan ; aad 
 talks of nothing now but of Nobility and antient 
 Titles. He fcarches all the Regiflers, and has re- 
 CQurfe to all the.. Notaries for Papers to prove the 
 Q. 4s AuA- 
 
128 7"^^ Jewish Sp V. Let. i8>. 
 
 Antiquity of his Family. He tells the World fo 
 much of his being a Perfon of Quality, that he, at 
 laft, believes it to be true : He finds Genealogifts 
 ready to write the Hiftory of his Family, and hun- 
 gry Poets that proflitute their Pens in his Praife ; 
 and if he has a mind to be the Hero of an Epic Poem^ 
 'tis but paying the Author well, and he fhall be 
 celebrated as JchiUes and Mneas. 
 
 Such Honours, and fo much Wealth, thrown a- 
 ""^.'^Y upon Perfons ^o undeferving, is one of the 
 Things that have moil furpriz'd me at Paris. 'Fhe 
 Mahometans Way of Thinking is much more ratio- 
 .qal. Vv/ith them Virtue is the only Step to Gran- 
 deur, and there is no other Nobility but vv^hat is 
 acquir'd by Atchievements and Genius. The Son 
 of a Vizier, if lie be not worthy of an honourable 
 Employment, often remains in Obfurity; while 
 the Son of a Cobler, if he has Merit, may be pro- 
 moted to that eminent Dignity. Confider, dear 
 Ij'aac^ of how much more Service this Maxim i3, 
 to promote ttie \Kti{d.x^ of the Government and the 
 Cbuntry. It animates all Subjects. to render them- 
 felves worll.y of Honours. It raifes their Courage, 
 by the Hopes of their being able to attain to the 
 higheft Rank. They are incited to brave Deeds with 
 the more Expectation and Refclution, becaufe they 
 know that the Obfcurity of Birth is no Bar in their 
 way to Honours. ]f the French lay fo much Strefs 
 lipon the Sentiments of their Nobility, what ought 
 not the Turks to hope for, fince the meaneft Maho- 
 metan th.inks and ads like a Nobleman, has the fame 
 Thirft after Glory, and the fame Hopes of attaining 
 Jo it? I know that fometimes a Frenchman^ by 
 feme extraordinary Accident, is elevated from the 
 Dregs of the People, to an eminent Degree, but ijt 
 happens very feldom; for all Employments, aU 
 Honours, are cngroG'd by thcNobility^ and 'tis by 
 
let. I/. T^e Jewish Spy: 12^. 
 
 meer Chance, if ever a meer Plebeian clears all Ob-- 
 llacles out of the Way to his F^ortune. 
 
 From thefe Reflections, I am led to give thee an 
 Account of the different States whereof France is . 
 compos'd ; Avhich are the Clergy, the Nobility, and 
 the common People. The Clergy, at the Head of 
 whom are the Pontiffs *, are of the flrft Rank. The 
 Nobility have the fecond, and the common People, 
 who arc reprefented by the Deputies of the Towns. 
 and Provinces, are of the loweft Order. 
 
 Heretofore Afleinblics were held, confifling of all. 
 the three Bodies ; and they were call'd tlie States- 
 General: Thefe, jointly with their Sovereign, had 
 under their Confidc^ration fuch A'latters as were 
 thought necefHuy for the Good of the Country, and 
 were as a Balance between the Court and the Sub- 
 jects : But by degrees tliC Court aboliili'd thofe Af- 
 femblies ; for they having the fole Power o{ call- 
 ing them together, avoided it, and made their Au- 
 thority fupply the room of the Ordinances of thofa 
 States ; by which means their fole Will and Pleafuie 
 were of as much Validity as the Decinons of the 
 whole Nation. The Divifion of tlie three Bodies- ■ 
 that reprefented it, was one of the chief Things 
 that favoured the Sovereigns in their ProjecSl;, Tiie. 
 Clergy's Hi:rr^J of the Nobility, and- the Envv, 
 which both met v/itli ftom the common People, 
 became the chief Inftium.ent of ycakiiH the French. 
 
 This Difi-nion is not yet at an erid, ror has 
 Time been able to heal it. The Ambition of thc-. 
 Pontiffs, their Third for Dominion is a Tyranny 
 which feems infupporrable to the Nobility, who arc 
 forry to fee Dignities and Pofts of Eminence fili'd . 
 by Perfons that are their Enemies, repine at the 
 
 ^^ Th2 Biflicps, 
 
 G5 
 
I.JO The J E w I SH S ^Y\ l.zt, 18,. 
 
 Pov/er of the Clergy, and whofe Hatred is the great- 
 er, in proportion to the Credit of their Enemies. 
 The common People, for their part, are charm'd 
 at the Mortification of the Nobility, and are pleas'd 
 to fee thofe humbled that defpife them. The more 
 the Nobility is deprefs'd, the more freely do the 
 common People feem to breathe ; and the Yoke 
 laid on the Necks of the one becomes an Eafe to the 
 Captivity of the others. 
 
 Bcfidcs thefe, there are other venerable Bodies *, 
 which are not included, either among the Nobility 
 «!)r among the common People. Thefe are the Tri- 
 bunals which adminifter Juftice. They preferve 
 fomething ftill of their antient Splendor ; and 'tis^ 
 by their Canal that the common People are alfo 
 ^lermitted to lay their Calamities and Misfortunes- 
 at the Feet of their Sovereign ; but their Accefs to 
 the Throne is often forbid. An Order from the 
 superior Tribunal ftops their Mouths f : They have 
 aio Prerogative to plead for the People, farther than' 
 they are permitted by that Tribunal ; and tho' their 
 antient Privileges were much more extenfive, they 
 bave been in this point reftrain'd. 
 
 Thefe Bodies call'd the Parliaments are always la 
 rjire£l Oppofition to the fovereign Pontiffs and the 
 fabaiterns too. As they are the fole Depofitaries 
 of the Remains of the Liberty of their Church, they 
 are alv/ays upon their Guard ao;ainft the Invafions of ^ 
 R.Qme^ and die Decrees that iflue from it ||. This, 
 Attention draws upon them the Hatred of mofl of 
 the Pontiffs, who are very much attach'd to their 
 Head ; and there's an eternal Mifunderllanding be- 
 tween them. The late Duke Regent, when he 
 
 ■* The Parliaments f Th« Privy-Council. |i The Bull?. 
 
 tock 
 
Lct.i?: TBejEATisH Spy. lyi' [ 
 
 took the Reins of Government upon him, maie | 
 a dexterous ufe of thisDifunion. In order to amule ! 
 the Parliaments, at the Beginning of his Admini- j 
 itration, he cunningly deliver'd up fonie Pontiffs in- 
 to their Hands, and fceniM to approve of tlie Pu- 
 nifhnu-nt and Severity which they cbligM the Per- 
 fons and Writings of fome of them to undergo *. 
 When he liad obtain'd what he aim'd at of the Par- 
 liaments, he opprefs'd thorn too, in their turn ; for 
 he even banilli'd the Members, and carried his de- i 
 fjiotic Pov/cr fiirthcr than any fovereign Prince. 1 he 
 Pontiffs were glad to fee the Misfortunes of their 
 Enemies, and lorj^at their own Injuries at the Sight 
 of thofe whicji were done to the Parliament?. 
 
 No Men take a greater Pleafurc in Re\'engc than. ] 
 the Ecclefiaflics, wlio let flip no Opportunity o^'" | 
 hurting their Antagonifts, it being one of their dar- ' 
 ling Vices ; 3^et thty live very regularly, nor is th.crn . i 
 any thing diibrdetly in their Behaviour j and if Ha- | 
 tred and Ambition were but feariifhM from their i 
 Hearts, they would be guilty of fev/ material Faults,., i 
 '^Vhat I fay relates meerly to the Pontiffs ?.n(] Priefts ; 
 for as to the Monk«, they are the Sijik of all Vicci,, ! 
 the Lives of moft of them being as fcandalous rls tluir . : 
 of the others fsem regular. Sometimes the Pontilh 
 too have their human Frailties ; but to do them \ 
 Julficc, this is a Cafe that feldom happens. 
 
 A Story is current here to this Purpofe, \y}nch I | 
 think a very pleafant one. 'Tis afHrm-M, T]:at aPon- ] 
 tiff of the Province o^ Auvetyne^ writing to his Mi-- | 
 ftrefs and to the Prime Minilter, made a Mif^akc in 
 the Superfcription of his Letters, and directed the i 
 Minifter's Letter to his Miffrefs, and his Miffrefs's \ 
 
 * The Eiihop of ylptj whofe Mcndat? was lirnt^ ansfej ' 
 Temporalipes I'^z'd. 
 
 G ^ t».. I 
 
132 TV^f Jewi SH Spy. Let. 18. 
 
 to the Minifter. The latter return'd him for Anfwer 
 to the Letter which he had receiv'd (wherein the 
 PontifF faid, that he had wrote to old E?ninency for 
 ebtaifwig a Permiffion to return to Paris) that the King 
 commanded him to ftay at home till further Orders, 
 and that old Eminency advis'd him to better Man- 
 ners. The Story pafles here for Truth ; neverthe- 
 jefs I Ccinnot aflure thee that 'tis exactly as they give 
 ;it cut. The Blunder of this Pontiff is very divert- 
 ing, and the Laughers have made themfelves merry 
 with it : But the Man has this to comfort him, that 
 ^he firft News which flies about Paris will drown 
 i.he Remembrance of his Stupidity. 
 
 Tales and Stories fucceed one another in this 
 VX^^ZQ. like the Waves of the Sea ; ^o that what is the 
 Sxibjeift of Converfation one Day, is dropp'd the 
 next. The fickle Humour of this Nation does not 
 dwell long upon one Topic ; and a Week hence, 
 t\\Q Adventure which I have been mentioning to 
 ihee, will be look'd upon as old as if it had happen'd 
 in the Time of Francis L 
 
 I ani continuing to inform myfelf of every thing 
 *-hat is capc^ble of giving me jufl Ideas of the State of 
 Xjcarning in this Kingdom j and am alfo examining 
 the Progrefs of the Arts and Sciences in it, which 
 have beU:er Kelps and Accommodations at Paris 
 than in any other Place in the World. Lewis XIV. 
 made fuch Eflablifhments, that he fix'd them there 
 tor ever. I told thee, in my Letters, of three AcaJt- 
 demies, where all the Sciences are taught. The firft 
 conuftsof the famous Painters, Sculptors, i^,c. The 
 iecond of fkilful Architeils. The third of Muficians. 
 There are Prizes which the Kijig caufcs to be diftri- 
 bu ted in the two former, to reward thofe who 
 dillinguifh themfelves by their Merit, and to en- 
 courage others to arrive at Perfection in tlieir T;a- 
 ■ cuts. Thefe Eftabliihsients are worthy of a Sove- 
 
Let i8: 27^^ Jewish Spy. j^j 
 
 reign, whofe Grandeur is demonftrated by nothing 
 more, than by the Tranquihty and Eafe which the. 
 Sciences enjoy under Favour of his Protection. The 
 Glory of a Prince, who caufes the Arts to flourifh, 
 refledis a Luftre upon the whole Nation, it being an 
 Honour in which both are Sliarers. 
 
 Lewis XIV . not content with having procur'd his 
 Subje6lsall the Helps for their excelling in Painting, 
 Carving and Archite6lure, eftablifh'd an Academy 
 at Rome*, where they who gain'd the Prizes at 
 Paris, were maintain'd for three Years at the Ex- 
 pence of the Prince; they work under the Eyes oF 
 a (kilful DirccSlor, and go, like Bees, to fuck Honey 
 from the choiceft Flowers, to enrich their Hive. 
 
 I have had a Letter from Afofes Rodrigo, who will 
 fend me the Books I defir'd of him from Ainflcrdam, 
 and as foon as I have receiv'd them I will forward 
 them to Marfeilks. I defir'd him to write to me 
 his Opinion about the moft eminent modern Authors, 
 and the new Works that they fhall publiih ; by which 
 means I may be enabled to fend thee every gocd 
 Piece that comes out in Holland, and in England. 
 
 Preferve thy Plealth, dear Ifaac, which is the moft 
 valuable Benefit that Heaven can grant us; and when 
 it adds Riches into the Bargain, our Happinefs la 
 perftd. 
 
 * 'Tis flill fubfifting. 
 
 L E Tv. 
 
134 7Z'<? Jewish Spy. Let. ip. 
 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 Aa RON. MONC ECA tO ISAA-C OnIS» 
 
 a RabhL at Conftantinonle. 
 
 . i.yji \j ^ K. xu \^ r^ i/U JL o .rt.- A ' 
 
 Rabbiy at Conftantinopic 
 
 T 
 
 HE Books I expe£l^d from Holland are jufl 
 come to hand. Mofes Rodrigo fent them by 
 the v/ay of Roan^ and I Ihall take the iiril: Oppor-- 
 tunlty to forward them to Marfeilles\ where our- 
 Correfpondent will take care to Ihip them for Con- 
 Jiantino-ple. Together with the Books he has fent 
 an Account, as 1 had defir'd, of the Authors, of 
 v/hofe Works I may, perhaps, m.ake a Purchafe. I 
 thought itfo exact and clear, that L fend ihee the,, 
 ioilowing Copy of it. 
 
 A L 1 T E R A R Y D I S S E R T ATI ON. 
 
 • I now prepare, with all the Exa6biefs poilible, , 
 
 * to difcharge the Commands you laid upon me, . 
 « 'Tis the very fame Cafe here as at Parh, The Belles 
 
 * Letters and good Authors have their Times and 
 
 * Seafons, which are fome more favourable to them 
 
 * than another. What is very fmgular is, that there 
 
 * feems to have been a certain Sympathy between- 
 
 * France -iinf^ Holland y fo that one would fvvear thofe 
 
 * - different States have had Genius's fublime and in- 
 < different at one and the fame time.' 
 
 < In the laft Century, and at the Beginning of the. 
 
 * pre fent 3 there was a good number of learned 
 
 Men. 
 
Let. ip. TT'^ Jewish Spy* 13^^ 
 
 ' Men of the firft Rank in France: But Holland 
 ' pretended to the Advantage of havino; more than 
 *■ France ; the Truth of which Fadt will be plainly. 
 ' prov'd by comparing the one with the other. 
 
 ' One vaft profound univerfal Genius (i) was 
 ' the firmeli: Pillar of his Religion. With the fame • 
 ' Pen with which he combated his Enemies (2), he 
 ' defeated fuch Adverfaries as he had among thofe of 
 ' his own Opinion (3). 
 
 ' This great Man was opposed by a fublime and 
 ' righteous Genius (4), who, notvv'ithflanding the . 
 
 * Darknefs of the remoteft Ages of Antiquity, un- 
 
 * veil'd the Cuftoms of paft Centuries ; and tho* 
 *• they could not agree together, they own'd, how- 
 *" ever, that if either of them could be convinced, 
 
 * the other was the only Perlbn capable to convince 
 
 * him. 
 
 *-Much about the fame time, France had alfa 
 
 * feveral other great Men. A Blfhop (5), v/ho was 
 
 * a great Orator, a good Hiftorian, a fubtle Divine, 
 
 * forc'd his moll cruel Enemies to do juftice to his - 
 ' Merit. 
 
 * Another Prelate (6), whofe Candour, Virtue 
 ^ and Sincerity were equal to Jiis Learning, form'd 
 
 * Lectures for the Education of Kings, and the Hap- 
 
 * pinefs of their People. He fo-low'd the Antients; 
 < but he went beyond his Models, and was more an 
 
 * Original than thofe whom he copy'd. 
 
 ' One Philofophcr(7) has in two fmall Volumes 
 « compriz'd many more Secrets of Nature and Ex- 
 
 * perimental Philofophy, than were taught in a thou- 
 
 * fand Years before, and in an immenfe Colledion 
 
 * of unwieldy Volumes; and being the Difciple of 
 
 * the Kertorer of found Philofophy f8), he was ca- 
 i.Amauld. 2. The Calvin ifts. 3. The Jefuits. 4. 
 
 Claude. 5. M. de Meaux. 6. M. de Cambray. 7. Ro^ 
 iiault. 8. JDes Canes, " 
 
 pable^,. 
 
1^6 The Jewish Spy. Let. 25;. 
 
 * pable, by the help of his Mafter's Leflbns, to ex-- 
 ' plain the Reafon of Ancient Prejudices. 
 
 ' Another Metaphyfician (i) fcarch'd after Truth 
 ' by his profound Studies ; and if he did not make 
 
 * a full Difcoveryof it^ he had it, however, often 
 
 * in V^iew, and extended his Knowledge to the ut- 
 ' moft Pitch which Human PVailty is capable of at— 
 
 * taining. 
 
 ' At the Time that thefe illuftricus Genius'o' 
 ^ flour Ifh'd in France^ Holland had Authors who 
 ' were not inferior to them. Theiir{l(2) was an- 
 
 < univerfal Genius, a learned Philofopher, an able 
 
 < Critic, and had vaft Abillities : He had Enemies 
 ' to cope with, who were ftirred up agaioft him by 
 
 * his Reputation, his Sincerity, and the PVeedom of 
 ' his Pen: But by his Merit and by his Science he 
 
 < vanquifli'd themj fo that fame (3) were aihamcd 
 
 * that they had ever attack'd him, and the otiiers 
 ^ (4) were mortify'd that they could not prejudice- 
 ' him. 
 
 ' Anodier Author (5), an ingenious Cenfor, of a 
 
 < delicate and penetrating Genius, was an agreeable- 
 « Critic. 
 
 ' A third Writer (6) made the Proofs of Religion^ 
 
 < plain to the meanefl Capacities j and was the firft 
 
 < thatventur'd to prove die Truths of Revelation, 
 « from the fmgle Authority of Reafon. 
 
 ' About the Time when Death depriv'd Holland' 
 
 < of thefe great Men, France alfo loft the fuperior 
 'Genius's that I have been fpeaking of. There 
 
 < ftill remain'd fome that merited a dlftinguiflied 
 
 < Rank in the Repubhc of Letters, but the number 
 
 * was fmall. It was furprizing to fee what a Va- 
 
 I. Mallebranche. 2. Bayle. 3. Jurieu. 4. Jaquelot,. 
 Bernard and Le Clerc. 5.. Bafnage de JJeauval. 6 Abr 
 badie, 
 
 cuum: 
 
Let. ic^. TZ^^ Jewish Spy. 13 r 
 
 ' cuum was made by the Lofs of fo many learnci 
 ' Men. The Sciences feem'd to have loft their 
 ' Torch by which they gave Light to the human 
 ' Undcrftanding. It was believ'd that when tha 
 ' Fates had cut ofF the few great Men that were 
 ' Hill remaining, Nature was too much exhaufted 
 *■ to be able to form more fuch : But afterwards 
 ' People .began to take heart; and it was dcmon- 
 ' ftrated by Experience^ that if all Ages did not pro- 
 ' duce an equal number of fuperior Genius's, there 
 ' were ftill fome that fucceeded as others died. In 
 
 * France there were feveral Men of Learning, that 
 ' diftinguifti'd themfelves by their Merit; and in 
 ' Hclland there arofe fome worthy to fucceed to ths 
 ' Glorv of the former. 
 
 ' s' Gravfande the famous Philofopher, the Dif- 
 
 * ciple and Rival of Newton has lately publifh'd, An 
 ' excellent IntroduSflofi to Philofophy; containing Ale- 
 ' taphyfics and Logic. 
 
 ' Barbeyrac.^ the learned Tranfiator of the Works 
 
 * o{ Puffendorf-^ndi Grotlus^ hasenrichM the Republic 
 ' of Letters with feveral very ufcful Books. 
 
 ' La ChapcUe worthily fupplies the place of the 
 ' Drclincourts and the Claudes. All the Works 
 ' written by his Pen are full of Learning, and that 
 ' fort of it which has nothing in it difgufting. He 
 ' has all the Talents, and all the rare Qtialities of 
 ' the Learned without having their Faults. 
 
 * Rcuffet treats of every thing relating to Politics, 
 < the Interefts of Princes, b'V. in ajuft, rational and 
 ' profound manner. 
 
 ' There are other Writers too in. i/j/^-w^, whofe 
 
 * Works deferve to be read; but the number of 
 
 * the Men of Learning is not near fo great as it was 
 
 * twenty Years ago. Not that die Number of Wj-it- 
 ' ers is lefi, now than it was then ; and if the com- 
 ' pofuig of Rhapfodies be fufficicnf to denote a Gcr 
 
 nius 
 
13'8 71^^ Jewish Spy. Let. ip. 
 
 ' nius, there were never (o many Wits in this Coun- 
 
 * try, as now. 
 
 ' One Man, compeird by Povetry (i), writes a 
 
 * forry Book, wherein he cenfures another Author 
 ' as deferving the Pillory j 2nd yet his Criticifm is 
 
 * v/orfe than the Book it condemns. 
 
 * Another, tir'd with felling Packets of Counter- 
 
 * poifons, and with the Bafmefs of a Mountebank^ 
 -^ graces himfelf with the Title of a Phyfician (2) ; 
 ' and under the Shelter of that Name, bethinks he 
 
 * may with Impunity furfeit the Public by his- 
 
 * Works, as he did formerly by the fcurvy Ha- 
 
 * rangues which he made upon the Stages that he 
 
 * eredied in the public Places and Crofs-ways. 
 
 ' A quondam Exeifeman (3J takes it into his 
 
 * head to commence Author-: He compofes fome 
 « wretched Hiftories and fome Memoirs Hijicrical 
 *^ and Political, which are Books written in the Tafte 
 
 * and Stile of the Works of La Serre and Neuf- 
 
 * Germai'fi, 
 
 ' A Monk, got loofe from St. ViSfor, has had 
 ^•. the a/Turance to undertake the Continuation of 
 ' Rapin Thoyrash HiJioryofE7igland\ andhastaken^ 
 '. for his Affiftants a ftrollino; Comedian, and a tra- 
 *- veiling ycfuit, that are Refugees m Holland. What 
 ' Good cou'd be expedled from fuch a Coalition? 
 ' It has indeed produced what the Men of Scnfe really 
 ^ expected, and the Continuation of the Hijlory of 
 
 * Rapin Tl^oyras, is the moft pitiful Libel that has 
 
 * been publifhed for a long tim^. Impudence, Falfe- 
 
 * hood and Ig-norance, feem to be contendinfi in the 
 ' Rhapfody, for the Dilhonour of ftaining ail the 
 *= Pages. 
 
 I. The Apology againil the Parody of AUihiade-s 
 2. The Author of Anecdota Hifioriques, Galantes i^ 
 Literaires. 3. TUq Author vf Mewoires Hijforiqucs ^ 
 Politiques, 
 
 ' A: 
 
Let. 1 9. The Jewish Spy. 139 
 
 ' A Man, v/ho was heretofore a Comedian, till 
 ' he ftepp'd from the Theatre to the Anti-chamber 
 
 * of a Noblernan, being more difgufted at his real 
 
 < Charader of a Domeftic, than he was elated at 
 ' being, in Imagination, -^Trcjan ov 2. Roman Vr'mccy 
 
 < has taken it into his. Head, for feveral Years paft, 
 ' . to turn Author ; but he compofes his Works much 
 ' in tlic, fame manner as he us'd to copy his Parts j 
 
 * for he picks fome Scraps out of Books, and from 
 
 * thofe plunder'd PafTages he patches up a Rhapfody,. 
 
 * to which he puts his Name. 
 
 ' There are many Authors in this Country, who 
 
 * only write for Bread. Hunger and Thirft are the 
 ' Mufcs that infpire them. With them, half a do- 
 
 * zen Lines is the Purchafe of a Loaf, and the more 
 
 * Sheets of Paper that they ftain,,the better Title, 
 
 * they have to the Kitchen. Be their Books good 
 
 * or bad, the Bookfellers find a way to put therrt 
 ' off, it being of little or no Concern to them how 
 
 * much the public Tafte is vitiated and corrupted 
 ^ by fuch a Number of inllpid Writings. 1 hey. 
 ' can't difpofe of their Reams of white Paper to fucK-.^ 
 
 * as are continually calling for new Books ; and 
 y therefore they give them Romances written ftifly, 
 
 * without Condudl and without Chara£l:er; Poetry 
 ' which Apollo never dilated, and Hiftories com* 
 
 * pos'd at random. 
 
 •^ There is a certain Author that fancies his Bufi- 
 
 ' nefs to be like that of a Mafon : He makes a Book 
 
 * as the other builds a Wall ; (0 many Feet of Ma- 
 ' fonry fo many Crowns, fo many Qi.iires fo many 
 ' Florins. The A^Iafon makes three Fathom the 
 ' Meafure of his Day's Work, and the Author fettles 
 
 * his at fo many printed Sheets ; and 'tis all one to 
 
 * him, if he does but fill his Papeto 
 
140 The J E\v I s H Spy; Let. 15^: 
 
 ' I hope that the Books I have now fent to thee, 
 * are not in the Number of thofe that are written 
 ' after this manner ; for I have endeavour'd to pick 
 *" out thofe only which I beheve to be the beil:.' 
 
 I know not, dear Ifaac^ how thou relifheft the- 
 Gharadlers given in the abovemention'd Dljprtatiom 
 As for diofeof the Authors fome time fmce depart- 
 ed, I think they are, very juft. Thou hafl; read 
 fome of their Works, and therefore will be the 
 better enabled to judge of them thy felf. As fooR 
 as thou haft read the new Books, let me know thy 
 Sentiments. 
 
 I have often refle£i:ed upon the great Number of 
 illuflrious Men that have flourifh'd in fome Reigns,, 
 and the few that have been produced in others. Can 
 it be poflible for Nature to be exhauflred ? and does 
 it require Ages to prepare Matter capable of form- 
 ing tJie Head of a Des Cartes or of a Newton ? Have 
 the Souls of Men different Qualities at one time 
 from another ? There is no fupporting fuch Thefea. 
 without an Abfurdity. The Queftion wou'd then 
 be to know, whether Trees are bigger in fome Cen- 
 turies than they are in others. Nature does not a6b 
 different in her Operations. What, did flie forget 
 for 2000 Years, after what manner flie form'd the 
 Brains of Sophocles and Euripides, till fhe call'd it to^ 
 Memory by the Conftru6tion of thofe of the two 
 famous French Poets, Corneille and Racine? 
 
 To account clearly for the Deficiency and Failure 
 of fuperior Genius's, recourfe muff be had to other- 
 Reafons than the Impotency of Nature. In every 
 Age file forms an equal Number of Perfons, to whom 
 fhe grants the Abihty of rifmg to the Grand and the 
 Sublime; but thefe Talents muft be cultivated.- 
 What can a Land produce, be the Soil ever fo good. 
 
let. 19. ZZ^i? Jeavish Spy. 141 
 
 if it lie fallow ? 'Tis with our Souls as widi a Field, 
 which only produces the Grain that is fown in it. I 
 liave tcld thee after what manner the Youth ftudy, 
 and how little Profit they reap from it. Befides, Glory 
 and Emulation are the firft Springs of the Sciences. 
 And when the Defire of attaining to Immortality is 
 not fupported by Praife, by Rewards, and by the 
 Ki^eem of the Public, thofe Virtues languifh, and 
 feem as it were in a Lethargy. 
 
 In Lewis the XlVth's I'ime, as well as in the 
 ^.v^;//?^;; Age, People had no Notion of that flrange 
 Inequality which there now feems to be thoujlit be- 
 tv/een a great Poet or an excellent Hiftorian, and a 
 Man who has no Merit to recommend him but 
 a long Train of Anceflors. Virtue and Learning 
 were rewarded in all Ranks of People, and the 
 Pvlonarch, who was in love whh Merit, darted his 
 Favours down to the remotefl: Corners. The Court, 
 in fervile Imitation of the Vices and Virtues of the 
 Sovereign, cultivated and favoured the Sciences, 
 tho' perhaps v/itliout any AiTe(5lion for them. Un- 
 der the prefcnt Reign the Mufes are alfo prote6tcd. 
 The Monarch is the Succcflbr, not only to liis 
 Grandfather's Virtues, but to his good Tafte ; but 
 Wars, Diflurbances and Ncgociations have hindered 
 the Arts from being cultivated as they were hereto- 
 fore. The Courtiers, who think of nothing but 
 Horfes, Arms, Sieges and Battles *, have forgot 
 that the greateft of the Ro?na7i Captains was the mcfl 
 learned Man in the Republic. The Ecclefiaftics 
 exafperated againft each other by vain Difputes, are 
 taken up with Writings of no manner of Ufe to the 
 InlhucStion of Pofterity, and fuch as are difgufling to 
 all Men of Senfe that are now living. Good Tafte 
 
 * This Letter was written in that Campaign which 
 /acceeded tiie Siege of Philipjhurg, 
 
 is 
 
143 The ]e\yish Spy. Let. 20. 
 
 is in a great meafure vanifh'd, and nothing can re- 
 vive it but Peace, Union and Tranquility, 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac, and condole with 
 me for the Viciflitudes which have attended the 
 -Sciences. 
 
 LETTER XX. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Jacob Brito. 
 
 Paris 
 
 T Received thy Letter, dear Jaccl;, with Pleafure, 
 -■• and think thy Parallel betwixt antient and mo- 
 -dern Ro77ie very judicious. Thou might'ft have car- 
 ried it farther, and compar'd the fpiritual Power of 
 modern E.ome in Europe, to the fovereign Power it 
 had in Days of Yore. Upon this Occafion I have 
 heard a learned Man of this Country maintain a 
 very fingular and merry Hypothefis. He pretends, 
 that in the Centre of Ro?ne, at the Time of its 
 Foundatic-T, a Talifman was buried, affuring it of 
 perpetual Power over Europe, as long as the Charm 
 lafted ; and that the Talifman not being taken away 
 nor deftroy'd at the Time when that City was fack'd 
 and burnt, it has regain'd its Dominion over the 
 greateft Part of the European World. In oppofition 
 to this I obferv'd, there was a Difference betwixt 
 the Sovereignty of the old Romans and of the Mo- 
 derns. To which he anfwer'd me. That the Ta- 
 lifman did not regulate the fort of Power, but only 
 fecur'd the fovereign Power to it j and that it could 
 not be denied but the Pontiff actually had fuch 
 
 Au- 
 
Xer. 20. T'iv Jewish Spt. 145 
 
 Authority over the Nazarcne States, by the abfjlutc 
 Power v/hich they granted him \n Spirituals ; fince 
 the greateft Kings being fubjeded to certain Princi- 
 ples of Religion, and to certain Ufages, were obliged 
 to conform thereto in fpite of their Teeth, and cou'd 
 not be difoens'd therefrom without leave of the Pon- 
 tiff. As I law the Gentleman who maintained the 
 Reality of the pretended Talifman was wedded to 
 his Opinion, I thought myfelf oblig'd to have re- 
 courfc to more philofophical Reafons to difluade him 
 from his Miftake. 
 
 I have met, dear Jacob, with a great many Peo- 
 ple who firmly believM the Power of theTalifmans. 
 Several of our Rabbles feem to favour this Opi- 
 nion, the Falfliood of which is plainly demon- 
 •ftrable by found Philofophy. 'Twill be eafy for me 
 to give thee a clear Proof of the Truth of my Opi- 
 nion. 
 
 'Tis a fure Principle, That nothing but Matter 
 ■can a£l upon Matter. I fay nothing of the incom- 
 prchenfible Myflery of the Action of our Soul on 
 the Body, the Power of which Operation, I think, 
 ought to be afcrib'd to a perpetual Miracle wrought 
 by the Author of Nature. Now, if the Principle, 
 that a Body cannot be put into Motion but by the 
 Impulfion of another Body, be evident, how is it 
 poflible that a Thing which cannot a6V, which has 
 no Power over another Thing, can communicate 
 any Virtue to it ? No Talifman, Charm or En- 
 chantment, can a61: without determining the Thing 
 upon which it fhould operate, to make Tome fort of 
 Motion or other. How then can a Clod of Earth or 
 Copper, of the Size of one's Hand, which has cer- 
 tain whimfical Charaders engrav'd on it, make an 
 Impreflion on a Frenchman 300 Leagues from the 
 Spot, and kifpire him with that Humility, or that 
 
 Sub- 
 
^44 ^-^^ J E w I su Spy. Let. 20. 
 
 Submiflion which is neceilary to the Orders oif the 
 Pontiff? 
 
 ^ Befi'des, the bare Operation of Matter upon Mat- 
 ter, is not TufHcient to make the Enchantment take 
 EfFe6t; 'tis neceflary, moreover, that the Charm 
 have the Power of direding the Intention, and dif- 
 pofing the Mind to Obedience ; which v/ould be an 
 Abfurdity to grant. For thofe pretended Love- 
 Philtres which are given by certain Quacks, who 
 would fain be cry'd up for Conjurers, can never 
 determine the Will of the Soul. Thofe Wretches 
 make up certain Draughts, which, by heating the 
 Blood, difpofe the Mind to Love, and excite it 
 to Concupifcence. There are feveral Plants and A- 
 nimals, whofe Juice promotes Agitations in us, but 
 they who make ufe of it are not determin'd to one 
 Objc(Sl more than another. 'Tis true, it often hap- 
 pens, that a Woman to whom they give a Dcfe of 
 thofe pretended Philtres, yields to her Lover, and 
 the Reafon is plain. In thofe Moments when the 
 'Body, by its Situation, does not leave the Soul the 
 Means of afting with entire Liberty, the Mind is 
 naturally captivated by fuch Obje61:s as mofl ftrike 
 it. The State to which thofe Liquids reduce the 
 Body, being a fort of Slumber, the Ideas with which 
 it is moft common}) mov'd, are always prefent to 
 the Imagination ; in the fame manner as in a Dream, 
 we often review the Obje£ls that took up our At- 
 tention in the Day. 
 
 If the Will of Man was poffibly to be deter- 
 mined by Philtres, it would neceffarily follow. That 
 they Vv'ho had the Secret of compounding them, 
 would have the Powerv/hich is referv'd to God alone. 
 They would be the Lords and Mafters of Nature ; 
 they wou'd be the Difpenfers of both Good and 
 Lvil ; becaufe a Man could not contract Guilt by 
 Adlions which he was forc'd to commit, and to 
 
 which 
 
Let. 20. The Jewish Spy, 145' 
 
 which his Soul was determined by a fuperior Mo" 
 tion. Befides, humanly fpeaking. Matter can only 
 a6l upon Matter ; confequcntly Love-Potions can- 
 not aft direftly upon the Will. They may, indeed, 
 by ftirring.the Springs of the Body, where Nature 
 has fix*d its Corrcfpondence with the Soul, footh 
 it, make it feel Pain ; and in fhort, give it all the 
 -Senfations : But after all, 'tis indirectly, and by 
 means only of the Body whereon they aft. Now, 
 as they only operate fecondarily, and by means of 
 another Mover, it would be ridiculous to afTert, that 
 they covdd have any more Power than it ; and I 
 don't believe that any body fuppofes that our Bodies 
 and our Organs determine our Will. If it it be 
 true, therefore, that Philtres cannot determine our 
 Souls, much mo!c improbable is it, that tlie Taiif- 
 mans have this Power, bccaufe they don't aft even 
 materially ; and have not the Advantage that other 
 Charms have. What Power has the Figure of a 
 Triiuiglc, or the ranging of certain Letters together, 
 over Matter ? What Impulfion, what Motion can 
 all the Hieroglyphics of the antient Egyptians have 
 upon the Brain of a Man ? Indeed my dear Brhc^ 
 when I confider the Chimaeras and Errors of the Ca- 
 balifts, notliing feems to me fo ridiculous as their 
 Opinions. 
 
 The Difciples of Judicial Aftrology are a People 
 alfo fed with Chimasras, an-: ftulPd v/ith Imagina- 
 tions. If this Art was true, Nature's Hands v/ou'd 
 be ty'd up, and ours wou'd be bound too. All our 
 Motives would be written in the Heavens, and no 
 Freedom would be lefc us to aft. We ihould be 
 ncceilitated to do Evil as well as Good, fmce we 
 fliould be abfolutcly oblig'd to do what wou'd be 
 written in the pretended Regifter of the Stars ; or 
 clfe the Book would be talfe, and the Science of the 
 Conjurers uncertain. 
 
 Vol. L H Cur 
 
14,6 The Jewish Spy. Let. 20. 
 
 Our Fate depends upon Places, Perfons, Times 
 and our Wills, and not upon the chimerical Con- 
 jun£lions of Qiiacks. Two Men happen to be born 
 under the fame Planet ; the one is a Water-Carrier, 
 and the other a Monarch. From whence then 
 comes this Difference? Jupiter would have it fo, 
 the Aftrologer will fay. But who is this Jupiter F 
 ^Tis an unknown Body which can only a6l by his 
 Influence. From whence then comes it that it a6ls 
 fo differently at the fame Jun6ture, and in the fame 
 Climate ? How can this Influence have Effeii: ? 
 How can it pierce thro' the vaft Extent of Air ? 
 An Atom, the minuteft Portion of Matter, ftops, 
 <ii verts, diminifhes thofe pretended Particles, which 
 'tis pretended thofe Planets fend to us. Befides, do 
 the Stars always influence, or do they only influence 
 upon certain Occafions ? If they influence only at 
 certain Conjundlures, and when the Particles which 
 break off from them come to light upon us, how 
 can the Aflrologer know the precife Time when 
 this happens, in order to determine what will be 
 their Effe61: f And if the Influences are continual 
 how can they be fpeedy enough to penetrate thro' 
 the vaft Spheres of Air, to force the Matter that re- 
 tards or diverts them, and to accommodate them- 
 felves to the Vivacity of our Paffions, from whence 
 the principal A6tions of our Lives arife ? For if the 
 5tars regulate all our Sentiments, and all our Pro- 
 ceedings, their Influences muft neceffarily ail with 
 as much Rapidity as our Will, fmce it is by them 
 determin'd. 
 
 In truth, dear Jacoh, I am furpriz*d that Men 
 fhould be fo weak as to give into fuch ridiculous 
 Vifions. All Fortune-tellers ought to be drove out 
 of a well-goverji'd State, and fuch pretended Con- 
 jurers fhould be feverely chaftis'd. They deferve 
 the fame Punifhment as Poifoners. They impofe 
 
 on 
 
Let. 20. T/j^ Jewish Spy. 147 
 
 on abundance of credulous People, and propagate 
 among the Vulgar a Heap of Superftitions, contrary 
 to Reafon and the Public Tranquillity *. Some of 
 thefe Wretches have happen'd to be the Dupes of 
 their own Credulity, and have really believ'd the 
 Impoftures they gave out to be true. 
 
 Gajfendi was an Eye-witnefs of the Diflracllon of 
 one of thefe pretended Conjurers. That Philofo- 
 pher being at a Village, to which he went to un- 
 bend his Mind from Study, faw a Croud of Pcafants 
 carrying along a Shepherd, bound Hand and Foot. 
 His Curiofity prompted him to ask what the Man 
 had done v/hom they were carrying to Prifon. iS/r, 
 replyM one of the Country-Men, He is a Sorcerer. 
 We have apprehended him^ and are going to carry him 
 to Jujiice. 
 
 rhe Philofophical Ideas of Gajfendi were rous'd 
 at this Word Sorcerer. 'Twas a very agreeable Pica- 
 fure to him to examine privately the Fables that arc 
 placM to the fcore of thofe Impoftors. He ordcr'd 
 the Peafants to carry the Man to his Houfe, and to 
 deliver him into his Hands. As he had a great In- 
 fluence over the Country People, they did not hcfi- 
 tate to obey him. Friend^ fays he to the Conjurer, 
 when he was all alone with him, If thou haft made 
 any ContraSf zuith the Devil, own it ingenuoufly , If 
 thou confejfcji thy Cri?ne, I will re/lore thee to Liber- 
 ty ; but if thou art obflijiately filent, I will fur render 
 thee again into the Hands of the Provoft. Sir, replv'd 
 the Shepherd, / confcfs to you, that I go daily to' the 
 mSiurnal Meetings, An Acquaintance of ?nine gave 
 me fo7ne Balm to be fivalloived, and I have been ad- 
 ?mtted a Sorcerer almojl three Tears. Gaffcndi in- 
 form'd himfelf exactly how this pretended Magician 
 
 * Genus Hominum, Potentibus infidum, Sperantibus 
 fallax. Tacit. Hiil. lib. i. 
 
 H 2 was 
 
148 216^ Jewish Spy. Let 20. 
 
 was admitted, who talk'd to him of all the Devils, 
 as if they had been acquainted all their Life-time. 
 But^ faid Gajfcndi to him, / 7niift fee the Drug that 
 thou takefi to go to the infernal Ajjhnbly^ I will go vAth 
 thee thither this Eveni?ig. Tou 7nay do as you pleafe^ 
 replied the Shepherd, I will carry thee thither as foon 
 .as the Midnight-Bell has rung. 
 
 When the Hour was arrivM, Co?ne^ fays Gajfendiy 
 now 'tis time for us to be gone. The Magician pull'd 
 out of his Pocket, a Box, in which there was a fort 
 of Opiate. He took as much of it himfelf as 
 amounted to the Bignefs of a Nut, and gave as 
 much to the Philofopher, bidding him fwallow it, 
 and then lie down near the Chimney, afluring him, 
 that in a very little Time the Devil would come 
 in the Shape of a great Cat, to carry him to the 
 nocturnal Meeting ; and that the Sorcerers were 
 ufed to repair to their AiTemblics mounted on fuch 
 Steeds. 
 
 Gaffendi having received the Ointment, pretend- 
 ed he could not take it without fome Vehicle to 
 make it more palatable, and going into a Clofet by 
 his Bed-Chamber, he put a few Sweetmeats in- 
 to a Pot, which he covered v/ith a Wafer, and 
 then returning to the Shepherd, he faid, Come^ I 
 am ready to go with thee. We will both lie down up- 
 on the Floor in this Pojiure^ faid the Conjurer, and 
 take our Bahn. They ftretch'd themfelves both 
 upon the Ground near the Chimney, when the 
 Philofopher fwallow'd his Sweet-meats, and the Sor- 
 cerer his ufual Drug ; and in a few Minutes time 
 he feem'd to be ftupid, and like a Man intoxicated. 
 He {lept, and during his Slumber he talk'd all 
 the time, and faid a thoufand extravagant things. 
 He convers'd with all the Devils, and talk'd with 
 his Comrades, whom he took to be Magicians, as 
 well as himfelf. After four or five Hours Slumber 
 
 he 
 
Let. 20. JT?^ Jewish Spy. 149 
 
 he awoke, and found himfelf In the very fame Place 
 where ke had laid himfelf down. JFcIl^ faid he to 
 GaJJendi^ I hope you Ilk' d your Reception hy the Goat, 
 Tou had grea tHonour done you to he indidged on the "very 
 firjt Day of your Adinittayicc^ to kifs his Fcjleriors 
 And then he told all the Stories relating to thoie prc^ 
 tended nocturnal Meetings. 
 
 GaJJendi^ in pity to the unhappy Man's Condition, 
 fiiew'd him his Error, and in his Prerence made an 
 Experiment of his Balm upon a Dog, which, ha- 
 ving fwallowed it, immediately fell aflecp. The 
 Shepherd was then let at liberty, and probably he 
 undeceived his Brethren, who bciicv'd the fume 
 Impoftures. 
 
 Heretofore thcfc pretended Magicians were burnt 
 in France* Tlie Priefts, who gave out they had a 
 Right to difpofiefs Devils, and who gain'd great 
 Credit by this Prerogative, favoured this Opinion. 
 All were then Demoniacs and Perfons poilefs'd with 
 evil Spirits ; all Places WTre full of Inchantments, 
 infomuch that it refembled the Age of Amadis : But 
 by degrees the Falfhood was detcdled, tlie Cloud 
 which eclips'd the Truth was difpers'd, and no more 
 Credit was given to thofe Impoftures. Several Par- 
 liaments determined that tiierc was no fuch Thing 
 as Sorcerers, and having try'd fonie cf thofe Impo- 
 ftors, punifh'd them as Cheats, and not as Magicians. 
 The Behaviour of JMen of Senle open'd the Eyes of 
 many People : And indeed, the Credit of Aflrolo- 
 gers. Magicians and Fortune-tellers, extends no far- 
 ther than the filly Women and the Vulgar. 
 
 Farewell, dear Jacoh^ raid bcv/ail with me the 
 Weaknefs of the Common People. 
 
 H ^ 1, E T T E R 
 
i^o 7!-^*? Jewish Spy. Let. 21. 
 
 LETTER XXI. 
 Aaron Monceca to Jacob Brito» 
 
 Parli 
 
 TT A VING given a full Anfwer to the firft Ar- 
 *- ^ tides of thy laft Letter, I will now impart to 
 thee the ReSedlions which I made upon the o- 
 thers. 
 
 If thou did'ft but live at Paris ^ and v/aft acquaint- 
 ed with the Behaviour of the Women at the Ope- 
 ra, thou would'il: not blame the Romans for not 
 iuffering them at their Entertainments. Thou ex- 
 claimed about three hundred Courtezans that are 
 at Roine^ and againft the Severity of depriving Men 
 of the Happinefs of being Fathers, that they may 
 have finer Voices, and thereby fupply the want of 
 fmging Women. I don't approve of thefe Cufioms ; 
 yet I'll maintain they are not fo pernicious to the 
 State as the Women at the Opera. Two Women 
 that dance or that fmg in the Chorus's caufe more 
 Difturbance and Scandal, make more Bankruptcies 
 among the Merchants, bring more Gentlemen into 
 Debt, and filch more from the Children of Families, 
 than the three hundred Whores of whom thou com- 
 plaineft ; and if thou do'fl but examine thoroughly 
 what I am going to fay, thou v/ilt eafily be con- 
 ^•inc'd of the Truth of it. 
 
 Who 
 
Let. 21, TT'^Jewish Spv. ifi 
 
 Wlio are the People that keep Company with 
 the common Women in the Street Longare^ mid 
 that of la Serena ? Few Perfons who have good For- 
 tunes, or are born of good Families, debnle thein- 
 felves fo far as to be drawn into fuch Excefles. It" 
 they happen to make a Vilit to the Women of that 
 Caft, their Correfpondcnce with 'em is of no Con- 
 tinuance, and cannot prejudice either their Honour 
 or their Fortune. The common People, fuch a.i 
 are of obfcure Extraction, fome debauch'd Burghers 
 may happen to fall into their Snares, tho' this too 
 does not happen often. The Abhorrence that at- 
 tends the infamous Profcflion of Proflitutcs, is a 
 Prefervative againll: their Allurements and their 
 Charms. The Notion which the Public has oi iheir 
 Character, renders them lefs pernicious to Society j 
 for that Vice is generally hated which cannot put 
 on the Appearances of Virtue. DiHimulation and 
 Craft are the Talents in which the Women at th'i 
 Opera excel moft, and their Prolcinon gives tlicni 
 an Opportunity of feeing good Company. They 
 can put on a difguifed Countenance, and an Air of 
 Modefty to cover an Appetite greedy after Riches, 
 and deflitute of all Sentiments of V^irtue, which 
 they look upon as a troublefome Curb. Their Be- 
 haviour is amiable, and V^ice is with them like to 2^ 
 Serpent hid in a BafKet of Flowers. They who by 
 long Acquaintance know their Maxims, arc not to 
 be captivated with thofe external Charms. They 
 know too well the Bottom of their Hearts to be 
 the Dupes of their Cunning : But a Number of 
 young Fellows without Experience, and old Men 
 without Judgment, f:ill into the Snares which are laid 
 for them. They are the more difficult to be efcaped, 
 becaufe thefe fort of Women can aflume what Cha^ 
 ra6ler they pleafe. Proteus could not difguife himr 
 H 4 fel£ 
 
if2 77:<? Jewish Spy. Let. 2r. 
 
 :felf In a greater Variety of Shapes, than a Woman 
 at the Opera. 
 
 If ^:r has a mind to bubble an old Man, fhe 
 afFe6ts a fovereign Contempt for all young Fellows, 
 and clamours againft the Folly of thofe Women who 
 abandon themfelves to the Indifcretion of a giddy- 
 headed Fellow. She commends the Prudence of a 
 Man in Years, and protefts that flie could have no 
 Liking to any Man whofe Judgment was not ripen'd 
 hy Age. 
 
 On the contrary, when fhe has a mind to oblige 
 any young Fellow, whoever is pafi: thirty Years of 
 Age, is fure to be the Obje6i: of her Banter. None 
 but the Youth have the Power to charm. How h 
 k poiTibie to be in love with an old Man ? What 
 Taiiie can there be in a Lover threefcore Years 
 eld ? She dances, flie fings, flie dallies ; and one 
 would fwear that all the Graces and Pleauires have 
 fix'd their Refidence in her Perfon. 
 
 If fhe turn her Eyes toward a rich Farmer of the 
 Revenue, then fhe plays a different Part ; fhe afFecls 
 a Contempt for every Man that is not rich, ff^hai 
 flgniftcs^ faid fhe to a Farmer- General v/ho feeds 
 her with Money, the Fr'iendjhip of young Gentlemen? 
 Thes rob a W^oman of her CharaSler^ nnd ruin her^ in- 
 flead of being able to maintain her. Can a Woman of 
 Senfe take a Fancy to a Man^ becaufe he fees the King^ 
 is a Cchnely and makes a Bow zvith a good Grace F 
 1 ftvear to you^ adds fhe, that the good Behaviour of 
 €1 Man is much more engaging^ who knows how to make 
 f roper Prefents^ and to procure that Eafe which is ne- 
 cejfary for the Happinefs of Life. 
 
 Thou feeft, dear Brito., how difficult it is to 
 avoid being bubbled by thofe dangerous Syrens. 
 They have greater Advantages than thofe in fabu- 
 lous Hiftorv, who only feduc'd by the Ear : But 
 
 thefc 
 
Let. 21. TJbe]E^vlsu SvY, 15-3 
 
 thefe charm both by the Ears * and the Eyes f. 
 When a Man has been fo unhappy as to fall into 
 the Snare of thefe EnchantrelTcs, he is ruin'd, and 
 (hut up in a Labyrinth, out of which he never finds 
 his Way. Cunning, Fraud, falfe Oaths, Diffimu- 
 lation, counterfeited Defpair, and the falfe AlTurance 
 of everlafting Love arc the Bye-Paths, thro' which 
 he can never return. 
 
 The Opera- Women have the peculiar Talent 
 of keeping a Heart In Chains. If they perceive that 
 Enjoyment and Tranquility render their Gallants 
 lefs eager than before, they have the Art of giving 
 them a proper Dole of Jcaloufy, which by the way 
 is fowell coiinterballanc'd, that they are not afraid of 
 Vexation's doing what might have been done by In - 
 conflancy : For if they find their Gallants have 
 a Sufpicion of their Fidelity, they immediately 
 drown thcmfelves in Tears, and bind their Love 
 with the moft folemn Oaths ; and if they fee that 
 their Tears have not the expelled EffecSl:, they aban- 
 don themfelves to Defpair, (o that one would think 
 their Lives very precarious, and the Rage they arc 
 pofTefs'd with dangerous. Their Lover cannot ftand 
 the Teft of ib violent a PafTion, but readily retracts, 
 owns he was In the wron'j;;, and adds new Links to 
 his Chain. 
 
 The Opera Women arc excellent alfo, In the 
 Art of ruining their Lovers by the Contributions 
 which they raife upon them In the Name of Prcfents. 
 This Is a Science of which they arc perfeft Mllbefres. 
 They have made a regular Art of their Rapine, of 
 which the old Singers in Chorus's are the Profeflbrs, 
 who teach its Precepts and Maxims to the New- 
 comers. \Vhen they have a mind to a Diamond, a 
 
 * Singing, f Dancing. 
 
 H 5 Garment J 
 
i5'4 !r/6(? Jewish Spy. Let. 21. 
 
 Garment, a Head of EngUJI) Lace, they artfully 
 commend fome Jewel or fome Ornament which 
 they have feen worn by fuch or fuch a Lady of their 
 Acquaintance. ' The Marquis de ***, fay they^ 
 *- has made a Prefent of a Diamond to Hennanfay 
 *' and the Count de *** has given a fine Habit ta 
 ' Campcurji, who are really very fortunate Women. 
 
 * I knov/ not whether it be to reward their Con- 
 
 * ftancy ; but I believe, if their Love were paid for 
 
 * but to the full Value, their Lovers would have no 
 
 * Reafon to make them fuch Prefents.' 
 
 A Man who is in Love, and often in fear of be- 
 ing nonfuited, eahly perceives what all this means. 
 He fends in a Habit next Day, the very Pattern of 
 Campourfi's ; and this fecond Habit occafions the 
 like Prefent all round to every Actrcfs of the Ope- 
 ra ; fo that it feems to be a general Tax, which 
 they have all impos'd on their Lovers. Mean time, 
 after all their Expence, they are not fure of thofe 
 Creatures AiTeclion 5 for their Hands are open to 
 every Giver, and when a fair Opportunity offers, 
 their Virtue is not very refty; tho' they take a 
 world of Care to conceal fuch fort of Intrigues from 
 their Adorers, becaufe they would not lofe a con- 
 llant Income for a tranfient Gain ; but when they 
 are fare of Secrecy, or at leaft believe they are, they 
 foon ftrike a Bargain. Upon this Head I will tell 
 thee a Story. 
 
 A Dancer, whofe Name was Prevoty had a Gal- 
 lant f of fome diftlnguifh'd Rank in Life, who 
 heapVJ great Favours upon her. It happen'd that 
 a Country Gentleman arriving at Paris^ faw her at 
 the Opera, and was fo enamourM with her, that 
 he v/ent ever^y day to fee his Charmer dance, and 
 every day tlie Wound grew deeper. He was quick- 
 
 The Bailiff of /TP^^ 
 
Let. 21. 27^^ Jewish SpY^ iff 
 
 \y reduc'd to a pitiful Plight : His Friends could 
 never lee him ; for he (hunn'd every Object that 
 misht takeoff his Thoudus from thisMiftrefs of his 
 Affe61:ions, and had nothing to comfort hmi but 
 the Hopes of feeing the happy Minute arrive when 
 the Opera began ; and after it was over, he aban- 
 don'd himfclf \o Melancholy. One of his Friends 
 defir'd him to let him know what macie him (o un- 
 eafy. As it gives fome P>afe to the Heart to com- 
 plain, the Country Gentleman own'd that he was 
 in love with Prh'ot ; ' but, adds he, I iind it fo 
 
 * impolTible for me to be ever happy, that I li3vc>' 
 « no Tafte for all the other Enjoyments of Life. 
 ' Be cafy, faid his Friend to him^ your Cafe is not 
 ' remedilefs. I am acquainted with one of the 
 
 * Girls that fuig at the Opera. I will fpcak to hc\- 
 ' to-morrow in your hiv^our; perhaps you will be- 
 
 * more happy than you imagine: But you mnft not 
 
 * think of ever declaring your Love for Prcvct f. 
 
 * for {he is kept by a certain Nobleman, but if 
 
 * you can content yourfelf with her giving you one 
 
 * Meeting, and will not grudge a„hundr^^d Lewi- 
 ' d'ors, r take it your Bufmefs will be done.' The 
 Country Gentleman agreeing to thofe Articles, hiii 
 Friend propos'd them to the Girl above mcntion'd, 
 and the Girl to Prcvot, The artful Confidant dif- 
 charged her Part to Admiration ; for {he was to havs: 
 fix Lewid*ors for l^rfelf, if flie could make the Ai- 
 fignation ; and {he fucceeded. The Countryman 
 gave the hundred Lewid'ors, ready Money, in ;t 
 Purfe. He had the Object of his Affcdions upoiic 
 his own Terms, from Nine o'clock at Night, \o 
 Eight next Morning. 'Tis very like that he endea- 
 voured to have an Equivalent for his Lewid'ors,, 
 and to make the moft of his Time. He was con- 
 tented with the Fruition, and returned with Satif- 
 fa<^ion ^0 the Country. This Adventure was aus 
 
 H 6 Ejiccurageruciii. 
 
ij6 T/^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 21, 
 
 Encouragement to Prevoi to try her Fortune in the 
 like manner, another time ; but her Intrigues were 
 not attended with the fame Succefs. Her Lover 
 found her out, and turn'd her ofF. She did every 
 thing in her power to reconcile him ; and feeing 
 that all her Arts were in vain, fhe had the Impu- 
 sacnce to make a Demand upon him for certain 
 Sums, and to fue him at Law. But the Gentleman 
 had (o much Intereft as to quafli fo furprizinga Pro- 
 fecution ; and the Affair was afterwards made an 
 end of, by People who took care to hufh it up. 
 
 Thou art fenfible, dear Brlto, that the Courte- 
 zans at Ro^:ie don't make ufe of fuch Stratagems ; 
 for one of thefe Opera Women {hall do more Harm 
 by her Prodigality and Pillage, than all of them put 
 together. Happy are they who carefully fhun an 
 Acquaintance with thefe pernicious Enchantrejfles^ 
 and whofe pure Morals are not defil'd by their Comr- 
 pany. 
 
 Farewell, my dear Brito^ and if thou makeft anv 
 knger Stay at Rorne^ let me hear from thee.. 
 
 L E T- 
 
Let. 22. T^e]E\visuSvY. ify 
 
 LETTER XXIL 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis^ 
 
 a Rabbij at Conftantinople. 
 
 'ans 
 
 I 
 
 N my laft I fent thee a particular Account of 
 the different States of this Country, and en- 
 deavoured to give thee an exa6l Idea of the Ec- 
 clcfiaftics, the Magiftrates, the Financiers, and 
 the common People. I fliall now fay fomething 
 of the Nobility and the Courtiers. I thought the 
 Chevalier de Ala'ifin could fupply the Deficiencies 
 that might be owing to the little Time of my Re- 
 fidence at Paris. As I had only a fuperficial Know- 
 ledge of the Court, I defir'd him to impart his 
 Thoughts of it to me. He has given me an Ac- 
 count of it, which I thought very new. Thou 
 knowcft, that as to the Chara(5ler of the Courtiers, 
 it has been hitherto reckoned in a manner impe- 
 netrable. He aflerts, indeed, that 'tis as eafy to 
 read what is v/ritten in the Heart of the moft refined 
 Courtier, as in that of a plain Burgher. Tho' I 
 am not entirely of his Opinion, I fend thee his 
 Draught of the Charadler, and leave thee to judge 
 of it- 
 
 Refle5iions 
 
1^8 27?^ Jewish SpYc Let. 22.. 
 
 Rejlea'ions upon the CHARACTERS cf 
 the COURTIERS. 
 
 ' 'Tis the prevailing Opinion at Paris ^ that tfiere^s 
 no Poffibility of knovv'ing the Court, but by pain- 
 ful Study, and a thorough Acquaintance with its 
 Cuftoms. The Cit of St. Dents Street fancies 
 that the Heart of a Man that hves at VerfaiUes^ 
 who fees the King, and fpeaks to the Miniltry, is 
 as impenetrable as the moft hidden Secrets of Na- 
 ture. He hears it faid perpetually, that Diilimu- 
 lation is the Talent of Courtiers ; and as he is ig- 
 norant what an eafy Matter it is, after an Ac- 
 quaintance with Men, to difcover by what PaiB- 
 ons they are a(3:ed, he thinks 'tis impoiTible to fee 
 thro' fo thin a Difguife. 
 
 ' Many People who know nothing of the Court 
 but by Hear-fay from others, or by the general 
 Characters which they find of 'em in fome Books^. 
 are equally guilty of this Miftake. But there's no 
 need of being much ufed to the Court, to be foou 
 acquainted with its Maxims, and with the Cha- 
 racter of thofe that compofe it. 
 < 'Tis with the Courtiers as it is with other Men, 
 Nature has not form'd them of different Clay, nor 
 has fhe pick'd their Souls from a different Maga' 
 zine. Education has indeed altev'd and added to 
 their Outfide, but internally they are the fame as 
 ourfelves. 
 
 « The fame Vices and Virtues are as predominant 
 in the City, as at the Court; and whatfoever 
 p^orm the PalTions afTume, 'tis eafy for Philofo- 
 phers to difcover what they are. 
 ' In order to have a juft Idea of the Court, one 
 muft look upon it in two difFerent Lights. Then 
 'twill.be eafy to perceive, tlmtwliat is taken for 
 
 ' an 
 
Let. 21. The Jewish S?Y, 1^9 
 
 ' an impenetrable Myflery, is only owing to a Preju- 
 
 ' dice Vv'hich hinders a Man's fcrutinizing to the hot- 
 
 ' torn of a Thing, which appears above the reach 
 
 ' of common Underftanding. 
 
 ' Virtue, Merit, Science and Wit arc the fii(h 
 
 * Objc6ls which I fliall take into Confideration, and 
 ' then I will run over the Vices which are the Op- 
 ' pofites of thofe Virtues. From this Examination 
 
 * will refult a Proof of that perfedt Refemblancc be- 
 ' tween all Men, in what Condition foever Heaven 
 ' has plac'd them ; and from thence the Conclufioii 
 ' will be obvious, that 'tis as eafy to define the true 
 
 * Charadler of a Courtier, as that of any other Man. 
 ' All the French, who are born a Degree above 
 
 * the common People, are infpir'd with the fame 
 
 * Sentiments. Their Parents, their Preceptors, are 
 ' inceflantly inculcating to them, that Honour is 
 ' the chief of all Enjoyments ; that Wealth cannot 
 
 * {land in the ftead, or fupply the lofs of Reputa- 
 ' tion, that Death is better than a Life without Ho- 
 
 * nour; and that a Gentleman and a good Subje(?t 
 ' ought to love his King and his Country. A Coun^ 
 
 * try Gentleman does not explain thefe Maxims to 
 ' his Son, Co politely, and in fuch good Terms, as 
 
 * the Governour of a young Duke or Peer to his 
 
 * noble Pupil ; but he repeats them to him oftener^ 
 ' and perhaps takes more care that his Son puts them 
 
 * in practice. An Eftate of two hundred thoufand 
 
 * Livres per Jrm. to which the Duke is to be Heir^ 
 
 * does not determine him to have a better Relifh 
 
 * for thofe falutaryIr)fl:ru61:ions, than the Nobleman 
 ' who has only the common Neccflaries of Life ; 
 ' and who looks upon Virtue as a part of his Appa- 
 
 * nage. Confequently the Temper of either is the 
 < only Thing that decides what Merit each is capa- 
 5 ble of acquiring. 
 
 < As 
 
i6o T/:?e Jewish Spy, Let. 22. 
 
 * As to Wit and Learning, the Courtier, be he 
 
 * ever fo rich, has no Advantage over him that is 
 ^ but a private Man. A Citizen puts his Son to 
 
 * ftudy under the beft Rhetoricians in the Kingdom, 
 
 * without cofting him a Penny. The public 
 ^ Schools are formM for all Mankind. A Vivacity 
 
 * of Genius, a Difpofition to Learning, are the on- 
 
 * ly things that determine the Advancement of a 
 f young Man in the Belles Letires. Ten Philofo- 
 
 * phers will never be able to make a Geometrician 
 ^ of a ftupid Marquis; and many Preceptors have 
 ' made able Men of the Sons of aCobler*, and a 
 « Hatter f. 
 
 ' The Fathers of Families in this Kingdom, have 
 
 * fuch eafy and convenient Methods of Inftru6lions 
 ' for their Children, that I cannot fee how Education 
 ' can be broug;ht as an ArQ;ument whv a Courtier 
 *• fliould have more Merit and Learning, tlian a 
 
 * Man who never faw either the King or his Mi- 
 
 * nifters. If this YtlcX can be prov'd, it defeats ths 
 ' Notion which fome have taken up, that there is 
 ^ more Wit, more Delicacv at Court, than in the 
 « City; and it will not be denied, that a Man who 
 ^ inriclies his Underftanding by the reading of good 
 ^ Books, and whom an able Mafter has for m'd with 
 ' his own Hands, is under no Neceuity, for the 
 « fake of refining his Talte, to v/ait fix Hours in a 
 < Morning, in the Antichamber of a Minifter, or 
 
 * to go after Dinner to (hew his Shape-3 at the Tuil" 
 ' krics^ and to pl.iy the Fool at Night behind the 
 
 * Scenes of a Theatre. In order to prove this The- 
 « fis, Rccoune mnft be had to Experience. 
 
 ' Among the fuperior Genius's and great Men 
 « tliat Lewis XlVth's Age produc'd, not only in the 
 
 * RoufTeau. ■{ La Motte. 
 
 > Sci- 
 
Let. 22. T"^^ Jewish Spy. i6t 
 
 « Sciences, but in the Art of War, Poflerity will 
 
 * fcarce remember the Names of five or fix who 
 ' owM their Grandeur to nothing but their high 
 
 < Birth, but will read the A£lions of the great C(7;;^^ 
 
 < with Amazement, and enquire with Attention in- 
 ' to thofe of the Vifcount dt: Turenne'y and they will 
 
 < propofe the Duke de Vendome as a Pattern for 
 
 * Generals: But what are theie, to that Croud of 
 « great Men, whofc Names will be immortal ; and 
 « who raisM thcmfelves purely by their Merit, as 
 
 * Catinat^ Vauhan^ Lauhanic^ Lonvois^ Colbert ; and 
 ' in fine the Marfhal de VillarSy as ufeful to Francs^ 
 
 * as the Conqueror of Hannibal was to his 
 
 * Country? 
 
 « If from Virtue and Valour we pafs to Genius, 
 
 * we ftiall fcarce find two Writers at Court. Are 
 
 * Bujfy and Rochefoucauk to be compared with 
 
 * Corncllk^ Boilcau^ Racine^ la Fontaine^ MoUerc^ l(t 
 
 * Bruere, Fontenelk^ Renard^ and many others, ia 
 
 * fhort, wliofe Names alone would form a Volume, 
 
 * were only thofe to be included that have treated 
 
 * of Matters which purely concern the Belles 
 
 < Lettres} 
 
 ' No body will fay thofe Authors formM their 
 
 « Genius's at Court, they being oblig'd for the fame 
 
 ' to themfelves only, and their own Talents. When 
 
 ^ Corneille composed his Cid^ the Horaces^ Cinna, 
 
 * and his Po?npey^ and extricated the Theatie from 
 
 * the Chaos in which it was plung'd, he confulted 
 
 * the Latin Authors, ftudied the Wits of the Jw 
 ' gii/lan Age, and in no refpevSl afFecled the Ge- 
 
 * nius of the fmart Fellows. Racine took the Hint 
 
 * of moft of his Tragedies from Sophocles and Eu- 
 
 * ripides; and as he was fo happy in touching the 
 
 * Heart, and moving the Faffions, he knew full well 
 
 * that he was oblig'd for it to Nature. Moliere had 
 
 < more Obligation to the Court, which furnifhed 
 
 * him 
 
i62 ST'^ Jewish Spy. Let. 22, 
 
 * him with a Number of Originals, but he found 
 
 * tlie fame Advantage in the City. His beft Pieces 
 
 * are Characters formM upon private Perfons. Tlie 
 Taptuffe, r Ecole des Femmes^ les Precieufes ridicules y 
 
 * les Fe?7imes Savantes^ are Subje(Sts taken from the 
 
 * Manners oi Paris and the whole Kingdom. 
 
 *■ Wit is the Gift of Heaven ; Birth and Qiialit/ 
 
 * can by no means procure it to thofe to wliom God 
 
 * has deny'd it. Confequently, when a Citizen has 
 
 * had a handfome Education, when he has been 
 < educated by People whofe Tafte is folld and deli- 
 
 * cate, he may improve by the Leffons of his Ma- 
 
 * fter, as eafily as the Son of a fovereign Prince. Thus 
 
 * are Genius and Merit equally the Portion of all 
 
 * the different ClafTes of People. 
 
 * Let us now fee whether the Great Lord has a 
 
 * greater Advantage in avoiding Vices. I have al- 
 
 * ready fhewn at the Beginningofthefe Reflections, 
 
 * that by the Principles which are infufs'd into the 
 
 * Children, the fame Principles are explain'd and re- 
 
 * commended to the Burghers as to the Nobility; fo 
 
 * that the only thing to be confider'd, is in what 
 
 * State-Occafions are moft dangerous. 
 
 ' A Parifian^ who lives contented at home with 
 
 * his honeft Patrimony, which he deriv'd from hi? 
 
 * Anceftors, aud who is careful to keep it without 
 ' increafmg it by his Niggardlinefs, or confuming it 
 
 * byvainExpences, is he in the fame Danger of going 
 
 * aftray as a Nobleman whofe annual Revenue of one 
 
 * hundred thoufand Crowns, will not ferve him half 
 
 * the Year ? He fpends fifty thoufand Crowns more 
 *- than his Income, and with an immenfe Eftate is 
 
 * poorer than he who has but one thoufand Crowns 
 ' to live upon. An honeft Mediocrity is not at- 
 
 * tended either with the MeannefTes of Poverty, or 
 
 * the foolifh Prodigality of Riches. 
 
Let. 2 2. The ]e\visr SvY. 16^ 
 
 ' A Man who can be contented and fettled in 
 
 * his Mind, defpifes the Privilege of borrowing and 
 
 * not paying under the Sandtion of a great Name, 
 
 * or a venerable Employment. He is not incum- 
 ' ber-'d with a Pack of Taylors and Sadlers, nor 
 
 * with twenty or thirty Domeftics, whom he main- 
 ' tains out of another Perfon's Subflance, and yet 
 
 * owes them their Wages. He would be afhamcd 
 ' to flatter a Farmer-General, for the fake of ob- 
 
 * taining an Ounce of the People's Blood, with 
 
 * which that Leech had fatten'd himfelf. 
 
 * If it be true then, that the great Lord, not- 
 
 * withftanding his Nobility, has neither more Wit 
 ' nor more Virtue than the Citizen ; that he is 
 ' more expos'd than the latter to the Paflions, why 
 
 * fliould he be more difficult to be fathom'd ? Is it 
 
 * by reafon of that profound Diflimulation which 
 
 * is pretended to be the peculiar Talent of the 
 
 * Court ? But is there not the fame Diflimulation 
 
 * in the City ? And if there be the fame Spirit, 
 
 * why fhould they be at a lofs to check themfclves ? 
 ' At the fame time this will be the more pra6lica- 
 ' ble, becaufe they will be lefs difturb'd by the 
 ' Paffions. 
 
 ' Notwithftanding the feign'd CarefTes, the re- 
 
 * peated Embraces, and the far-fetched Compliments 
 
 * made by the Courtiers to one another, there is not 
 ' one of them but knows how to behave to thofe 
 ' that think to cajole him. The Diffimulation of the 
 
 * Court proceeds rather from Habit than from good 
 ' Scnfe ; and fuch a Man pafTes for a great Politi- 
 ' cian, who in all his Life- time knew not why he 
 ^ dcferv'd that Character. 
 
 ' In all States, Men being much the fame, 'tis 
 ^ very eafy for Philofophers to fee through the Veil 
 ' which feems to cover the Doublings of a great 
 
 * Lord's Heart 3 and 'tis my real Opinion, that the 
 
i()4 716^ Jewish Spy. Let. 22. 
 
 Definitions I have given of their different Charac- 
 ters w^ill be found to be juft. 
 ' I diflingulfh the Courtiers into three ClafTes, 
 The firft are to be admir'd. The fecond liave 
 but a moderate Genius ; and the third fort have 
 nothing in common u'ith the others, but Clothes, 
 Equipages and Dom.eftics. 
 
 ' The Nobility who are cndu'd with diflinguifh'd 
 Merit, are feweft in Number ; yet there are fe* 
 ^'eral worthy of the Elleem of the whole World, 
 fuch as are not intoxicated with their vain Gran- 
 de7jr. They are not of Opinion, that Birth gives 
 Wit and Merit. They cultivate the Belles Lcttres^ 
 and eagerly court the Approbation and Acquaint- 
 ance of Men of c1iftlng;uifh'd Learnlne. 
 
 * There is one '* that applies himfeif to the read- 
 ing of Philofophy. As he keeps his Learning to 
 himfeif, and takes a world of Care to conceal it, 
 he proves juft as good a Metaphyficlan in his Clo- 
 itt,^ as is a tender Lover with his MIftrefs. 
 
 * There's another f of lively Parts and good 
 Judgment, who, tho' but young, fills one of the 
 Places fet apart for the forty chief Genius's of 
 the Kingdom. 
 
 ^ A third t is the Prote£l:or of the fine Arts \ and 
 as the Sciences are conne6ted therewith, he is 
 Mafter of them all. 
 
 ' Another * * has a delicate Tafte, and is a Man 
 of Spirit and Judgment. 
 
 * Among the illuftrlous Courtiers, the Nephew 
 of a great Minifter f f holds a diftinguifh'd Rank, 
 and befides a fparklingWit, has a graceful Perfon. 
 
 * The Count de Forcalquier. f The Duke de Villarr. 
 % The Duke de Montefnar. * * The Duke de Faujouti, 
 tt The Duke de Richdleu. 
 
 <- The 
 
Let. 2 2. 27?^ Jewish Spy. i6y 
 
 ^ The fecond Clafs of Courtiers is more numerous 
 
 * than the firfl. It confifts of thofe who being 
 
 * countenanced by the Mode of the Times, and the 
 ' reading of certain Rom.ances, endeavour, by fpeak* 
 
 * ing but little, by fmiling a propos^ and by happily 
 
 * placing a Jeft which they have heard by chance, 
 
 * to acquire the Reputation of Wits ; and they 
 ' pafs themfelves for fuch upon the Ignorant, who 
 
 * make up the third Clafs. 
 
 ' All the Merit of this loweft Clafs confifts in 
 ' knowing the Parts of Champaign where there is 
 
 * the moft racy Wine, They know the Adven- 
 ' tures and Intrigues of certain Women, and what 
 
 * Opera is to be play'd next Month. Some, indeed, 
 
 * extend their Knowledge fo far, as to read the 
 ' Mcrcure~GaU<int. Their Lives are as uniform as 
 ' the Courfe of the Sun. In the Morning they 
 
 < repair to the Anti-chamber of the Minifters, and 
 ' the reft of the Day they fpend at the Tabic, at 
 ' Gaming, or at the Theatres. They go to Court 
 
 < at the King's Supper-time ; after which they fit 
 
 * down to Table, and don't break up till Oay-light. 
 ' The moft notable Deeds of the Day confift only 
 *- of a few Bows made with a good Grace, and 
 
 * fom.e gracious Glances of the Eye: And if to 
 ' fuch great Qiialities they add a Verfe or two of a 
 ' Ballad, fung foftly, they then complain of People 
 ^ who are not endow'd with fuch rare Talents. 
 ' The Court alone is capable of forming Tafte, and 
 ' none but the Courtiers have it 3 fo that every 
 ^ Man who cannot grace his Name with a Title, is 
 *- forbid under heavy Penalties to have any Wit, 
 
 * and to think juftly. 
 
 * Be the Difference what it will between the 
 
 * three forts of Charafters which I have been de- 
 
 * fcribing, all the three do however refemble one 
 
 * another in their Emulation and Aim to pleafe the 
 
 ' Sq- 
 
i66 27?^ Jewish Spy. Let. 22, 
 
 < Sovereign. The Courtier in general may be com- 
 ' par'd to a Cameleon, or he may be term'd the 
 
 * Ape of his Mafter ; being melancholy, gay, de- 
 
 < vout, debauch'd, and always ready to be and do 
 
 * every thing ; and fuch a fervile Imitator of the 
 
 < Virtues and Faults of his Prince, that one w^ould 
 « fwear that one and the fame Spirit animated a 
 
 < thoufand Bodies. 
 
 ' There is befides thefe a Number of Perfons at 
 « Court, who muft not be confounded with the 
 
 < Croud of Courtiers ; they are fuch who, by their 
 
 < Offices and Employments, are obliged to be near 
 
 < the Sovereign. This is a State which muft be di- 
 
 < ftinguifli'd from the Courtier, who has nothing to 
 
 < do. Merit is commonly the Portion of the lat- 
 
 < ter, and the Affairs which are committed to their 
 
 < Charge, demand that they be Perfons both of Ca- 
 « pacity and Experience.' 
 
 I believe, dear Jfaac, thefe Refle^lions may pleafe 
 thee. I fhall fometimes defire the Favour of the 
 Chevalier de Ma'ifin to impart his Hints to me, and 
 efpecially in Matters which I cannot have nor give 
 fo juft a Notion of as he. 
 
 Farewell, my dear Ifaac^ and may God heap his 
 Bicnefits upon thee. 
 
 LETTER 
 
Let. 13- 2^/^^ Jewish Spy. 167 
 
 LETTER XXIIL 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac On is, 
 
 a Rahbi at Conllantinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 1 
 
 N my laft Letter I made thee a Promife to fpeak 
 to thee of the Minifters, Secretaries of State, and 
 the other Perfons, who are obhg*d, by virtue of their 
 OtHces to attend the Court, but are not attach'd to 
 it meerly as Courtiers. 
 
 The Kings of France feldom raife any to the Mi- 
 jiiflry, but Perfons of an extraordinary Genius, and 
 fuch as are entirely devoted to them ; nor do they 
 give them that defpotic Pov/er which the Suhans 
 grant to the Viziers. The French Monarchs take 
 Minifters to aid them in the Difpatch of Affairs, and 
 not to fhare the Power with them. 'Tis not only 
 out of the Power of the Minifter to put any Perfon 
 to Death by his fmgle Authority, but he is obliged 
 to give an Account to the King of the Orders which 
 he ifTues for arrefting any private Perfons of Diftinc- 
 tion ; whereas a Vizier at Conjlantimple may with 
 Impunity put any Man to Death, againft whom he 
 has taken a Pique : But at Paris the King himfelf 
 durft not make ufe of fo tyrannical a Prerogative ; 
 for when any of his Subjeds has committed a capi- 
 tal Offence, he caufes him to be try'd and con^ 
 demn'd by Judges. 
 
 Ever 
 
i68 The]E\visn S?Y. Let. 25. 
 
 Ever fince the Reign of Henry IV. to the prefent, 
 the Perfons who have been employ'd in the Miniftry, 
 have been almoft to a Man endowM v^^ith fuperior 
 Genius. The greateft and moft illuftrlous have 
 been taken from the Order of the Ecclefiaftics *. 
 In the Reign of Lewis XIII. the Cardinal de Rich lieu, 
 a Man of prodigious Parts, a fuperior Genius, great 
 in Profperity, intrepid in Adverfity ; and notwith- 
 ftanding his Function, as good a General as he was 
 an able Minifter in the Cabinet ; an intimate Friend, 
 an implacable Enemy, and a zealous Admirer of 
 the Arts and Sciences ; began to lay the Foundations 
 of that Grandeur to which Lewis XIV. attain'd. 
 
 Cardinal Mazarine had the Education of that Mo- 
 narch, to whom, when but a Child, he did Services 
 which that Prince always retained in his Memory. 
 This Minifter had not all the Virtues of his Prede- 
 'cefTor the Cardinal de Richlicu ; nor, on tlie other 
 hand, had he his ImperfecStions. He liv'd in a Time 
 full of Troubles and Factions, and had nothing to 
 fupport him but the Authority of a King who was 
 yet but a Minor, tho' he had the Princes of the 
 Blood to ftruggle with, and almoft all the Grandees 
 of the Kingdom : He did that by his refin'd Policy, 
 which the Cardinal de Richlieu did by his Refolution ; 
 and after feveral Croftes and Misfortunes, he died as 
 much regretted by his Mafter as he had been fear'd 
 by his Enemies, and efteemed by thofe who bore 
 him the greateft Hatred. 
 
 Cclbert and Louvajs were rais'd to that Rank 
 which they poficfs'd by nothing but their Merit. 
 
 * The Reader, no doubt, perceives, that in the 
 Number of thofe able Minifters, the Author had no 
 Thought of including M. Cbamillard and the Cardinal 
 du Boii. 
 
 They 
 
Let. 23. 27/^ Jewish Spy. i6c) 
 
 They were Enemies to one another as long as they 
 liv'd, which Enmity of theirs contributed to their 
 Mafter's Happinefs ; for each of them ftrove to gain 
 his Efteem, and outvy'd one another in the Aftairs 
 of their Miniftry and Employment ; and eacli beinj; 
 a Watch upon the other, the one was as a Spur to 
 the other. The one * was a IMaftcr of Mih'tary 
 Affairs, and fkilful in Foreign Negociations. T]:e 
 f other being thoroughly versM in the iManagement 
 of the Domeftic Affairs of the Kingdom, was the 
 Protestor of the Arts and Sciences ; and both being 
 inimitable in their Qualities, their Talents united 
 together produc'd a pcrfe6l Miniftry. 
 
 The Name of the prefent Minifter is the Cardi- 
 Jial de Fleury. I have no Obligation to flatter him ; 
 but there are few that deferve more fuicere Com- 
 mendation. He form'd the Manners of his Sove- 
 reign from his very Childhood, and made the great- 
 eft King in the World the Man of the greateft Ho- 
 nefty ; which is a Character feldom found in Princes, 
 who often think Virtue, Piety and Candor ridicu- 
 lous Qualities. All Europe has done him the Jufticc 
 which he deferves, and the Enemies of France arc 
 oblig'd to confefs, that fince Cardinal Richlieu^ 
 never v/as the Miniftry of France conduced Vvith {k.\ 
 much Secrecy, Prudence and Plappincfs. 
 
 There are other Minifters of an inferior Rank to 
 the former, and they are call'd Secretaries of State, 
 whofe Places are generally occupied by Perfons of a 
 fuperior Genius. They look among the ableft Statef- 
 men for fuch as are the moft proper to poffefs fuch 
 important Oftices. The Neceffity there is that he 
 who holds a Place of fuch Importance fhould be 
 capable of bearing the Weight of Affairs, hinders 
 
 * M. dii Louvois. f M. ds Colbert. 
 
 Vol. I. I the 
 
^r/o Ti^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 25. 
 
 tne Sovereigns from determining themfelves purely 
 from Fancy or Friendfhip. 
 
 The Courtiers in general are as cringing and fear- 
 ful before the Minifters, as they are haughty and 
 confident towards their Inferiors ; but with all their 
 Pride they know nothing of Life, except what is 
 ipent in an Antichamber or a Gallery. 'Tis tru^, 
 that as for fuch who are fo unhappy as to fland in 
 need of them, they take a fweet Revenge upon them 
 for the Mortification they feel, in being oblig'd to 
 creep ; and whatever Chagrin they fufFer of this kind 
 at Verfaiiles^ they make themfelves amends by the 
 haughty, ridiculous and intolerable Airs which they 
 give themfelves in the City. 
 
 Let a Grandee aflume as much Vanity as he will, 
 he appears but a little Man at Court ; for the Ma- 
 ■^efty of the Sovereign eclipfes all other Grandeur. 
 When a private Man is feiz'd with any violent Starts 
 of Ambition, I advife him in order to get rid of that 
 PafTion only to go to the King's Supper, to fee the 
 low and humble State of thofe Perfons whofe Ranks 
 and Honours he envies, v/hen he will find them in a 
 Situation fo different from that in which he com- 
 monly fees them, that if he reflects ever fo little, he 
 -will not envy the trifling Happinefs of afTuming the 
 Air of a Sovereign one half of the Day, to be a 
 Slave the other. 
 
 The Prefence of a Prince cr of a Prime Minifter 
 changes the Features and Phyfiognomy of a great 
 many Courtiers, fo that 'tis hard to know them. 
 The more haughty and proud they are by Nature, 
 the meaner is their Countenance. The Conftraint 
 which they fuffer, together with the Eclipfe of their 
 Grandeur, do but the more confound them. If you 
 meet with a Courtier out of the Eye of hisSovereign, he 
 icarce falutes vou j or, iih^ does, 'tis but very coolly. 
 
 He 
 
Let. 25. 77/^ J EW I SH Spy, 171 
 
 He calls you, talks to you, and afks you a Q^ieflion, 
 without vouchfafing to look at you. He would 
 have you know by the lofty and imperious Tone in 
 which he fpeaks to you, that he is infinitely above you. 
 He gets a Croud about him ; and in the midfl of the 
 Circle, he decides, condemns and approves, takes 
 Snuff, looks upon his Watch, and talks of his Equi- 
 page. The Prince comes in by Chance, at whofc 
 Prefencc all this ridiculous Grandeur vanifhes ; the 
 Proteus changes his Form, lowers his Voice, and 
 grows very humble : But as foon as the Sovereign 
 has turn'd his Back, he returns to his antient Form, 
 {lands a Tip-toe, raifes his Shoulders ; and is as pe- 
 remptory as ever : His Behaviour being as confident 
 to Men of no Genius, as it is fhcepifli to Men of 
 Wit, he difcourfes of War to a Clcrgvman, of the 
 Mathematics and Fortifications to a Lawyer, and 
 of Philofophy to an Officer. 
 
 This Character, fo much diftinguifhcd by Vanitv 
 and Prefiuiiption, is one of the principal Reafons of 
 the Refervcdncfs and Caution of the Miniftcrs againft 
 abandoning thcmfelvcs to the Croud of Courtier>. 
 They would foon lofe their Authority if they did 
 not take {o much Care as they do to (hew the Ex- 
 tent of It. An honefl FamiHarity and cordial Beha- 
 viour, cannot be pradis'd In the Acquaintance and 
 Company of a Alan, who not being able to keep a 
 proper Medium, either cringes like a Slave, orfiruts 
 like a Monarch. 
 
 The Mahometans have as much Refpefl and Re- 
 gard for their Minifiers as the French have ; but in 
 order to pleafe them they don't make ufe of thofe 
 bafe Flatteries, which are {<^ common in this Coun- 
 try. What Power foever a Vizier has, and what 
 Precedency foever his Poft gives him above the com- 
 mon Offices, they make no fervile court to him ; 
 they pay him the Honours that are due to him \ and 
 1 2 in 
 
172 The Jewish Sfy. Lct.23. 
 
 in their SubmiiHon they preferve an Air of Grandeur 
 mix'd v/ith Modefty. The Tiah in all their 
 Actions obferve a certain Decency, which prepcf- 
 leiTes People in their favour. 
 
 A Courtier would be thought at CoJi/lanthuple to 
 be a Man of a furprifing and unfathomable Charac- 
 ter ; for there's an infinite Difference betwixt the 
 Court of France and of the Porte. The Perfons 
 who are Attendants upon the Sultan by virtue of 
 their OfHces and Employments, only fee him in or- 
 der to regulate the Affairs of their Pofts. That 
 Swarm of Eunuchs, Capigis, Boftangis and other 
 Perfons fet apart for the Service of the Seraglio, is 
 nothing but a Medley of Doraeflics and Guards : 
 Therefore it may be faid, there is not a Courtier 
 that conflantly attends the Grand Signior. He 
 fometimes chufes one or two Favourites among his 
 Viziers or Bafnas, who are the only Perfons that 
 fee him, exclufive of fuch as have any Matters to 
 fettle concerning their Jurifdi61:ion. The whole Court 
 ccnfifts of black Eunuchs, fome Mutes and Dwarfs, 
 As ^for Ladies, there are perhaps as many as in 
 France ; but they are rather the Slaves of two or 
 three Favourites, than their Companions and Equals. 
 
 The Sultans Manner of Life has fomethino; in it 
 glcomy and fohtary. They are fliut up in their 
 Palace, and are feldom feen by the People, but en 
 particular Days. Being Slaves to their own Gran- 
 deur, they refemble the Nazarene Idols that I men- 
 tion'd to thee, who never go out of their Cafe with- 
 out the Permiffion of their Guardian. 
 
 The French Monarchs live in a very different 
 Manner : They eat in public, and fhew themfelves 
 as familiarly as a meer private Man : They fpeak to 
 thofe of their Subjedls that they love. As they know 
 that they are infinitely above every thing breathing, 
 
 they 
 
Let. 23. The Jewish Spy. 175 
 
 they dirdain the ridiculous Vanity of afFe£lIng a Ce- 
 remonial which wou'd cramp them, and not increafe 
 their Authority, which is much more extenfive than 
 that of the Sultan, tho' not (o vifible. Nor is it 
 liable to thofe Encroachments on it, to which the 
 Grand SIgnior's dcfpotic Power is expos'd. 
 
 In this Country, the Majcfty of tlie Throne was 
 never known to be fully'd by AftVonts put upon the 
 Perfons of their Sovereigns. Whatever Rebellions 
 happcnM in the Kingdom, RefpecSt was always paid 
 to the Perfon of the Prince * ; and even fuch as 
 bore Arms againll: him, affedted to give out, that 
 they had no Defign cither againft his Perfon or Au- 
 thority : They covcr'd their Defigns with the Pre- 
 text of defending Religion, or guarding thcmfclves 
 againft the OpprcfTions of the Miniilers. At Con- 
 ftaniimpk the Janizaries in their firft Infurrc6lion 
 diihonour'd the Ottcmun Blood itfelf, for which they 
 have fo profound a Veneration. The Infamies wliich 
 that infolent Militia caus'd the unhappy Ofrmn to 
 fufFer, made one Part of the Empire rife in Arms, 
 and the Blood of above ten thoufand Janizaries was 
 hardly fufficient to appeafe the Indignation of the 
 Friends of that unfortunate Prince. 
 
 1 have often reflected on what might be the Oc- 
 cafion of fuch frequent Commotions and Rebellions. 
 I thought they were owing to the Sultan's defpotic 
 Power. The Grand Signior afTembles no Council 
 to lay a Tax ; nor does he take the Trouble of fee- 
 ing it regifter'd in the AfTcmbly of the Cadis. He 
 
 * This has need of feme Explanation ; for the Jaco- 
 bin Fryar who affaflinated Henry III. the Jefuit Guignard, 
 John Chajlel and Ra^aillac who confpir'd againll the 
 Life of Henry IV. had fcarce any Refped for the Per- 
 fons of their Sovereigns ; it rnuft therefore be fuppofed, 
 that Aaron Monceca only means the Heads of the feveral 
 Parties. 
 
 I 3 com- 
 
1 74 The ] E w 1 s M Spy, Let. 2 3 . 
 
 ((^-mmands Vv^jthout Confultation, and the Grand 
 Vizier is the Executioner of his Orders. Confe- 
 quently, to liim the People impute whatever Mis- 
 tortunes they fuffer ; at moft their Hatred reaches 
 IK) farther tihan to the Vizier, who is as that Prince's 
 Minifter and Favourite. 
 
 \vL Monarchical Countries the Enmity of the com- 
 mon People feldom falls upon the Monarch, but 
 iirikes at fifty different Obje6ls before it reaches to 
 him. ■ The Financiers, the Brokers, the Farmers- 
 General, the Counfellors of State, and the Mini- 
 ilcrs, are thofe en whom the greateft public Misfor- 
 tunes are charg'd. When the Odium falls on all 
 thefe different Subjects, it languifnes, and does not 
 i vvtll to thofe Criminal Outrages vi'hich have coft fo 
 many deth.ron'd Sultans their Life and Liberty. 
 
 .1 defir'd thee to acquaint me whether Ofman 
 Bafha w^as dead ; but I have not had a Line from 
 ihee, and ihould be glad thou would'ft let me hear 
 fcom thee upon that Head. This Baflia is look'd 
 lipon here as a very extraordinary Man. He is 
 cftcemM by feme private Men ; but in general, he 
 is blam'd for his Manners, his ConduiSl, and his 
 changing his Religion. The fine Gentlemen agree 
 that he has an infinite Share of Wit ; but the Fryars 
 won't allow him to have the leaft Capacity. Tho' 
 their Charadler for Partiality leads them into this 
 Opinion of him, I forgive them for the fake of the 
 Crime v/hich they condemn. A Man of Honour 
 ought to live and die in the Religion in which he was. 
 born ; and has no Exculc for changing it, but when 
 J^.e is in an Error. Wiiatcver Misfortunes and 
 Croflcs we fuffer, nothing ought to fliake us. Tiioa 
 knoweft I have told thee a hundred times that the 
 Q^iarrels, Vexations and Mortifications v/hich Of- 
 7nan met with, did not appear to me to be a law- 
 ful Caufe for authorifing his Change of Religion. 
 
 I am 
 
Let. 24,. The J e\v i s h Sp r. i jf 
 
 I am not ignorant that they who were for excufing 
 him fuid, that he was neither a Nazarene nor a Ma- 
 hometan. By granting him this Point it will (till 
 reOjlt, that he was obliged to do that for his Honour, 
 w^hich he did not do on the fcore of Religion. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac^ and may'fl thou live 
 to have a numerous Poflerity. 
 
 LETTER XXIV. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac On is, 
 
 a Rabbii at Conftantinople. 
 
 Pcvh 
 
 T Have read over the Paper which thou fent'fi: me 
 * from Ofmmi Baflia's Secretary with Care, anJ- 
 am as fenfible as thou art of that Hatred which the 
 Nazarenes and Mahoinetans bear to us. There \'^ 
 nothing fo cafy as to anfwer the Obje<S^ions made to 
 us, concerning the Interruption of our Ceremonies, 
 and theCeflation of Circumcifion in Spahu 
 
 The chief of our Precepts is founded on the Law 
 of Nature, which permits us to take care of our 
 Lives by fuch Precautions and Forccaft as do not 
 dire<511y attack the Di\inity. Our Dodlors could 
 anfwer to difpenfe us from a Cuflom in a Cafe of 
 prefHng Neceffity. 'Tis not the Externals that con- 
 ftitute Religion. 'Tis Faith, Belief, and the Sen- 
 timents of the inward Man. Ceremonies ought to 
 be obferv'd when it may be done without rifldnir 
 one's Life, and the Lives of a thoufand Innocents ; 
 but when there's fuch evident Daneer impending-, tlie 
 I 4- ^ "^ Ufc 
 
jj6 77/^ Jewish Spy. Let. 24. 
 
 Ufe thereof may be fufpended. It is not the fame 
 thing as to the Subftance of Rehgion, from which 
 nothing can nor ought to excufe us. Tlie mofl: 
 fevere Punifnments ought not to fliock us. When 
 a Jeiv^ for Iiiftance, is cited to appear before the 
 tyrannical Tribunal of the Inquifition, let the Dan- 
 ger of his profefUng his Religion be what it will, he 
 ought, without fcruple, to value himfelf upon it. 
 The Majcfty of the Almighty would be offended by 
 ;i Lye, and by bafe Cowardice. Can a Son difown 
 his Father ; and fuch a Father too as he is obliged to 
 for fo many Favours ? But God does not expecSt 
 that we fhould run in the Face of Torments j and 
 Jie condeinns that blind Zeal v/hich deprives us of 
 the Life that he has committed to our keeping. We 
 Tt.e feveral Examples in our Books which prove the 
 Truth of my Opinion. Our Fathers in the Cap- 
 tivity which they fufFered, could not be fliock'd in 
 tlieir Belief; yet they were obliged to give up and 
 fdipend many of the Precepts of their antient Dif- 
 cipline ; nay, they ov/'d their Prefei-vation to the 
 Violation of tliofe Precepts, and the Jewijh People 
 were obliged for their Safety to EJihcr^ when fhe 
 was become the Vv''ife of Jhafuerus. Tho' 'tis 
 one of our principal and moft inviolable Cuftoms, not 
 to fufFcr Matches between the Blood of Ifrael 
 and the impure Blood of the Infidels, v/hatever Re- 
 luctance Ejiher had to go to Bed with an idolatrous 
 King, there was an abfolute NecefTity for Compli- 
 ance ; fince lier Refufal of that Honour, would 
 have plun2;cd the Jfraelitcs head-long into frefh Ca- 
 lamities. ^The Fear of thofe fame Misfortunes is 
 a very good Excufe at this Day for the Spam/i:> Jeivs 
 not obferving Circumcifion : And I don't fee why 
 they are not as juftifiable in ufmg the fame Precau- 
 tions as our Forefathers, fmce they have much more 
 .to fear than they had. 
 
 There 
 
Let. 24- 7^/6^ Jewish Spy. 177 
 
 There are a thoufand Inftances of fuch Forecaft 
 among the NazareneSy founded upon the CefTation 
 of fome of their Ceremonies. During the Perfe- 
 cutions which they fufFfrM under the Ro?nan Ejii- 
 perors, feveral for fear of Death and Torture fled 
 into the Heart of the Defarts, and there paiTed ihe 
 reft of their Lives Hke Hermits, without any Deal- 
 ings with their Fellow-Creatures. Some hv'd fiftv 
 and fixty Years thus, without feeing one Soul f. 
 'i'his Solitude to which they retir'd, was a Ceflation 
 of all tlie principal Ceremonies to which they ptx- 
 tend themfelves inviolably oblig'd. How could they, 
 on their Sabbath-day, affilt at their Divine Service ? 
 How could they partake of the Sacraments of the 
 Church ? For many of them were not Priefts and 
 were not qualified to perform the facerdotal Func- 
 tions. Therefore, in their Retirement they fufoend- 
 ed the Exercife of all the Ceremonies. Neverthe- 
 
 f St. Jerome affirms, that St. Paul the Hermit liv'd for 
 fixty Years in a Wildernefs, where he was miraculoufly 
 fed by a Raven, which brought him every Day half of 
 a Loaf, Eja^ inquit Paulus, — fexaginta jam Anni funt , 
 quod accipio dimidii femper Pants Ft agme'ntum. Hicro- 
 nymi Epift. de Vit.a Pauli Heremits, lib. 3. 'Tis cer- 
 tain therefore, that there have been holy Men, who 
 have difpens'd with themfelves all their Life-time, from 
 partaking of the Sacraments and Fealls of the Church. 
 The Dominican Fryars, who wrote the Life of Mary 
 Magdaleny have made amends for this Abfurdity: They 
 fay, that the Angels came every Day to bring the Com- 
 munion to the holy Woman in her Grotto. St. Jerome^ 
 without having recourfe to the fame Evpedient, might 
 have made St. Paidz. Communicant in like manner. It 
 would not have coil him much to have fuppos'd that the 
 half of the Loaf which the Raven brought had been 
 confecrated before by a Prieil. A ^)'^, either groU'er 
 or fmaller, was no very great Matter. 
 
 I 5 kf^j 
 
178 The J E w I s H S p Y. Let. 24.. 
 
 kls, we find, that in Procefs of Time they were ac- 
 knovvledgM to be Saints. 
 
 As to the Reproach caft upon us, that we have 
 a number of Childifh Cuftoms, which are not en- 
 joined by the fundamental Precepts of our Law, 1 
 franklv own, that by length of Time a great many 
 5ieedlefs Things liave been introduc'd : l^ut are the 
 Nazaren^ juilifiablc in cenfuring us ; they, whofe 
 Religion is over-charg'd with fo many impertinent 
 Ceremonies ? I gave the a Detail of fome of them 
 HI my former Letters. Nor are the Turks any bet- 
 ter qualified to reproach us on the fame (core : 
 For in their Religion there's a Chain of Impertinen- 
 cics or Ceremonies which pafs for fundamental Pre- 
 cepts. Is any thing {<y ridiculous as the Dancing 
 and Round-abouts of the Dervifhes ; as theCuftoni 
 ef burying the Dead in fuch a manner that the 
 good Angels may the more eafdy come at them ; and. 
 as the Obligation of going in Pilgrimage to Mecca 
 and Medina P As if God punifh'd a Man in the other 
 World, for not having traveliM fix or feven hundred 
 Leagues to fee another Man's Tomb ;. and as. if. fuch 
 a Vifit at all concern'd Heaven ! 
 
 If we have impertinent Cuftoms and Rites, 'tis- 
 a Fault we have in common with the other Religions. 
 Happy are thofe Dc£lors v/ho can purge their Re- 
 ligion from them ! As to this Heap of Superftitions, 
 I muft give thee my real Thoughts. Our Rabbics 
 have introduc'd a great many Notions, which, in 
 the Opinion of the Learned, do confiderable Injury 
 to our Law. Tho' thou art thyfelf a Rabbi, yet 
 that Friendfiiip and Fam.iliarity which are between 
 »is, give a Sanction to my Freedom with thee. Be- 
 fides, thou reje^left moft of thofe ridiculous Opi- 
 nions 5 and if thou feemeil to approve of any, 'tis 
 rather out of a political Regard to thy Brethren, than 
 tiom any real Conyicu9n» 
 
 ^What 
 
Let. 24. The J e w i s h S p v. i]^ 
 
 What can a Philofopher fay or think when he reads 
 in our Authors f , that God in the Beginning of the 
 World, created on the 5th Day, two great Whales, 
 one of which he keeps alive to this Day, to fporf: 
 and play with ; and the other he prefervesfrom Cor- 
 ruption in Salt- water, toferve as aDifliat the Ban- 
 auet with which he is tore2;ale the Ri2;htcous at the 
 laft Day ? Is it not conveying a very beautilul and 
 noble Idea of the Almighty Power, to make \\\\yi 
 play with a P'ifli, as a Child of Tix Years old docs 
 with a Doll ? That fovcreisn Beinji; w^hich has cxiftcd 
 for an immenfe Space of Time ; that infinite Bcin;; 
 which comprehends every thing, but cannot be com- 
 prehended itfelf, who is fclf-fufficientand created alt 
 Beings out of Nothing, does he amufe himfclf in fee- 
 ing one Fifh play, and with the Care of piefervlnii 
 another in fait Pickle to treat good People: I am fony 
 that the Rabbies fliould ferve up fuch coarfc Pro 
 vifion at the Table of the Almighty. Probably tlit-: 
 g;reat Number of People who they forefaw would be 
 at the Entertainment, determin'd them to. niakc 
 choice of the biggeft Fifli they knew^ 
 
 The Opinion conceivM by fcveral of our Doc- 
 tors, concerning the Etymology of Evei * Name, 
 is to my Mind ftill more ridiculous. They fay it: 
 comes from a Word which fignifies to tali. Tlien 
 they add gravely and dogmatically, that there fel!". 
 from Heaven twelve great Bafl:ets full of Chit-chat \ .. 
 and that the Women pick'd up nine of tiiejn. 
 When a Man af good folid Senfe comes to read 
 fuch Fables, he is prejudiced againft a Religion, ths 
 Depofitaries- of which are the Inventors of fucli 
 Tales, and the Forgers of fuch Cliimseras. 
 
 -j- Pirke Elicz. cap. 9. p. 11, 
 
 * Baxtorf's Hebn-vj Lexicon, cap. 9'. p. 228. at the 
 
 Word nrn» 
 
 I 6 Tlie 
 
i8o 27?^ Jewish Spy. Let. 24. 
 
 The Inflance of the Nazarenes ought to be a 
 LefTon to us. The firft Caufe of the Separation of 
 a Part of their Brethren, was a heap of extravagant 
 Notions, with which the Monks ftuff'd their Books. 
 For one while the Laity v/ere made to beheve a tlaou- 
 iand ridiculous Stories ; and there was not a Lay-Bro- 
 ther but exhibited fome Books of his Writing to the 
 Public, full of whinifical Notions. The more 
 'I'hings that they contained contrary to common 
 S.nfe, the filly People bchev'd them to be the greater 
 iMvfceries. 
 
 The Men of Scnfe for a while only laugh'd in 
 their Sleeves at thefe ridiculous Writings. Li Pro- 
 cefs of Time, Impofture and Fraud being carried 
 to too great a Length, feveral thought themfelves 
 nblig'd in Honour, and for the fake of Religion, to 
 Dppofe the Torrent. Therefore, many learned A'len 
 employed their Pens to undeceive thofe whom they 
 had feduc'd ; and in fome Meafure they fucceeded ; 
 but the Monks perceiving that their Credit muft 
 ibnd or fall with their Lyes, made a Struggle to 
 prevent their being detected ; and as they had a 
 confiderable Intereft with the fovereign Pontiff, 
 they got their Opponents excluded from their Com- 
 munion J butnotwithftanding this Victory their Im- 
 pofture was Toon difcover'd. The Eyes of the Pub- 
 lic v/ere open'd ; and among thofe who continued 
 in their Faith, there were feveral who thoroughly 
 undeceived the common People 3 fo that none but 
 a few filly W^omen and Ignoramus's remained in an 
 Error. 
 
 Oiie of the principal Enemies of thofe ridiculous 
 Books was furnam'd *, The D'ljlcdger of the Saints-, 
 for he turn'd more out of Paradife than tv/enty Pon- 
 tifrs could ever put Into it. The Monks were raving 
 mad to fee the Authority which he exercised over 
 M. Bail/a. 
 
 thofe 
 
Let. 24- 216^ Jewish Spy. i8i 
 
 thofe pretended Saints; and they were the more fur- 
 priz'd at it, becaufe he was of the fame Faith with 
 the fovereign Pontiff, who had taken moft of thofe 
 Saints into his Prote6lion; which flood them in no 
 ftead ; for they were fain to quit the PcfTeflion of their 
 heavenly Manfion ; and what was worfe than all for 
 'em, was, that the Reafons of their Adverfary carried 
 fuch Evidence with 'cm, that they even convinc'd 
 the moft obftinate Nazarems^ and procured him the 
 Efteem of the fovereign Pontiff. Perhaps thou hafl 
 a Defire to know the principal Adlions of the Lives 
 of fome of thofe illuftrious Exiles. 
 
 One * liv'd forty Years ere6t upon a Pillar, like a 
 Statue, and had no way to eafe himfelf, but the 
 fame Privilege which Geefe have, that ftand fome- 
 times on one Foot, and fometimes on another. Be- 
 fore he was difplac'd, he was invocated for Pains in 
 the Hams. 
 
 The other f amus'd himfelf with the Devil, whom 
 he cou'd manage as he pleased ; and one Day , as 
 the faid infernal Spirit went to take fome Liberty 
 with him, he fciz'd him by the Nofe with a pair of 
 Tongs, and chaftis'd him to fuch a degree, that 
 the infernal Spirit would have no more to do with 
 him. 
 
 I fliould never finifh my Letter, were I to fend 
 thee the Names of all that have been unfainted. The 
 two firft will give thee an Idea of the reft. 
 
 'Twere to be wifli'd that fome Doctor would 
 arife among our Rabbies, like the Nazarene above- 
 mcntion'd, who turn'd fo many out of Paradife. 
 We fhould be obli2:'d to him for reducino; our Re- 
 ligion to its primitive Simplicity; and for difarming 
 
 * Siffieon Stiliiesy an Anchorite, who is faid to have 
 liv'd in the fifth Century. 
 f Dunjian, 
 
 our 
 
1 8 2 Tk^ J E \v I s H Spy. Let. i f, 
 
 our Enemies of the Weapons which they make ufe 
 of to combat it. Notwithftanding any Trouble and 
 Oppofition which he might meet with at firft. Truth 
 would prevail in the End, and fooner or later the 
 Obligation to him would be confefs'd. 
 
 Fare thee well, my dear Ifaac^ and let no body 
 know the Sentiments which I have depofitcd in thy 
 Breaft. For they would certainly fubje^t me to the. 
 Hatred of the Idiots. May the God of Jf?-ael grant 
 thee Health and Wealth. 
 
 LETTER XXV. 
 
 Jacob Bri to /<? Aaron Monceca, 
 
 Rome 
 
 IMuft be going In a Day or two for Ge^oa ; {o 
 this is the laft Letter I fhall write to thee from 
 Rome. The modern Strudures which I have {Qen . 
 in this City, are not inferior either in Tafte or Gran- 
 deur to thofe of the Antlents. The moft entire 
 Fragment that remains of the old Rotyian Buildings, 
 is the Fantheon^ heretofore the Temple of alt the 
 Gods, and now of all the Saints. A part of the fa- 
 mous Amphitheatre was deftroy'd by the Fraud of 
 the Nephew of one of the foveieign Pontiffs, who.- 
 having defirM of his Uncle only twenty-four Hours 
 time to carry fome Stones that he wanted out of 
 the Circus^ employ 'd near three thou fand Workmen 
 or Peafants, who in five or fix iiours time de- 
 molifh'd a part of the Edifice-j and if they had not 
 
 beea 
 
Let. 2). Tie Jewish Spr. iS^T 
 
 been hinder'd from going on, they would not have 
 left one Stone upon another. 
 
 This is not the only time that the City of Rome 
 has fufFer'd confiderable Damage from Nepotifm; 
 for as I have already told you, fhe is continually a 
 Prey to the Avarice of the covetous Nephews. The 
 late Pontiff had like to have deprived Italy and the 
 whole World of the fineft Pieces of Painting that- 
 ever were. Raphael, that famous Painter, who 
 won the Prize in his Art, painted three Chambers 
 in the Fatican*. There's no other kind of Tapi- 
 ftry in its Apartments, but the Works which he has 
 drawn upon the Walls. As among fome Subjeds 
 taken from the Nazarenes Hiftories, there feveral 
 borrow'd from Antiquity, the Pontiff was for obli- 
 terating thofe Mafter-peices, to make room for paint- 
 ing the Hiftory of a Pair of Monks, to whom he had 
 jull: before granted a Writ of Canonization f. The 
 Demolifher of thofe perfecSV Pieces was to be a Pain- 
 ter of BencvcHto', but by good luck fome Cardi- 
 nals having heard of the Pope's Intention, ftrenu- 
 oufly oppos'd his Defign, fo that he defifted from his 
 Purpofe of doing fo much Harm to the City oi Rortie^ 
 as the Barbarians who formerly fack'd it. 
 
 The Trajan and Antonine Pillars are the moft' 
 beautiful things that have been exempted from the 
 Misfortunes that have happen'd to this Capital of the 
 World. On the top of thofe Pillars are plac'd the 
 Statues of two of the chief Nazarene DocStors, to- 
 whom the Pontiffs pretend to be SuccefTors in a di- 
 rect Line; and from whom they alfo pretend to, 
 derive their Infallibity: But 'tis remarkable that one 
 of thofe Doctors rebuk'd the other, and that nei- 
 
 * They are three Halls, near the Rooms painted by. 
 Raphael, 
 
 t I have heard feveral Perfons at Rome fay, that this 
 Pontiff call'd Raphad'^ Piaures Bonhmaj. ox Hogfties. 
 
 thei- 
 
184 The Jewish Spy. Let. 2 f. 
 
 ther of them thought himfelf infallible, having both 
 exprefly taught in their Writings, that this was the 
 Prerogative of God alone, and not of Man, w^ho is 
 nothing in comparifon to him, let his State be as 
 high as it w^ill. 
 
 The Safety and Juftnefs of the Pontifical Deci- 
 fions, are in this Country the moft eflential Articles 
 of the Na^arenes Creed. The Inquifition is vigi- 
 lant to confirm the Maxims of this Doctrine ; and 
 when it has once laid hold of any Perfon who dares 
 to aflert the contrary, 'tis a Rarity if he comes off 
 with lefs than Death ; for it v/ould be far lefs dan- 
 gerous to offend God at Rotne^ than the Pontiff. 
 A Man guilty of mortal Sin is difcharg'd from it 
 by giving a Teftoon or two to burn Wax to the 
 Honour of St. Francis: If any one fhould refufe to 
 believe that two of the Pontiff's Fingers extended, 
 cleanfe a Million of Souls at a time, he would, 
 perhaps, be burnt for it in fome public Square, 
 and all from the Motives of Ccnfcience and Reli- 
 gion. 
 
 The fovereign Pontiffs of the Nazarenes v/ere 
 chofe heretofore by the Suffrages of the People, 
 which, however, were of no EffecSt furtiier than 
 they were confirm' d by the Will of the Emperors *. 
 
 In 
 
 * The Title of Holinefs, which is now given to the 
 Pope alone, was formerly common to all the Biiliops. 
 The Court of Rome is very much in the wrong to go about 
 to advance this Title as a Mark of its Independancy on 
 Princes : For it is manifeft, and averr'd by all HiHo- 
 ries, that for above three hundred Years after Conjlan- 
 tim, the Emperors of Conjlantinople always had the 
 Prerogative of confirming the Eledion of the Popes. As 
 to the Name of HoUnefs, it was antiently given to all 
 the Bi{hops, * This Word fays Pafqiiier, was parti- 
 « cularly afcribed to the Bifhops. Sidonius in the 4th 
 
 ♦ Book, 
 
Let. 2 f. The JewishSpy. 185' 
 
 In procefs of time this Maxim alter'dj for actual- 
 ly the PontifFs that wear a red Habit f , and 
 fiich as are of a diftinguifhcd Rank in the Nazarene 
 Church, now enjoy this Prerogative. Sometimes 
 
 * Book of his Epiftlcs, fpeaks of the EIe<Elion of a Bi- 
 
 * fhop, in which there had been great Contentions. St. 
 
 * Patianus and St. Euphronius ha've at length, fays he, 
 
 * chofe St. John, a Ferfon ^valuable for e'very thing that 
 
 * ii honeJ}y humane and good-natur d. ^X..Jerome writ- 
 
 * ing to Florentius, fays St. E'vagrius the Prieft, prefents 
 
 * his Kefpeds to you. And from hence it comes, that 
 
 * when they fpoke to the Biihops, 'twas with this 
 
 * honourable Title, Tour Holinefs ; confequently you 
 
 * will meet with it exprefs'd in all the Epiftles of CaJJt- 
 
 * odorus, as often as Theodoric, Alaric, Theodatus, or 
 
 * Vitigius Kings of Italy, wrote to any Biihops of their 
 
 * Kingdom. St. Gregory v/riting to the P.itriarchs of 
 
 * Antioch ufes one while thefe Words, Vejira Beatitudo ; 
 ' another while Vejira SanBitas ; to the Bifhop of Mi- 
 
 * Ian, who held a great Port in Italy, Fejlra Sanditasi 
 
 * to the other common Bifhops Vejira Fraternitas. So- 
 
 * crates in the 6th Book of his Ecclefiaftical Hiftory 
 
 * excafes himfelf, becaufe when fpeaking of the Bifhops 
 
 * he had not honour'd them with the Epithet of 6'^;?^- 
 
 * tijjima, or fuch other fort of Title as had been the 
 
 * Cuftom to beftow upon them. On the contrary, 
 ' Theodoret, through the whole Difcourfe in his Hiftor}', 
 
 * fcarce fpeaks of Bifhops but he gives them the Title 
 
 * of Sandi or Beati, even while they were living. Paf' 
 
 * quier Recherches de la France, lib. ii. cap. iii. p. 
 ' 157.' So much for the Origin of the pompous Title 
 of Holinefs which the Court of Rome makes fuch a Pa- 
 rade with at this Day. But tho' it does not think thefe 
 Proofs valid, I believe it would be glad to be furnifh'd 
 with Proofs that were but half as valid to authorize 
 the pretended imaginary Donation by Conjiantine, 
 
 t The Cardinals, 
 
 they 
 
rS6 y^^ Jewish Spy. Let, 2^. 
 
 they have a hard Matter to agree in the Choice of 
 a Subje6l.j fuch are the various Interefls in which 
 they are bound to certain Princes, whofe Creatures 
 they are. There was a Divifion among them for 
 near a Century, and each Party chofe a fovereign 
 Pontiff; fo that there happen'd to be two, and even 
 three at a time, v/ho retired to the Dominions of 
 the Princes that protecSled them. The firft thing 
 that thefe took care to do every Morning as foon as 
 they awak'd,. was to excommunicate one another *. 
 At length it was determined in a general Council, 
 v/hich was the true fovereign PontifFj and it was 
 therein decided, that his Authority was inferior to 
 that of the general Councils. This Qiieftion was 
 afterwards condemned by the Popes, and has been 
 only admitted on the other fide of the J/ps^ and not 
 in Itafyy nor in Spain, 
 
 Thefe Electors of the Pontiff are call'd Cardinals, 
 and are for the mofl part Noblemen, or the Sons of 
 Princes. Several of them live at the Courts of the 
 Sovereigns who are their Patrons; fo that there re- 
 mains but a certain number at Rome, where they 
 
 * I fhould be glad to know what the Holy Spirit,, 
 which never ceafes to enlighten the Popes, was doing at 
 at that Jundure. Was it contrary to itfelf, and did it 
 deftroy by the Adlions of one Pope what it eftablifhed by 
 thofe of another? Father Paul, where he fpeaks of a 
 Portmanteau's falling into the Water, which contain'd 
 the Inftruments that cams from Rome for tile Legates 
 who prefided at the Council, fays, fhat the Spirit of God 
 moved upon the Face of the Waters. Might it not be al- 
 fo faid, that during the Weftern Schifmit feem'd to con- 
 found all things, and to bring back the antient Chaos, 
 v/i;en Frlgida piignahant calidis, humentia ficcis \ for. 
 one Pope granted Indulgences to the famePerfons thatano- 
 ther Pope excommunicated. 
 
 are. 
 
Let. zf. 77^^ Jewish Spt. iSy- 
 
 are good Neighbours to the Inhabitants ; and with- 
 out them the common People would be exceflive- 
 \y poor^ for the Money which they lay out, is all 
 that goes into private Hands, that which comes 
 from foreign Countries being pocketed by the 
 Priefts and Friars. Of this the Nephews and Mi- 
 nillcrs of the reigning Pontiffs have a large Sliarc ; 
 but they generally keep their Money lock'd up in 
 their Coffers, or elfe fend it abroad. What has 
 lately happen'd to Cardinal Co/day will be a Leflbn 
 to future Favourites, who will thereby learn to take 
 more Care of concealing their Money, and to be 
 more circumfpedl for fear of being call'd to an Ac- 
 count. 
 
 This Cofcia in the preceding Pontificate put Ho- 
 nours, Dignities, Favours, and, in fliort, every 
 thing to Sale : And you will imagine that he was 
 not very difficult in the Article of Licences and In- 
 dulgences. He had made Sale of thefe not only to 
 all Parts of Europe^ but wou'd fain have eflablifhed 
 Fadlories in other Parts of the World to put off his 
 Merchandize. The Pontiff, whofe Minifter he was, 
 dying, his Enemies, who longM to be fingering the 
 Treafure which he had heap'd together, rais'd a cruel 
 Perfecution againft him ; and after an Imprifonment 
 of feveral Years, he has been obliged to refund fome 
 of his Wealth. 
 
 If the Cuftom of obliging a favourite Minifler to 
 give up his Accounts, pafs'd from one Pontificate to 
 another, Cofcla's Money would perhaps circulate 
 from one Nephew to another for four or five hun- 
 dred Years. 
 
 Hie Cardinals and great Lords have magnificent 
 Country-Seats near Ro?7ie, which they call Vine- 
 yards, and are adornM with antient and modern 
 Statues, and with Paintings bv the befl Mafters. 
 
i88 716^ Jewish Spy. Let. 2f. 
 
 The Borghefe Vineyard is one of the fineft *. It con- 
 tains a great many curious Fragments. The Vine- 
 yard that belongs to the Princes Pamphili is alfo 
 magnificent; but moft of the Statues are maim'd 
 and fpoil'd by a very fmgular Incident. The Da- 
 mages done to them have not been owing to Time, 
 nor to the Ravages which Rome fufFerM, but to one 
 fingle Lvlonk. I will let thee into the Story. 
 
 The Father of Prince Pamphili becoming an ex- 
 cefiive Devotee, chofe a Monk f for his Dire6lor. 
 This is a Cuftom eftablifhed among tlie Nazarenes^ 
 who think that a Man cannot v/ork out his own Sal- 
 vation without the Help of a Prieft. As foon as 
 this Monk had gainM an Afcendant over his new 
 Penitent, he put it into his Plead to leave him pious 
 Legacies; and turn'd the Alms he gave for the 
 Help of the poor Indians, for the Relief of the Mif- 
 fionaries, for the Propagation of the Faith, i^c, 
 into his own Pocket. He caus'd fome of the Prince's 
 Domeftics to be turn'd away, who did not feem To 
 much attach'd as they fhould be to his Order ; and 
 who had negledted to be admitted into the Congre- 
 gations which he diredled. In fhort, he put all the 
 Prince's Kindred out of the way, that might have 
 thwarted his Defigns. 
 
 When the Monk had done all that he could do 
 with his Fellow- Creatures, nothing would ferve 
 him but he muft exercife his Authority over Things 
 inanimate. The Fryar found fault with the very 
 Nudity of the Statues in Prince Pamphili's Gardens, 
 of which there were near four hundred ; and re- 
 proach'd him for it as a Crime ; and 'twas imme- 
 diately order'd, that notv/ithftanding the Heats in 
 
 * 'Tis at the Borghefe Vineyard where are the grand 
 Statues of Seneca expiring in the Bath, the Gladiator, 
 and the Hermaphrodite. 
 
 t A Jefuit, 
 
 Italy, 
 
Let. 25-. The Jewish Spy. i8p 
 
 Italy^ they fliould be cloathM and array'd, without 
 being ever allow'd to appear naked, tho' their Robes 
 fhou'd disfigure them : Therefore all this Hord of 
 Statues was cover'd with Drapery of Plaifter, and 
 was mangled Vv^ith the Chiffcl in feveral Places, that 
 it might ftick the better to the Marble. In five or 
 fix Months after he had been at the Expence of 
 thofe Habits, Prince Pa?nphili dies ; upon which his 
 Son was for taking: off thefe Shirts of Plaifter : But 
 in fpite of all the Care that was taken to repair the 
 Injuries owing to the Zeal of the Director above- 
 mentioned, feveral of the Statues were maim'd ; fo 
 that this finde Monk did as much Mifchief as 21 
 
 o 
 
 wliole Army of Goths and Vandals. 
 
 I often confider with myfelf how much a Man, 
 who abandons himfelf to the pernicious Counfels of 
 a fanatical Spirit, is expos'd to do Things that are 
 extraordinary. The outragious Zeal of Prince Pa??:- 
 pbili^ puts me in mind of another Paffage that hap- 
 pcn'd in tliis Country. A certain fovereign Prince 
 of Germany had contra6lcd witii Schajiian Conchi^ 
 an Italian Painter, for copying two PiiStures done 
 by G'lnlio Rotnano. The one reprefented the Rape 
 of the Sahhit's, and the other Q^pid and Pfyche. A 
 certain Monk, who was his Wife's fpiritual DirecSlor, 
 going to pay her a Vifit, had the Curiofity to take a 
 View of her Hufband's Pictures. The Wife car- 
 ried hun into the Room, when, as Ill-luck would 
 have it, the Painter was not there. The Fryar 
 had no fooner caft his Eyes on the two PivSlures, 
 but he fell a raving like one mad ; Ton will be 
 damned ^ cry'd he; there is no Forgivenefs for you^ 
 not even in articulo mortis ; no Abfolution^ no Abfo- 
 lution. O my God^ faid the Woman, ivhat have I 
 done P JVJmt have you done ! reply 'd the Monk ; did 
 you ever fee fuch PiSiures ? do you fuffer your. Hujband 
 to he e?nplofd in fuch Work ? My Hujband, faid fhe, 
 
 did 
 
Tpo The Jewish Spy. Let. 2 5-. 
 
 did not paint thefe Figures ; ^twas another Painter. 
 No matter who drew them^ reply'd the zealous Di- 
 rector ; there's no Salvation for you^ if you don't this 
 Moment deface thefe fcandalous Things^ and tear the?n 
 to Pieces. The Woman, feduc'd by the Fear of 
 -Hell, was juft going upon this notable Jobb when 
 the Painter came in, who trembled to fee what a 
 Rifque his Pictures had run of being fpoil'd. The 
 Prince for whom they were defign'd, had paid two 
 thoufand Crowns a-piece for them ; and poor Se- 
 hajlian Conchi had been ruin'd, if the Monk's Fury 
 had been gratify'd ; but he turn'd him out of his 
 Houfe, and forbad his Wife ever to go into that 
 Room again as long as fhe liv'd. 
 
 In the Country where thou dwelleft, dear Mon- 
 ceca^ thou haft frequent Opportunities, as well as I, 
 to fee thefe Ravings of an immoderate Devotion, 
 which refemble Madnefs ; yet they cannot be {o 
 common in France as they are in Italy., where the 
 Monks have infallibly more Sway ; but as they are 
 every where the fame, 'tis impoffible for them to 
 keep themfelves fo far within Bounds as not to be 
 guilty of fome Rants. 
 
 As foon as I arrive at Genoa., I will write to thee. 
 I don't know whether I {hall make any long Stay 
 there, but I believe I ihall be obliged to go and 
 fpend feme Time at Turin. 
 
 Take care of thy Health, At2^x Monceca^ and may 
 $hy Trade always flourifh and thy Riches increafe. 
 
 LET- 
 
I.et.26. 77:?^ Jewish Spy. rpi 
 
 LETTER XXVI. 
 
 .Aaron Monc:eca to Isaac Onis, 
 a Rahbiy at Conftantinople. 
 
 H 
 
 AVING written feveral Letters to thee fuc- 
 cellively on Icrious Subjects, perhaps thou wilt 
 be forry 1 have nothing to fend thee of Amufement. 
 I (hould have been glad to have mix'd the Agreeable 
 with the Profitable ; but the laft SubjecSts 1 treated 
 of were hardly fufceptible of Gaiety. For the fake 
 of doing thee a Pleafure, I fhould be glad to have 
 my Writings tindtured with thofe fprightly and 
 happy Turns of Wit, which form the general Cha- 
 racter of the Fraichy wlio have a fparkling Vivacity 
 not to be found in any other Nation. Among the 
 EngUJh^ the Germans^ and the Nortliern People, 
 there is perhaps more good Senfe and as much Learn- 
 ing, but there is not fo much Wit. 
 
 But how it comes that the French have this Ad- 
 vantage, I can't imagine. The Climate can't be the 
 Reafon of it. If the Heat of the Sun rais'd the Ima- 
 gination, what Nations are there in Europe that 
 would have more Fire and Vivacity than the Portu- 
 guefe? yet their Books are, for the generality, no- 
 thing more than a confus'd, indigclted, unwieldy 
 Medley of fome Works, Theological and Scholafti- 
 cal ; or a Parcel of Romances, ftufF'd with Enchant- 
 ments, Battles and Rapes. The Invention of fuch 
 Chimaeras does not require a lively Imagination, fo 
 
 much 
 
ip2 7^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 26. 
 
 much as an extravagant one. Before a true Tafte 
 was eftablifhed in Germany ^ fome Monks and other 
 Authors had composed Books altogether as fenfelefs, 
 yet the Difference between the Climates of thofe 
 two Countries is very great. 
 
 If Wit was the Gift of Air and the Sun, there 
 would be almoft the fame Genius in every Inhabi- 
 tant of the fame Country ; yet what a Difference 
 do we find betwixt the modern Greeks and thofe of 
 learned Athens ? The People of the Levant run. 
 into extravagant and monftrous Notions. Can the 
 Authors of old Greece be liable to the fame Re* 
 proach ? Where do we find more Simplicity, more 
 Grandeur and Eloquence at the fame time, than in 
 Demofthenes ; more of Nature than in Euripides ; 
 more of the Majeflic and Sublime than in Homer 
 and Sophocles ; more Perfpicuity, more Concifenefs, 
 and more Accuracy than in Xenophon ? Thofe Au- 
 thors liv'd in the very fame Country as the modern 
 Greeks and Turkijh Poets, and the fame Sun that 
 warm*d the one warms the other ; yet where do 
 we meet with more extravagant Rant than in the 
 Poetry oi Achmet Chelihi *, and with miore imper- 
 tinent Stuff than in the Works of Ihrah'un ? v/hich 
 are neverthelefs look'd upon as the Oracles and 
 Mafter-pieces of the Age in which they were written. 
 
 * A modern Turkijh Poet, who wrote feveral Poems 
 in Praife of his Miftreffes. In a poetical Compofition of 
 his, which I heard him read himfelf in the Palace of 
 France^ when he was at Conjlantinople^ he compared the 
 Face of a fine Woman to a Border enameWd ~<.':ith a thou- 
 fand forts of Flonvers, and her JfpeSl to the South Wind, 
 nvhich burns and defroys the rich eft Har<vefts. Thefe 
 were the Terms made ufe of by the Interpreter ; but he 
 afTur'd us, that the original Words were a hundred times 
 more extravagant. 
 
 Good 
 
 
Let. 2(>. 7"^^ Jewish Spy. 193 
 
 Good Tafle, Mafters, and the Acquaintance 
 with good Authors, are of real Influence in tlie 
 Conveyance of Wit ; but they cannot be a decifive 
 Reafon for determining the Caufe of that Viva- 
 city and Fire w^hich the French have above other 
 Nations. 
 
 The EngUJh have excellent Judgment. They 
 have amonfr them Authors that are diftin<2;uiihed for 
 all kinds of Writing, and fuch perhaps as outdo the 
 French ; but then they don't come up to their gay 
 manner of Expreflion. 
 
 The Germans have produced "\Vork«; of furprizing 
 Erudition. Their Books arc composed for the Learn- 
 ed, and are eminent for that v/liich is Good and 
 Ufeful, but the Agreeable is fcldom to be found in 
 them. 
 
 To illuftrate mv Notion I will make a Compa* 
 riibn betwixt a couple of Authors with whofe Works 
 .\nd Merit, dear Jfaac^ thou art acquainted, and 
 who are both cftecm'd bv all Nations tiiat value 
 themfelvcs for Learning. Locke has written a Book 
 wiiich claims the Admiration of the Univcrfe * for 
 good Senfe, Penetration, and the Force of Reafon- 
 ing. A Temple and an Altar ought to be erected 
 to a philofophical Work of fich Excellence, anJ 
 upon certain days of theYear the philofophical Coni- 
 pofuions of Thomas cV Aquinas^ S coins and Loyola 
 /hould be facrific'd to it in Flames ; nor would there 
 be any Harm done, if the Commentators of Jrijhtle 
 had the fame Fate ; and if fuch bad Company was 
 ftripp'd of the Gr€ek Text. 
 
 Yet fo great as the Glory of tlie Author is to 
 whom I fhould be glad to fee tliis Temple erciSlcd, 
 
 * The' all the Works of the illuftrious Locke are ex- 
 cellent f yet I am of Opinion that his Philofophical EJJay 
 971 Human Under ft anding^ is preferable tO all the other--. 
 Vol. L K for 
 
194 T/J^ Jewish Spy. Let. 2(>, 
 
 for the Method in which his Works are written, 
 many People cannot difcern their Merit : For as his 
 fole View was to pleafe Men of Learning, he has 
 not hit upon the Knack of treating his Subje6ls in a 
 gay t?i:iY manner, and of adapting them to the Ca- 
 pacity of many People, who have no Relifh for 
 a Work whofe Ideas fecm to them too much per- 
 plexed. The Perfon who has excell'd in the Talent 
 of expreffingthe fubiimeft Subje6h in a clear, concife 
 and gay Stile is Bayle. His Writings, tho' nervous, 
 and carry'd on with a lively Imagination and fur- 
 prizing Erudition, are intelligible to every Reader. 
 A Woman may learn more Phyfics and Metaphyfics 
 from his SeJitime-nts upon the Comets^ than ten Re- 
 gents of Philofophy ever taught in all their Lives. 
 
 The more I fearch, dear Ifaac^ into the Caufe 
 of that Imagination and Vivacity of the French^ the 
 more I am at a lofs to find out any that is conclu- 
 five. I defire thee to write thy Sentiments to me 
 upon this head, and fhall long for them with Impa- 
 tience. I don't doubt but the Acquaintance thou 
 haft made in thy Travels will be a very great Help 
 to thy Ideas. 
 
 I have no News to fend thee, no Adventure hav- 
 ing happen'd at Paris for almoft 8 or lo days paft, 
 w^hich feems a Thing extraordinary, it being the 
 very Theatre of Folly, Love and Gallantry. The 
 Chevalier de Ma'ifin told me a Story of an Adven- 
 ture that happen'd fome time ago to one of the 
 Opera Girls, which I thought a very pleafant one. 
 
 A young Gentleman, Wz. the Chevalier de S**, 
 
 an Ofecer in the Regiment of C , fell in love 
 
 with one of the Singing-Women, whofe Name was 
 la Petit-Pas. He was amiable enough ; but as it 
 generally fares with thofe Blades, had not much 
 ready Cafh. Gold is what young Fellows are feldom 
 uicumber'd with 3 and yet, without that Metal there 
 
Ltt. 2(>. 7]&^ Jew I SH Spy. ipy 
 
 is no Intrigue can advance with the Girls of Sie 
 Opera : But by reafon of the Difficulty of his Succefs, 
 and his Impatience to be with his Mifrrefs, he had 
 rccourfe to an Expedient which was pretty extraor- 
 dinary. He had never fpoke to la Petit-Pas^ nor 
 did fhe know him ; but her Performance on the 
 Stage fet his Heart all on fire, and he refoh'ed to be 
 her domeftic Servant. He thought it an excellent 
 Projc^Sl, and did not doubt but fome lucky Oppor- 
 tunity would fall out, by and by, and that he fliould 
 improve it to his Advantage. He enter'd into her 
 Service in the quality of a Lackey, and from a Cap- 
 tain in C J- Regiment rofe to be chief Waiting- 
 Man to a Singer. He attended her with infinite 
 AlTiduity, and ihe was glad to think what a happy 
 Bargain fhe had made. Pierrot never budg'd out of 
 Madam's Chamber, but v/as beforehand with her 
 Vv'^iflies, and fhe was obey'd before fhe commanded. 
 The Spark had been four or five days with her, and 
 and not a jot farther advanc'd in his Amour. The 
 Pleafure he had in feeing /<7 Petit-Pas v/asdifturb'd by 
 a great many bitter Mortifications. There came fcve- 
 ral fine Gentlemen to vifit this Singer, and poor 
 Pierrot was forc'd to wait in the Anti-chamber to hear 
 their Laucrhins;, Sinking; and Dalliance. What Pu- 
 nilnment was this for a tender Lover ! But he was 
 obliged to put up with it. No Money no Swifs ; A^^ 
 Go/d, no Wench at the Opera. He was thoroughlv 
 convinc'd of the Truth of thefe two Proverbs, and 
 thought the latter much truer than the former. But 
 Love took pity of his Anguifh. La Petit-Pas be- 
 ing invited to fup at a Country Houfe near Parisy 
 Pierrot fet out with her after the Opera was over, to 
 wait on her at Table ; but hov/ great was the Che- 
 valier's Surprize when he found that the Pcrfon who 
 gave the Supper, was Lieu tenant- Colonel of the 
 very Regiment in which he was Captain ! What to 
 K 2 de- 
 
1^6 The Jewish Spy. Let. 26, 
 
 determine he knew not. If he kept out of the way 
 he fhould be liable to be turn'd off; if he waited at 
 Table he was afraid of being difcover'd. However 
 he chofe the latter, and thought that difguisM as he 
 v/as the Lieutenant-Colonel would perhaps take no 
 notice of the Refemblance between Pierrot and the 
 
 Chevalier de S s. However he was known. La 
 
 Petit-Pas was fo well pleafed with his Stratagem, 
 that when he came to wait upon her, (he made him 
 fit down to Table with her, and after Supper carry'd 
 him back in her Coach. Pierrot pafs'd the Night 
 with his Miftrefs, who probably found him as agree- 
 able a Lover as he was a zealous Domeflic. They 
 were after this very intimate, and the Officer's Hap- 
 pinefs was perfectly undifturbed till the Moment he 
 was obliged to return to his Garrifon. 
 
 Sometimes one meets with Courtezans who are 
 am.bitious of acquiring an honourable Character, and 
 capable of feeling a delicate Pafiion. This happens 
 leldom, but there are feveral Examples of it. When 
 their Hearts are once touch'd, they love more paiTion- 
 atcly than other Women do, the Arrows with which 
 they are wounded being infinitely keener ; for they 
 furmount the Byafs that inclines them to Debauche- 
 ry, and the Habit which they have contracted in it. 
 They are only capable of great Pafiions ; for they 
 cither remain infenfible, or elfe they love to excefs, 
 their Hearts knowing no Medium. Women have 
 been known in this Country, who tho' their Lives 
 have been irregular, have afterwards prov'd chafte ; 
 and Love has had more influence over them than the 
 Exhortations and Sermons of twenty Preachers. An 
 Author who is an Lmitator of ^fop to fuch a Degree 
 that he is as much an Original as his Model *, 
 teils a Story of a Roman Courtezan who paid the 
 
 * La Fontaine, 
 
 Tribute 
 
Let. 26, The y E W I S H S P Y, I O r 
 
 Tribute of a tender Heart to Love. There have 
 been many others in the fame Cafe ; and if we mav 
 believe antient Writers, the famous Courtezan L^;> 
 was lavifb of thofe Favours to Dicgf.-rs, wh'wh fhe 
 fold fo dear to the Grceki tJiat were uf the greateft 
 Diftin(5tion -',-. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac^ and be as pirnctual as 
 thou can'fl in thy Anfwer. 
 
 f One of Ariftippus,\ Domcilics being forry ta ice 
 what Slims his Alaller laid out upon Cals the Cour- 
 tezan, fiiid to him one day, ^tho* you pa\ fc d:'ar for 
 that Woman, Jhe abandons herfilf without Refcrfc 
 to that Cynic Diogenes, nA^ho does not gi've her a 
 Doit. I pay, her, reply'd Arijlippus, not that fie^ 
 viaynt lie ivith others, but that Jhe may lie nx^ith tne. 
 Ovst^i^o/xsi'oj vna tix/iy, oli cy |X£V ai;7>! Tocrtlov u^v^iw 
 ci&oi'^ r) 01 -crpoixa Aicytvn uKun cvvKv^ifixi uTrikp^ixlo t^u 
 
 »A?.oc-. Athenaei Deipnof lib xiii. p. i88. 
 
 K 
 
 L E T- T E ?: 
 
jpS T>&^ Jewi SH Spr, Let. 27, 
 
 LETTER XXVIL 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis, 
 a Rabbi^ at Conilantinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 T N my late Lettei-s I Tent thee an account of what 
 -* I had obfen-ed nioft remarkable in the Charadler 
 of the Nobility, the Courtezans, and the Clergy. 
 What remains forme is, to give thee a juft Idea of 
 the common People. 
 
 They are not Slaves to the Nobility in this King- 
 ilom as they are in Germany j nor, on the other 
 liaiid, are they fo free as they are in England. Their 
 Situation is in a juft Medium, vi^hich fcreens them 
 from the Perfecutions of a number of petty Tyrants, 
 and retains them within due Bounds and hinders 
 them from being fo infolent and brutifli as the Popu- 
 ].:ce are too apt to be. The too great Privileges of 
 the Engufn render them intolerable. Tlie common 
 Peoplcj who are ever at hberty to do what they lift, 
 bi-iiii;; accuftom*d to fee all ftoop before them, are 
 p!o!:s to create Changes and Cataftrophes like to 
 thofe which are occafion'd ^cy the Revolt of the 
 Janizaries. 
 
 li\ France the People fjbmit to the Obedience 
 due to the Sovereign, and are the King's Subje61:s 
 without being the Nobility's Slaves. A Lord at his 
 own Manor has no Right to the Eftates or Pcrfons 
 of his VaiTals. If they do but pay him the Rents, 
 Tenths, ^c* which they owe him, he has no Right 
 
 to 
 
Let. 2/. 27?^ Jewish Spy. 199 
 
 tomolefl: them. They are Subjecfis to the King, and 
 vinder his Prote6cion. If they offer to commit an^ 
 Violence againft them, or demand any thing unrcafon- 
 able of them, they haveRecourfe to regular Juflicc; 
 and it very often happens, that a Noblem^an is cafl bv 
 his Vam-d. 
 
 Yet for all the Care that hs taken in this Country 
 to hinder the common People from being trampled 
 on by the Nobility, they are always put in mini 
 of the Rcfpc^ft due to thofe Peifons whofe diftip.- 
 guiflied Rank Is owing to their Birth. Thej- are 
 taught to preferve the Regard which is due to them; 
 and tho' it is not defir'd that they fhould be Slaves, 
 yet it is cxpe6lcd that they fliould fubmit witli 
 Decency, and obfcrve a certain Subordinatica 
 which is ncceiTary to the Peace and Welfare of tlic 
 State. 
 
 Too great Power in the People is as bad an Ex- 
 treme as the defpotic Power of a King. I am 
 perfuaded, dear IJhac^ that for the fake of maintain- 
 ing the Harmony in a Kingdom, it is abfclutely ne- 
 ceflary that there fnotdd be a Barter or RetaUation of 
 the Duties of a Sovereign to his Suhjcufs^ aiid cfihs 
 Suhje^s to their Sovereign *. But on the other hand 
 it is my Opinion that the Goodnefs, Equity and 
 Juftice which a Prince ought to have, fhould in no 
 refpecSt abate the Subordination and Obedience of the 
 People. 
 
 If a good King ought to be the Father of his Sub- 
 jedts, they ought to pay him the Submiiljon of Chil- 
 dren, the Duties of the one being as facred as thofe 
 of the others ; and we fee, that in a Monarchy where 
 the Prince blends his Intercfl with thofe of his People, 
 everything profpers, fuccceds and abounds. 
 
 * This is a Saying of the Wife La Btuyere\ but 
 which ai-e the mofl flavilh, and mofl painful Dutie?, he 
 does not pretend to determine. 
 
 K 4 When 
 
200 516^ Jewish Spy. Let. 27. 
 
 When the Titles of Great, Auguft, Invincible, 
 are given to a Sovereign, I look upon all thofe Epi- 
 thets as Marks of a boundlefs Ambition, and as fe- 
 cret Wounds v-'hich the State feels, by the Expence 
 which it cofts the Prince before he has acquir'd a 
 Glory fo ill grounded. 
 
 When a Sovereign is call'd the Father of his Peo- 
 ple, that Title alone is his Panegyric; for it con- 
 tains in it all the QLialities ncccllary for his making 
 Men happy. 
 
 No body is truly great farther than he is jufl:. This 
 common Maxim, tho' applicable to all Mankind, 
 is even more fo to Princes than to meer private Aien. 
 Where is the Jufllce of abufing that Rank and Birth 
 tor which they are obliged to Heaven, to make a 
 Million of Men unhappy ? 
 
 There are fome Sovereigns who reduce their Se- 
 verities into Maxims; they make an Art of their 
 Tyranny, and inftead of being fenfible of the Hor- 
 ror of their ConducSi, they applaud themfclves for 
 it, and think t.hat they owe a part of their imagi^ 
 liary Glory to the Hardnefs of their Hearts, and their 
 little Companion for Mankind. Tliefe blind Princes 
 arc the more to be pitied, becaufe it is almoft 
 impo/Tible for them to be undeceiv*d of their Mif- 
 take; for the People with whom they are furround- 
 cd being vile Slaves to their Greatnefs, and conti- 
 nually fcudying how to flatter their Vices, and to 
 deify them, are the laft Men in the World that 
 offer to let them into the Knowledge of difagreeable 
 Truths. 
 
 There are few Perfons that have fo much need 
 of wholefome Advice as Sovereigns, who often 
 draw upon themfelves the Hatred and Enmity of 
 their People by fuch Accidents and Occafions as 
 they might have avoided, if they had been made 
 fenfible of their Errors: But Favourites and Cour- 
 
 tics 
 
Let. 2/. TBe Jewish- Spy. 2or 
 
 tiers having always an Eye to their own Fortune, 
 more than to the Honour of their Mafter, don't 
 flop him, tho' they fee him plunging into Errors ;. 
 for the giving friendly and fincere Advice to a So- 
 vereign, is look'd upon at Court, as a rude and 
 dangerous Attempt. 
 
 If Princes did but know how mucli thicir law- 
 ful Prerogatives are bounded, they u^ould look 
 upon their Rank or Condition to be more irkfome 
 than delightfome, and more gay than fubftantia]. 
 As they are the cliief Judges of their Subje^^ts, fa 
 they are their Fathers. "FJiefe are the'Fitles of theii 
 Inftitution. What Power do they jiot give tliem f* 
 And to what Duties do they not bind them ? A^ 
 Judges they ought inceflantly to be upon the Watcl^ 
 to fee the Laws obferv'd, of which thcvare the I)e- 
 pofitaries, and to which thcv tliemfelves ought to 
 be inviolably attach'd. As Fathers, they ar^i ob- 
 liged to fee that their People don't want, to affiil- 
 them, by fparing of tlieir Lives, and not to facrl- 
 lice them, to the foolifh Ambition of m.aking Con-- 
 queits, i^c. 
 
 If one ferioufly rcfle6ls upon the Frality ef Ala'i ■ 
 kind, one v/ould be furpriz-J that any one Ishm 
 fhould f.-;ncy liimfelf worthy to command the reft. 
 'Twas in his Wrath tliat God formerly gave Kings 
 to Ifi-ael. 
 
 A Royal Infant in the Cradle is rever'd as a Crod. 
 the very Moment it is born. It fcarce attains to 
 the Age of Reafon, but it becomes the Arbiter ol" 
 the Deftiny of feveral IVlilllons of Men, who are 
 the Victims of his Caprice. If he loves War he is 
 like to prove tlie Deflrudlion of an infinite NumJoer 
 of his Subje61:s. If he is magnificent, and. delights 
 in erecting Palaces and public Strudures, he wilt 
 impoverifh them. Thus tliey are always doomed to- 
 ba the Vi^ims of his various Whiaifiea, Eight oil 
 K 5 'r<£n 
 
2ca TZv Jev/ish Spy. Let. 27.' 
 
 Ten thoufand Men, at leaft, are no more to a 
 Sovereign than Eight or Nine Hundred Thoufand 
 Livres for the Purchafe of a Place. If- fometimea 
 he feems to hefitate in his Projects, if he fpares their 
 Lives, he refembles the Man v^^ho ftands hard for a 
 Purchafe, 2nd is better acquainted than another with 
 the Price and Value cf Money. 
 
 A Philofopher is ?vconifK'd when he hears of a 
 Hundred Thoufand Men drawn up in three Lines, 
 to fall with Fury upon a Hundred 'Lhoufand others, 
 purely to gratify the Ambition of two Perfons. Is 
 there any thing fo extraordinary as to fee two Men 
 born four hundred Leagues one from another, and 
 who have no manner of Quarrel with each other, 
 fall upon one another like Madmen, without any 
 Motive to infpire all their Actions and Condudt, but 
 a wild Refentment ; Their Sovereign's Hatred is the 
 Foundation of theirs, which fubfides with that of 
 the Prince. 
 
 1 don't wonder that in juft Wars the Subje£ls 
 enter with Pleafure into their Sovereign's Interefts, 
 nor to find Republicans defending their Country 
 with Zeal, becaufe their Rights and Liberties co- 
 exift with its Safety; but under arbitrary Power 
 there is no Patriotism. Under a King, who is a 
 Tyrant, and a Defpifer of the Laws^ the Subje6^s 
 are but Slaves. Soldiers formed out of fuch Subje6ls 
 muft be mean-fpirited Troops, inftead of being an 
 Army ready to diftinguifh itfelf ; yet there are other 
 lliings which fupply the want of Love of their 
 Country ; Self-intereft, the Defire of Glory, and 
 the Service cf the Prince, are of the fame EiFe6l in 
 a defpotic State. 
 
 The common People never diftinguifh the true 
 Intereft of their Country, and thofe in the Admini- 
 {Iration are oblig'd to reprefent it to them. In a 
 Monarchy, a good King, who is the Father of hij 
 
 Subjedls, 
 
Let. 27. The J E w I s H S p r. 205 
 
 Subjeds, ought to take Advice of fuch Peifons as 
 are of the greatefl Experience ; and in a Common- 
 wealth, they who are at the Head of Affairs cannot 
 be too careful in guarding againft fuch Opinions as 
 may be apt to deceive them. 
 
 The Great Art of Commanding is the moft dif- 
 ficult of all Sciences. The Violation of the Laws 
 is a Crime, as is alfo the too punctual Obfer\'atioa 
 of them. For the Good of the People and the 
 Country, 'tis necefTary to know how to accommo- 
 date them to the Times and Circumflances. Some- 
 times certain Cuftoms are to be prcfcribed cau- 
 tioufly, which it is dangerous to trace to their Ori- 
 ginal. For if one were to go to the Source of all 
 Cuftoms, one fhould often meet with Vices that 
 are abolifli'd j and for which thofe Ufagcs were 
 eftablifhed. 
 
 Yet arbitrary Law ought not to be eftabliflied, 
 becaufc it would draw a Train of Misfortunes and 
 Liconvenienccs along with it. Equity is not clearly 
 writ in the Hearts of Men, nor is tliere ar.y dif- 
 cerning it but thro' the Veil of their Paffions, which 
 infinitely difgulfe it. 
 
 Stri(St and folid Juftice ought to be exempt from 
 Prejudice and PalTion, and fhould be confln'd with- 
 in regular Bounds, and freed from falfe Notions 
 and Fancies. Between the two ExcefTes of adhering 
 too ftri^tly to the Law, and not abiding enough by 
 it, there is a juft Medium ; which is the moft necef- 
 fiiry Article for the Good of the People, and the 
 Honour of their Governors : And from this Wif- 
 tlom refults the Tranquilltvand Welfare of a State. 
 
 Fare thou v/ell, dear Ifaac^ and live contented 
 and happy. 
 
 K 6 L E 1^ 
 
204 Ti6^ Jewish Spy. Let. 28. 
 
 LETTER XXVIIL 
 Jacob Brito to Aaron Monceca* 
 
 Genoa — — — 
 
 T Have been at Genoa for a Fortnight or more, 
 -*• and don't think the Beauties 1 fee in this City, at 
 ill! inferior to thofe of Rome, 'Tis full of mag- 
 niiicent Palaces, and has fome very noble Pieces 
 of Archite6lure with Pictures and Statues done by 
 tlie greateft Mailers *. Here I again find fome of 
 thofe Tilings which I faw in the antient Metro- 
 polis of the World > but of all the Objects that 
 offer themfelves to my View, nothing ftrikes me 
 \o much as the Difference betwixt the Manners of 
 the Genocfe and the E.o?}ians, I think it extraordinary 
 that the Humour and Inclination of two People 
 that inhabit the fame Kingdom ^ or the fame Cli- 
 mate, fhould be (o remote from, and fo unlike to, 
 each other. 
 
 The Romans are naturally fluggifh. Enemies to 
 Labour, and extravagantly indolent and effeminate, 
 
 * The £neft Pictures that are at Gema, are thofe of 
 ;he famous Soliman.^ plac'd in one of the principal 
 P.ooms of the Doge's Palace. 7'he two magnificent 
 Statues which the famous Puget carv'd at Genoa are in 
 the Church v/hicli is built at the End of Ponte Carig- 
 nano. This Church is full of beautiful Pidures : But 
 the fineft Church in the City is that Qi the Jfinun- 
 
 Th^ 
 
Let. 28. The ]e\visr SvY. lof 
 
 The Genoefe are induftrlous, addided to Commerce, 
 ready to undertake and to endure every thing, if 
 they forefee that their Pains will bring them the leaft 
 Profit. The Ccwipagna di Roma is an excellent Soil, 
 ;and good to cultivate ; yet nothing grov^^s there but 
 brambles and Weeds, which ferve for Shelter to 
 Snakes, Vipers, and a thoufand other venomous 
 Creatures ; whereas the Hills about Genoa are co- 
 ver'd with Olives, Oranges and Citrons, which the 
 Inhabitants have forc'd Nature to produce 5 and the 
 Induftry of the Genoefe has turn'd a Chain of horrid 
 Rocks into the fineft Garden in Eun^pe. 
 
 The Ro?nans are infupportably arrogant, which 
 continually involves them in Qiiarrels with all the 
 fovereign Princes. The Court of Ro?ne is always 
 fo intent upon aggrandizing itfelf, that it lets no 
 Opportunity flip for that end. The Genoefe^ fo far 
 from fccking to augment their State, think only of 
 the Means to preferve what they are poffeflbd of, 
 "without pretending to encroach upon the Rights of 
 other Sovereigns. This is their only Study, and 
 the fole Aim of all their Politics. Yet their Situ- 
 ation is very critical. France is a formidable Neigh- 
 bour, which they hate very much in their Hearts^ 
 but are obliged to difTemble their Sentiments. Be- 
 fore the late Changes which happened in Italy^ they 
 look'd upon the Emperor as their Support agamft 
 France ; and tho' they did not dare to favour his 
 Interefts publicly, it was eafy to perceive how they 
 ftood affected. Since the Lofs of the Milancze, 
 they are in a manner become Slaves to France *. 
 There is fomething in their Misfortune which has 
 a Refemblance to the Fate of the old fick Lion ; 
 for there's not a Prince in Italy^ but has indircdly 
 infulted them, and demanded fomething of them 
 * This Letter was written before the Peace made in 
 
 . which. 
 
2o6 The Jewish Spy. Let. 2 8. 
 
 which he never did before *. And to aggravate 
 their Misfortunes, the Illand of Corfica^ which be- 
 longs to them, is again revolted from them. They^ 
 have fufFer*d feveral Shocks from it, and are not a 
 jot farther advanced than they were at tlie Begin- 
 ning of the War. If the Genoefe had been as po- 
 litic in the Management of their domeftic Affairs, 
 as they have been in their Difputes with foreign 
 Crowns, Corftca had never taken Arms, and its In- 
 habitants, inftead of revolting, would have been 
 content with their Lot, and have facrific'd their 
 Lives and Fortunes for the Safety of the Republic ; 
 but the Oppreffion they have fuffer'd from the Go- 
 vernors fent to rule over them, together with the 
 Ill-nature and Arrogance of the Genoefe Nobility, 
 have forc'd them to ufe violent Means. 
 
 This part of my Letter leads me infenfibly to the 
 Form of a Republican Government. Long has it 
 been difputed, whether it is preferable to a Mo- 
 narchical Government. They who are the Advo- 
 cates for Liberty maintain, that 'tis dangerous to 
 be fubje6l to the Caprice of one Man only ; and 
 that 'tis hard to be ty'd to the Will and Pleafure of 
 a fmgle Perfon, who cannot be put in the right way 
 again when once he has gone aftray from it. Ab- 
 iblute Power feems to them, in fome meafure, 
 contrary to the Law of Nations and Nature. They 
 can't bear that Mortals (hould have a larger Share in 
 their Government and Conduct than what they 
 pleafe to let them take. Thofe, on the contrary, 
 
 * The King of Sardinia has improv'd the favour- 
 able Conjimdtures v/hich the lall War gave him to obtairi 
 a great many Things of the Genoefe^ which he would 
 never have got, had it not been for the Alliance of Franc f 
 and Spahi. I muft fay it here by the way, that I don't 
 believe there are two People that hate one another more 
 than the Genaefi and Piedmonteje do, 
 
 who 
 
let. 28. ^/^^ Jewish Spy. 20/ 
 
 who are for Monarchical Power, exclaim againft the 
 Inconveniences that arife from a Subjection to the 
 Will of a hundred different Perfons. This, fay they, 
 is to have a hundred Kings inftead of one, and to be 
 born a meer Republican is to be fubje<Sl to an infi- 
 nite Number of Sovereigns, If tl>ere muft be Sub- 
 miflion, 'tis as good to obey one Prince as feveral. 
 What matters it whom 1 ferve, if I mufl be re- 
 duc'd to this Condition ? Befidcs, when a King is 
 good, he makes his whole State happy j there needs 
 nothing more than his Virtue alone to render a King- 
 dom fortunate ; but in a Free State, the Virtue of 
 one Senator is defeated by the Vice of another ; and 
 the Difmtereflednefs of one Man in an Office is 
 check'd by the Avarice of one of his Collegues, 
 Thus there is always a Conflidl between the chief 
 Men of a Republic, which does a Prejudice to pri- 
 vate Men. 
 
 This is a main Defe6l in the Genoefe Government, 
 The Nobility are Blood-fuckers and Tyrants over 
 the meaner fort of People. Under the vain Pretext 
 of an imaginary Liberty, of which they give them a 
 Glimpfe, they il:rip them of all their Riches, and 
 ihare the Fruit of their Labours. 
 
 The Republic of Holland is not in the like Cafe. 
 Its wife and moderate Government has fet Limits 
 between the Power of the Magiflrates, and the 
 Privileges of private Perfons. The one have, by 
 the Laws of the State, a Power which is neceflary, 
 but bounded ; and the others pay an Obedience, 
 but fuch an Obedience in which there is no Sem- 
 blance of Slavery. A fort of Equality which they 
 take care to preferve, is the Bafis of fo wife a Har- 
 mony. But as there is nothing without fome fmall 
 Fault, the too great Credit which the Dutch People 
 enjoy, produces a fort of Brutality, which, how- 
 ever, is only the Fault of thofe of the lowefl Rank. 
 
2o8 The Jewish Spy. Let. i%. 
 
 If, without Partiality for the Cuftoms of one^s 
 native Country, one confiders the various Forms of 
 Government, *tis hard to knovi^ to which to give 
 the Preference. There is in all Countries that 
 which is Jefs good and lefs bad in fome than in 
 others, and 'tis a difficult Matter for which to de- 
 termine. The Monarchical State, conducted wifely, 
 is a happy and fortunate State. The Republican 
 Government, when 'tis fliar'd prudently between 
 the Magiftrates and the People, like that of the 
 United Provinces, certainly fecures perpetual Li- 
 berty. But, on the other hand, thcfe different 
 Governments are liable to terrible Changes. One 
 Nero does more Harm than half a fcore Titus's can 
 do Good. It was impolTible for Henry IV. to 
 repair the hundredth part of the Damages occafion'd 
 by his Predeceflbr Henry III. There happen too 
 in Republics, Events which are equally prejudicial 
 to the Good of the State. The Hatred of fome 
 private Men plunges all the People in furprizing 
 Calamities. Sylla and Marius^ Po?npey and Ccsfar^ 
 Atmiftus and Mark Anthony facrificed the Lives of 
 more Romans^ than a hundred. Years War with the 
 Enemies of the Republic: And die late Difference 
 2mong the 2wijs has done them fuch Prejudice that 
 they will feel it for a long Time. 
 
 'Tis morally impoffible to find that Form of Go* 
 t'ernment, which has not both its Good and its 
 Evil ; and that which has leaft of the btter is the. 
 beft. ^Twould be in. v^ain to go about to determine 
 whether is the moft preferable, the Monarchical or. 
 tlie Republican Government. As their Value and 
 Merit are owing only to certain Circumffances, 
 when thefe don't occur, one is juftify'd in giving. 
 the Preference alternately, either to the one or to 
 the other, according to the various Occurrences. 
 
 Yelr 
 
Let. 28. Z/j^ Jewish Spy. 209 
 
 Yet it may boldly be affirmed, that among the 
 Monarchical and Republican Governments, there 
 are fome' not fo bad as others. 'Tis eafy to per- 
 ceive, that France is not fubjecSt to the Troubles 
 and Revolutions of the Ottoman Empire. The Lavi^s 
 by which the Power of the French Monarch is fix'd, 
 are the fureft Pledges of its Duration and the Sup- 
 port of his Authority. On the other hand, the de- 
 ipotlc Will of the Sultans often proves their De- 
 ll ru6^ion ; and they would be fafer on their Throne, 
 if it was not (o much in their Power to gratify all 
 their Caprices. 
 
 There is IHll a wider DIfFerence betwixt the 
 Dutch Government and the Genoefe Government^ 
 than there Is between that of the Court of France 
 and the Ottoman Porte. The common People at 
 Genoa have only the Shadow of Liberty ; for under 
 a fpeclous Name they are Slaves to all the Senators*. 
 A Burgher pays as much Deference and Submiffion 
 to a Magiftrate of the Privy Council, or of the 
 Grand Council, as a Pariftan does to Louis XV. 
 and the Genoefe Nobles convince the People every 
 Pay. that they are Mafters of the GoverniTienr, 
 and that Employments and Dignities are only cut 
 ©ut for themfclvcs. 
 
 A private Genoefe^ let his Merit be what it will, 
 is confin'd all his Life-time to the obfcure Honours 
 of fome fubaltern Employment. He is for ever ba- 
 Hlfh'd by a fevere Law from the confiderable Ports 
 of the Republic, to which none but the Nobility 
 can afpire. Virtue, Courage, and Conftancy arc 
 much better recompcns'd in a Monarchical State, 
 where fuch Endowments may promote Perfons to 
 the higheft Rank ; and tho' meer private Perfons 
 have more Difficulty to attain to it than the Great 
 
 * TJiey are even more fo to the Monks and Inqui- 
 sitors. 
 
 Men> 
 
210 TZ?^ Jewish Spy. Let. 28. 
 
 Men, they are not, however, excluded from it by 
 the Laws. 
 
 The Dutch Government has regulated the Rights 
 of its Subjedls with fuch Juftice and Equity, as 
 encourages them to defend their Country, in which 
 they find Peace and Tranquility, and the Path ta 
 Honours open to their Ambition, when they are 
 capable of enjoying them. The Man that has Me- 
 rit, is capable of attaining to any thing. When an 
 eminent Poft is to be iill'd, they don't confult old 
 mufty Records for the Titles of their Anceftors, 
 and no Regard is had to the Qualities of thofe that 
 liv'd two hundred Years ago. That Reward is 
 given to prefent Virtue which it deferves ; and who- 
 ever will be a great Man in HcUand^ muft be a vir- 
 tuous one. In a Government fo well conducted, 
 all the Subje6ls are the Children of their Country. 
 In the Republic of Genoa^ the common People look 
 upon one another almoft as if they were all Found- 
 lings. They fcarce know their Mother. Confe- 
 quently the Government has but little Relief to ex- 
 pe6l from their Inclinations. The moft abfolute 
 Sovereigns are much more dear to their Subjects, 
 than the Heads of this Republic are to their Fellow- 
 Citizens. As under defpotic Power there is no Pa- 
 triotifm, fo Self-interefl:, the Envy of attaining to 
 Honours, and gratifying one's Ambition, Hopes 
 which are denied to the Genoefe^ fupply the place of 
 the Love of one's Country, and of an Emulation to 
 fupport its Liberty and Privileges. The Poft is jull 
 going ofF, and I am forc'd to put an End to my 
 Letter. 
 
 Farewell, and may Heaven prote<Sl thee againfl 
 thy Enemies, and make thy Trade flourilh. 
 
 LET- 
 
Let. 25>. TXr Jewish Spy. 2il 
 
 LETTER XXIX. 
 
 Aaron Mo-nceca to Isaac Onis» 
 
 a Rahbiy at Conftantinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 I 
 
 Have acquainted thee of feveral Methods in- 
 vented by the Monks to gull the People of their 
 i Money, but I have faid nothing to thee concern- 
 I ing the Fund of their principal Revenue. They 
 I have made the Nazarenes believe, that there's a 
 Place where the Soul, after Death, goes to make 
 ■'. Atonement for fuch fmall Faults as don't deferve die 
 ! Wrath of God *. They have appropriated to them- 
 felves the Prerogative of releafing thofe who are 
 condemned to lie in this Place of Expiation ; and 
 ^ for a certain Sum of Money they limit the Extent 
 of the Judice of Heaven. They difpofe of the fo- 
 vereign Being at their own Will and Pleafure ; and 
 one would be tempted to think they had enter'd 
 into Covenants with him for the fole Appointment 
 of fuch Perfons as ftiould be admitted to the Sight 
 of him. 
 I There are fome No%arcnes indeed who have re- 
 I fus'd to fubmit to this Do£lrine, and who maintain, 
 I that at the Moment of their Death God determines 
 f their P'ate. Againft thefe the Monks have rifen, 
 and declared thcmfelves feparate from their Com- 
 munion ; and they would fooner put up with the 
 Dilbelief of a Hell, than a Denial of this pretended 
 
 J Puigatory. 
 
 Pur- 
 
^12 The Jewish Spy. Let. 29 
 
 iPurgatory. Hell, in ftiort, is of very little ufe to 
 the Priefts j for when a Man is damned, he has no 
 more need of Prayers ; becaufe Colleds, CandleSjj 
 and Charities make no Alteration in his Doom, i \ \ 
 whereas, when a Perfon is in Purgatory, if his Heirs, 
 have but a little Money, they are not rcleas'd from 
 it without a handfome Dcpofit ; and nothing lefsv 
 will ferve than fix Quintals of Wax, and Alms for) 
 building a Chapel to fome antient or modern Saint, 
 and for Prayers to be fung in full Choirs, b'V. 
 
 When there's a confiderable Sum paid down for aj 
 Soul condemn'd to the expiatory Flames, the Monks 
 take care not to releafe it all at once, it being a. 
 good Perquifite which they don't care to part with» 
 They only give it fome little Eafe^ by rendering 
 fhe Fire v^hich purges it lefs vehement; for they 
 o] der thofc that attend the Forge, to blow the Coals 
 more or lefs, in proportion to the Sum of Money 
 which they receive. It often happens, that the 
 Monks permit fome of thofe Souls, for whofe Deli- 
 verance their Friends forget to make a Colle6lion,. 
 to make a Trip into this World to admonifh them 
 »0 raltt; a fmaii Sum of Money, rather than let them 
 lie in a Place fo uneafy. When they make their 
 Appearance here, they are drefs'd in a Robe of a ; 
 Flame Colour, to denote their State of Suffering ; 
 whereas the Souls of the Damn'd, when they make 
 their Appearance, have Habits that are fable and 
 difmal. Thofe of the Happy have long Robes of 
 Linnen white as Snow. And if a Man does but dip 
 into the Books of the Miracles of the Naxarenes *, 
 'tis eafy to know what are the Drefles of all the 
 Souls j and by the Tone of their Voice they can di- 
 flinguifh the State of Souls in the other World f . 
 
 * See the Injiitution de la Fete des Marts, 
 '\ See the Book intitui'd P enfe%-y-bi€n ; the Life of\ 
 St. Biuno, ^V, 1" 
 
 What' 
 
let. 29- 216^ Jewish Spy. 215 
 
 What I have been faying of tlje Credulity of the 
 Nazaj-enes^ will sppear fo ftrange, that thou wilC 
 he apt to think I have laid the Colours on too thick ; 
 1 t I afFure thee, that the Pidure is drawn to the 
 Lue, and conformable to the Truth. Thou wilt 
 i)u inclined to believe what I tell thee, if thou doll 
 but confider, that they are only the meaner fort of 
 People who give into thefe Chimaeras. The Men 
 who by Refle<Stion, Study, or the meer Light of 
 Reafon, are convinc'd of the Ridiculoufnefs of thefe 
 Frauds, don't give themfelves the Trouble to unde- 
 ceive the weak and filly Vulgar, for fear of drawing 
 a Croud of Enemies upon their Backs, and only 
 figh in fecrct for the Errors of the common People. 
 As there is no Religion in the World, in which the 
 People are fo fuperftitious as in the Nazarene ; fo 
 neither is there any where that People of a certain 
 Rank give lefs Credit to one half of the Stories that 
 are told by the Monks. 
 
 The Preachers at Paris are perpetually declaiming 
 : ^gainft the Neglect of the A^^z^r^w^ Precepts, and 
 foretelling what a confidcrable Change will foon 
 Jiappen in their Religion, if there be not more Ob- 
 fequioufnefs and more Credit paid to their Senti- 
 ments ; yet their Preachments add little to their 
 Credit, becaufe Reafon, by bearing its Light to their 
 Minds, makes their Impoftures appear as plain as 
 the Sun at Noon-day. 
 
 In the Tenth Century, the Monks took it into 
 their Heads to preach that the End of the World 
 was at hand. They perfuaded the People, that as 
 the Earth would foon be reduced to nothing, they 
 had no more need of any of its Goods ; fo that 
 every one ran to carry his EfFeds to the Clergy ; 
 the Priefts were the univerfal Heirs of all Europe, 
 and in lefs than thirty or forty Years time, they had 
 in Franc fy Italy ^ Spain y Portngaly i^c* one half of 
 
 the 
 
R 
 
 214 216^ Jewish Spy. Let. 29; 
 
 the Revenues of thofe Kingdoms. At laft People's 
 Eyes were open'd ; and in the Centuries which 
 followed that wherein Folly reign'd, the Band- 
 age which conceal'd the Truth by little and little 
 fell ofF. 
 
 About two hundred Years ago there were two 
 famous Men *, that revenged the Caufe of good 
 Senfe when under Oppreffion. Being fupported by 
 Reafon, they ftruggled againft the Ignorance of theit 
 Age, were the Reftorers of the Sciences, and pre 
 par'd the Way for that Croud of great Men who 
 followed ; but they were look'd upon as Difturber 
 of the public Peace, by reafon of the Wars and 
 Diforders that were the Confequences of their Sen- 
 timents. But befides that this odious Title juftly 
 belongs only to their Perfecutors, ought one to bel 
 forry for the Troubles that lead to a folid Calm, 
 that render a Man acquainted with himfelf, and re- 
 fcue him from the Ignorance in which he is ftag-^ 
 nated ? j 
 
 The Nazarenes^ who are Enemies to the Senti-I 
 jnents of thofe two Do6lors, do them the Juftice! 
 to own, that they difengaged Reafon from the Pre- 
 judices which clouded it > and that they were the 
 Reftorers of the Sciences that were banifh*d ; andi 
 they only condemn them for having pufh'd their ;i 
 Opinion too far with refpedt to certain Articles of | 
 the Nazarene Creed ; and for having render'd Re- 1 
 ligion too plain, by endeavouring to go fo far back 
 as its firft Inftitution ; for, fay they. Rites and 
 Ceremonies derive their Authority from PofTefTion 
 and Cuftom ; and that 'tis dangerous to trace them 
 to their Origin. Laws and Precepts are, in their 
 Opinion, like Rivers that fwell and grow famous 
 28 they glide along j People who have no other 
 Rule but the Inftitution of a Cuftom which feveral 
 * Luther and Cahin, 
 
 Ages 
 
Let. 29- 216^ Jewish Spy. iif 
 
 Ages have render'd antique, and are always for go- 
 ing up to its Source, are fubjeft to go aftray. 
 
 In Matters exclufive of Religion, thefe Opinions 
 feem to me to be true, but In thofe relating to Faith 
 and Belief, the plainer that is which we profefs, the 
 more I think it is to be commended. It wou'd have 
 been happy for us to have had two Dodlors that had 
 done fo much for ^uda'ifm^ as thofe did for Naza- 
 rcnifm ; for then we Ihould have been delivered 
 from a Yoke of Ceremonies, which appears to me 
 more and more ufelefs every Day. 
 
 To be plain with you, the more I devote my- 
 feif to Study and Philofophy, the lefs Opinion have 
 I of the Vifions of our Rabbles. I once told thee 
 v/hat I thought of them. For the Good of Ifracl I 
 could wifh they were all as difcreet as thee : We 
 fhould not then be reproach'd with thofe Opinions, 
 which, tho' they are not prejudicial to the Funda- 
 mentals of our Religion, and do not appertain to it, 
 do neverthelefs hurt us in the Opinion of thofe who 
 don't fearch Things to the Bottom. When one 
 offers to judge of a Religion, one ought to ftrip off 
 all the Superficies, and only examine the Infide and 
 Bafis of It, the Thing wherein confifts Belief or 
 Faith. But what can one venture to decide with 
 regard to a Heap of Maxims and Cuftoms of no Sig- 
 nification ; and which are no more to Religion than 
 Drefs is to a Man, and only ferve to hide the Faults 
 or Beauties of a Law ? 
 
 Suppofe, for once, that a Chinefe Philofophcr, a 
 Difciple of Confucius^ who has no notion of Europe^ 
 fliould be brought into it, and defir'd to give his 
 Judgment of the Beauty of Judaifm. A Nazarene 
 at firft Dafh gives him a true Pidure of it, but fuch 
 a Picture as tends to ridicule it. * The Law, fays 
 
 * he to him^ of the IfraeliteSy confifts in cutting no 
 
 * Bread but with their own Knife] in not eating of 
 
 * certain 
 
2i6 The Jewish Spy, Let.2p. 
 
 < certain Meats, even tho' they were to ftarve ; in 
 
 * finging with certain Grimaces; in bleeding the 
 
 * Creatures with their own Hands ; in drinking no 
 
 < Wine that is prefled by thofe of a different Reli- 
 
 * gion ; in beheving that they may deceive all that 
 
 * are not of their own Communion, dff^.' What 
 would this Chinefe Philofopher think after fo ridi- 
 culous an Account of it ? But if an Ifraelite^ after 
 ftripping off the Externals of his Religion, comes 
 and fhews it to him naked ; if he tells him that he 
 believes one God, a Spirit immenfe, eternal, and 
 fovereignly powerful, who made all Things out of 
 Nothing, who fuftains every thing by his Will, 
 who punifhes the Bad and rewards the Good ; then 
 the Philofopher, charm'd with thefe Notions, and 
 aftonifh'd at the Truth with which he finds his 
 Heart affe6led, would confefs, that the yew be- 
 lieves and follows what the pureft Reafon plainly 
 demonftrates. If in the reft of the Jewi/h Law he 
 perceives any Errors, he blames the Men that in- 
 troduced them, and diftinguifhes the Effential from 
 the, Superficial. 
 
 The Faith of the Nazarenes^ as it is preach'd 
 up by their Do6lors of the firft Clafs, has fome- 
 thing more glaring than ours. They build upon 
 our chief Principles, but they feem to have re- 
 fin'd upon the Confequences. Our Morality has 
 fomething favage, whereas theirs feems to be dic- 
 tated by the Word of God. Integrity, Candour, 
 the Forgivenefs of Enemies, and all the Virtues 
 which the Heart and Mind are capable of em- 
 bracing, are ftridly enjoin'd them. Nothing can 
 difpenle them from their Duty. A true Nazareyie 
 is a perfe<3: Philofopher. In the other Religions, a 
 vile Slave feems only to ferve God from Intereft. 
 The Nazarenes are the only Se61: who have a filial 
 Affedlion for fo good ^ Father. They fei-ve him 
 
 • for 
 
Let. 29- T7j^ J EwisH Spy. 217 
 
 for his own Sake, and not with a View to Rewards, 
 whereas we Jcvjs have no other Motive for our 
 Prayers, but Riches, Plenty, and the good Thincrs 
 uf this World. In all times we have had little 
 Thoughts of a World to come. When Jcrufalem 
 was in its Glory we had among us, and in our Com- 
 munion, fome of our Brethren who believed the 
 Soul was mortal *. If they pray'd to God, if they 
 ask'd Favours of him, it was not for their bcinp- 
 fav'd after Death. This was the leail: of their 
 Thoughts ; and when Life was a Burden to them 
 and they were too unfortunate, they could prefume 
 to hinder God from continuing tlieir Mi.vfoituncs 
 by putting an end to their own Lives. Do but con- 
 fider how ridiculous was that Error which admitted 
 of a God, and at the fame limited his Power. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaacy 'tis a lojig time fince 
 i heard from thee. 
 
 * The Sadducees. 
 
 Vol. L L LET- 
 
2i8 The ]^\visn Sv Y. Let 3a 
 
 LETTER XXX. 
 
 Isaac On i s, a Rahbi, at Conftantinople, 
 /i? Aaron Monceca, 
 
 Conjiantinople 
 
 q^TIE Death of the Bafha Of man *, of which 
 -*■ thou art fo deiirous to know the Particulars, 
 was a Piece of News pubiifhed at Conjiantinople^ 
 where every body now knows it to be falfe. This 
 Bafha is ftiU in Bofnia^ and what gave occafion to 
 the Report of his Death was a dangerous Elnefs 
 which brou2;ht him to the Brink of the Grave, from 
 v/hencc he is not yet perfc£lly recover'd, and 'tis 
 well if he has not fome dangerous Rclapfe. 
 
 The Confbancy v/ith which Ofman look'd Death 
 in the Face, hath acquir'd him the Efleem of all 
 Men who are pleas'd with Magnanimity. As fcon 
 =as the Phyficians gave him over, the Bafha finding 
 there was no hopes of his Recovery, divided fuck 
 Efte6ls of his as were at his Drfpofal, among thofe 
 v/ho ferv'd him, and dicStated a Letter to the Grand 
 Vizier, informing him of the State in which he left 
 the Province that had been committed to his Care, 
 ile alfo wrote to Paris to the Countefs de Bonneval 
 h\s late Spoufe, and to one of his Acquaintance with 
 whom he had always correfponded by Letters, ever 
 ilnce he liv'd in Turky. After this he talk'd fami- 
 ]hx\y tojiis Secretary concerning the principal Events 
 
 * Count de Bmne'uaL 
 
 of 
 
Let. 30. The Jewish SvY. 2^9 
 
 Of his Life. ' The remembrance of me, fiU he^ 
 
 * will be to remember an Inllance of the complcateft 
 
 * Misfortune and the firmeft Conilancy. All the 
 
 < Crofles I have met with have not diverted m.y 
 ' Thoughts to be reveng'd on mine Enemies \ and 
 ' tho' I have not been fo happy as to fee my Defigns 
 ' take efFc6^, yet the Confufion nnd Confternitioii 
 ' I have put tliem into for fear of the Evils which I 
 
 * nitended them, is fome Satisfa6tion to me for 
 
 < thofe that I have not been able to bring upon 
 "* them.' 
 
 During the Bafha's Illnefs feveral Events happcn'd 
 which difcover'd his Fortitude of Mind under the 
 Weight that was upon him. A certain Nazarcne 
 Prieft, imagining that the Baftta in his lafl Moments 
 would reflect upon the Prejudices he had imbibed in 
 his Childhood, difguis'd liimfelf like a Turk^ and 
 defir'd to fpeak with him on a Matter of Importance. 
 Ofman during the whole Courfe of his Illnefs alvvavs 
 manao-'d his ov/n Affairs himfelf ; for his Cafe bein'^ 
 only a Fever on his Spirits, and a Iinguid State of 
 Body, he had no acute Pains to torment liim ; and 
 therefore he order'd the pretended Tiirk^ who fu'd iic 
 had Secrets of Confequence to reveal lo liim, to b*^ 
 admitted. 
 
 The Pried had fcarce fat down with O/'vw;/, but he 
 confefs'd his Difguife to him, anJ delircd him that he 
 would pleafe to remember, that he was born a A'^- 
 zarc?ie^ and that he would be for ever undone, if 
 •he did not return to the Law which he had aban- 
 don'd. He then made a long Preachment, to wlii:h 
 the Bafha attended very calmly. 
 
 When the Priefl had made an end of his long 
 ■ftudied Harangue, ' I will now, fays Ofman^ ?ive 
 ' you as wholcfome Advice as all that which you 
 ' have fo lavifnly beftow'd upon me. Be cautious 
 * for the future how you take fucii Stens'as you liavc- 
 L 2 ventui:'d 
 
2 20 716^ I Ewi SH S py. Let. 30. 
 
 ' ventur'd on at this time. Hie Turks have no No- 
 
 * tion of Jelling in rehgious Matters. If they knew 
 
 * that you went about to feduce a Profelyte from 
 ' them you would not eafily get out of the Scrape. 
 ' All the Aii'.Jfuhnm are not fo cool in the Interefts 
 ' of Mahomet as I am. Therefore don't run any 
 
 * further Rifque of being impaled.' 
 
 The Naxarene Prieft was going to be more Impor- 
 tunate with Ofman^ but he told him, There's enough 
 for this Bout ; the Audience you have deftr\l has been 
 long enough. What Jlmll I gain nothing then upon your 
 Soul? reply'd the Prieft. No, faid the Baflia, but 
 ycu have converted my Purfe, which I fancy is more 
 dear to you than my Soul. And he immediately or- 
 dered his Secretary, who was the only Witnefs of 
 this Converfation, to give the Nazarcne 100 Pieces, 
 and difmifs him. 
 
 I have been told another PaHage about Ofman^ 
 which I own ftruck me, and proves what a Freedom 
 of Mind he preferv'd during his Sicknefs. His Iman*, 
 who dearly lov'd Money, to fuch a degree that he 
 was fuf{ie6l:ed to be a Knave, often teaz'd him with 
 the Reliear^al of Maho7net\ rare Qiialities, and of 
 the Kappincfs which he was going to tafte with that 
 iVophet's Favourites. Hear me^ faid the Bafha, 
 (lo*Ji thou think after thou art dead, to be in the Num- 
 ber of his Favourites ? Without doubt, reply'd /w^^w, 
 and having had the Happinefs to ferve the Prophet in 
 this World, to be fur e, Ijhallhavea dijiinguijhed Rank 
 in the other. So much the zvorfe, faid the Baflia, Ifould 
 think ?nyfelf in very bad Coinpany with the happy Muf- 
 fulmen, if fuch great K'naves go thither as thou art, 
 I Jhculd chufe rather to go with the Nazarenes whom 
 thou bclieV'i/l to be damn'd j for among them there are 
 a great many honejl People, 
 
 * A Tiirkijh PricH. 
 
 They 
 
Let. 50. The J e w i s h S p r. 221 
 
 They tell twenty other Stories of Ofman^ whici> 
 I fhall not now mention. All the Philofophers here 
 look upon him with more Veneration than the Sag s 
 of Antiquity did upon Seneca. ^Yhcy think that 
 the latter died with a Regret tJiat he could live n.-j 
 longer, and that the Difcourfe of that Pagsn Philo- 
 fopher fhew'd a fecret Chagrin that he was cbhg'd to 
 Shorten his Days ; whereas the otlier, without fear- 
 ing Death, and without dcfiring it, look'd on it 
 ftedfaftly with a dry Eye, and a manly AfTuranc^, 
 In the lame manner did Petronlus look upon ti-e 
 ITorrors of Death ; and his laft Words, his dying 
 Sentiments, did not contradict his former ones. He 
 ' (liew'd Joy and Serenity of Mind in the midfl of th j 
 Ea(h which recciv'd tlie Blood that fpun from hs 
 Veins. In my Opinion Petyo7i'ii{s died like a Philo- 
 fopher, and Seneca like a Man condemned to be 
 executed. 
 
 We fee People every day that are condemn'd. 
 to die, who, when they are brought upon a Scaffold, 
 make tedious Speeches, with a long Bead-roll of 
 moral Sentences. Tfeis is a Thing very common iji 
 England^ where there are few Malcfadcrs hang'd 
 but what make fome fort of Harangue or other to the 
 Populace. But where do we find Genius's that are 
 fo happy as to be able, in their laft Moments, ta 
 vanquilh Prejudices, and like Ofman to preferve that 
 Equanimity ? 
 
 I own to thee, dear Monccca^ that as much a 
 Philofopher as I am, I fliould not be willing to die 
 out of the Pale of Judaifni. I am of Opinion that 
 I fhould not be able to rciift tlie firft Notions which 
 I received in my Infancy, and have cultivated ever 
 fmce. I know that Ofman is no Bigot to the Naza- 
 rene Religion, which is what he was reproach'd with 
 when he profefs'd that Law j and certainly he is no 
 greater a Devotee to MahQinciijnu But, in fine,. 
 L 5 being; 
 
3 2 2 The J E w I s H S p Y. Let. go. 
 
 being thus uncertain what Religion to chufe, if he 
 does but think he ought to be of feme Rehgion or 
 other, is it not probable that he mufl incline in his 
 Heart to the Nazarene. Some Perfons indeed, who 
 have frequently conversed with him, have afTur'd 
 Hie that he has a Byafs towards Juda'ifm. If this be 
 true, I no longer wonder at his Serenity of Mind. I 
 even fancy I have a glimpfe that he is inclin'd to 
 this Opinion ; and I guefs'd as much from the Let- 
 t.ers he wrote to his Countefs, and to his Friend, of 
 which there are Copies handed about at Conjlantino- 
 fir, I fend thee Extra^Sls of 'cm. 
 
 L E TT E R from the Count de Bonneval, ta 
 his Lady, 
 
 * pERMIT me, Madam, to employ the few 
 
 * Moments I have to live, in telling you how 
 ^- fenfible I am of the Sorrow and Trouble v/hich 
 •^ you may fuffer for my having chang'd mj Rell-^ 
 
 * gion. I knov/ that among tliQ great People what 
 
 * I inve done Is afcrib'd to my refolute Temper ; 
 '•• bu,t thofe of a low Genius, the Vulgar, in fnort a 
 *- vaft number of private Pvlen have not Difcernment 
 ' enough to unveil the Mvfterles which arc eternally 
 *• conceai'd from them ; and you are the Sufferer for 
 ^ a Crime of v/hich I v;as the Author. I turn'd 
 
 * Turk out of meer Revenge, and 'tis this fame 
 
 * Paiiion that retains me in this Party, and makes 
 *■ me perfevere in it to Death. Neverthelefs what- 
 ' ever be my Doom I don't think that I run more 
 ' Danger here than in the midft of P^ris. There 
 ' are many People here who pity thofe that die 
 ' in France^ and where you are they pity fuch as 
 ^ lofe their Lives at ConJtanUmple, Botli the one 
 ^ and the other pretend to be in the Right. 'Till 
 
 ' I am 
 
Let. 3C>. !ra^ Jewish Spr. 22 j 
 
 < I am let into the Truth of this, I hope froniHea- 
 ' vcn and its Mercy, tliat he will crown us Bothy 
 *• you with Happinefs in this World, and me in. 
 ' the next.' 
 
 LETTER from the Count de Bonneval to 
 the Duke dc . 
 
 ' T Am going Toon to undertake a long Journey, my: 
 ' '*' dear Duke, and have already greas'd my Boots, 
 
 * My Heirs will be excus'd from making Prefents 
 ' to Hofpitals, and from giving to Parfons, P'ryars- 
 
 and Churcli-wardens. My Iman will condutSV 
 me into my Vault without any P^ormality, and 
 will afTure all Afia that I am with Mahomet in thL* 
 Manfion of the Blefled. He will give a pompous 
 *- Defcription of the Celcftial Seraglio, and of the 
 ' Wives that the good Angels will have prepared 
 ' for me. He will declare that they are ftill Vir- 
 ' gins, and that I enjoy exquifite Pleafurcs in their 
 
 * Company, whilfl in France and Germany the. 
 ' Monks will roar againll my Change till they foarrt. 
 
 * at the Mouth. One will tell the Number of the 
 
 * Ladies which Afiaroth gave me at my Entrance 
 ' into the uifernal Dungeon. Another will tell of 
 ' tlic Fire-brands which Bclzcbub hns made red-hot 
 ' to broil me upon, and the feveral Ciialdrons of 
 ' boilina; Oil in whicli I have been fous'd. Bv a 
 
 ftrange Turn of the Human Mind, I fliall be pro- 
 nounc'd happy after Death on this fide the Da- 
 ?iuhe^ and unhappy on the other. Do you, my 
 dear Duke, whofe Tranquility I know concern- 
 
 * ing mv Deftiny, who are aftonifh'd at the immenfe. 
 ' Power of God, and acknowledged his Gooilnefs, 
 ' do thou preferve the Memory of a Friend, who 
 ' notwithftanding his Misfortunes defer vcs your 
 ^ Eiieefn, and even the Admiration o^ liis Enemie-^/" 
 
 L 4 A. 
 
224 T/je ]ev/ iSR Spy, Let. 30. 
 
 A jew, my dear Monceca^ who fhould die in the 
 Bofom of Ifrael, would not write in other Language 
 than this. Tho' the Bafha does not declare himfelf 
 openly, 'tis eafy to perceive his Opinion. If at the 
 fame time he was really a "Jew^ it were an unpar- 
 donable Weakncfs in him not to have made an au- 
 shent'C Confeflion of it. Befides our pure Law 
 does not allow of fuch Difguifes. If the Bafha be 
 rt ^evj^ he muft furely be of the Se6l eftablifh'd at 
 Paris *, of which thou didft m-ike mention to me in 
 tiiy fourth Letter, which does not praclife Circum- 
 cifion, and is even ignorant of its being in the Jewijl) 
 Faith. The Bafha, as well as thofe at Paris, has 
 no external Worfhip, andobferves no Ceremony. 
 
 Neverthelefs, dear Monccca, it cannot be in the 
 Nature of Things, but God has commanded Man- 
 kind fome fort of Worfhip, and fmce he has created 
 Man to ferve hiin, undoubtedly he has prefcribed 
 h:m the Rules and the Manner how he would be 
 'vorfnipped. What horrid Confufion would be the 
 Confequence if every one had a different manner of 
 Thinking concerning th^ V/orfhip due to the Deity ? 
 'The Mind of Man, fubjeiSl: to err, would foon re- 
 lapfe into the Errors of Idolatry. We fhould even 
 fee him witJi the Cenfer in his Hand offering his 
 Homage to the vilefl of Animahi, deifying Onions, 
 and cultivating a thoufand Deities every Day in his 
 Kitchen-Garden. 
 
 Since I wrote my Letter, I am afTur'd that tlie 
 Eaflia has perfe6lly recovered his Health. Fare thee 
 Well, dear Mcnceca^ and profper more and more. 
 
 * The Deids. 
 
 L E T. 
 
Let. 31- T-^^ Jewish Spy. 2 2jr 
 
 LETTER XXXI. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis, 
 a Rahhiy at Conftantinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 T Have fhewn tlie Letter I received from tlice con- 
 * cerning Ofman Bafha's Sicknefs to fome of my 
 learned Acquaintance ; and they <ay, 'tifi the ver\' 
 Picture of the Man. Some blam'd his furious Zeal 
 to deflroy a Reh'gion in which lie was born, and 
 tax'd him with being a difhonelt Man, and they 
 fay that his Conduct has quite ruin'd his Charader^ 
 Others alledge the contrary, and maintain that tho' 
 his Change of his Rchgion, which was only owing to 
 a Political View, be an unpardonable Sin in the 
 fight of God, yet it did not afl'ecfl; his Character as 
 a Gentleman. The Difpute was manag'd with 
 Warmth on both fides, and, as 'tis generally the Cafe> 
 after a good deal of Altercation, each continu'd in 
 pofTcflion of his own Opinion. As for my own part, 
 dear//i7^t", I declare to thee, that upon an Examina- 
 tion of the Point in queftion I fl^ould think 1 could 
 eafily decide it. 
 
 'Tis certain that a Man cannot be honeft with- 
 out the Belief of a Deity, and this Deity has efta- 
 blifhed a Worihip to be paid to him ; therefore as a 
 rieceflary Confequence of the Belief of the Deity,, 
 the Believer mufc be attach'd to the Worfcip in- 
 flituted by that Divine Being \ and a Man cannot 
 L 5 quit. 
 
226 27?^ Jew I SH Spy, Let. 51.. 
 
 quit that In which he was born to change it for 
 another, unlefs he thinks it better. 
 
 DiiTimulation is condemn'd by Mankind as a 
 Crime, and is not a feign'd Behef of aThing which 
 a Man ridicules in his Mind, a continual DiiTimu- 
 lation ? I {hould not fo much blame an Atheift, if 
 ^tis true that there can be fuch a one, as a Man who 
 believes the Godhead, and at the lame time ho.- 
 Jiours him in a way that he knows muft ofFend 
 Iilm. The latter affronts a Being of whofe Majefty 
 and Power he does not want to be convinc'd. The 
 former Is guilty of no other Crime than continuing 
 m his Blindnefs. A King of Frafice wou'd un- 
 doubtedly fooner pardon an ignorant Ethiopian wlio 
 fnould fay there never was fuch a Perfon, than a 
 Spaniard who /hould come to infult hjm with offen- 
 five Language. Moreover, 1 am fure that there is 
 no Atheilt truly convincM of his Opinion, nor can 
 1 tliink any better of thofe v^'ho have pafs'd in the 
 World for the Champions of Atheifm. The 
 more Sen fe they wereendow'd with, the more Ar- 
 p:uments they fought for to prove their Syftem-, 
 the better could they difcern the FalOiood of 
 3t, becaufe they could not be a Moment without 
 reflecting how impofTible it was for Matter to rife 
 to Perfection high enough for producing fuch fpi- 
 ritual Ideas as they entertain'd. 
 
 Is any thing fo ridiculous, any thing fo abfurd, 
 as to imagine that Confufion and Diforder could 
 produce the Regularity of the Univerfe ; that a 
 Mafs of Atoms joftling one another, could form 
 jiich Thinking Matter as to forefee Futurity, to 
 difcern theCourfe of the Stars, to meafure the vaft 
 Expanfe of the Heavens, to communicate its 
 Ti^.oughts, Sentiments, and all its internal Motions 
 to another Thinking Matter of the fame Make ? In. 
 fact, Cfiu a Man refiei^t maturely on a Subject which 
 
 pleads 
 
Let. ji. 7Z?^ Jewish Spy. iif 
 
 pleads fo flrongly in fiwour of the Divinity, and be 
 really perfuaded that there is no fuch Being ? No, 
 my dear IJaac^ I fhall always believe the contrary. 
 Let an EpicureanhQ ever fo fondly conceited of thcf 
 Mixture of Atoms, and their fortuitous Concourfe, 
 yet in the Depth of liis Meditations the Lamp of 
 Truth will glare in his Eyes : And if he Ihuts tJieni 
 becaufe he would not be inlighten'd, yet he flill 
 perceives the Glimmering, and that's enough to 
 form his Doubts. 
 
 I own to thee, that if I was this Moment an 
 Epicurean^ 1 cou'd not help rtflccfting iiow impofli- 
 ble it is that a hundred Millions of Particles or Atoms 
 jumbled together by Chance could produce thi.s 
 Letter that I am now writing. JVhat^ fliould I fay, 
 can a fecond Principle drawn confcquentially from ih^ 
 firj}^ a Jujhiefs in Argument^ clear and dijlln^ Tdcas he 
 formd by Caprice^ fupportcd by Caprice^ and continu- 
 ed by Caprice? Is the placitig of Things in the inojf 
 regular Order ^ and is the Continuation of that Regu- 
 larity efablijVd on nothing hut Confufton and 
 Chance * ? Is it not after all fomething Divine^, 
 
 * Nam fimul ac Ratio tua cccpit vocifcrai i 
 Naturam Rerum haud divina Mcnte co-ortam, 
 Diffugiunt Animi Terrores, Ma^nia Mundi 
 Difcedunt, totum video per inane gcri Res. 
 
 ■ Nufquam apparent Acherufia Tcinpla. 
 
 Lucret. de Rerum. Nat. lib. iii. ^l'. i 4, i^c. 
 
 The Speech which Lucretius here -makes for Epicurus^. 
 is thus tranfiated by Mr. Creech. 
 
 * For when I hear thy mighty Reafon provo 
 
 * This World was madev.ithout thePow'Rs a-eovS;,. 
 
 * All Fears and Terrors wafte and ny apace 5 
 
 * Tluough parted Keav'ns I fee the Mighty Space, 
 f • -— Nq Hell, no fuIpliVous. Lakes, no Pools, appear, 
 
 L 6. '■LL'bdcb 
 
2 28 The ]r.\visti Spy. Let. 31. 
 
 ivhlch deferves the h'lghefl Honours and Sacrifices for 
 having fo -ivell fufta'in'd the Chara^er of infinite Wif- 
 dofU and Forefight informing and prefervingthe World. 
 
 If I believed the Epicurean Syllem, every Day 
 tliat I obferved the Courfe of the Sun making its 
 Appearance on our Horizon, and advancing with 
 large Strides towards the Antipodes, I fhould be apt 
 to cry out, Hail eternal Chance ! Inco?nprehenfible 
 Irregularity^ admirable Confufion^ which inaintain Or- 
 der and Regularity^ which preferve and perpetuate 
 thai divine and furprizing Harmony zvhich we fee 
 tind feel in all the Parts of the Univerfe I Permit me 
 ■ to pay thee the Honours ivhich other blind Mortals give 
 io a God vjho is all Goodnefs^ all Power ^ and all 
 IVifdcm. 
 
 Do'll: thou believe, dear Ifaac, that there are any 
 Epicureans^ v/ho after a Survey of Nature, don't 
 own, in fpiteof their Prejudice, that there is a firft 
 Principle which preferves and maintains the Regu- 
 larity and Order that prevail in the Univerfe ? For 
 be their Ohftinacy wlrat it will, depend upon it, that 
 they are not fo certain as they pretend to be, that 
 ^tis poiTible for the Maintenance and Prefervation 
 of Perfpicuity and Underdanding, to fpring from a 
 Principle of Blindnefs and Ignorance. 
 
 They v/ho deny the Being of a God may be 
 rano-ed into tv/o different Clafles. The firft con- 
 iiPcs of a Number of Philofophers who have be- 
 wildered themfelves in their Arguments. Being 
 weary of a fruit] efs Search into the incomprehenfible 
 Immenfity of the Divine Nature, and fhock'd by 
 certain DifHculties of which they could never find 
 the Solution, they thought they were in the right to 
 deny tlie Exiftence of a God, becaufe they could not 
 fathom his immenfe Profundity; as if our Ignorance 
 of the Operations of a Being was a Reafon for de- 
 nying his Exiflcnce. We every Day fee the Effe6h 
 
 ajKi 
 
I 
 
 Let. 51. 7/7^ Jewish Spy. 229 
 
 and Produ£lions of Nature, of which we don't know 
 the Caiifes. We don't know how the Corn grows 
 in the Field ; but fliall It therefore be denv'd that 
 Corn adlually docs grow? The Operations of the 
 Power of a God appear as plain to our Eyes as the 
 Ears of Corn that fprout out of the Ground. We 
 cannot fully know his Greatnefs, his Power, his 
 EfTence; I allow it. But do we difcover the Secret 
 of Germination? 
 
 The fecond Clafs of Atheifts is the mofl numerous, 
 Tliis includes that Medley of Libertines and Rakes, 
 whofe Debauchery, inftead of Study and Meditation, 
 determines their Faith. Yet of thefe there are few^ 
 but, for all their Extravagances, have in fpite of 
 themfelves fome Calls to incline to the Truth; and 
 to avoid their Remorfe of Confcicnce, they muft 
 refolve to make no more ufe of their Eyes. For as 
 foon as they open them, every thing convinces them 
 of the Glory of the Almighty Being. If they turn 
 them towards the fieavens, they there cannot help 
 contemplating his Greatnefs. If they fix thcni 
 on the Earth, they there difcover his Wjfdom and 
 his Power. As they have not the Helps which 
 Philofophers have recourfe to, and as they cannot 
 like them ftifle their Reafon by vain Arguments, 
 they are perpetually the Dupes of their own Doubts, 
 Fear, Remorfe, and the Troubles in which their 
 Uncertainty involves them, take a continual 
 Revenge for the Affront put upon the Deity in their 
 Hearts. 
 
 Among the Common People there are few that 
 are tin6lur'd with Atheifm, this being a Crime 
 more general among thofe of high Rank, l^he firfl 
 Princes of tlie World were the firft Enemies of the 
 Divinity, and their Blindnefs was owing to their 
 Power and their Greatnefs. Nimts King of the 
 Jjfyrians boafted that he had never feen the Stars 
 
 nor 
 
250 7>5^ Jewish Spy. Let. 31. 
 
 nor defir'd to fee them, and that he defpis'd the Sun, 
 the Moon and all the other Deities. And Sarda- 
 nopaliis^ one of Ninus's Succeffors, being forc'd to 
 put himfelf to death rather than he would fall into 
 the Hands of his Enemies, caus'd this Infcription to 
 be written upon his Monument : 
 
 ' Sardannpalus liv'd a great many Years in a 
 
 * little time, having refus'd nothing to his Plea- 
 ^ fares. He built two Cities in a Day, Anchiale and 
 *• Tar f us. He did a Work of feveral Years in 
 ' 24 Hours. Reader, follow his Example, eat, 
 
 • drink and enjoy thy felf: For after Death there is 
 ^ neither Pleafure nor Sorrow.' 
 
 Nmus and Sardanapalus were qpiet and liarmlefs 
 Atlieifts.. Tho' they denied the Deity, they did not 
 defpife him; but feveral others have pufo'd their 
 Error f^irther. Diagoras the Sophift fet fire to a Her- 
 cules of Wood to make his Pot boil, faying at the 
 fame time to it, Courage Hercules, after thy tzvehe 
 Labours for the Service of Euriflheus, there mvjl 
 he a thirteenth for me. One of the Dionyfius's^ 
 Kings of Sicily^ ftript the Statue of Jupiter Olym- 
 pius of its golden Robe, and gave it one of Wool ; 
 in excufe of which Sacrilege he faid, that Exchange 
 was no Robbery \ and that it was neceffary to take 
 care of the God's Healthy and to chath. him fuitably 
 both Smnmer and Winter. The fame Dionyfius fet 
 a Barber to the Statue of MfculapiuSy who (hav'd 
 his golden Beard, pretending that as Apollo his Far 
 ther had no Beard, it was not fit that his Son fhould 
 have any. This Story puts me 'n mind of another 
 which happened in our Time; aud which I have 
 from the Chevalier de Maifin. 
 
 In France there's an illuftrious Family that goes 
 by the Name of Levi., which pretends to be de- 
 fcended from the Tribe of Ifrael of that Namq^ 
 The Marquis ck Levij Captain of a Man of War, 
 
 arrived 
 
Let. 3T- 27j^ Jewish Spy. 251 
 
 arrived in the late Wars at a little Town in Spain^ 
 which favour'd the Enemy's Party, where he landed 
 fome Soldiers, and forc'd the Town to pay Con- 
 tribution. As he was going on board again, a Sol- 
 dier tx)ld him, that he Taw an Image of Silver in the 
 Church which was four or five Feet high. Thje 
 Marquis being tempted to make himfelf Mafter of 
 fuch a rich Piece of Treafure, went to Church, de- 
 fir'd to fee the Statue, and ask'd whofe it was : Be- 
 ing anfwer'd, that 'twas St. Magdalen's a Jew.cfs by- 
 Birth, in the Infancy of Chriilianity; Gentkmen^ 
 fiiid the Marquis to the Prieffs, / am^ charm'd to 
 hear of my Couftn. I am^ juj} as yen fee me^ of the 
 Jewilh Kace^ and very 7iear a- kin to the Sairiiejs whcfe 
 hnage you have here. I hope therefore you won't 
 take it ill if I carry this hnage to France, where I 
 will have a Temple built for it that Jlmll he ft to re- 
 ceive it. At thefe Words he feiz'd his dear Coufin,. 
 and fent her aboard his Ship. But when he came 
 to France he had Orders from his Court, which 
 had been inform'd of his Behaviour, to fend back 
 his Coufin to ^pain at his own Coll: and Charge ; 
 and if it had not been for fome Friends of his, he 
 would have been intircly ruin'd. 
 
 Tho' the Action of this French Officer was no 
 Affiont to the Deity, yet 'twas very criminal, be- 
 caufe he fail'd in an eflential Point of his Religrnn, 
 by violating the Refpc6l it oblig'd him to have for 
 their Saints. They who are born in any particular 
 Religion, and who at the fame time that they be- 
 lieve it to be the true Religion, break certain Prin- 
 ciples of it, and play faft and loofe with their Faith 
 make large Strides to that unhappy Stupidity which 
 leads to Athcifm. A Man has no Right to find 
 fault with a Principle, and to a6t in Confequence, 
 farther than he thinks it is falfe. 
 
 Fare 
 
232 T/^^ Jew I SH Sp Y. Let. 32. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac^ and profper in all thy 
 Affairs. 
 
 LETTER XXXn. 
 Aaron Monceca to Jacob Brito. 
 
 'Tp WO Days ago I was at the Houfe of a Ve- 
 
 -*' net'tan Jew lately arrivM in this City, v/here he 
 is already very famous. He fells Phofphorus's and 
 EfTences which he diflils for different Caufes. He 
 has feme to whiten the Skin, and others to 
 Imooth it. He has divers Machines for Philofo- 
 phical Experiments, which are very curious. But 
 the Notion which People have entertained of him is 
 what brings all the World to his Houfe and ex- 
 cites moft Curiofity. They take him to be a great 
 Cabalilt ; and 'tis given out all over Parls^ that lie 
 is thorow Mafter of that Science. My Curiofity 
 and Impatience to know the Truth of a Thing 
 which I always doubted of, was the Occafion of 
 the Acquaintance I have made with him. I afk'd 
 him whether it was true that he knev/ the Art of 
 forefeeing Futurity, and whether he had the Power 
 of commanding the Spirits? He frankly own'd 
 to me that all his Knowledge confifled in his Chy- 
 mical Experiments. / have^ faid he to me, heard 
 talk of Cabal'ifts ever fince I wis born^ and after all 
 the Search I have made I ccidd never find one, I 
 have difcours'd a sreat many People ivho vjere thought 
 
Let. 32. Z^^ Jewish Spy. 255 
 
 hy the Public to excel in that Science ; and they all told 
 me they were not forry that they wei'e thought to he 
 pojpfs'd of that Tale?it^ hecaufe cf the Intercjl and 
 Advantage which they reap'd fro?n it; but that to 
 fpeak the Truths all their Knowledge amounted like 
 niine^ to no more than fome Chymical Cotnpofaions^ 
 ivhofe EffeSls were knovm to few People, 
 
 I have taken as much Pains, my clear Brito^ to 
 inform myfelf of the Truth of the Cabahftic Sci- 
 ence as this Venetian Jciv^ but have found no more 
 Reality than he in all the Stories that are (o confi- 
 dently told of it. Sound Philofophy had already 
 convinced me, that the Science of Reading in the 
 Book of P\iturity was refervM to God alone ; nor 
 h'ld I any Notion of the pretended Power allign'd to 
 the Cabalills over certain Genii, always ready to 
 obey them. 
 
 I have examin'd what Grounds there were for 
 the Cabalifts to afcribe that Power to themfelves 
 over the SDirits : I have found their Ar2;uments ^o 
 
 i. ... 
 
 weak and pitiful that I have plac'd tlicir Art in tlie 
 Rank of Judicial Aftrolog)'. Can any thing be 
 more ridiculous than to pretend, that by the rang- 
 ing- of certain Letters, and by the Pronunciation 
 of fome Words, 'tis poflible to give a new Face 
 to Human Things, to ftop the Courfe of 'em, and 
 to affume a Power equal to that of the Author of 
 Nature .? 
 
 In all Religions there's a number of People who 
 are fond of the Reputation of having a Corre- 
 fpondence with the Spirits ; and feveral pretend to 
 the Prerojrative and Power of banifhino; them 
 from Places of their Refidcnce. The Na-zarenes 
 arc all pcrfuaded of the Power of the Genii ; 
 tlie Priefts of that Religion pretend to a defpo- 
 tic Power over the Demons. They (Iw they 
 know tliCm all by their Names and Surnames, and 
 
 that 
 
23+ The Jewish Spy. Let. 5 r. 
 
 that they know when and upon what Occafion they 
 have a Right to poffefs the Houfe, and fometimes the 
 Body of a private Perfon. The Vulgar, and thofe 
 of weak Minds give into all thefe wild Notions j and 
 by being fo often dinn'd with Stories of being pof- 
 feffed and befet, feveral really think they are a6lually. 
 pofiefTed, and can never get the fooliih Notion of it 
 out of their Heads. 
 
 All the religious Trails amons; the Na%arene:> 
 it^Ti\ to be the Continuation of Amadh^ v/herein 
 you fee nothing but Witches, Conjurers, Demons 
 and Devili^m. In the Opinion of one of their owri 
 Pontiffs *, the Lives of their Saints are not written 
 with fo much Dignity as that of the antient Pagan 
 Philofophers by Diogenes Laertius. What, in fiiort,. 
 can a Man of good Senfe fay, when he reads the 
 fooliih Pranks play'd by a Devil, to tempt a Hermit 
 in the Defart -f ? What can he think when he reads 
 in another Place of a Monk's amufmo; himfelf with 
 burning the Devil's Claws with a Flambeau t ? 
 And how ridiculous muft he think a great many 
 other Bocks which are an odd Collection of all the 
 Follies and Extravagances that the diftraCled Imr.gi- 
 nation of Man can produce || ? 
 
 Thefe pernicious Tales are approv'd of by the 
 Nazarene Pr lefts, and of moft of them they are even 
 the Inventors. The Reputation they have of dif- 
 pofTefiing thofe pretended Demons is what tickles 
 their Vanity. They compofe a Water for their Exor- 
 
 * Cardinal "Bcjfarlon. 
 \ The Temptation of St. Anthony. 
 X The Life of St. Dominic. 
 
 \ Exorcifm of The Nuns ot Lowvicrs, the Hiflory of 
 Magdalen de la Pain, &c. 
 
 ciOns, 
 
Lct.jz- T7f/^ Jewish Spt. sjf 
 
 cifms, in which they infufe a little Salt *. And 
 after feveral Grimaces and Contorfions which they 
 make over the Veffel that contains that miraculous 
 Liquor, they fuig fomc Tunes, and pronounce cer- 
 taui VVords which complete the Virtue of the 
 Charm. Tiiey afterwards fave this Water to drive 
 out all evil Spirits, and pretend that the Devils are 
 obliged to turn out as foon as the Body is fprinkled 
 with It. 
 
 Wiicn a Man is fcIzM with a diabolical Frenzyj 
 and flruck with fo pernicious aDclufion, the Pricfls 
 cure one Lye with another. The fame Piejudics 
 ^^hich caufcs the Delufion of the Wretches who 
 think thcmfelves poflefTcd , perfuades them that 
 the Remedy which is given them is infallible ; and 
 tlieir Diforder is at an end as foon as the Lnagi- 
 nation is calm'd, after the Diflradlion into which. 
 Fear had plung'd it. Confequently they arc perpe- 
 tually bubbled by their Prejudices, of which their 
 Repofc and Tranq^uility are a necefTary Confe- 
 qucncc. 
 
 Tho' the Bllndnefs of the common People in fo 
 greedily receiving the Liipreilion of fuch Chimasras^ 
 is fo aflonifliing, yet the Wonder is the lefs when 
 it is confidcredj that thefe Errors are confccrated 
 by their Faith and their Religion. The Naza^ 
 rc?ie Temples are full of Monuments, which 
 tranfmit the liiftory of thefe Sorceries from Age 
 to Age. 
 
 In a City not far from Paris f , tlicre's a miracu- 
 lous Candle, furnam'd the everlajling Taper^ which 
 is fliewn upon a certain Day to the People, and as 
 they pretend never goes out, nor wades. *Tis in- 
 clos'd in a long Candleftic, above which it rifes 
 not more than an Inch, in fuch manner, that 'tis^ 
 
 *- Holy Water. \ Atjiiem. 
 
 always 
 
2^6 7"//^ Jewish Spy. Let. 32.1 
 
 always in their Power to raife it to the fame Height,* 
 v/Iien 'tis burnt to the Edge of the Candleftic, or 
 put another in its place when 'tis confam'd. Tho* 
 this Mummery is fo vifible, it would be dangerous 
 to fpeak of it in public, before People who are per- 
 fuaded of the Truth of this Miracle, and wha 
 would be fure to defpife, if not to hate you ; for a 
 Nazarene who would pardon a fenfible Affront, 
 wou'd never forgive a Banter on the Reality of the 
 Miracle of the Holy Candle. 
 
 The Story which is told of this miraculous Ta- 
 per, is founded on the pretended Deliverance of a: 
 Nazarene who had given himfelf to the Devil. 
 This Man, whofe Name was Chrijlclher^ weary of 
 taking great Pains for very little Money, and of 
 being always a Slave, refoiv'd to be more at his 
 Eafe in this World, tho' he was not fo happy in the 
 next. He heard his Paftor fpeak every Day of the 
 great Power of the Devil, and of the Numbers of 
 People that gave themfeives to him. This Priefl 
 made himfelf hoarfe by talking of all the wicked 
 Spirits v/hich to his Knowledge had gratifv'd the 
 criminal Defire of private Men. His Difcourfes. 
 convinc'd the lazy Chrlftopher^ who \vith the Help 
 of the Devil was refoiv'd to have Money, and to 
 take lefs Care and Pains than he had done to get it. 
 He called therefore feveral times to the Devil ; but 
 whether his Devilfliip had other Bufmefs at that 
 time upon his Hands, or whether he forefaw what 
 would happen to him, he made no great Hafte to 
 come at Chrijiopher's Call ; till being quite tir'd 
 out with the impatient Nazarene^s Importunity, he 
 came one Day to the Houfe, and appear'd to him 
 in the Shape of a pretty little Monkey. If^jat is it 
 thou do* ft want ivith zue ? faii he ; thou hafi been call- 
 ing a long Ti?7ie. Speak ^ ivhat can I do for thy Ser- 
 vice ? My Lord, reply'd Chrijlopher^ they fay that 
 
 your 
 
Let. 32. The Jewish Spy. 237 
 
 year Lord/hip gives Ejlatcs and Wealth to whomfo- 
 ever yon pleaje. I Jlwuld be chlig^d to you if you would 
 grant 7ne fame Share in your Favour. But what haji 
 thou to give me? faid the Devil. Jlas ! my Lord., 
 replyM CrijlTpher, I have nothing for my/elf; I am 
 hut a poor Carpenter that live by ?ny Calling, I will^ 
 fays Bchchd\ give thee for thirty Tears as much Gold 
 as thou can'Ji luijl? : But after that Ti?ne is expired^ 
 I Jlall want a Carpcrder in the infernal ManfionSy 
 for fome Repairs luhich I forcfee will he necefjdry in 
 my Palace ; and therefore., when that ^ftme is out., I 
 Jljall co??ie to fetch thee. ChriJIopher and the Devil 
 mutually fign'd their Contrail ; wliich done, the 
 Monkey- Bchcbub gave a Spring, and made his Exit 
 up the Chimney. The Nazarene vvifli'd for 6coo 
 Pifloles, and prefently he found that Sum in liis 
 Pockets ; upon which he quitted his Plane and his 
 Chiflel, and buys a Houfe. The 6000 Piftoles 
 being fpent, he demands 6000 more, and obtains 
 . them ; which Sum he lays out in Furniture and 
 Plate. As foon as this Sum was fpent he wilh'd 
 for another, and no fooncr afk'd but had it ; {o 
 that never was there a Devil more pundtual ; 
 and Chriftopher was fo taken with his Honefty, 
 that he did not like to hear him tax'd with the Want 
 of it. 
 
 Fifteen Years of the Leafe were expir'd, when 
 one Night as the Nazarene was entertaining fome 
 of his Friends at Supper (lor after he had acquir'd 
 a Fortune he did not want Friends) he ordered his 
 Maid to go into the Cellar for a particular fort of 
 Wine which he referv'd for fpecial Regales. Down 
 went fenny as foon as {he was bid ; but hov/ great 
 was her Surprize when fhe faw upon one of the 
 Barrels a lufty Man drcfs'd in Black, who bid her 
 go up and tell her Mailer that he muft needs fpeak 
 with him, and that without Delay, or he muff ex- 
 pea 
 
238 71?^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 52. 
 
 peel to have Iiis Neck twifted before all his Guefts. 
 The Maid, very much aghaft, call'd ChrlJIopker 
 afide, and told him the Mellage. By the De- 
 fcription fhe giive him, he miftrufled that this great 
 black Man was the Devil ; and having provided 
 himfelf with his ContrafI:, he took it dov/n witii 
 him into the Cellar, to fhew him that his Leafe was 
 but half expired. JVeil^ fays the Apparition to him 
 as foon as he was enter'd the Cellar, I come to teli 
 thee thou haji hut an Hour to live. My Lord^ re- 
 ply M Chriftopher^ your Lordjhip is miftaken by fifteen. 
 Tears ; here's my Contrail, Hoiv long did I promife 
 you Life? faid Belzebub. Thirty Tears, reply 'd 
 Chriftcpher. Very well, reply'd the Devil ; pray 
 don^t fifteen Tears of Days, and fifteen Tears of Nights 
 make up the Account ? Thafs our vjay of Computation, 
 and we fioan^t go to alter the Method of cciiciilating the 
 infernal Tears to plcafe you. 
 
 Chrijlopher, very much aftonifhed, went up into 
 the Hall to his Friends, who feeing him fo melan* 
 choly and dejeded, afk'd him the Reafon of it, and 
 he told them his unhappy Cafe. Be of good Courage, 
 faid a Norman Prieft to him, who happen'd to be 
 one of the Guefts, go dowyi into the Cellar, and only 
 tell the Devil to prolong your Life ivhile this Candle 
 burns. Chrijlopher went and carried his Petition to 
 the Devil, who to convince him that he was a good- 
 natur'd Devil in the main, tho' he calculated the 
 Years otherwife than this World does, granted him 
 his Requeft. The Nazarene carried the Candle 
 back to the Prieft, who without Lofs of Time 
 dipp'd it in Holy Water, that the Devil might not 
 •have Power over it to feize and put it out. , This 
 Stratagem which Belzebub was not aware of, ren- 
 der'd all his Tricks of no Avail. He made his way 
 back to the infernal Territories by a deep Flole he 
 cipen'd in the Ground, of which none could ever yet 
 
 found 
 
Let. 33- .T>^^ Jewish Spy. 239 
 
 found the Bottom. The Nazarene did Penance a 
 Jong while for this Crime. The Confecrated Can- 
 dle was again put into the Hands of the Fryars, and 
 it has brought them in more Money than Chrijlopher 
 got from the Devil of a Monkey. 
 
 Do but confidcr the Credulity of thefe People, 
 and judge whether the Extravagances into which 
 their Weaknefs involves them, are to be afcribed to 
 anv thing but their own Ignorance, or to the Frauds 
 of thofe who deceive and abufc them. 
 
 Fare thee well, and if thou can'l^, give me fome 
 entertaining Novels from Genoa, 
 
 LETTER XXXIII. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis, 
 
 a Rahbi^ at Conilantinople. 
 
 'aris 
 
 'T'^HE Acquaintance I have made with fome Men 
 -■■ of Learning in this Country, has entirely 
 turn*d my Mind to Philofophy. I am aftonifli'd 
 when I confider what a prodigious Difference there 
 is between one Man and another. I confider the 
 Genius, the Science, the Penetration of Defcartesy 
 and then I caft my Eyes upon a Peafant who never 
 quitted the Fields and the Country, and who being 
 always at his Day-labour, minds nothing but dig- 
 ging the Ground, and Eating and Drinking. 1 think 
 then there's more DiiFerence between his Soul and 
 that of a Philofopher, than there is betv/ixt his Soul 
 and that of a Do^, What does this Peafant that is 
 
 not 
 
240 7^^ Jewish Spy. Lct.33. 
 
 not common to the meaneft Animal ? The latter 
 has PafTions, is fenfible of Friendfhip and Grati- 
 tude, and diftinguiflies Good from Evil according 
 to the Notions put into his Head. A Dog well 
 train'd up, and carefully look'd after, loves his Ma- 
 iler, follows him, and defends him. Some of thofe 
 Animals have been feen to die with Sorrov/ and 
 Grief. Thefe therefore are Paflions common as 
 well to the Dog as the Peafant. Let us examine if 
 he does not diftinguifh Good from Evil. He v/ill 
 not void his Excrements in a certain Chamber ; he 
 will take no Meat which he finds laid up in a cer- 
 tain Place, becaufe he was beat when he went to 
 do it, and was by that means fill'd with a Pre- 
 judice or Prepofieiiion that he did an ill Thing to 
 meddle with Meat in that Place *. But I v/111 go 
 
 farther 
 
 * PoUremo, quid in hac mirabile tantopere eft re. 
 Si genus humanum, cui vox, Sc lingua vigeret. 
 Pro vario fenfu varias res voce notarit. 
 Cum pecudes mutse, cum denique fascia ferarum 
 Diffimileis foleant voces variafque ciere, 
 Ciim metus, aut dolor eft, & cum jam gaudia glifcunt ? 
 Quippe etenim id licet e rebus cognofcere apertis. 
 
 Irritata Canum cum primum magna MololTum, 
 Mollia Ricla premunt duros nudantia Denteis, 
 Longe alio fonitu rabie diftrida minantur : 
 Et ciim jam latrant, & vocibus omnia complent. 
 At catulos blande cum lingua lambere tentant, 
 Aut ubi eos ladant pedibus, morfuque potentes, 
 Sufpenfis teneros imitantur dentibus hauftus, 
 Longe alio pado gannitu vocis adulant : 
 Et cum deferti baubantur in aedibus, aut cum 
 Plorantes fugiunt fommiflb corpora plagas. 
 
 Lucret. de Rerum Nat, lib, V. ^ver. 1058. 
 
 Which 
 
Let.35- Zi^^ Jewish Spy. 241 
 
 farther, and maintain that this Behaviour of the Dog 
 is an evident Proof that his Mind is capable of the 
 three Operations of Lofric, and I don't fee why a 
 Shock Dog and a MafiifFinay not carry h's Reafon- 
 ing as far as a Regent of Philofophy in the College 
 of the four Nations. 
 
 The firil Operation of the Mind of Man is to 
 conceive, the fecond to range his Thoughts toge- 
 ther, and the third is from thence to draw a juft 
 Conicquence. Now I plainh^diftinguifli thefe three- 
 different Operations in the Dog. Whjn I have a 
 mind to teach him to leap over a Stick ; when he 
 
 Jcaps I coax him ; that's the firfl Thought. I 
 
 beat him when he does not leap ; that is the fecond 
 Thought. He leaps again ; and that's the Confe- 
 quence of the two firli: Thoughts. I fum up the 
 IDo'y^s Reafoning with himfelf thus : If I leap I am 
 flroak'd -, if I do not leap 1 am beat ; therefore Pi) 
 leap. 
 
 7/'7;A7j is thus trarijlated by Mr, Creech. 
 
 What Wonder is it, then, that IXIan fliould frame. 
 And give each different Thing a different Name, 
 Since Be a s t s themfe]\'es do make a different Noife, 
 Opprefs'd by Pains and Fears, or fill'd with Joys ? 
 This plain Examples fliew : When Dogs begin 
 To bend their Backs, and fhevv their I'eeth, r- -" - - " 
 When hollow Murmurs ihevv deep Rage wi 
 Their Voice is different when they bark aloud, 
 And with ftrong Roarings fright the trembling Croud : 
 Or when they lick their W helps with tenderTongue, 
 Or when they play, and wanton with tlieir Young ; 
 Now feem to bite but never chop their Jaws, 
 Now fpuvning, but with tender fearful Claws ; 
 Then flatt 'ring foft and tender is their Foice, 
 Far diff 'rent from that grating, howling Noife 
 They make, when fhut alone, or creeping lov/. 
 Whine, as they ikive to fiiun the coming Blow. 
 
 Vol. L M There 
 
 s begin 1 
 I, and grin, C 
 within ; 3 
 
342 The ]ev^ish S?Y. Lct.55. 
 
 There are a thoufand PafTages in Hiftory which 
 TP.anifeft ths Underftanding and Rcafoning of Beafts. 
 That excellent French Author Montaigne mentions 
 certain Oxen that feem'd to have underftood Arith- 
 metic, lliey were ufed to turn the Winder of 
 a Well a hundred times a day ; but when they had 
 done their Work, all the Severity they could ufe to 
 them did not prevail on 'em to take one ftep more*>. 
 Thcfe Cattle Vv^ere Mathematicians v/ithout having 
 ^ver learnt the Elements of Euclid. In fhort, it 
 cannot be deny'd, but they had a Method of Com- 
 putation which ferv'd them as a certain Rule for de- 
 termining the Number of Rounds they had made. 
 
 From an Inquiry into the Senfe and Underftand- 
 iiig of a Dog, proceed we to that of a Peafant : He 
 follows a daily Cuftom, as one may fay, mecha- 
 siically i he gets up in the Mornmg, works in the 
 Field, eats and drinks at certain Hours, goes to Bed 
 iit Night, and rifes again next day, to do juft the 
 fame as he did the day before ; fo that the iirft Day 
 of his l^ife and the laft are much the fame : He 
 knows none of the Secrets of Nature, nor of the 
 fecret Springs of the Soul and the Mind, but what 
 ho. learns from the common Objefts that ftrike his 
 £ye, and if he has Perception above the Inftindt 
 
 * The Oxen that ferv'd in the Royal Gardens of 
 ■Suza to water them, and to turn certain great Wheels 
 for drawing the Water, to whicli there were Buckets 
 failen'd (as is the Cuftom in Languedoc.) Thefe were 
 ordered to go round each a hundred Turns : They were fo 
 accuHom'd to that Number, that it was not poffible 
 by any Force to make them draw one Turn more ; and 
 when they had done their Task, they flopped fhort on 
 a fudden. We arrive to the State of Youth before we 
 know how to count a hundred, and we have been dif- 
 covering Nations that have no Knowledge of Numbers. 
 Montaigne'^ Ejfays, hb. ii. chap, xii, p. 151. 
 
 "of 
 
Let. 33- y/&^ Jewish Spy. 243 
 
 jf Beafts, he is fcarce a Jot the wifer for it. "What 
 an immenfe DifFerence is there betwixt the Pene- 
 tration of Dcs Cartes and the Blindnefs and Igno- 
 rance of the Peafant ! I am aftonifhcd when I fee 
 this Philofopher meafuring the Courfe of the Stars, 
 finding out the diftance of them, and foretelling 
 their Eclipfes and Motions even to the rcmotcft 
 Ages. I am yet more furpriz'd when he teaclies me 
 to know myfelf, and when by freeing my Soul from 
 thofe Bodies that conceal it fi'om my Eyes, he makes 
 its Being vifible to me, and proves its Spirituality, 
 His Reafoning and the Juftnefs of his Thoughts are 
 invincible Arguments of it ; I fpare the Peafant for 
 the fake of the Philofopher. 
 
 Tiie Nazarcne Dodlors have exclaimed againit 
 their Opinion, who rank brute Beads in the Clafs of 
 meer Machines. They have done ill to oppofe a 
 Syftem which was mod agreeable to the Spirituality- 
 of the Souls of Men. For if it be afTerted that Beaft* 
 hare a material Soul, 'tis allowed that the Power of 
 Moving and the Faculty of Thinking arc not in- 
 compatible with Matter. Nov/ if Matter is capable 
 of rifmg to a certain Point of Knowledge and Undei^' 
 ftanding, by fubtilifmg this Matter farther, it m^r 
 rife to a higher degree of Perfe<51:ion : From a Doo- 
 it may reach to a Peafant ; from a Peafant to a 
 Philofoplier. 
 
 There have been great Men who have believed 
 the Soul to be material, tho' immortal : Of this 
 Opinion were feveral of tlie antient Philofophers, 
 and this was the Opinion likewife of one of the 
 firft and moft celebrated of the Nazarcne Dodors*. 
 
 ■E-cny 
 
 * Cum autem fit, (loquitur de Anima) h?.beat njceile 
 
 ell aliquid per quod ell ; fi habet aliquid per quo J eit, 
 
 hoc erit Corpus ejus. Onine quod dl Corpus efl fui 
 
 M 2 Generis 
 
244 The Jewish SvY, Let. 33. 
 
 E^ery 'Thbig that is not Matter^ faid he, is nothing, i 
 But the Soul is fojiicthing : Therefore it is 7?iatcriaL 
 But there is nothing To eafy as to prove the Pofiibility 
 of the Spirituality of our Soul. God is a Spirit: I 
 He exilis. The Soul may therefore be Spiritual, 
 .and exift *. 
 
 There have been Philofophers fo involved in their 
 Error and Blindnefs, as to afiert ^hat God himfelf 
 v/as Mateiial, and that the Divinity confifted of a 
 iubtile Matter, which conftituted the Soul of the 
 Univerfe, and was diffus'd over all f . This is al- 
 snoft the very Syflem of Spinofa and fome other 
 Jiheiflsy whofe Error and Abomination I have fliewn 
 
 thee 
 Generis ^ nihil efl incorporale, nifi quod non ell. Ter- 
 iullian de Carne Chrifti. cap. xi. 
 
 * This Argument did not confound TertuUian ; for 
 tliough he believed Gcd to be a Spirit, he underftood by 
 a Spirit a corporeal Nature, but extremely delicate. 
 M^ho can deny, fays he, that God is a Body, tho'' God is 
 a, Spirit ? E'very Spirit is a Body, and has a Form ivhich 
 is proper to it. Quis enim negabit Dnum q^q Corpus, 
 etfi Deus Spiritus ell ? Spiritus etiam Corpus fui Generis, 
 in fua Effigie. lertull. adver. Prax. cap. vii. 
 
 All the antient Philofophers, if we except Plato, who 
 never thelefs had miftaken Ideas of the nature of God, 
 thought he was compofed of a Matter extremely fubtile. 
 This is what they meant by the Word Spirit. Several 
 of the Fathers of the Church have fallen into the fame 
 Error ; of which the Readers may fee a Proof in the 
 Secret Memoirs of the Republic of Letters. Letter v. 
 
 -j- This was the Opinion of feveral of the antient Phi- 
 lofophers, particularly of the Stoics. Virgil has per- 
 fcdly defcribed the Syfiem of the Soul of the World. 
 Principio Coelum, et Terras, Campofque liquentes 
 Lucentemque Globum Lunae, Titaniaque Allra, 
 Spiritus intus alit ; totamque infufa per artus 
 Mens agitat Molem, ct Magno fe Corpore mifcet. 
 Inde Hominum Pecudumque Genus, VitaequeVolantum, 
 
 Et 
 
Let. 35. Tke Jewish Spy. 24'f 
 
 thee in a former Letter f . Is not a God fubject to- 
 be divided into a hundred thoufand Parts a very ve- 
 nerable Deity ! For every thing that is Matter, is 
 capable of being divided, and if God is A4aterial he 
 is capable of being divided in like manner. Spificfa 
 no doubt banter'd the Nazareiies^ for believing three 
 Perfons in one God, and at the fame time he bv hir. 
 M 3 own 
 
 Et quae marmoreo fert Monftra fub -^quore Pcntaa. 
 Jgneus ell ollis Vigor, & cslellis Origo 
 Seminibus ; quantum non noxia Corpora tardant, 
 Terrenique hebetant Artus moribundaque Menibrs, 
 Hinc metuunt, cupiuntque dolent, guadentque neqiie 
 
 Auras. 
 Refpiciunt claufas Tenebris & carcere cneco. 
 
 Virgil JBneid, lib. vi. v. 721, 5;C. 
 
 i. e. Js Mr. Dryden has travf^ated it ; 
 
 * Know lirll that Heaven and Earth's compared Fram?, 
 
 * And flowing Waters, and the Starry Flame, 
 
 * And both the radiant Lights, one common Soicl 
 
 * Infpires and feeds y and animates the ^jjhole. 
 
 * This adive Mind infus'd through all tl;e Space, 
 
 * Unites and mingles Vv'ith the mighty Mafs. 
 
 * Hence Men and Beafts the Breath of Life obtain ; 
 
 * And Birds of Air, and Monilers of the Main. 
 
 * Th' /Etherial Vigor is in all the fame, 
 
 * And every Soul is fill'd with equal Flame, 
 
 * As much as Earthly Limbs and grofs Allay y^ 
 
 * Of mortal Members, fubjedl to decay, € 
 
 * Blunt not the Beams of Hcav'n and Edge of Day, \ 
 
 * From this coarfe Mixture of Terrelirial Parts, 
 
 * Defire and Fear by turns poilefs their Hearts, 
 
 * And Grief and Joy : Nor can the grov'ling Mind, 
 
 * In the dark Dungeon of the Limbs confin'd 
 
 * Affert the native Skies, or own its Heavenly kind. 
 
 f The XXXIft. Spinofa lays it down that All is in 
 God, and that All is God ; wliich is the very fame 
 Do^rine as that o£ the Soul of the World. 
 
 Ethicea 
 
246 27?^ Jewish Spy. let. 33. 
 
 own Syftem believed there were Millions. So ridi- 
 culous an Opinion rendered God perpetually con- 
 trary to himfeif; for when a certain Quantity of 
 Matter required a Thing which was incongruous to 
 another, two Gods difputed with one another ; (o j 
 t'lat all Men being themfelves Portions of the Divi- 
 nity, it muft be ftained v/ith all Crimes, and inftead 
 of faying a Robber has killed an Honeji Man ; it 
 Vv'ould be faid, that a KnaviJJ) God has kilCd an 
 Mcneji God. 
 
 Confider, Dear Ifaac^ If there is any thing fo ri- 
 diculous, as. to deny the Spirituality of God. It 
 rnufl cither be alTerted, that he does not exift, or 
 cwn'd that he is not material. 1 have expatiated 
 enough in one of my Letters upon the NeceiTity of 
 a Being, fovereignly perfect, powerful and intelli- 
 gent, and upon the chimasrical Syftem of Atoms. 
 A Man muft have no Notion at all of Things if he 
 can conceive that Chance is capable of producing 
 iuch Order as prevails in the Univerfe ; and that 
 this fame Chance, which is but Confufton, can fup- 
 port it J for according to this Argument, Rule and 
 Harrriony are a Confequence of perpetual Diforder 
 and Jumble, and blind Deftiny dire<Sls and condudla 
 
 Ethices Propofitio XV de Deo. 
 Quidquld eil: in Deo eft, & Nihil fine Deo efie, neque 
 conclpi, potell. 
 
 Dsmonjiratio. 
 Prster Deum nulla datur, neque conclpi poteft fabftan- 
 tia (per XIV Propofit.) hoc eft (per Z)^/«.) Res quie 
 in fe eft, & per fe concipitar. Modi autem [per Defn. 
 y.) fine fubftantia nec.efte, nee concipi pofTunt, quare- 
 hi in fola Divina Natura efte & per ipfam folam conclpi 
 polTant. Atqui prseter Subftantias k Modes, nihil da- 
 Uir (per Axiom I.) Ergo, nihil fine Deo efte, neque con- 
 cipi poteft. Spinoff Opera. 
 
 Pcjlh-EthiceSy part. i. page 12. 
 
 what. 
 
Let. 33. 71/^ Jewish Spy. 247 
 
 what is the moft furprifing EfFe<fl of the wifeit 
 Prudence. If it be therefore clear and manifeft 
 that there is a God, and that he is a Spirit, Why- 
 may not our Soul be the fame ? If any thing exifts 
 that is more perfect than Matter, as we agree, may^ 
 not our Souls be o^ one and the fame Qi^iality as 
 that Being of which we can have no perfect Know- 
 ledge ? 
 
 I fee no Reafon to deny the Spirituality of the 
 Soul, and much lefs to difbelicve the Immortality 
 of it; for 'tis a necefTary Confequence of the ExiR- 
 ence of a God. The Almighty Being, when he 
 created Man, gave him the Power of knowing him^. 
 which Knowledge I don't think to bean innate Idea, 
 but fuch as I take to be necelTarily attach'd to Rea- 
 fon ; being perfuaded that there is nobody who con- 
 templates the Order and Regularity of the Univerfe, 
 but finds within himfelf that there is fomething 
 fovereignly Great and fovereignly Jult, that governs 
 the World. 
 
 Now God having; granted to us the necefiary 
 Power of knowing him, intended no doubt that wa 
 fliould ferve and honour him. Otherwife to what 
 purpofe would it have been that we fhould have 
 fuch Knowledge ? If it be his Pleafure to be ferv'd, 
 and if he has enjoin'd it upon us as a Law, 'tisjuft ia 
 him to punifli thofe who violate his Orders, and to- 
 reward thofe who obey them. And for the Dif- 
 tribution of his Rewards and Punifhments, it were 
 neceflary that we be out of this World, and that 
 the Soul be immortal. It would be in vain to ob- 
 je(5l that God can punifli and reward in this World.. 
 No doubt he can : But he feldom does. P'or daily 
 Experience clearly fliev/s us, that great Villains 
 have enjoy'd perfect Happinefs to their Death. 
 From this Profperity of the Wicked, I draw a new* 
 Argument for the Immortality of the Soul. God- 
 M 4 wouldi 
 
248 The Jewish Spy. Let. 5 j. 
 
 would be unjuft, v;hich is an ImpoiTibility, if when 
 lie has order'd Men to avoid Evil and to do Good, 
 he favour'd thofe who difobey him, and punifh'd 
 thofe v/ho ferve him. He mi:ft needs therefore 
 referve to himfelf Rev/ards and Punifhrnents after 
 Death. I know that fome ungodly wicked Men 
 have aiTertedj that there is no Good nor Evil, and 
 that nothing but the Prejudice of Mankind forms 
 the Difference between the one and the other. 
 The brute Beafts are a Shame to thofe who have 
 been fo blind as to maintain fo extravagant a Thefis ; 
 for they refped: thofe of their own Species. A 
 Dog would not be fo audacious as to bite his 
 Mailer ; he looks on him as his Benefa6lor, and 
 fulTers from him what he would not endure from, 
 another. He is fenfible and knows that Ingrati- 
 tude is an Evil \ v/hile Men affecl not to know it. 
 But where is the Man, be he never fo wicked, 
 that does not know that he ought not by the Law 
 of Nature to do to others what he would not have 
 them to do to himfelf? Prejudice apart ; there is 
 not a RufHan, or a Highv/ayman, be he ever fo 
 harden'd, but is fenfible of his Guilt. At leaft it 
 cannot be c^^wfd,^ that he knows when he afTaffi- 
 uates a Man he would not be v/illing to be ferved 
 {o himfelf. There wants nothing more than this 
 Reafoning to diftinguifti Good and Evil. If there- 
 fore they are different, God muft judge them dif- 
 ferently ; and if he does not do it in this World, 
 his Juftice is only the more fevere in the next. 
 
 7 ne greateft part of thofe who deny the Immor- 
 tality of tlie Soul, only maintain this Opinion be- 
 caufe they wifn it. T'hey fancy to themfelves that 
 they can allay the Stings of Confcience with which 
 they are prick'd. But in the Height of their De- 
 baucheries and their Pleafures, the Truth which 
 itiires them in the Face, whether they will or no, 
 
 begins 
 
Let. 34. Tfoe Jew ish Spy. 249 
 
 begins thofe Punifhments to which they are doom'd 
 after Death. 
 
 I know nothing To mortifying to Human Vanity 
 as the Idea of Annihilation. It has fomething in it 
 capable of producing Defpair. A Alan mult have 
 a very defpicable Opinion of the Value of the Fa- 
 culty of conceiving, thinking, and reafoning, to be 
 pleas'd with the Notion of being one Day depriv'd 
 of it. 
 
 Fare thee well, my dear Ifaac^ and be very care- 
 ful to avoid Society with the Ungodly and with 
 Libertines, for fear left the Juftice of Heaven iliouli 
 involve thee in their Punifhment. 
 
 LETTER XXXIV. 
 
 Jacob Brito to Aaron Moncica, 
 
 Genoa - 
 
 i^ Allantry prevails at Genoa as much or more 
 ^-^ than in any Town of Italy, Love feems to 
 have chofe this City for its- Rcfidence. The Italians. 
 who are every where elfe fevcre and jealous, art- 
 here the very Patterns of debonnair Hufbamis ; and 
 all the Ladies have their Sigijhies j which is a Name 
 they give here to the Hufband's entire Friend, who 
 palles with the Public for the Wife's Gallant. This 
 Guftom is look'd upon only as Merriment, and tlie 
 Hufbands depend on the Fidelity of the Slpfoies^ 
 even more than on that of their Wives. The 
 Friencilhip by which they are united feems to them 
 an infallible Curb to check the. Violence, of tha. 
 Flames with wliich. they might burn.. A . Man niuit 
 
T^o The Jewish S p y. Let. j-4. 
 
 be very foollfli, or very weak, to fancy that Friend- 
 ship can be a fure Means to conquer Love, lliis 
 may be the Cafe feme times : But in the ordinary 
 courfe of things, nothing can flop the Torrent of 
 this PaiTion, nor can Honour, or even Virtue itfelf, 
 fhnd again/?- \U 
 
 We have m all Ages {ttw the greateft Men guilty 
 cf the greateft Follies-; Mark Anthony idoliz'd 
 Clecpatra ; for her Sake he loft both his Empire 
 and his Life : And what was the moft aftonifhing 
 of all, He to v/hom yuUus Cecfar was oblig'd for 
 the Gonqueft of the World, fled at the Battle of 
 Aol'ium. 
 
 Without going fo far back for Inftances of the 
 furprizing Follies of Great Men, our Age is the 
 Witnefs of that ftrange Union which formed one 
 of the greateft ?v4onarchs that the World ever faw 
 prefide over Pvlortals*. This prodigious Genius, 
 capable cf putting the greateft and moft difficult Pro- 
 je£l:s in execution ; this new Legiflator.of his Domi- 
 nions ; this Guardian Deity of an humbled King -f ; 
 this Conqueror of another Alexander ^^ yielded to 
 the Charms of the Wife of a common Soldier^ and 
 promoted her to the Rank of an Emprefs. 
 
 Love is capable of furmounting all Obftacles ; 
 and there are few Hearts in v/hich it does not ex- 
 cite the other Faffions where once it has got the 
 Maftery. I will confefs that it does not debauch 
 Virtue diredlly, but it difguifes it fo well that it 
 renders it almoft ufelefs. The natural Equity, 
 which every one pretends to follow, is written in- 
 no ether Books but our Hearts. We only dif- 
 cover it thro' the Veil of our Paffions ; and this 
 Equity aft'umes whatever Form they give it. We 
 
 * Feter I. Czar of Mufcovy. f Jugujius King of 
 Tolanct. jl Charles XIL King of Siveden. 
 
 oftea 
 
I Let. 3-4. The J e \v i sh S p y. 2 f s 
 
 ' often miftake Vice for Virtue, and we ufe the 
 Names of Generofity, Pity and Tendernels, to give 
 a Sandion to our Follies. A Man whom Love 
 forces to betray his Friend, thinks he can juftify his 
 Conduct by pleading, in excufe for his Treachery, 
 an unknown Power, an Inclination of which he has 
 not the Controul j and when, by little and little, 
 he is plung'd into the Depth of Guilt, he thinks he 
 is not far from the Track of Virtue. 
 
 Friendfl:iip wou'd be no Security to me againlt 
 Love. If 1 were a Genoefe^ I fi:iou'd not much care 
 whether my Wife had a Sigifoeus^ or a titular Lover, 
 who, under the Pretence of an eftablifh'd and infig- 
 nificant Cuftom, may when he pleafes deceive me, 
 and render my Precautions fruitlefs. Tho' born in . 
 the Levmity I am not of a jealous Temper. My 
 Opinion as to the Sigijhies^ is the Opinion of a rea- 
 fonable Man. We ought not, like the Mahoinetani- 
 and the Italians^ to torment ourfelves with the 
 Sufpicion of our Wives Diflionefty ; nor ought we 
 to give Occafion for it, as forae of the Qcnocfe^ 
 and the French in general. *Tis ridiculous to go to 
 expofe Women to dangerous Trials, and to ej.pe^t 
 that they fhou'd. efcape without yielding, 'l^is the: 
 fame thing as to put a Perfon into a flippery Path, . 
 and then to demand that he never make a fldfe 
 Step. 
 
 This Liberty wliieh the Women have at Genoa^ 
 renders Societv amiable and charming. There is ■ 
 not a City in Ilaly where a Traveller and a Fo- 
 r-eigner may pafs their Time more agreeably. The 
 Genoefe. are very polite, and receive Perfons that 
 are recommended to them with very gr^at Re- 
 fpe6l. Adofes Caro gave me a Letter for the Se- 
 Jiator Doria^ who has the Title of Prince. He gave 
 jaie a very civil Reception. Neverthelefs, with all 
 his Poiiten^fsj I difcover'd an Air of Giandeur and.. 
 M6 VanitT;- 
 
2 ^2 The Jew i sh S p y. Let. 3-4. 
 
 Vanity infeparable from the Great. 'Tis a com- 
 mon Saying in lialy^ that there are three forts of 
 Animals infiipportable by reafon of their Arrogance, 
 'd'i%. Cardinals, Dukes, and the Genoefe Senators. 
 This Prince Voria, to whom I went to pay my 
 Duty, is of a Family as proud as noble : His Fa- 
 ther, a Man of a ridiculous Vanity, affe<£led to have 
 great Horfes, tall Domeflics, large Apartments, 
 &'c-. His Table was ferved with huge Difhes, great 
 Plates, i^c. He chofe a Wife that was extremely 
 tall, and refufed one that was m.uch richer becaufe 
 fhe was fhorter. When any one fpoke to him, he 
 raifed himfelf imperceptibly, and by little and little 
 exalted himfelf upon his Toes, that be might appear 
 tlie taller. 
 
 This I own to be, in my Opinion, a very ridi- 
 culous Grandeur. How contemptibly does a Philo- 
 fcpher think of a Man who makes his Merit to con- 
 fifc in the Tallnefs of his Horfes and the Stature of 
 ills Domeftics ? And yet this is what the great Men 
 tlo in part found their Glory upon ! T'heir very 
 Hearts and Souls centre in their Riches ! Do buC 
 ilrip a certain Lord of the ftately Ray men t that 
 covers him ; put him in a Condition never more to- 
 talk of his Equipage, of Hunting-Matches, of mid- 
 night Suppers, and you will fee nothing more than 
 an ungainly clumfy Creature, whofe ill Shape the- 
 Taylor had taken care to conceal under a Load of. 
 Lace, and whofe Countenance and Phifiognomy the 
 Peruke-Maker had m.ended, by concealing half of 
 his Face. His Converfation will be low ; he will 
 fcarce have the Power of explaining what he means ; 
 and his Valet de Chambre, in comparifon with him, 
 v/ill appear to be a Demojihenes. 
 
 If great Ncblem.en knew to what Ridicule their 
 mifplaced Vanity expofes them, they would perhaps 
 take another Method to gain the Efteem of the 
 
 Public, 
 
Let. 34. The Jewish Spy. 2 yj 
 
 Public. If they only afFe^l (lately Airs to gain the 
 Refpe^t of the World, I pity them for havino- 
 chofe the Means which do but remove them the 
 farther from their Mark. Merit, Valour, and Pro- 
 bity are the Virtues that captivate the Heart. But 
 Pride, Auflerity, Contempt, Infolence, are fure to 
 be requited with the Hatred and Indignation of 
 the Public. Conftraint hinders it indeed from 
 breaking out, becaufe the Rank which they, who 
 are thus hated and defpifed, bear in the World, 
 forces to Silence; but this Conftraint increafes the 
 Difguft of the Public to be forcM to bear thofe 
 Affronts. 
 
 Men have a Byafs within themfelvcs which in- 
 clines them to an Equality: 'Tis mortifying to them 
 to fee any that are infinitely more happy than they 
 are; and fuch too very often, who, without any 
 Merit, enjoy all the Gifts and Honours of Fortune. 
 This Envy, with which the common People hate 
 thofe who pofTefs eminent Pofls, can only be con- 
 quer'd by a Virtue which puts it to filence, and 
 forces it to confefs that Merit is join'd to Greatnefs, 
 and that the latter is but the jufl Reward of the 
 former. 
 
 I told thee in my lafl Letter what little Con- 
 cern mofl of the Gencefe have for the true Glory 
 and Happinefs of their Country; confequently this 
 Republic has been ever declinino; for near 300 
 Years. The Avarice of the Men in Offices, and 
 theMifunderlfanding that has prevailed among them, 
 have been the Occafion of the LofTes which this 
 State has fuflain*^d. The City of Savona^ which is 
 but eight Leagues from Genoa ^ have rebelled fe- 
 veral times on account of the OpprefTions it fufFer- 
 ed, it was once debated in the Senate, whether it 
 were not better intrely to deflroy it. Gentlemen, 
 %s a Senator of the Doria Family, I deftre you on- 
 
2^4 The Jewish Spy. Let. 34, 
 
 /v. to fend to Savona fuch another Governor as the 
 two laji were'i for if you intend to ruin that City 
 intirely^ you cannot make ufe of a better Expedi- 
 ent. A Touch of Irony fo judicious as this, made 
 the Senate refletfl on their Error; they call'd the 
 two laft Governors to an Account, and puniflied 
 them for their Mifdemeanors. If the fame Regard, 
 had been fliewn to the Ifland of CorTica, of whofe 
 Revolt I formerly gave thee an Account, that King- 
 dom would ftill have remained in the Obedience 
 which it ow'd to its Sovereigns. At the beginning 
 of the Corftcans Rebellion the Genoefe thought they 
 cou'd eafily fupprefs it; but after having employ'd. 
 aJl their Force in humbling them, they had recourfe 
 to the Emperor, and defired him to furnifh them 
 with an Army. I muft here tell thee a Story which, 
 is a propos to this Subjeil. 
 
 A Gardener complain'd to the Lord of his Man- 
 ner of a Hare that came every Day into his Garden 
 to eat Cabbages. The Lord being determin'd to^ 
 drive the Creature out, comes to the Peafant's 
 Lodge, accompany'd with half a fcore Huntfmen. 
 ibllow'd by thirty Dogs, and does more Mifchief 
 in a Minute than the Hare cou'd have done if he 
 had liv'd a thoufand Years. He was purfuM quite 
 through the Garden; but in fpite of the Dogs he. 
 made his way through a Hole in the Wall; upon 
 which the Gentleman advifed the Countryman to 
 {lop it up, and congratulated him on his Deliver- 
 ance from his Enemy. The Genoefe have had juft 
 this Gardener's Fate. They paid 6000 Germans 
 for a long time,, v/hich coft them immenfe Sums, 
 The Chiefs of the Rebels have got. off like this. 
 Hare. They made their Efcape, and having im- 
 plor'd the Emperor's AiTiftance and Mercy, he. 
 granted it to them, and obtain' d their Pardon from- 
 Jhe Genoefe, But that Prince had fcarce withdrawn- 
 
 iiis 
 
Let. 35"- 716^ Jewish Spy. iff 
 
 his Troops from the Ifle of Corfica when it revolted 
 again, and the Genoefe have had the Mortification 
 to find they have laid out their Money to no pur- 
 pofe, and th:it they are obliged to renew a War, of 
 which they know not what will be the Iflue. 
 
 Dire61: thy Anfwer to me at Turin ^ for I fet out 
 for that City to-morrow, and fhall flay there fomc 
 Days. 
 
 Fare thee well, and may 'ft thou enjoy Peace,. 
 
 Wealth, and Health 
 
 LETTER XXXV. 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac O n i s, 
 
 a Rabhi^ at Conftantinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 T Still expert the Books from ArnJ}erda?n\ and 
 •*' have writ feveral times to Mofes Rodrigo to prefs 
 him to fend them to me; but to no purpofe: He 
 puts me oft to the End of the Month, and I fhall 
 not be able to fend them to Conjlantinople in lefs than 
 live Weeks. 
 
 I have fearch'd all the Bookfellers Shops at Pa- 
 ris for fome choice new Tra6fs, to add to thofe 
 which I fliall receive from Holland^ but found no- 
 thing good befides what I have already fent thee, 
 except two little Romances that are lately come 
 out. The firft is intitled, Les Egaremens du Cceur 
 & de r Efprit', the Author of which 1 have already 
 made mention of in my former Letters *. He writes 
 in a pure Stile, underftands Human Nature, and 
 
 * Crebillon the. Son, 
 
2^6 T^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 55. 
 
 be lays the Heart of Man open with a great deal 
 of Clearnefs and Jufllce: But in this Work he lias 
 fallen into an Error, which he has often condemn'd 
 in the V/ritings of others. He makes it plain to the • 
 Reader, that he affedls to be witty; and there are 
 fome Pafiages where Nature is facrificcd to the falfe 
 Glare. But this Error, which is not common, is 
 repair'd by a thoufand Beauties. The Author of 
 this Romance paints rather than writes Things j and 
 the Pi61:ures he drav/s ftrike the Imagination with 
 Pleafure. Do but confider if it be pofTible to de- 
 fine the firft Surprize of a Heart with more Jufl- 
 nefs and Clearnefs. Without fearching into the Mo--^ 
 five of my ASiton, I managed^ I interpreted her Looks ; 
 / endeavour'' d to make her leajl Motions my Lejfons, 
 So much Ohjiinacy in not lofmg Sight of her inade 
 7ne at laji taken notice of by her. She looked upon 
 me in her turn^ I fix^d her without knowitig it, 
 and during the Charm with which I was captivatdd 
 zuhether I vjov^d or not^ I know not what my Eyes 
 told her^ but Jhe turned hers away with a fort of 
 Blujh. 
 
 None but a Man who was at that JuncS^ure, or 
 had been formerly, in Love cou'd, with fo much. 
 Truth and Dehcacy, have painted all the Motions 
 of the Soul. Genius, Wit, and Learning cannot 
 draw Pidlures {(:^ much to the Life, it being a Point 
 to which the Heart alone can attain. When I fay 
 the Heart, I mean a tender Heart, and one that is 
 in fuch Situations. The following is the Charailer 
 of a Prude in Love. Being net to be depended 
 upon in her Proceedings^ flje was a perpetual Mixture 
 of Tendernefs and Severity : She feem'd to yield only 
 to be the more obftinate in her Oppofition. If Jhe 
 thought Jhe had^ by what jhe faid^ difpofed me to en- 
 tertain any fort of Hopes ^ being on the Watch horn, 
 to difappint me^ fnc prefently refum'd that Air 
 
 which 
 
Let.35'- Z/^^ Jewish Spy. 2f7 
 
 •whicb had made me Jo often tremble^ and left me nothing 
 to truft to but a melancholy Uncertainty, One cannot 
 help being ftruck with the Truth and Nature which 
 prevail irT this Character. Without an Acquaint- 
 ance with the World, and a perfedl Knowledge of 
 Mankind, 'tis impofiible to attain to this Point. 
 *Tis difficult to diftinguifh the different Forms, 
 and, as one may fay, the internal Motives of dif- 
 ferent Characters. A mean Writer does only take 
 a Sketch of *em ; but a good Author paints them^ 
 fets them plainly in Sight, and expofes them as they 
 really are. 
 
 A Romance Is confider'd in no other Light than 
 as a Work compofed only for Amufement ; but 
 fomething elfe ought to be the Scope of it : For 
 every Book that has not the Ufeful as well as the. 
 Agreeable, does not deferve the Ertecm of good 
 Judges. The Heart ought to be inftrudted at the 
 fame time as the Mind is amufed ; and this is the 
 Quality with v/hich the greateft Men have render'd 
 their Writings famous. 
 
 A Writer who, abounding with bold Fidlions 
 and imaginations, amufes the Readers for a matter 
 of a dozen Volumes with Incidents, work'd up art- 
 fully and importantly, and who neverthclcfs in the 
 Clofe of his Book entertains his Reader's Imacrinatioa 
 
 o 
 
 with nothing but Rapes, Duels, Sighs, Defpair, and 
 Tears * ; has not the Talent of infl:ru6ling, nor 
 can he attain to Perfe6tion ; for he pofFelFes but the 
 leaft part of his Art. An Author v/ho pleafcs with- 
 out inflrudling, does not pleafc long ; for he fees his 
 Book grow mouldy in the Bookl'eller's Shop, and 
 his Works liave the Fate of forry Sermons and cold 
 Panegyric. 
 
 Heretofore Romances were nothing more than a 
 Khapfody of tragical Adventures, which captivated 
 * La Calprcned^. 
 
 the 
 
2 f 8 The Jewish Spy. Let. 3 f. 
 
 '&iQ Imagination and diflra^ted the Heart *. 'Tw:;5 
 pleafant enough to read them, but nothing more 
 was got by it than feedmg the Mind with Chimaeras, 
 which were often hurtful. The Youth greedily 
 fwallowM all the wild and gigantic Ideas of thofs 
 fabulous Heroes, and when their Genius's were ac- 
 cuftomed to enormous Imaginations, they had no 
 longer a Relifh for the Probable. For fome time 
 paft this manner of Thinking has been chang'd : 
 Good Tafte is again return'd ; the Reafonable has 
 fucceeded in the place of the Supernatural ; and in- 
 ftead of a Number of Incidents with which the leaft 
 FaiSls were overcharged, a plain lively Narration is 
 required, fuch as is fupported by CharacSlers that' 
 give us the Utile Dulci. 
 
 Some Authors have wrote in this Tafte, and have 
 advanced more or kfs towards Perfe61:ionj in propor- 
 tion as they have copy'd Nature -f-. 
 
 There are others who carry Things to Extremi** 
 iy ', for, by afFefting to appear natural, they be- 
 come low and creeping, and have neither the Ta«- 
 lent of pleafmg nor of inftru6ling %. 
 
 Some hat^e had recourfe to infipid Allegory ||-^ 
 thinking to pleafe by a new Tafl-e ; but their Works 
 dy'd in their Birth, and v/ere fo little read that the/ 
 efcaped Criticifm. 
 
 If the bad Authors were but to refleft on the Ta- 
 lents and QualifiGations necelTary for a good Ro- 
 mance, Works of this kind would no longer be 
 their Refuge. A Man who is prefs'd both by Hun- 
 ger and Thirft, fets about writing a Book, and tho' 
 
 * The Pokxandre oi Gomher'villey the Ariana oi Des 
 Maretx, &c. 
 
 f Le Prenjot d' Exiles. See the Bihliotheque des Romans. 
 
 X Hiftoire du Chevalier des Efars, k de la ComtefTc 
 de Merely Sec. 
 
 11 Fanferedin^ &c, 
 
 he 
 
Let. jf. T/^(? Jewish Spy. 25"^- 
 
 be has not Knowledge enough to write Hlflory, nor 
 Genius for Works of MoraHty, he ftains a couple 
 of Quires of Paper with a Heap of ill-digefted Ad- 
 ventures, which he relates without Tafte, and with- 
 out Genius, and carries his Work to a Bookfellcr^ 
 who, were he oblig'd to buy it by Weight, and to 
 give him but twice the Coft of the Paper, wou'd 
 pay more for it than the Worth of it. Perhaps there 
 is as much need for Wit, an Acquaintance with 
 Mankind, and the Knowledge of the Paffions, to 
 compofe a Romance as to write a Hiftory. The 
 only Qualification to paint Manners and Cuftoms, 
 is a long Experience ; and a Man muft have ex- 
 amin'd the various Characters very clofely, to be able 
 to defcribe them to a Nicety. 
 
 How can an Author, wliofe common Vocation is 
 flaining of Paper, and fpending his whole Time in 
 a CofFee-houfe or in a Garret, give a juft Definition 
 of a Prince, a Courtier, or a fine Lady ? He never 
 fees thofe Perfons but as he walks the Streets ; and 
 I can fcarce think that the Mud with which he is 
 often dafli'd by their Equipages, communicates to 
 hirn any Share of tlieir Sentiments, Yet there is 
 not a wretched Author but makes a Duke and 
 Dutchefs fpeak as he fancies. But when a Man of 
 Fafraion comes to caft his Eye on thefe ridiculous 
 Performances, he is perfe6ily furpriz'd to fee the 
 Converfation of Margaret the Hawker, retail'd by 
 
 the Name of tiie Dutchefs of ^ — -, or the Mar- 
 
 chionefs of ■ . Yet be thefe Books ever fo 
 
 bad, abundance of 'em are fold ; for many People, 
 extravagantly fond of Novelty, who only judge of 
 '1-hings fuperficially, buy thofe Works, tho' by the 
 Pcrufal of 'em they acquire a Tafte as remote Vrom 
 a happy Talent of Writing, as the Authors them- 
 felves are. 
 
 Don't 
 
26o 777^ Jewish Spy. Let. jf. 
 
 Don't fear, dear Ifaac^ tliat I fhall ever fend thee 
 a Colle6tion of fuch paultry Books. Be a Man ever 
 fo fond at Con/tantimpic of Romances and Hiftories 
 of Gallantry, 'tis expelled thev fliould ferve not 
 only for Pleafure but for Edification. 
 
 The fecond Book that I have bought, feems to- 
 me to be written with this View. 'Tis intitled,. 
 Memoirs of the Marquis de Mirmon ; or the Solitary 
 Philofopher, The Author writes with an eafy lively 
 Stile * ; and 'tis plain, that he himfelf was acquaint- 
 ed with the Chara6ters which he paints. Without 
 affedling to appear to have as much Wit as the for- 
 mer Author that I mention'd to thee, he delivers 
 the Truth every where in an amiable Drefs. If any 
 Fault can be found with him, 'tis explaining him- 
 felf a little too boldly ; and he is alfo reproach'd 
 with a fort of Negligence pardonable in a Man whofc 
 Stile is in general fo pure as his is. The following 
 is his Charadter of Solitude. 'Tz'j not to torment 
 himfelf that a wife Man feems to feparate himfelf from 
 Mankind: He is far from impofing new Laws on 
 himfelf^ and only follows thofe that are already pre^ 
 fcrib d to his Hands. If he lays himfelf under any 
 new Lavjs, he referves to hiraf elf the Power of change 
 ing them^ being their ahfolute Mafier, and not their 
 Slave. Being content to cool his Pajftons^ and to go^ 
 vern them by his Reafon^ he does ?iot imagine it impof- 
 fible to tame them to his own Fancy ^ and does not con- 
 vert what vj as formerly ay^ innocent Amufement to him., 
 into a Monfter to terrify him. He retains in Solitude 
 all the Pleafures which Men of Honour have a Relijh 
 for in the JVorld.^ and only puts it out of their Power 
 of being hurtful.^ by preventing them from being too 
 viohit. 
 
 There are feveral other PafTages in this Boole, 
 '/t'hich are as remarkable for their Perfpicuity as 
 * M. d'Argens, 
 
 their 
 
I 
 
 Let. jy. TZ/i? Jewish Spy. 261 
 
 their Jull:ncrs. Such is the Defcrlption of the Dif- 
 guft which fometimes attends Marriages. JVhen Per- 
 fons are in Love^ they put the beji Side outwards. A 
 Ma?i who is defirous of pie a fin g^ takes a world of Care 
 to conceal his DefcSis. A JVoirMn knows Jiill better 
 how to diffcmhle. T'lvo Perfcns often Jiiidy for fix 
 MoJiths together to bubble one afiothcr^ a?id at laji they 
 marry .^ and punijh one another the Remai?ider of their 
 Lives for their Dijfmulation. 
 
 You will own, dear Ifaac, that there is a glaring 
 Truth and Pcripicuity in this Charader, which 
 ftrikes the Mind. Thefe naked Thoughts prefent 
 thenifelves with Luftre to the Imagination, which 
 cannot help being pleafed, becaufe they are fo juft. 
 If the Authors who write Romances in this new 
 Tafte, would always adhere to the Truth, and 
 never fufFcr thcmfelves to be perverted to any new 
 Mode (for this is what Works of Wit are liable 
 to) their Writings wou'd probably be as ufcful in 
 forming the Manners as Comedy, becaufe they 
 wouM render Romances the Pidture of Human 
 Life. A covetous Man will therein find himfelf 
 painted in fuch natural Colours ; a Coquette will 
 therein fee her Picture fo refembling her, that their 
 ReflecSlion upon reading the Chara6ler will be more 
 ufeful to them than the long-winded Exhortations 
 of a Fryar, who makes himfelf hoarfe with Ex- 
 clamation, and often tires out the Patience of his 
 Hearers. 
 
 Authors who fet about writing Romances, ought 
 to ftuclv to paint Manners according to Nature, 
 and to expoie the moft fecret Sentiments of the 
 Heavr. As their Works are but ingenious Fidtions, 
 th*^ can never pieafe otherwife than as they ap- 
 proach to the Probable. Nor is every thing that 
 iavc'irs of the Marvellous, efteem'd more among 
 Men of Tafte than pure Nonfenfe. Both generallv 
 
26i The Jewish Spy. Let. ^(J. 
 
 go together, and the Authors who fall Into gigantic 
 or unnatural Ideas, have commonly a declamatory 
 Stile, bordering upon a pompous and unintelligible 
 Didion. 
 
 The Stile of Romances ought to be fimple ; in- 
 deed it fhould be more florid than that of Hiftory, 
 but not have all that Energy and Majefty. Gallantry 
 is the Soul of Romance, and Grandeur and Juftnefs 
 that of Hiftory. A Perfon muft be very v/ell ac- 
 quainted w^^ith the World to excel in the one, and 
 he muft have Learning and Politics to diftinguifti 
 himfelf in the other. Good Senfe, Perfpicuity, 
 Juftnefs of Chara£ters, Truth of Defcriptions, Pu- 
 rity of Stile are necefiary in both. The Ladies are 
 born Judges of the Goodnefs of a Romance. Po- 
 fterity decides the Merit of a Hiftory. 
 
 Fare thee vi^ell, dear Ifaac. As foon as I have 
 rcceiv'd the new Books from HoUatidy I will fend 
 tiiem to thee. 
 
 LETTER XXXVL 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis, 
 a Rahhiy at Conftantinople. 
 
 P 
 
 aris 
 
 I AM able to converfe freely with thee, and to 
 enjoy that Pleafure which renders the Converfa- 
 tion of Philofophers fo charming. Thy Quality 
 and Charaaer as a Rabbi, don't force me to dif- 
 guife my Sentiments to thee. Thou permitteft me 
 to lock up my moft fecret Thoughts in thy Breaft, 
 
 and 
 
Let. 36. The Jewish Spy. 16"^ 
 
 and art not offended at ceitain Doubts which" I 
 difcover to thee. Tell me, dear Ifaac^ art thou 
 really perfuaded that the IfracUtes are the only People 
 m the World who will be Partakers, after Death, 
 of the Glory of the Almighty ? For my part, I be- 
 lieve this to be a miftaken Opinion, and when thou 
 haft duly confider'd the matter thou wilt be of the 
 fame ^4ind. Is it pofTiblc that a merciful God 
 could create fo many Millions of Men with a De- 
 fign to make them for e^'er miferable ? Could they 
 themfelvcs chufe whether they would be born of the 
 Tribe of Jacob ; and ought they to fufFer Punifh- 
 ment for a Thing which was not in their Power 
 to prevent ? Thou wilt anfwer perhaps, that we 
 don't know the immenfe Secrets of God, that 'tis 
 impertinent for a finite Creature to go about to 
 dive into the profound Myfteries of the infinite 
 Creator. But this Queftion is not a Myfterv, it 
 being as evident as our Exiftence, and as cafy to 
 demonftrate. 
 
 I don^t believe that thou denleft this Principle, 
 that God being fovereign Goodnefs, nothing is good, 
 nothing is juft, farther than it approaches to and re- 
 fembles his Jufticc and Goodnefs. 1 am alfo going 
 to lay dovm a fecond Principle, as certain as the 
 flift. Our Rcafon is a Gift from God, who cannot 
 deceive us ; 'tis a Prefent that he has made to us, 
 to enable us to know and ferve him. If this Reafon, 
 in the moft evident Cafes, mifled us, God would 
 deceive us j which cannot be maintained, God be- 
 ing the Truth itfelf *. 
 
 Now 
 
 * Nunc circumfpiclam diligentias an forte adhuc apud 
 me alia fmt ad quas noiidum refpexi. Sum certus me 
 efie Rem cogitantem, nunquid ergo etiam fcio quid re- 
 quiratur ut de aliqua ea Re fim certus ? Nempe in hac 
 prima Cognitione nilul aliud eft quam clara qusedam et 
 
 di- 
 
2^4 T-^^ Jewish Spy. Let. 3(^. 
 
 Now this Reafon tells me, and clearly demon- 
 ftrates it, that 'tis inconfifrent with Juftice that a 
 Perfon fhould be punifhed for an involuntary Crime, 
 and a Crime in which he has no Share *. In vain 
 will it be objefted to me, that the Ideas which I 
 have of Juftice deceive me. They cannot deceive 
 me, becaufe they are a Confequence of my Reafon; 
 nor can they be falfe, becaufe they are verify'd by 
 the Refemblance they bear to the Goodnefs and Ju- 
 ftice of God, which my Reafon com'inces me ought 
 to be fuch. 
 
 diftinfta Perceptio ejus quod af&rmo ; quae fane non fuffi- 
 ceret ad me certum de Rei Veritatc reddendum, fi poffet 
 unquam contingere ut aliquod ita dare et diliin<Sle perci- 
 ^ere falfum ellet. Ac proinde jam videor pro Regula 
 generali poiTe ftatuere, illud omne effe verum, quod valde 
 clare Sc diHindle percipio. Des Cartes Meditationes de 
 prima Philofophia, i^c. Medit. iii. p, 15. Jmjierdam 
 Edition. 
 
 * The chief of the Attributes (of God) which feems ne- 
 €effary to be confidered here, confifts in that he is very 
 True, and the Source of all Wifdom ; fo that 'tis not 
 poffible he fhould deceive us, that is to fay, that he 
 Ihould be direftly the Caufe of the Errors to which we 
 are fubjeft, and which we experience in ourfelves. For 
 altho' the Art of Deceiving feems to be a Mark of the 
 Subtilty of the Mind among Men, yet the Defire of 
 Deceiving never proceeds from any Motive but Malice, 
 or Fear and Folly, and by confequence cannot be attri- 
 buted to God. From hence it follows, that the Faculty 
 of Knowledge, which he gives us, never perceives any 
 Objed but what is true or real, as far as it is capable 
 of perceiving j that is to fay, as far as it knows clearly 
 and dillinftly, becaufe we fhould have reafon to think 
 that God would be a Deceiver, i^ he had given us fuch a 
 fort of Knowledge as that v/e fhould miftake the Falfe for 
 the True, when we malce the befl ufe of it. Principles of 
 the Fhilofophy of Rene Des Cartes, Part i. p. 23 and 24. 
 
 Lay 
 
Let. 3<^. The Je%vish Spy. 265" 
 
 Lay afide for one Moment, Dear Jfaac^ the Pre- 
 jadiees inibib'd in thy Childhood, and look v/itli a 
 Philofophical Eye upon an honefl: Nazaraie who 
 lives in the midft o( Paris. He believes and ferves 
 the fame God as we do. He obfervcs the Tea 
 Commandments which he gave to Mofes. He is 
 brought up in Prejudices, which induce him to think 
 cur Holy Law is fulfilled, and on that which he pro- 
 fefTes, as the New Covenant. Thou knoweft the 
 Pow-er of Prejudices, and of the firft Ideas with 
 whhch we are infpired. The Arabian Authors have 
 a Saying, That the Governors of Touth prrfide over the 
 Stars of their Nativity, Why fhould'ft thou think^ 
 Dear Ifaac^ that God would bind this Nazarene by 
 fuch llrong Bands, and hinder him from entring 
 into the Faith of Ifracl^ only to have the Pleafure 
 oF defi roving him? 
 
 I am al-lonifli'd v/hen I read in fome of the Naza- 
 rene Books this impious Principle, That there's a 
 NecelTity for fome People to be DamnM for the 
 Glory of God, jud as Kings have Slaves to work at 
 the Oar for the Glory of their Majtfties. Has God, 
 that immenfe Being, who out of Nothing made 
 every Thing, who can in an Inltant annihilate the 
 Univerfe, has he need of the Torment of any un- 
 happy Creatures for his Glory ? If he punifhes them, 
 'tis an Eue^H: of his Juflice, and of the Order ell-n- 
 bl'^fhed by his Wifdom. But his Wrath docs not 
 fall uDon Crimes which are owino; to invincible i-- 
 norance, and to a fuperior Power. 
 
 ^VitNazarenes have fcveral Doctors among tliem*, 
 whofc Opinion 1 think very rational, llicy fi\., 
 they judge no body, but being content with honour- 
 wig God, and profeiTing the Religion which they 
 think the pureft, and the moft conducive to Salva- 
 
 * The Proteflants 
 
 Vol, L N tion. 
 
266 The J E w I s H S p Y. Let 5 6^ 
 
 tion, they decide nothing as to that of other Men, 
 but leave it to God to pronounce his Decrees. I 
 ■wifti that all the Rabbies thought as difcreetly, and 
 •had not fo fublime an Idea of their own Nation as if 
 it was the only one capable of receiving the P^avours 
 of God, and as if the Almiglity had nothing to do, 
 but to take care of a handful of Strollers and Vaga* 
 bonds. Our Way of Thinking feems to me to be an 
 Infult upon the Human Race. We are all the Children 
 •of Adam ; God has created the one as well as the 
 other?.. It was in his Power to have made all Mankin<i 
 I fr a elites. What did he form Nazarcms and Aluf- 
 julmen only to make them miferable ? And can 
 the fovereign Goodnefs take Delight in Injuflice 
 and Cruelty ? 
 
 I know that our Rabbies don't abandon the Opi- 
 nion that th.e Na%arenes are reprobated ; and they 
 niake it an elTential Article of our Religion. But i 
 <jiveft myfelf of that Authority w^hich they formerly 
 acquired over my Mind. Sound Philofophy teaches 
 me to exajnine an Opinion before I embrace it, 
 ^V'hen I was young, I fuffcr'd myfelf to be led by 
 Fear and Weaknefs into the Belief of every thing 
 taught by my Nurfes, Parents, and Mafters. Age 
 has taught me to reform my Underf}:anding, and to 
 fiiake an exail Review of all the Opinions I e\Tr en- 
 tertained. I give Credit to the R^abbies no farther 
 than as their Decifions agree with the clear and diftin^t 
 Ideas which I have received immediately from God* 
 I lauo;h heartily at the ridiculous Attachment which 
 the 'Jews have to the Fidiions of the Tahniid ; and 
 fatisfy'd with the Subftance of our Religion, I con- 
 demn its Superftitions, 
 
 I would not make fuch Confeflion of my Opinion 
 to any other Man except Thee, but I know that 
 wlien I repofe my fecret Thoughts in thy Breaft, 
 \ /hut them up in tlie Manfion of Truth and Si- 
 lence. 
 
tct. 3(>. The J E \V I S H S P Y. 2 GJ 
 
 Icnc^. When I fee a number of People In any 
 Country making Piofeflion of a different Religion ; 
 when I know them all to be honeft Men ; v\iien I 
 examine their Manners, and find them full of Can- 
 dour and Sincerity, I can't imagine that God, who 
 is juft in his Decrees, and gracious in his Mercy, 
 Should punifli Men, who ailing in Obedience to the 
 internal Legiflator, I mean the Law of Nature and 
 that of Confcience, have been guilty of no other 
 Crime, than conforming to the Religion of their 
 Anceflors in which they were born. Was it at their 
 -own Choice to receive Life from one Father rather 
 than another? -I tliink there's a Barbarity in the Dc- 
 cifion which our Rabbles have pronounced as to tlic 
 Fate of the Nazarcncs after Death. 
 
 I forefee, dear Ifaac^ what Objections thou might'd 
 make, and {hall anfwer them beforehand. 
 
 The Belief of the Being of a Gjd, implies the 
 Ncceflity of ferving him. The Worfhip that ought 
 to be paid to him, has been fettled by himfelf ; co!i- 
 fequently there is no deviating from it without bcir.g 
 guilty^of Sin. This is the common Argument inrli 
 Religions. They all tliink theirs to be the \Vcrihip 
 prefcribed by tl"re Word of God. Therefore wiien 
 i anfwer our Rabbies, I anfwer all other Dodlors 
 who decide fo boldly concerning the Salvation of 
 Man. I mufl take notice of that folid Anfwer given 
 by fome Naz.'irenc Do<5l:ors, who near two lumdicJ 
 Years ago, reformed a multitude of Abufes *■-'. 1 li;rif 
 Enemies afk'd them, if they believed that they who 
 adhered to the Faith and Opinions of the fovereign 
 Pontiff could be faved ? ff'^e damn no bcd)\ fay they, 
 '//V wicked J^i'iom and incrtal Si?is that deftroy ^o:ili^ 
 -and not the pedantic Decifton of i-oeak Men. If this 
 be the Cafe^ faid their Advcrfaries, JVhy clout you 
 
 * The Reformed Do(5>-ors of tlie Conferences ^xPdJp-. 
 
"26^ The ]Ewisn Spy. Let "^6. 
 
 ■embrace our Opinions to he in a full Certainty ? for we 
 •believe that you are damn'd. In a ft ate of Doubt ^ 
 therefore range ycurfelves on the furefl fide ; ivhich^ 
 faid the DocSlai'S gravely, // curs. JVe grant indeed 
 that Salvation 7nay be had in your Party^ but the 
 Errors and Supcrjiitlon with winch it is tainted, render 
 the Thing fo diffcidt that 'tis almofi iinpcjjible ', whereas 
 ■ivith us every thing conduSfs us to the IP'ay of Salvation y 
 and every thing makes the Pajfage to it eafy. 
 
 There is no doubt jny dear Ifaac, but there is a 
 IVorfhip enjoin'd by God himfclf ; but 'tis to faci- 
 litate Mens Salvation, and not to dcftroy therru 
 Happy are they to Avhom God hath reveal'd it. 
 J3ut in my Opinion, 'tis an Impiety to fay, that he 
 created other Men to 'be damn'd *. 'Tis indeed 
 
 more 
 
 * I can^t comprehend for what reafon the modern 
 Catholic Divines abfolutely give up all thofe to Dam- 
 nation, whom they look upon as out of the Pale of 
 the Church, when feveral of the Fathers have decided, 
 •in clear and exprefs Terms, that the Pagans, who were 
 Virtuous, might be faved, without any, or at leafl-, 
 =hut a very confus'd Acquaintance with the Law of 
 Mofes. Now, I would fain hear any valid Reafon 
 that can be given to perfuade me, that the Divinity 
 fhould incline to dcftroy Men who never had any Notion, 
 -or at leail but very faint Ideas of Chriftianity, when he 
 pardoned thofe who were out of a poiHbility of being in- 
 ilrucled in fudaifm. The Church, a Divine will fay^ 
 has fo decided it, andvje ought to fuhmlt to its fudgment . 
 But thkj Church, of whofe Infallibility there is fuch 
 Boafling, mull: probably have been of another way of 
 Thinking in the Time of St. Bernard^ than it is now. 
 por this Father writing to Hugo de St. Vidor, tells him, 
 that he could not believe, that the Declaration of God 
 iJiade to Niccdcmus, Except a Man be born again of 
 
 V/aitr 
 
Let. 56. The Jewish Spt. ^6^ 
 
 more difficult for them to attain to Heaven ; but if 
 they are good, wife and virtuous, the Ahnighry 
 would fooner work a Miracle to draw them to him, 
 tlian fufFer Virtue to be requited v/ith everlaiting. 
 Torments. 
 
 The DifFercnce of Pvellglons in the World m;vde 
 Cardan run into avvhimfical Miffrake, worthy indeed, 
 of the Difciple of Judicial Aflrciogy. He had a- 
 Notion, that this Variety depended on the different. 
 Lifluence of the Planets. That EwopCufi Philofo- 
 pher maintain'd, that th.e Religion of thi Jevus was 
 oblig'd for its Origin to Saturny that of the Chri/Iians 
 to Jupiter^ and that of the Mahometans to Mars, 
 For that of the Pagans he affign'd feveral different 
 Conftellations. Such are the Errors thofe fall into 
 who ramble fur off in queflof the Caufe of a Thing, 
 which is apparent of it felf. ^Vhy fhould what is 
 owing to Mens Caprice and Inconftancy be made 
 
 dependant 
 
 Water and the Holy Spirit, he Jhall net enter into i\e 
 Kingdom of Heaven^ ought to be taken in its utmoft La- 
 titude, and apply'd to thofe who had no Knowledge of 
 it ; the Je^ws, other People, and all the virtuous Pagans, 
 before Jefus Chrijl came into the World, having been 
 cleanfed from Original Sin, and being in a capacity o:' 
 Salvation, by living according to the Law of Naturf. 
 WJ30 is Jo ignorant as not to kno-uu, that in the antier,-: 
 Times, other Remedies ^^vere not <^juanting bcfidcs Baptifn' 
 again/} Original Sin F For this end the Sacrament of Cir - 
 cunicifion n.vas dili'vered to Abraliam and his Seed. And 
 in the Nations that profcfs the ChriiHan Scheme, n.vc 
 helien)e indeed that Adult Per fens are expiated by their 
 Fa^th and Sacrifices, and that the Faith of the ParenlT' 
 profit eth, and cnjen JuJJiccth for Hit !e Children. St. Ber- 
 nard's 7 2d Epillle to Plugo de St. Vicicr. 
 
 St. Thomas aflerts, that the Gentiles were in a Capa- 
 city of being fav'd, though with more Uncertainty and 
 greater Difficulty tiian the Jews. The Gentiles obtain J 
 N 3 iaA 
 
2/0 The J EAY I s H S PY. Let. j(?. 
 
 dependant on the Planets ? There is in all Religions 
 icme new Sentiment ftarted, which Time ripens to 
 n particular Opinion and Creed. Had Saturn any 
 Concern with the Ten Tribes, that feparated them- 
 selves to facrifice upon the High-Places ? Had Jupiter 
 any thing to do v/ith the Brain of Jrius, notv/ith- 
 itanding the pretended Influences of the Planets, of 
 whicli I have already (hewn thee the Ridiculoufnefa 
 and ImpciTibility in my former Letters ? 
 
 The Cpicion of cur Rabbies, as to the Deflruc- 
 iron of the Na-arenes, is a Confequence of the 
 Vanity cf our Nation. SufR-r me to unbofom 
 Hiyfelf and to difcover my moll: fecret Thoughts 
 to thee. We alv/ays had a riaughtinefs and a Pride, 
 which have drawn upon us the Hatred of all other. 
 People. Vv'e, even to this day, retain the fame 
 Faults 3 and though we are difpersM all over the 
 
 World, 
 
 nation mere perfeSily and fecurely under the Ohfer'vances 
 gj the LatVy than under the Laiv of Nature alone ; avd 
 therefore to fuch Ohfer^vances nx)sre they admitted. As 
 i'ven novj the Laity pafs to the Clerical Order, and the 
 Seculars to the State of the Regulars, although they might 
 he fa'v'd ^vithont it. Thonice Summa i» Prim. Secundl 
 %^/. 98. Art. 5. 
 
 One of the greatefi: Divines that livM a little before 
 the Council of Trent, maintain'd, that both the antient 
 zr\i modern P-agans might be favM by hving jullly,. 
 though they were in an invincible State of Ignorance. 
 Jll that ever did, or do no^M exiji, to nvhom the Gofpel 
 has not reach'd, fmce they could obtain Faith in Chrij} 
 by no human Mean?, cannot be fuppofed blameable for 
 their Ignorance, fo long as they wanted Do6lors to 
 teach fhem. Andreas Vega de praparatione Adultorum 
 ^d Juji feat ion sniy lib. vi, cap. 18. 
 
Let. 3^. 7Xv Jew isH Spy. 271 
 
 World, tho' we are the Objects of the Contempt^ 
 Hatred, and Banter of all Nations, yet we have 
 not alter'd our v/ay of Thinking. What can give 
 occafion for this Vanity I know not. 'Tis true that 
 our Anceftors appear 'd upon the Sta2:c of the World 
 with very great Splendour, in the Time of Solomony 
 and fome other vitSlorious Kings : But they were 
 very often hvniibled, and carried into long and fe- 
 vcre Captivities by the Ferfiam and Affyrums^ and 
 afterwards fubducd by the Graksy and deflroy'd by 
 die Ro7uans. 
 
 We have always been the Sport of all Nations >-. 
 and if we go back to the reniotcft Ages, even lo- 
 tliofe before our Departure from Egypt^ we (hall 
 £iid CharacSliers of our People, that are not v-trv- 
 advantageous. We read \n the Fragments that arc 
 left us "by Maneiho^ the Egyptian Prieft, tl.at \i\ 
 the Reign of Amcmphh^ a Company of nafty Le- 
 prous People went out of Egypt under the Con- 
 duel of Aiojes^ to go and fettle in Syria. The 
 Teilimony of this Author, is confirmed by that; 
 of another celebrated Author among the Greeks *^ 
 who (i\ys, that 250000 Lepers were baniPn'd out of 
 Egypt by Order of Anienophis. Several other Hi- 
 florians there are, that indeed differ as to the Name 
 of the King who reign'd at the time of the y^o 
 Departure, but they are all agreed as to the ocabs 
 and Boils, with which they were for the moft pare 
 cover'd. Tacitus the famous Roman Author, fpeak-i 
 at large of this Matter, and corroborates the Opi- 
 
 I don't fee why we fhould now believe, what was 
 not believ'd two or three hundred Years ago. Surely, 
 the Divines are not ading the fame Part as the Pbyficians 
 do in Moliere^ who makes them fiy, that heretofore the 
 Heart ard the Milt 'were on the Left Side, hut no~M a- 
 dtiyi they are brought intirely to the Right Side. 
 
 * QI}cer.Sfno7i, 
 
 N 4 nion 
 
2/2 The Jewish S pt. Let. 5(>. 
 
 jnion of tlie other Authors f . We ought not there- 
 fore to'- be quite fo vain,, and inftead of defpifing 
 other Nations on account of the Favours which God- 
 has diftributcd to ours, w^e fhould remember that 
 'tis a Proof of his fovereign Goodnefs, which raifes 
 up the Humble, and pulls down the Mighty. Thus 
 God, to difplay the Greatnefs of his Mercy, was 
 pleafed to fu-gle out the vileft and the moft ungrate- 
 ful of the People, of v»^hich the BcTckflldings and 
 Murmurings of our Fathers in the Wildernefs are 
 plain Proofs. 'I'he Nazarenes are not fo elated as 
 we, at the Favours which they think the Divhiity 
 has ihewn- them. They own that they were once 
 miferable Gentiles^ but the Knov/ledge which they 
 afterwards had of the true God, taught them to 
 pitv, and not to defpife, fuch as they thought 
 miftaken. 
 
 Fare thee v^ell, dear IJaac^ and take care to pre- 
 ferve thy Health. 
 
 f Hiflorians are generally agreed in this Point, that 
 ^rhen E^ypt was infefted with a Leprofy, King Bocho- 
 ra, by Advice of the Oracle of Amnion, drove them 
 cut of his Country, as a ufelefs Multitude, odious to 
 the Diviuity. They add, that as they were fcatter'd 
 thro' the Defarts, and were quite broken-hearted, Mofesy 
 i-ne of their Leaders, adviied them to look for no M- 
 fiiance, either from God or Man, who had abandoned 
 fi-.em, but to follow him as their C-elellial Guide, who 
 Tvould deliver them out of Danger. D'' Ahlancotirt"s 
 ^'i yanfcation of Tacitus' s Annals ^ lib. 5. 
 
 L ET^ 
 
Let. 37. T/je Jewish Spy. 
 
 275' 
 
 LETTER XXXVIL 
 
 Ja C B B R I T O /^ A A R O N M O N C E G A^ 
 
 5'T^ I S now two Days, ] 
 have been at Turin. 
 
 my dear Monceca^ that I 
 The Fud^vonttl'e fee in 
 to me to be a People, that I had no true Idea of. 
 Their Charadler is a Compofition of tht French 
 Humour and the Italian, They are Pctits-AIaitres, 
 Slaves to Fafliions, and as full of Compilments as 
 the Frmch. They are Phlegmatic, Revengeful^ 
 Slaves to the Monks, . bafliful Lovers like the /''<?- 
 Hans \ and they have as much Vanity as thofc f.vo 
 Nations together. 
 
 Turin is a very pretty City, .full of B-.uI<ling.>^ 
 which are of noble Architcfture in the Grand Gout,, 
 Tbofe who frequent the Court, incline tav/ards thr 
 Fr:nch Manners, but the Burghers copy more after 
 the Italians ; yet, as I have told thte, neither thr 
 cne nor the other rcfeml/Te thofe two Nation?^ 
 intircly. 
 
 The principal AfTemblies and Aiilgnatlons icA 
 Love are commonly in the Churches. 'J^here are 
 few Days but what are fet a-part for celebratirrg th'^ 
 Fedival of fomc Saint, when there is a concouife 
 from all Parts to \!^q Chtirch that is dedicated to fuch 
 Saint, where there is an excelleiu Concert cf ?v'i:>- 
 KC. There they fpend part of the Day. The Bcxus, . 
 tb'i. B'vllcs^ the Abi>es of the Cu;irt^ arc r?';ularl»^ 
 N q 'at 
 
2 74 "The J E \Y I g H S p T. Let. 57; 
 
 at thefe Feafts *, and nothing fo much refembles 
 thofe of antlent Greecs, 7'he S^iint of the Day 
 has a fine and numerous Appearance, according to 
 the Goodnefs of the Mufic that is to be performM 
 in his Church. When he happens to be a Saint 
 ©f any Diftinftion and Fafhion, fuch as St.. Ignatius y 
 or St. Philip deNcrl^ a Mufician who has very good 
 Pay, and who never touches the Violin but on par- 
 ticular OccafionSj draws a vafl concourfe of Peo- 
 ple. St. Francis and St. John de Matha^ perhaps- 
 iiever had the Pleafure of having a good Symphony^, 
 ibr want of Vv'herewithal to pay for it. 
 
 When thefe AfTemblies, which the Fiedmontef& 
 call the Salute^ break up, they go and take the Air- 
 tiil the Dufk of the Evening in the public Squares, 
 The Efplanade which is between the City and Ci- 
 tadel, is the nioft frequented Walk during the Heats^ 
 'Of the Summer. There the Fiedynarttefe Nobility 
 ^ ith their Heads as ereci as Oftriches, their Hands 
 b/ tlicir Sides, and lordly Countenances, difplay a 
 Figure half French and half Italian, 'i'hey never 
 go oft of this Walk, but to the Coftee-Houfe, to- 
 take a Draught of Jelly, which is commonly their 
 Supper X> T^ht Pied/iiontsfe are very much addicSled- 
 to Frugality; a fine Charader, if fuch a Virtue was 
 not with them a Confcqucnce of their Avarice, 
 They are glad that the Heat of their CUmate fur- 
 iiifhes them with a Pretext for not eating Suppers. 
 But it fcems this Regimen, fo neceffary to their 
 Health, is not obferv'd when they are invited to- 
 any excellent Fvcpafr. i 
 
 * Thefe Fefilvals are ccmm-on to all the Towns of I 
 Italy. 
 
 % 'i'his Is rjfo the Supper of all the Italians, ! 
 
 Th« ; 
 
Let. J/. Tfje Jewish S?Y. 2jf 
 
 The Italians have in general for fome time paft 
 at leaft been very ignorant f , and the Picd?no?itcfe 
 are more fo ; for 1 don't-believe there ever was 
 an Author amongft them, v/hofe Reputation ex- 
 tended above ten Leagues round. None of the 
 Italian Writers, of ever fo httlc Note, are of their 
 Country. A Fiedimntcfe^ vvliom I reproached for 
 tliis, ani'wer'd me gravely, that I was miftaken,, 
 fince Plautiis and Terencs were both Fiedmontefe,- 
 I aftsi'd him how long this new Difcovery had been 
 made? He anfwer'd me, diat he did not know, but 
 he had iieard the lliing aiTirni'd hy a very Ligc- 
 nious Man^. who commonly fpent his time in a 
 Coftee-Houfe which was frequented by all the 
 learned Men in Turin. That's the Rendezvous of 
 all tlie Wits of this Countrv.- Thou would'ft be 
 amaz'd, dear Mcnceca^ if thou was't but to be tranf- 
 ported on a fudden from tlie Academy of Sciences to 
 this little Litterary Theatre, where Yefterday I had 
 the Mortification to hear more Impertinences and 
 Abfurdities than ever v/here committed tc Paper by 
 h.ilf of the Span's Divines. 
 
 The Ignorance of the Plednwniffe is ov/ingto two 
 Caufes ; tl'<eir vain llothful Temper, and tlie Submif- 
 fion to wliich they are reduc'd by the Inquifition,. 
 As foon as they underftand the Latin of the Bible or 
 the Mafs-Book, they think themfelves Scholars of 
 thefirft Clafs, congratulate themfclves upon the Ef- 
 forts of their Imagination, and can't conceive hovv^ 
 t)ieir Undorflanuings came to be rais'd tofucha Per- 
 fc<flion. 'Twou'd be dangerous indeed for them to 
 
 ■\ This demands an Explanation, I don't look upon. 
 n Poet, Vv'ho knows only to make Vei-fes,. or an Author 
 of Romances, to be Men of very great Learning. I only 
 fpeak of the modern halians^ amor.gfl; whom it cannot 
 be deny'd, there's neither any PhiloR)pher, or Hiltcriaa 
 of Diiiin^on, 
 
 N 6 cndeayoui: 
 
2j6 The j E \v I s H Spy, Let. 57; 
 
 endeavour to penetrate farther ; for the leaft Light 
 that would difpel their Darknefs, might drav/ the 
 Indignation of the Inquifition upon, them; Ignorance 
 being the Bafis of TranquiHty among the Monks. 
 
 The Fiedmo7itcfs have not V^ivacity enough to 
 make ariy Figure in the Bclks Lettres ; they can't 
 come up to the Authors that the other Jtalla72>-St^tcs 
 have bred ; and there is more diiFerence with regard 
 so the Ileat of Iniagi nation, between a Fkre^itme 
 ■jnd a Fiecbnontefo, tlian there is between a i^r^*;:*:/?- 
 ■^L^: and a Muf&ruite. I could never guefs at the 
 Caufc of fuch an Inequahty, and if I. had not been 
 myfcl^ a IVitnefs of the Truth of the Fait, I 
 fnoi;ld never have believed it. But they fay, 'tis 
 «o ft range Thing to fee two neighbouring People 
 that fpeak the fame Language, and have the fam.e 
 Manners and Cuftoms, of different Genius's. The 
 Natives of Lojiguedoc and Provence are faiii'd for 
 t<he Sprightllnefs and Warmth of their Imagination, 
 whereas there'j none fo dull and flupid as the A:h 
 ■vergnacs- and the Savoyards. The Fle?nings are the 
 moll corrupted with Superftitlons of any People in 
 the World, the Church of Ghe72t alone containing 
 ijiore Religious Toys, than ate in Italy and Spurn 
 together ; but their Neighbours, the Dutch^ have 
 banifh'd Bigotry and Monkifh Devotion out of 
 their Provinces, infom.uch, that one may fay, that 
 every Dutchmar.,, be his Religion what it Vi^ill,. is 
 a Philofopher, who has refin'd it, and reduc'd it 
 to the Rules of good Senfe. A Nnzarene Papift 
 at Amjlerdayn^ is a much more reafonable Crea- 
 ture than fucha Man at Rome; and an Eiithu- 
 fiaft there, is not fo much a F'anatic, as he is 
 in the Cevemiohy nor a Quaker fo ridiculous as he 
 is at London. Good Senfs and Tranquility are 
 perhaps a necefiary Confcqucnce of that which pre- 
 ud'vS ill the Sta-tcs, and the Examples of Wifdom 
 
 and 
 
Let. 37. 27?^ Jewish S p r. %jj 
 
 and Moderation which are given by the Na7Mrenes. 
 who are not Papifts, and who are the chief Men in HoU 
 la?:d, have an Influence over the refl of the People. 
 Let the Difference between the Genius of the 
 Dutch and the Flemings, the Natives of Provence 
 and Scrjoy come from what Caufe it will, 'tis ne- 
 verthelefs certain, that fo it is; and between the two 
 latter, 'tis even furprizing with reg-ard to the Great 
 Men. 
 
 The Savoyards never acquired any Fame in the 
 Republic of Letters, nor in the Invention of Arts, 
 onlefs we were to afcribe to the Effort of Imagina- 
 tion, the Science of Sweeping Chimneys, and car- 
 rying Monkeys to all the Foreign Countries, wjiich 
 are Talents that 1 don't think ought to be Qiiali- 
 iications for obtaining a Place in the French Aca^- 
 demy, or that of La Crufca in Italy, 'l]\\c Nar- 
 tives o{ Provence h2c\'z fucceflively produc'd a Num- 
 ber of Great Men, and not to mention the Trouba^ 
 dours^ who were born in their Country, and who were 
 the firil: Poets of the Gatds, mod of the Great Men 
 of thefe latter Hmes, were born in Provence, Gafr 
 fcndl^ that excellent Philofopher; J/^^/^;;, an Ora- 
 tor, of the firft Clafs; Father Thomajjln^ an Hifto- 
 rlan, worthy of the higheft Commendation; the fa- 
 mous Peircfc, a celebrated Antiquarian ; Tournefort 
 the moft flvillful of the Botaniffs; all thcfe illuftrious 
 Genius's were born in this Country much about the 
 fame Time. The Sciences were alv/ays cultivated in 
 this Province, and from the Heart of this Country, 
 they fpread into the reil of France. The f Trouba- 
 dours^ Story-Tellers, Singers, Jugglers, Gamefters, 
 affembled at the Court of the Counts of Frovmce; 
 and there they pra6tifed the Pieces of Wit, where- 
 of ihey were the Inventors, which were call'd the 
 
 f A fort of Minflrels jjiat Tung and play'd at the farje 
 ^me on the Violiru 
 
 SiivanUs^ 
 
27? T^^ Jewish Spy. Let, ^y, 
 
 Sirvantes^ Tenfons^ f and the Court of Love. Th& 
 other People among the Gaiih^ envious of the Ad- 
 vantage of the People of Provence^ would fain have 
 had a fiiare in them: They learnt of the Trouha- 
 ■ dours to make Verfes, and Songs; zndTlnbaiid^ the 
 Count de Chcmvpaigne^ who drew them to his Court, 
 fignaliz'd himfelf in this kind of Poetry. He was- 
 prodigioufly fond of Qiieen Blanche^ Mother to 
 Leivis IX. whom the Nazarcnes look upon as a Saint ; 
 and his Love is flill to be ken in the Songs which he 
 jnade for her. 
 
 The Troubadours, Jugglers, Ballad-Singers, is'c, 
 foon acquir'd fo much Efteem all over France, that 
 there was a Difpofition to give them all the Encou- 
 ragement for travelling from one part of the King- 
 dom to another, and fuch Advantages as might en- 
 gage them to fix their Refidence there; Lewis ilTued 
 a Decree, importing, that the Poetaflers fhould be 
 free of all Toll, Duty, &c. on reciting a Stanza 
 of a Song to the Toll-Gatherers, and that the Stroll^ 
 ers (hould enjoy the fame Eranchifes by making their 
 Monkey fliew Tricks. From hence came the Pro- 
 verb, Paler en Gambades, et en Monnoie de Singe^. 
 \. G. To laugh at one's Creditor, and defraud hint 
 $f his Money-, From that Time, the Love of the 
 Arts and Sciences very much decay'd in France* 
 Some Natives of Provence, Wt\on\ I often faw at 
 Galata, Rome, and Genoa, afiured me, that a Toll- 
 Gatherer, or a Cuftomhoufe- Officer, or his Agent, 
 would not bate one Doit of their Duties for the 
 Rehearfal of the intire Tragedy of Phadra, The 
 fame Conduft is obferv'd at Turin, where the very 
 Original of Hierofolyma Llherata, or oi Pafior Fido^ 
 would not purchafe a Morfcl of Bread. 
 
 \\\ this City we find a great many poor Peoplcg 
 whom a bad Harvcft for two fucceffive Years, has 
 f Thefe are Satj^rs and Love-Sonnets. 
 
I 
 
 let. 37. The J E w I s H S p Y. 279 
 
 reducM to great Neceffity. The Burghers pitying 
 their Mifery, endeavour to aflift them; and the- 
 Monks putting a Force upon their ufual Avarice, di- 
 ftribute Bread and Broth to them on certain Days 
 of the Week at the Gate of their Convents. The 
 Nazarene Fryars have this Cuftom at Rc'7n€^ and there 
 are few of their Monafteries where they don't give 
 to Beggars every Day a fmall Portion of the immenfe 
 Wealth which they amafs. 
 
 Upon this Head 1 will tell thee a Paflage con- 
 cerning a Spaniard^ which completely chara(iterizes 
 the ridiculous Vanity of his Nation. There's a Mul- 
 titude of Students that come to Rome^ from CaftilU^ 
 Arragoyi^ Andalufia^ bV. to obtain fome Benefice 
 from the fovereign Pontiff. They beg their Bread 
 all the way from Madrid to Italy, By the Help- 
 of an Oil-Cloth Band, garnifh'd with fome Shells^ 
 and a great Stick, which they call a Pilgrim's Staff, 
 they find Charity wherever they come; for the Na- 
 %arenei have as much Regard for the Pilgrims of 
 St. ya?ncs^ and our Lady of Loretto^ as the Maho' 
 nutans have for thofe of Medina and Mecca. WMien 
 thcfe Spaniards are arriv'd at Rome^ they have no- 
 thing to live upon but what they go and fetch every 
 day from the Gates of the Convents. This 
 done, they take the Air gravely the reft of the 
 Day in the Square of Spain^ and look upon them- 
 felves to be as good Men as any Roman Prince. A 
 Caftilian newly arriv'd, and who did not yet know 
 the Hour when tlie Broth ufed to be diflributed, 
 addrefs'd himfelf to a poor Frejich Clergyman, who 
 liv'd upon the Alms of a Convent. His Spanijh 
 Pride could not bear that he fhould fo much as 
 afk for the Houfe where they gave out the Broth i 
 He thought that way of fpeaking ignoble; and af- 
 ter having ftudy'd how to exprefs himfelf in an 
 ©blic^u^ Marnier, he thought of none better than 
 
 to 
 
2Sa TZ'^ Jewish Spy, Let. 38^ 
 
 to afk the Frenchman^ whether he had been 
 yet to fetch his Chocolate, a ujied tornado fu Cho- 
 colate? My Chocolate! reply'd the Parifian, Where 
 the Devil d'ye think I Jhould have Money for Cho- 
 colate? I live upon Ahn^^ and I zvait till the B^oth 
 is dijlributsd. at fZ>^ Francifans Convent. Ton have 
 not beenthere yet then? fmd the Ca^/lilian. No ^ reply'd 
 the Parifian^ but now is the Tirne^ and thither I am 
 going. I beg you to take me along with you^ faid the 
 proud Spaniard', and there you ^[hall fee Don Antonio 
 Perez de Valcabro, de Redia, de Montalva, de V'ega, 
 &c. give a Mark of bis Humility^ which jhall be a 
 Lejfon to Pojlcrity. And pray %vho are all thofe 
 Gentlemen? faid the Frenchman. None buc I my f elf 
 reply'd the CaJiilUan. If it be fo^ reply'd the 
 Frenchman.) you ought rather to fay you" II give a Br ocf 
 of Poverty and a good Sto?nach. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Monceca^ Live with Content^- 
 ment, and preferve thy Health. 
 
 LETTER XXXVIIL 
 
 Aaron Momceca /^ Isaac Onis^, 
 a B.aWiy at Conftantinople. 
 
 Paris- 
 
 MY Phllofophical Meditations axe fometimes in- 
 terrupted by the Study of Hiftory. I unbend 
 my Mind by running over the Tranfa^lions of the 
 remoteft Times. I ccnverfe with Great Men 
 that have been dead for thefe two or three thoufand 
 Years pafr, and when I read what they faid and 
 ijidj I almoft fancy myfelf their Cotemporary. 
 
 Tht- 
 
Let. 3 8. !r;6^ Jewish S PY. x8~i 
 
 The Perplexity and Confufion- one meets with till 
 two or three hundred Years after the Deluge, is a 
 great Misfortune, dear Ifaac^ to all who apply to 
 to the Knowledo;e of Hillory. Few Authors have 
 wrote of Times fo far back, and what they have 
 is not come dov/n to us, except a few Scraps and 
 Fragments, fo ambiguoudy and differently related^ 
 as only occafions Difputes among the Learned, which 
 are the more difiicult to be cleared up, becaufe they 
 rather propofe their own GuelTes and Opinions than 
 true Explanations. To fearch for antient Hiftory 
 in fuch Writings, is to fludy the Sentiments of the 
 Moderns, and the Syftcms of their Imagination. 
 
 The Knov/ledge of the A6lions of the firft Race 
 of Men, is a vaft unknov/n Ocean, upon which one 
 feils without Chart and Compafs. ThtGcncftSy and 
 the facred Books left us by A^ofes are not fufficient 
 to fet us right. Where they fpcak of the Creation of 
 Man^ of the Formation^ or the Ke-ejiahlifhment of a\ 
 People^ *tis always with Reference to the Jews. They 
 omit and make no mention of what has not a Ten- 
 dency to iliuftrate our Nation. Yet 'tis not to be 
 doubted that there were other People at that time, 
 of which the Fra2:ments that are left us of the Hi- 
 ftory of the firiT: Egyptians, the Ethiopians, the Scy-- 
 thians, and efpecially tliC Chinefe, are convincing 
 Proofs. But our auguft Legiflator only aim'd to 
 give the Charadlers of our Nation in his Writings, 
 without troubling himfclf with the mention of others 
 that had no relation to it. 
 
 If we go farther back near to the Time of tfie 
 Flood, we meet with a thoufand Difficulties that are 
 infurmountable. 'Tis impofTible for us to difcover 
 any Trace of the Origin of thofe confiderable Na- 
 tions and Empires, which we fee form'd as it v/ere 
 in an Inftant. We read that two or three hundred 
 "k'ears after the Flood Egypt was cxceiTively popu- 
 lous- 
 
iS'z 273^ Jewish Spy. Let. 38. 
 
 lous, and that twenty thoufand Cities, could fcarce 
 contain Its Inhabitants. China^ Scythia^ and Tartary, 
 were alfo flourifhing States. How can it be com- 
 prehended, that the three Children of Noah could 
 m two Iiundred Years time produce Numbers luiH- 
 cient to people fuch vaft Provinces, and the Neigh- 
 bourhood of the Tigris and Euphrates^ which wera 
 the firft that were inhabited, 
 
 I think, dear Ifaac^ that without infiffing on all 
 tliefe Difficulties, when one would make a Progrcfs 
 in the Hiftory of our Sacred Books, the only Hi- 
 iiory which Time has had fo much refpeft for as to 
 preferve intire, a Man fhould only give his Attention 
 to the Hiftorical Truths, and abandon all vain De- 
 putes to the Philofophers and Dodlors. 
 
 ANazarcne Fryar*,who entered into aDifcufnou 
 of thefe Fa6ls, could not think of a better way to 
 fhew the Clearnefs and Evidence of them, than to 
 make Men with the Dafh of his Pen. He made an 
 exa<Sl: Calculation of the Children, Grand-Children, 
 and Great Grand- Childern, i^c. which four Men 
 might be fuppofed to have in the fpace of 260 Years, 
 and he made the Number to be 268719 Millions of 
 Souls, /. e, many more than would be neceffary to 
 people five or fix fuch Worlds as ours. His A- 
 rithmetlcal Calculation has not been able to con- 
 vince his Ad verfaries, who fay there were not fo many 
 Men in reality as have been created with the Dafh of 
 a Pen, and that 'twas plain he was not very expert 
 in this ProfefTion. They objeft, ' That according. 
 ' to the Scriptures, Men had no Children till very 
 
 * late in Life, that they had not a great Number in 
 
 * the whole, and confequently that thofe Swarms fo 
 ' eafy to produce upon Paper, were impoffible in 
 < Nature. They add, that the Multiplication which 
 ^ the Ifraelites made in 250 Years in Egypty from 
 
 * Patiier PetaUf a Jefuit, 
 
 « which. 
 
 \ 
 
Let. 38. T'/'^ Jewish Spy. 2S5 
 
 * which there went out 600,000 fighting Men, 
 
 < whoderiv'cl their Origin from 70 Men that fettled 
 
 < in that Country with the Patriarch Jacoh^ pafs'J 
 
 < as a Miracle ; and that this Miracle was never- 
 
 * thelefs far fhort of that Multiplication pretended 
 
 * to have been made in the Space of 260 Years by 
 
 * four Perfons.' 
 
 Thefe infuperable Difficulties have plunged many 
 People into an Error in ftriving to furmount them. 
 They were of Opinion, that the Deluge was not 
 VniverfaU cind that God^ in crder for the Funijhment 
 of that finful ungrateful Race wbkh he bad chofe pre- 
 fcrahly to other Nations^ did, for the Satisfa^iou of 
 his JujVue^ only drczun the Country which that Pecfle 
 inhabited. A tamous modern Author * treats of the 
 Exigence of feveral Monarchies before the Flood, 
 and does not deviate from that Opinion which many 
 others have maintained by Arguments of Natural 
 and Experimental Philofophy. They pretend that 
 'tis impofTible for a Deluge to happen in the prcfent 
 State of the Earth, fo as to be fifteen Cubits higher 
 than the Tops of the higheft Mountains. The Sea^ 
 fay they, taken in general, is fcarce above 300 Paces 
 in Depth. The mojl lofty Mountains., as M. Gor- 
 dian, or Ararat, are not three Miles above the Surface 
 tf the Sea ; fo that without allowing the Globe an 
 Extent in prcportion to its Height, there mvjl be tvjehe 
 cr fifteen times as much Water as Earth in the Quan- 
 tity reported in Hi/lory 7. Other Authors have 
 affirm'd it to be impoffible for the Rains to be fo 
 plentiful to produce fuch an Efi-edl:, and they have 
 back'd their Opinion by that of a celebrated Philo- 
 fopher :|;, who proves from nice Obfervations, that 
 
 * Scaliger. 
 
 \ Method for the Study of Hillory by the Abbe 
 hanght. 
 
 X Father Merfer.ne, 
 
2S4, 77'^ Jewish Spy. Let. 58^. 
 
 the moft violent Storms produce but an Inch and 
 half of Water in Depth in the Space of half an Hour, 
 which amounts to fix Foot in a Day. And the De- 
 luge havinii iafted but forty naturalDays, admitting 
 the higheft A^Iountains an Elevation but of two 
 Miles, vi'hich is one third iefs than their Height, it 
 mult follow, that even to equal them, mftead o£ 
 furmounting them, there muft fall from the Sky in 
 24 Hours time 125 Foot of Water, infteadof fix 
 that it produces in the greateft Storms ; which ex- 
 ceeds Poilibility and the Pov/ers of Nature. 
 
 To what purpofe, dear Ifiac^ are all thefe vala 
 Difputes of the Learned, which cannot clear up one. 
 Difficulty? When 'tis aifirm'd, that the Deluge 
 was not Univerfal, and that God had a Defign only 
 to punifh an ungrateful People that had offended 
 him, is it not ridiculous to offer to bring the pre- 
 tended Defigns of God as a Proof againft his own 
 Word, which he has left us in the facred Books ? 
 The Na%arene Do6iors believe the Certainty of the 
 Writings o^ Mofes, To what purpofe then are thefe 
 impertinent Difiertations ? Since the Hiftory of thofe 
 remote Times is a Chaos, 'tis abfurd to attempt to 
 clear it up ; 'tis enough for us to know that Noah's 
 three Children v/ere the common Source of the whole 
 Human Race.. 'Tis meer lofs of Time to attempt 
 to trace the Beginning of the ffrft Monarchies w^hich 
 were form'd by their Defcendants. A Man of good 
 Senfe would never fearch farther back than thofe 
 Times wherein he beg-ins to difcover fome Li2;ht and 
 Certainty in the Hiflcrians- who treat of them. 
 
 Thefe impertinent Refearches occafion a Wafle 
 of Moments, which miglit be better employed j 
 and fmce it has not pleafed the Divinity to tranf- 
 nilt the Means to us, which he made ufe of fo 
 foon to repeople the Wor-ld after the Deluge, wq 
 ought to be content vt^ith the Knowledge that He^ 
 
 wha 
 
ILet. 38. TZ^^ Jewish Spr. 2Sf 
 
 who out of Nothing created the Unlverfe, who fo 
 wifely maintains and governs it, did not meet with 
 Difficulties in the Execution of his Defigns. 
 
 To ftudy Hiftory with Advantage, 'tis my Opi- 
 nion, dear Ifaac^ that the original Authors mufl 
 be confulted as much as poffible. Wjio is capa- 
 ble of being better acquainted with the Manners of 
 a Country, than he who was born and bred in it, 
 who writes in the Heart of it, and to whom the 
 Laws, Manners, and Cuftoms of the Country he 
 treats of, are familiar? What modern Author is 
 vain enough to flatter himfelf, that he knows the 
 anticnt Greeks as well as Thucydides^ Xenophon and 
 ■Flutarch? 
 
 The Hiftorians, who write the Hiftories of their 
 Countries now-a-days, have not been able to come 
 near to Titus Livy and Tacitus^ in the Nobility, 
 Majefty, and Grandeur of Writing. How could 
 they attain to the Truth which adorns the Charac- 
 ters they have left us, and which they copy'd after 
 Nature ? 
 
 I feldcm make much Account of modern Writers, 
 that compofe Hiflories upon the Events of remote 
 Times. I look upon ihem as Compilers, and 
 think their Works hardly better than bad Tranf- 
 lations. Whoever would know the true Chara61cr 
 of the Greeks and Ro?r.ans^ ought to fearch for it 
 in the Originals themfelves. Would it not be 
 ridiculous if a German^ defirous to know the Man- 
 ners and Cuftoms, and the Genius of the French^ 
 fhould inftead of living v/ith them, when he mi^b.t 
 do it, choofe rather to aflbciate Vv'ith fome Englijh 
 who had been at Paris? No doubt fuch a Con- 
 duct would be thought extraordinary. 'Tis equally 
 fo to expe£l to know the Manners of the antient 
 ^o?rMnSy from a Man born at Pctrisy and to believe 
 
 hiiu 
 
2%6 516^ Jewish Spy. Let. 38. 
 
 him better acquainted therewith than Salujl or Titus 
 Livy. 
 
 ' Two Nazarene Fryars * have not long fince made 
 -^ complete Colle^Slion of the Roman Hiftory f , which 
 is fo voluminous a Work, that whoever can arm 
 himfelf with the Patience to read it, would be 
 oblig'd to renounce the Originals. Inftead of the 
 lively manly Di(5lion which Hiftory requires, one 
 would be apt to fay, that Calprenede and Scuderi had 
 made thofe two Authors the Heirs of the Romantic 
 5tile ; for they are altogether as prolix as they, 
 and if they don't defcribe FefiooJis and Jftragahy 
 they defcend to the moft paultry Speeches of the 
 meaneft Writers among the Antients. Thefe Fry- 
 ars did not confider that in a Work fo voluminous as 
 theirs, they ought to have been very fparing in that 
 •part of it, and not to furfeit the Reader v/ith con- 
 tinual Declamations of Rhetoric, of which their Hi- 
 ftory is full. It tires the Reader with a Jumble of 
 Fa6ts, that arc impertinent, ill-digefted, and con- 
 fufedly huddled together. It prefents nothing to the 
 Mind that is clear and concife, or that flrikes the 
 Imagination. 'Tis fo bad a Copy, and fo poor an 
 Imitation of the Antients, that it would be enough 
 to prejudice a Man againft the reading of the Ori- 
 ginals, if it was reckon'd a true Copy of them. 
 What induc'd thofe two Authors to club their Ta- 
 lents for fuch a wretched Performance, I know not^ 
 To fpeak my Mind fmcerely, I am of Opinion, 
 that cne of them would have been enough for fuch a 
 
 * The Jefuits Catroti and Rouille. 
 
 f I can't imagine how fuch a Work could ever meet 
 with Approbation. I know that there are many more 
 Fools than wife Men. But really a Man mull be egregi- 
 ouHy filly to throw av/ay fo much Time as is neceffary to 
 :f^ad that Book. 
 
 Col- 
 
Lct.38. 7^/6^ Jewish Spy. 287 
 
 CoUedlion ; only while one work'd upon the Body 
 of the Hiftory,^the other wrote the Notes to it, 
 which are even worfe than the Text. 
 
 A Nazareng Do(Slor * has made another CollecSlIon 
 of Roma 22 Hiftory, not near fo perplex'd, and much 
 better. When a Man has form'd a Tafte for the 
 original Authors, and acquired from them the Ge- 
 nius, Chara6ler, and Manners of the true Romans^ 
 a great deal of Advantage may be reaped from the 
 Perufid of this modern Author, by the regular Dif- 
 pofition in which he fees many of the Facts that are 
 elfewherc difpers'd, and by the Affiftance it fur- 
 niflies him to find out, all at once, what otherwife 
 he mufl turn over fcvcral Volumes for. But Works 
 of this kind are only ufcful for two forts of People ; 
 fuch as being already vers'd thoroughly in the 
 Knowledge of Hiftory, have need of a Colledion 
 to fave them the 7>ouble of perpetually poring in 
 Originals, for what they have already feen there ; 
 and fuch as being only defirous to read for their 
 Pleafure, and to have a fuperficial Notion of the 
 paft Times, don't care for the Trouble of fearch- 
 ing into and collecting a Number of Fa6ts and E- 
 vents which are in one Author, and not to be met 
 with in another. 
 
 When a Man is defirous of being a perfc(5l Mafler 
 of Hiflory, *tis dangerous for him to begin with the 
 Perufal of modern Books. It (hould be a Roman 
 Author to inflru<Si: him in the Manners of his Coun- 
 try, whereas we find a Frenchman attempting to give 
 us the Charadler of Bridus^ dsfar^ Scipio ; and 
 whatever be the Genius of a modern Author, 'tis 
 impoflible but antient Hiftory in pafling through his 
 Hands mufl receive a certain Tindture from the 
 prefent Age to disfigure it. 
 
 * The Abbe ^e Vertot, 
 
 The 
 
2^8 The Jewish Spy. Let. 39. 
 
 The Poft is jufl going off, fo that I am forcM to 
 put an End to my Letter. Another time I will write 
 to tlffee more at large what I think of this Matter. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac^ and may the God of 
 our P'athers.caufe thee to profper. 
 
 LETTER XXXIX. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis^ 
 a Rabbiy at Conftantinople. 
 
 ■Paris 
 
 #^NE fees in France now, what perhaps was ne- 
 ^^ ver feen there before ; that the Women have 
 no Share in the Miniftry, and an impenetr?b]e Se- 
 crecy reigns in Affairs. The Sovereign and his Mi- 
 ll Ifter are both referv'd, and their Defigns are a 
 Myftery to the Public. This rational Condudl is 
 owing to the Wifdom of the Minifter, and the early 
 Difcretion of the Prince, who at an Age when the 
 Heart is commonly the Dupe of the Paffions, lives 
 in the midft of his Court with the ftriclefl Regula- 
 rity. The French are aftonifh'd to fee a Form of 
 Government with which they have hitherto had fo 
 little Acquaintance. They know, by Experience, 
 that. the Fair Sex has often had more Share in great 
 Affairs, than the Minifters themfelves, and know 
 the Prejudice which the State has fufFer'd by it. 
 
 If I were a King, I fhould always choofe for ailiff:- 
 jng me in the Government of my Kingdom, fuch 
 jP^pfons as were attain'd to that Age when the Paf- 
 fions 
 
f 
 
 Let. 39. The Jewish Spy, iSp 
 
 fions are quite cool ; and if I could have my Will, 
 they fliould not be marry'd Men. What is there a 
 Woman can't do to influence her Husband, when 
 fhe is a "Woman of Senfe, and knows hov/ to accom- 
 modate herfelf to Times and Circumftanccs ? The 
 greateft Minifters never had a Wife. Perhaps too, 
 they had never rofe to that Dignity, if they had 
 bad a Domeftic Spy upon them, againfl whofe Cu- 
 riofity they could not have been always upon their 
 <juard. 
 
 If we compare the Cardinals Richliae, Ximenes^ 
 Maxarine^ and to go farther backwards, the Abbe 
 Sugcr^ with other Miniflers, one fliall perceive 
 a confiderable DifFcrence. To fet tliis Matter in i. 
 fuller Light, I might qii^te a great many Example?^ 
 of our own Time. Who can refufe to the Cardi- 
 nals Alkcroiii and Cienfucgos the Praifes due to that 
 vail Penrrtration which tliey have fliev/n in the Af- 
 fairs committed to their Management ? Not that I 
 pretend to maintain, but there are fome Perfons, 
 who, notwithftanding their Attachment to the Fair 
 Sex, know how to be too cunning for them ; but 
 this is a difficult Effort, and when a Man has the 
 C^are of public Affairs, it rarely happens that he can 
 be {o duly upon his guard, but a crafty V/cman, 
 who has a Place in his Heart, will fooncr or later get 
 fome Knowledge of his Secret. 
 
 The late Duke Regent had the Art of gainin^^ 
 the Afcendant over his Foible. Tho' iic was ten. 
 times in a Day a Slave to different Beauties, ycc . 
 IvOve did not ufurp over his Politics, and in the 
 Height of his Joy, Pleafurcs, and Tranfport, the 
 Minifter was feparated from the Lover. But where, 
 my dear IJaac^ fliall we fmd fuch great nnfliakcn 
 Cxenius's, as was tliat of this Prince ? TJio' Calum- 
 ny, Impoffure, Rebellion, and Monkiih Hypocriiy 
 
 VuL. L o c^wr^ 
 
apo T/^^ Jev/ish Spy. Let. 39, 
 
 cabaird together, under the Veil of Religion and 
 Juflice, to caft their fatal Venom upon his moft in- 
 nocent Actions ; yet as the Wind fcatters the Clouds, 
 he defeated their pernicious Confpiracy, and in the 
 Punilhment which he inflicled upon his Enemies he 
 made the fuller Difplay of the Greatnefs of his Soul 
 and his Intrepidity. 
 
 How few fuch Chara6lers are there in the World ? 
 'Hiflory has fcarce tranfmitted one to us in feveral 
 Centuries. On the contrary we always found, 
 that Women gave the decifive Stroke to great Affairs. 
 What Springs did not the Princefs of Eboli fet a 
 going in the Reign of Philip II. notwithftanding 
 •that Prince's Wifdom and Policy? Did not the 
 Ladies force Henry IV. to put an end to a War 
 which was very fuccefsful in its Beginning, and did 
 they not, by their Artifice and fecret Machinations, 
 perfuade him to undertake another, the Confe- 
 quenccs of v^^hich were doubtful, and the Prepara- 
 tions for which were partly the Caufe of his Death ? 
 Madam de Chevreufe kt a hundred Machines at work 
 both at home and abroad, which put the Kingdom 
 into one of the moft tumultuous Ferments ; fo that 
 how turbulent foever the Cardinal ds Retz was, he 
 did not do near fo much Harm. 'I he Fa£tions of 
 IVcftminJier were animated by the Countefs oiCarliJle^ 
 a Lady who refided at Whitehall^ and was the Life 
 and Soul of them. 
 
 All Precautions againft being feduc'd by the 
 Charms of the Fair Sex are in vain. It fignifies 
 nothing to load them with the Characters of Am- 
 bition, Indifcretion, Partiality, and Caprice ; for 
 notwithftanding all thefe Faults with which they 
 are reproach'd, the Ladles have been acknowledged 
 at all Times, and in all Courts, to be the Primum 
 JidcUk of great Events. Thereforey fays an excel- 
 lent 
 
Let. ^9. The Jewish Spv. ipi 
 
 lent Author*, the wife Courtier takes care how he 
 makes one of ''cm his Enemy ^ or of fp caking again ft 
 them in general. Woe he to thofe who look upon them 
 as a weak frail Sex. I'here is no Enemy fo dan- 
 gerous as a Woman. She wlio thinks fhe has not 
 Power or Credit enough to do mifchicf by hcrfclF, 
 is fo cunning as to unite with fome other. An art- 
 ful Minifter in the Management of his IMafler's In- 
 tereft, is fure to be outwitted by an outragious Wo- 
 man who thirfls for Revenge. The Ladies are the 
 harder to be pacify'd when they think themfelves 
 affronted *, for they are pcrfuaded in their Minds, 
 that the Forgivenefs and Forgetfulnefs of an Offence 
 are but imaginary Virtues. 
 
 When a Woman is perfonally intereffed in a 
 State- Aftair, or Confpiracy, Nature feems to make 
 a fui-prizing Effort in her, and to change her Being. 
 There is no getting the Secret out of her, and flie 
 is as taciturn in wiiatever relates to it, as (he is lo- 
 quacious in the Affairs of others. To be convinc'd 
 of the Truth of this, one need only review the prin- 
 cipal Tranfactions of fome late Reigns. 'Twas in 
 vain for the League to confult Ways and Means for 
 the Affaffmation of Henry III. but Madam dg 
 Alontprnfer^ the Sifter of the Guifes^ was no 
 fooner let into the Plot, but fhe caus'd it to be put 
 in execution ; fhe artfully brought a Monk into her 
 Scheme, and perfuaded him to commit the mofl 
 enormous of Crimes under the Appearance of Re- 
 ligion. The pernicious Defigns of the Spaniards 
 againft Henry IV. wou'd never have had their fatal 
 Effe6ls if they had been only fupported by the old 
 Duke d^Epermn\ but when the Dutchefs de Vcrneuil.^ 
 that Monarch's difgrac'd Milfrefs, confpir'd againft 
 him, he unhappily fell a Sacrifice to her. 
 
 * St. E'vremonf. 
 
 Q 2 The 
 
^92 Tke Jewish S ? r. Let. 39. 
 
 The Power and Sway of the Women do for the 
 -moftpart regulate theMctions of the 0//^w^« Empire, 
 Who would believe that the Sultanefs, (hut up in a 
 Seraglio, and debarr'd from the Sight of thofe whom 
 ■a barbarous Operation has not ftruck out of the Clafs 
 of Men, fnould govern Tz/r/^_y, name the Vizier and 
 the Mufti, efpoufe the Interefts of the Bafna of 
 Cairo^ or the Bafha of Babylon^ whom flie never 
 Jcnew ; and that, by an endlefs Circulation, the 
 Motions and Paffions with which fhe is agitated in 
 the folitary Apartments of her Palace, fhould be ex- 
 pended to the End of the Empire ? 
 
 The Character of Miilrefs is much more dange- 
 rous than that of Wife, to obtain anabfolute Power 
 over Menb Hearts. There is often a Pleafure in 
 granting to a Miftrefs, what ought by all Means to 
 be deny'd to a Wife. Love feems not to demand 
 that Stri6lnefs ; and this Pallion where it has feiz'd 
 Men who have the Care of the Public Affairs, is 
 much more dangerous than Marriage. ' Tis in vain 
 for them to refill the firft Attacks, for fooner or later 
 they are fure to yield. A Man really in Love, and 
 who all the while is abfolute Mafter of himfelf, is a 
 Prodigy that has not been known thefe 3000 Years. 
 Nothing is too hard for an amiable Woman that has 
 a Defn-e to pleafe : She purfues a Defign better and 
 more fecurely than our Sex, v/ho, notwithftanding 
 their boafted Strength and Courage, fall every Day 
 into the moft obvious Snares. 
 
 If we take a View of the Great Men who have 
 refifted the Impreffions they v/ere liable to from 
 certain Women with whom they were in Love, we 
 {hall find they were not fo amorous as vicious. 
 When a Man idolizes the Fair Sex in general, and 
 when the Heart is not fix'd by an Attachment to 
 one fmgle Objedt, the Paflions are not fo violent 
 nor fo dangerous 3 a Man is then in the Cafe of the 
 
 Duke 
 
Let. 39. The Jewish Spy. 25?:? 
 
 Duke Regent, of whom I have juIl now given thee 
 a Chara^Lcr. Changcablenefs and Liconflancy fe- 
 cure the Firmnefs of his Opinions, and fapport his 
 Politics againfl the Attacks of Love. So AUxan* 
 der^n^ Julius Ccsfarh^id ti^eir Foihles, but they di(i 
 not prove their Ruin ; for the Change of the Ob- 
 jeiSls prevented their becoming Slaves, and fecurM 
 them from that Misfortune into which Jnihoiiy was 
 plung'd by that Great Man's fettled Paillon foF 
 Cleopatra. 
 
 We might quote a thoufiind Inflances in our own 
 Time to juftifv this Opinion ; and without having- 
 recourfc to antient Hillory, one might venture to 
 affirm, that for 200 Years t'-<.e Women have had: 
 much more (hare than the Men m the Govern- 
 ment of Europe. I fhould be tempted to add that 
 they have during this Space of Time fliar'd tlicir 
 Credit with the Pricfts and Fryars. Perhaps the 
 latter Sentiment is every wit as true as the former. 
 
 My own Reafon tells me, dear Ifaac^ tijat a Kin? 
 ought not to chufe his Minifters but among fuclv 
 Perfons in whofe Hearts the Fire of the violent Paf- 
 fions has been dcadenM by Age. If it be impoiiible 
 that he fhould find fuchin the State of Cclib-icv, 
 he ought at leafl not to expofe tliem all at once to 
 the Afcendant of a Wife and the Teiulernefs of a 
 Miftrefs ; which is too much for the Security of the 
 Secrets committed to their keeping;. I'i I v/ere a^ 
 Sovereign I v/ou*d a6l in the choice of my firf^' 
 Minifters, much after the fame Manner as the Col- 
 lege of Cardinals docs in the Nomination of the 
 fovereign PontiiTs. The Infirmities and Debauche- 
 ries of fome who have been elected while they were 
 young, have convinc'd the NazarLncs of the Necef- 
 fity of having recourfe to the only infallible Pvdcans,- 
 that can ferve as a Fence againfl the Paliions of the 
 Heait, for tbe]^ only trufl the, Authority of the^ 
 O X Church. 
 
3 04 The Jewish Spy. Let. 3^9. 
 
 CJiurch with Perfons whom Age has rendered incapa- 
 ble of certain Actions. 
 
 l\\ a v/ell-govern'd State the Minifters muft be 
 old, and the Genei-als of the Armies young. When I 
 lay young, I mean, tho' arriv'd to Years of Matu- 
 rity of Senfe, yet fo young as to a6b with Strength 
 and Vigour. The Minifter ought to think and re- 
 fledi: in his Clofet. The General ought to execute. 
 The former ought to be a Man of confummate Wif- 
 dom, who is not heated by that Fury and Valoui' 
 Vv'hich is the Life and Charader of the Military Man. 
 For too much Heat, too much Thirft for Glory, 
 Kiay be prejudicial to a Government. At an Age 
 wiiere Experience is wanting, or too much limited, 
 private Intercft is often confounded with the Public, 
 and a Man's own Heart deceives him. The Great 
 Prince of Conde at twenty Years of Age was a fa- 
 mous General, but not very well qualified for a 
 Minifter. Cardinal Mazarine reduc'd him tv/enty 
 times to the worfc of Situations ; and that fkilful 
 Italian oblig'd him in the End to have recourfe to 
 him. Alexander^ who at twenty Years of Age was 
 the Mailer of Afia^ would never have been more 
 than plain King of Macedon^ if his Father Philip had 
 not done that by his Politics in Greece, which him- 
 feif did by his Arms in Perfia. 
 
 I confider a Minifcer as a Man who may be in- 
 Huenc'd by the fmaUeft PafTions to commit the 
 created Errors : And as It is impoiTible to be a 
 Ivlan, and not be fubject to Humanity, the ad- 
 vanc'd Age which diveih us of a part of our Pre- 
 judices, our PafTions, and our impetuous M^otions, 
 makes us better qualify 'd for the Care of the public 
 Affairs. 
 
 ft might be objecSted to me, that this Prudence, 
 this Wifuom which I demand in a Minifler ought 
 -to be in a General of an Army, and to make a Part 
 
I 
 
 Let. 39. T"/?^ Jewish Spy. 2p^ 
 
 of his CharacSlcr. Confequently they mufi: be both 
 of an advanc'd Age, But 'tis eafy to perceive, that 
 the Experience whicli the one ought to have, is very 
 different from that which the other ought to acquire- 
 To know the Hearts of Alen, the Intercfts of States, 
 the Laws of a Kingdom, the Methods of making- 
 Trade to flourifh, to acquire the Kfleem of Foreign 
 Ntt-tions, the Love of his Prince's A Hies, and tbc 
 Fear of his Enemies, are Talents very ditTerent from 
 thofe which relate to the Art of knowing how to 
 form a Camp, to regulate the March of an Army, 
 to draw it up in Battalia, to lead it forth to Battle, 
 and to render it Victorious. In a General there muit 
 be Judgment, Valour and Activity. In a Minifter 
 there muft be profound Policy, a perpetual Obferv- 
 ation of thofe Tranfa6Lions which feem of leaft 
 Moment ; and that Regard to Equity which may 
 preferve the Honour of his Prince, without lefTcning 
 his Credit and Authority. The Fatigues of the 
 Minifter are in his Clofet, while he fits in his eafy 
 Chair ; but the Labour and Pains of a General de- 
 mand a vigorous Conftitution, capable of bearing u[> 
 againft the moft violent Fatigues. Every Age pro- 
 duces a Score of Generals, but fcarce one Miniiicr- 
 Fare thee well, my dear Ifaacy and live joyful 
 and content. 
 
 O 4 LJL T^ 
 
2g6 !r>&^ Jewish Spy. Let. 40, 
 
 LETTER XL. 
 
 Aaron Monceca to Isaac Onis, 
 a Rahbiy at Conftantinople. 
 
 Paris 
 
 A Man was apprehended here yefterday, and car- 
 "* -^ ried to the common Goal, to whom antient 
 Greece would have erected Statues. This was a 
 llurdy Beggar, in comparifon of whom Diogenes 
 feerns to have been but a School-Boy. He begg'd 
 Charity v.'ith a Front which favoured of Tnfolence, 
 itnd abus'd every one that did not oblige him. His 
 Infults were bcrns with for fome time, till having 
 the AiTurance to enter the Houfe of a Farmer-Ge- 
 sieral, and to fit down at his Table in his greafy 
 tatter'd Garb, the Mafter cf the Houfe furpriz'4 
 ■Ai the Fellow's Freedom, ordsr'd his Men to turn 
 him out of Doors. 'I'he modern Cynic there- 
 upon gave the Farmer very ill Language ; and the 
 Refult of it was, that the Philofopher was commit- 
 ted to Prifon. They fay, in tiie mean time, that 
 he is really an ingenious Man, only 'twas his fettled 
 Refolution to take to this way of Life. ^Tis a Mif- 
 fortune to him that he was not born 2000 Years 
 ac;o, when the fame Impertinences which have nov/ 
 brought him to a Dungeon, wou'd have elevated, 
 him to Immortality. 
 
 If the feven Wife Men of Greece were now 
 living, fome of them would be look'd upon as Men 
 «f Wit^ and allow'd tl^e Liberty for tbeir Main- ' 
 
 tcnajKc 
 
Let. 40. TBeJz\Y Tsn S p y. 297 
 
 tenance to dedicate Books to Officers of the Re- 
 venue; and others would run the rifk of being 
 fiarv'd, or perhaps of being imprifon'd in a Hofpital^ 
 of P^ools. lam, at leafl, very fure, that the Beg- 
 gar tiiey have confin'd at Paris has not committed^ 
 a fourth Part of the fooHfli Pranks which Diogenes 
 play'd at Athens. How could People of fuch Senfe. 
 as the Grecians^ confecrate the fcandalous Actions- 
 of that Cynic with the Name of Wifdom? I would, 
 forgive him for going thro' the Streets with a Lan- 
 thorn and Candle to feek for a ]Man at Noon-Day, 
 but I can't bear his fcandah^^ing Humanity by his 
 enormous Vices, and then making his Boall of it^. 
 The Philofophers were generally vain Men, whofe. 
 moft remarkable Actions were only owing to the 
 Defire they had of being fam'd for extraordinary 
 People. 
 
 When I look upon Diogcms- pafling his Life m 
 a Tub, I confider him as a perpetual Martyr to his 
 Vanity ; for his pretended Mortification and his Au- 
 fterity were the'Confequenccs of his Pride. Plato^ 
 a Man of fuch real Merit that it wanted not the 
 Support of any fuch Mummery, walking v^'ith fome 
 Friends by the fide of a River, one of them dt-fu'd 
 him to caft his Eve upon Diogenes, who was then 
 ftandino; in the Water up to his Chin, when is. 
 . was in^the Depth of the Winter, and the Surface 
 of the River was cover'd with Jce, except where. 
 Diogenes made a Hole to go into it. Dc?i't look at 
 him, faid Plato, hut turn your Eyes off to the othei- 
 Side, and he will foon get out of the IVater ; for h-e 
 t^ly gave hl?nfeif the Trouble of going into it, bu^tiuji 
 
 * Tlccyr u^x Aioytvvf<; i(pvytv rxh ttj' o' t'//.c.aioi» 
 Hii.hv -^aXc^Jiri Actico<; a Kcclmv. 
 
 Omnia fane Diogenes effugit hsec. Nuptias vero^ 
 Perfsci: Dextra ; Laide nihil opus habens. 
 
 .Antholog. Epigi-am, LXXX. lib..yi;. 
 O 5 hi:- 
 
298 The Jewish S p r. Let. 40. 
 
 he faw lis a coming. The Contempt which Plato ex- 
 preiTed of Diogenes's Follies, drew the Hatred of 
 that Cynic upon him ; fo that he went one Day to 
 his Houfe, and walking with very great Difdain 
 upon the rich Carpet that was fpread on his Floor: 
 Sce^ fald he, hovj I trample the Pride of Plato under 
 7ny Feet, Tes.^ (aid Plato^ hut your Pride in doi?7g 
 fo i$ much the greater, 
 
 l\\ all. times Vanity feems to have been the fa- 
 vourite Vice of the Great Men. They who have 
 wrote againft Glory, Ambition, and the Envy of 
 ISeing imxmortaliz'd, have prefix'd their Names to- 
 their Books v/ich a View of attaining to it. The 
 Philofophers have not been the only People touched 
 with this Paflion, it being generally engrav'd and 
 imprinted on the Hearts of all Men, who have a 
 Genius fuperior to the Vulgar. The Defire of- 
 Glory and Praife has more contributed to make 
 Conquerors, than any Fondnefs for augmenting- 
 their Dominions. Alexander gave Kingdoms away 
 as faft as he conquer 'd them, and referv'd to himfelf 
 no Reward for his Labours but the Glory of having 
 ■ furmounted thern. A noble Ambition is profitable. 
 to Society, otherv/ife the Arts would languifh, and 
 the Sciences v/ould be negle6led. The Defire of 
 Immortality, the SatisfaclJon accruing from Praife, 
 give more Force to the Springs of Action, than Gold 
 i'.nd pecuniary Rewards. 
 
 In thofe Countries where the SubjecSls are. not 
 :iniraated by a Defire of Glory, one finds a Decay 
 in ail the Liberal A.rts, which extends even to 
 the meaneft Profeffions. 'Tis faid, that in Spain 
 v;hcn a Pvlan goes to a Shoe-maker to be meafur'd 
 for a Pair of Shoes, Crifpin aflcs his Wife how 
 much. Money thj^re is left in the Purfe ? If thers 
 be but two or three Crov/ns, he proudly bids his 
 Cufbmer go abgut his Bufmefs, and continues 
 
 icraping 
 
Let. 40. 77j^ Jewish Spy. 2^c}^ 
 
 fcraping upon his Guitar : Not that the Spaniards: 
 are not fond of Glory, Vanity being the chief At-- 
 tribute of their Charadcr ; but 'tis a ridiculous 
 Glory which favours more of Pride and Arrogance- 
 than the Defire of immortalizing their Name. 
 
 When a Mm's Pailion to be tranfmitted to Pc-- 
 fterity, is not fupported by Honour and Virtue, it 
 may poflibly throw him into great Errors. Ercj}ra- 
 tus burnt the Temple at Ephcfus to make hii 
 Name immortal ; and we are allured that this was 
 one of the Rcafons which determined Nero to fet 
 iire to tjie four Corners of Rome. The Emperor 
 Charles V. had like to have been a Sacrifice to the 
 Phrenzy of an Idolizer of Immortality ; for this 
 Prince being at Rome^ at the Top of St. Peter'' s 
 Dome, and looking down from thence to the Bot- 
 tom of the Church, one of his Courtiers that was 
 juft by him, had a flrong Temptation to thrcW-' 
 himfcif down headlong, and to take the Emperor 
 with him ; which he thought was a fure way to 
 eternize his Name: But happily for Charles V. bj- 
 did not put it in Execution ; and the Courtier tell- 
 ing him of it in Confidence when he was come 
 down, the Prince thank'd him very cordially for 
 not having forc'd him to take fuch a defperate 
 Leap, but forbad him ever coming again in:o \v..>: 
 Prefence. 
 
 An immoderate Thirfl: for Glory fometimes fcizcs 
 the Imagination of People in low Life. A Gont- 
 herd of a Village near Nifmes in Langucdoc^ havirup; 
 no Temple of Ephefus to burn, and not being will- 
 ing to dcftroy any of the A^^zx^rrw^ Church c?, though.t, , 
 like another EroJI rai us ^ of a very comical Expeaiei-.t:« 
 to immortalize himfelf in his own Country, . Ho. 
 ftay'd till the Vines were in BlofTom, and by the:; 
 Help, of a Flock of two hundred Goats wJiicii ha; 
 
^oo The J E \v I s e S tt. Let. 40. 
 
 led into all the Vineyards, he began the Vintage 
 three or four Months before-hand, and deprived the 
 ■whole Country of their Grapes. This Goat- herd 
 being appreliended and examined what made him 
 commit fuch an Ad:ion, he anfwered very gravely 3. 
 that "twas the beil Expedient he could think on to 
 fee talk'd of after he was dead. The Judges, who 
 dreaded the Confequences of a lliirft for Glory fa 
 pernicious to the Country, condemn'd him to be 
 iliut up in an Hofpital of Madmen, where he died. 
 I return to the antient Philofophers. If the Ac- 
 tions committed by fome of them were not fo hurt-* 
 ful to Society, they were never the lefs extravagant* 
 What muil a Man of good Senfe think of a Perfoa. 
 WiO^ after having ftudied all his Life- time, caus'd 
 his Eyes to be bor'd out, that he might have th* 
 .more Leifure for Meditation*? What Judgment 
 can he form of a pretended Philofopher, who threw 
 himfelf into the Euripus^ becaufe he could not ac- 
 count for its Ebbing and Flowing ■\ ? What No- 
 tion, in fhort, can he have of the Wifdom of th(S 
 Xvearned, from the immoderate Laughter of Demo^ 
 critus^ and the continual Tears of Heraclitus \y 
 
 * Scriptum eft — Democritum — .Luminibus Oculorum 
 iud fponte fe piivaffe, quia sftimaret Cogitationes Com- 
 mentationefque Animi fui in Contemplandis Naturae Ra- 
 tionibus vegetiores & exadiores fore fi eas videndi ille- 
 cebris & Oculorum impedimentis liberafTet. ^/. Gellim. 
 ^o6i. Aiticar, lib. x. cap. 17. 
 
 *f- See v/liat is faid about JriftatWs Death in the St^ 
 iret Memoirs of the Republic of Letters, letter 5. 
 
 % La Mothe le Vayer has endeavourM,. tho' imperfedl- 
 jy, to juitify the perpetual Laughter oi Democritus, and 
 the Tears q\ Heraclitus. Confult that Author's Treatife 
 of the Virtue of the Pagans^ torn, i. p. 620. ^c, the 
 folio Edition. See aho the ^scrst Mtmoin of the Re^ 
 public ofLeitsrs^ letter 5. 
 
Let. 40. The Jewish Spy. jot 
 
 who was fo very complaifant as to affli6t hlmfelf for 
 the whole Race of Mankind, and who would even, 
 have extended his weeping Charity to the Antipodes y 
 if he had known there was fuch a People. 
 
 Sccrates^Flato^ m-idEpicurus^were, in my Opinion, 
 the wifeft Philofophers of Antiquity. I fay nothing- 
 as to the Truth of their Opinions ; but their Writings 
 are eminent for Wifdom, Caution, and Candour;, 
 which were accompanied with the Regularity of 
 their Morals *. Reafon was the Rule of thefe great 
 Men. They quitted the World to avoid the Per- 
 plexities of it, without hating the Human Race.. 
 In the Solitude to which they often retir'd, for the 
 fake of Contemplation, they ftill retain'd an Appro- 
 bation of thofe worldly Pleafures which are relifh'J 
 by good Men, and only prevented them from being 
 too noxious to them by becoming too violent. 1 
 fliould be tempted to place EpiSfetus next to thofe: 
 great Men, but his too great Severity feems to me. 
 to have been mifplaced, and I think it a Confequence 
 of his Vanity. I always perceive a Chagrin predo- 
 minant in his moral Tracts, and the Philofopher has^ 
 ftill fome Twang of the Ill-humour of Epaphrodiius'^ 
 Slave. 
 
 I think a Firmnefs of Mind in Misfortunes, a Vir* 
 tue worthy of Admiration. But I would not have 
 Conftancy extended to Barbarity and Fiercenefs. I 
 look upon the Stoics as melancholy Madmen, with 
 
 * By the Writings of Socrates muft be underftood the 
 memorable Things of Socrates^ a Work of which Xeno- 
 phoji is the Author, or rather the Copyift ; becaufe it ia 
 nothing more or lefs than the principal Sayings of So- 
 crates in his Life-tims. We have nothing more left us 
 ©f Epicurus, than feme Fragments which are preferv'd 
 in the Writings of feveral Authors ; and of fo many Booka 
 which that Philofopher compos'd^ not one is come down 
 |d our Time* 
 
 whom 
 
502 72'^ Jewish Spy. Let. 40, 
 
 whom WIfdom was a barbarous Virtue, of more 
 Trouble than Profit to Mankind. I am for a Hu- 
 mane Philofophy, which adapts itfelf to the Good 
 of Society, and which, at the fame time that it 
 diiSlates an Abhorrence of Vice, does not reprefent 
 the Path which leads to Wifdom as unpaffable. I am. 
 for a moral Syflem, which does not impofe a Yoke 
 that is infupportable, and which, by putting a Curb 
 to our Paffions, ferves us as a Barrier againft tlie 
 Enormities to which our Conftitution and the Vio- 
 lence of our Paffions may hurry us. I efteem a Phi- 
 lofopher to whom Vice is hateful ; but I expe6!:: 
 that he fhould have a Compaffion for the Vicious, 
 and that he Should cure their Errors by Difcourfes 
 full of good Nature, good Senfe and Truth, free 
 from pedantic Declamations. 
 
 The true Epicureans (I mean thofe who had not 
 corrupted the moral Syftem of their Mafter) v/ere 
 Men of infinitely better Senfe than the Stoics, I. 
 take the latter to be Fools, whofe heated Imagina- 
 tion had form'd an extravagant chimjcrical Notion, 
 of the fovereign Good, which never entered into, 
 the Brain of Man before. How ridiculous, how 
 vain muft that Man be, who, for the fake of ad- 
 hering- to a Se6t, look'd upon himfelf as a God ? 
 He appropriated to himfelf the auguft Name o£ 
 Wife; and the wife Man, according to him, al- 
 v/ays enjoy'd all Happinefs and. all Virtues *. Being, 
 
 free 
 
 * 'Tis very certain, that a Man really wife and vir- 
 tuous, is much more happy and tranquil than a Criminal, 
 Jet his Rank be ever fo high, becaufe in the midll of his 
 Grcatnefs he is devour'd by his Paffions and,his Remorfe. 
 If the Stoics had faid no more than this, they would have 
 talk'd very rationally, but they carried Things to an 
 Extremity j and Cicero, to whom this Sentiment was not 
 difpkafmg, owns however that the Stoia made Wifdom . 
 
 toi 
 
Let. 40. The J e w i s h S p y. 33 5- 
 
 free in the midft of Slavery, handfome notwlthftand- 
 ing his Deformity, rich in his Poverty, and fuffering no 
 Harm in Torments, he was more a Deity than a 
 Man. Is it poffible for the Mind of Man to be fo 
 diilracled and frenzical, and to make fuch an m- 
 prelTion on the Imagination, as to perfuade a Perfon 
 who fufFers acute Pains that he is truly happy ? No- 
 thing but Vanity can produce fo fenfelefs an Opinion, 
 and as much Gravity as Epiftetus afFei^s, when his 
 Mailer cut his Leg off for fpite, his not complain- 
 ing is an £ffe6l of his Pride, and not of his Mode- 
 ration. 
 
 There is but one fmgle Idea that is capable of 
 making a Man bear Torments with Pleafure, tho' it 
 does not procure an Infcnfibility, and that is the 
 Hopes of a greater Good than the Evil which is fuf- 
 fcrM. Thus, in the various Religions, thofe Pcrfons 
 who have been put under fevere Rcflraints and Pur 
 nifhments, have bleffed thofe Pains which they ima- 
 gin'd would procure them Pleafures everlafting. 
 They were not willing, by an Abjuration of their 
 Faith, to put an End to temporary Tortures, for 
 which they expeded to be requited by eternal Re- 
 wards. But the Stoics had no other Confolation in 
 their Sufferings, than the Vanity of fupporting thci?. 
 Misfortunes without complaining. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac^ and let me hear from 
 thee now and then ; for I think 'tis a long while 
 fmce I had any of thy Letters. 
 
 to be fo pure and fo fublime a Quality, that no Perfon 
 could ever attain to it. Negant enim, he is fpeaking of 
 the Stoics, quenquam Vtrum bonum ejje nifi fapientem^ 
 Sit ita fane, fed earn fapientiam interpretantur, quam 
 adhuc Mortalis nemo efi confecutus, Cicero de Amicitia, 
 cap. 5. 
 
 Eud of the First Volume, 
 
An Alphabetical INDEX« 
 
 /tBBADIE, a judicious folid Writer, p. 136. 
 
 •^ Ahelard, perfecuted by St. Bernard, ^^5- 
 
 Abridgments, Hiftorical, only iifeful for thofe who read 
 purely for Amufement^ or for fuch as are perfect in. 
 Hiftory, 286. 
 
 Ahfalom, punifh'd for his Rebellion, 40. 
 
 Ahfolutton, its Advantage to the Clergy, and how fax 
 they abufe it, 69, 70. 
 
 Academy, Royal of Mufic. See Opera. 
 
 Academies, of France, 1 9,, &c. 
 
 Academy, French, its trifling Produftions, 19. The 
 Contempt of its Di£lionary. Its Injuftice to M. 
 Furetiere. Its Encouragement by Le~jois XIV. and 
 Decay fmce his Death, 20. Its Adoption of Stage- 
 Players, ib. 
 
 Academy^ of Sciences,, taken up in ufefiil Studies, but 
 too much cramp'd, 20, 21. 
 
 Academies, three founded by Leivis XIV. 132. 
 
 Achilles'' s Treatment of He^cr, a Difgrace to fom«. 
 Monks, 18. 
 
 Achmet Chelibiy an extravagant Turkljh Poet, 192. 
 
 A^rejfes 2X the Opera, their Character, 15. Station'd 
 at the Salt-Petre-Houfe, 15. How pernicious to the 
 Public and their Cunning, 150, 155, &c. No Money 
 no Opera Wench, 195. 
 
 Ad'ventures of M. Miroholan, Apothecary, 3. Of a Car- 
 melite and a Sempftrefs, 22. Of a pretended Ab- 
 befs, 25. Two young Mufketeers and a Couple of 
 
 Trulls,. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Trulls, 34. A Recolle6l and a Chambermaid, 41. 
 
 Of two Hufi>ands tliat cuckolded one another, 84. 
 
 Of a knavifh, debauch'd Derviih, 125, 126. Of a 
 
 gallanting Bilhop, 131, 132. Of Gajfendi with a 
 
 pretended Sorcerer, 147, &c. 
 Adultery, a meer Piece of Gallantry in France^ and how 
 
 difficult it is to punifh it there, 5 . 
 Jlacoqucy Maria her Life, fuller of Vifions than the 
 
 immenfe Volumes of the Rabbles, 24. Written by 
 
 Languet Bilhop of SoiJ/ons, afterwards Archbifhop of' 
 
 Sens, ib. 
 Alheroni, an able Miniller, 289. 
 Albert the Great, more learned than Bernard, and fuU 
 
 of Antithefes, 1 1 6. 
 Alchymy. See Cabalills. 
 Alcoran, its Fables believM by the common People, by 
 
 reafon of their Fondnefs for what is marvellous, 121, 
 
 Sentences out of it laid with the Mahometans in iheif 
 
 Graves, 71. 
 Alexander the Great, what a petty King he would hav« 
 
 been if he had liv'd in the Time of Cafar and Pcmpey^ 
 
 97. He was not a Dupe to the Fair Sex, 293. His 
 
 Obligation to his Father's Pohtics, ib. His Gift o| 
 
 Kingdoms after he had conquer'd them, 294. 
 Ambition, an excellent Remedy to cure a private Man of 
 
 it, 170. 
 Amenophis, his Banilhment of 250,000 ye^s from Egypt^ 
 
 271. 
 Amphitheatre, partly deftroy'd by the Knavery of a Pope'^ 
 
 Nephew, 1S2. 
 Amiens, a Candle preferv'd there which always burns, 
 
 235> &c. 
 Antients, and Moderns, a Difpute about their Preference, 
 
 68, 69. 
 Anecdotes, Hiftorical, Gallant and Literary, a fcurvy 
 
 Piece, written by a quondam Mountebank, 138. 
 Animals, fenfible and intelligent, 24c, &c. Whether 
 
 they are only Machines, 243. 
 4>inihilatiQn, extremely mortifying to Human Vanitv, 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 'Annonciade, the finefl Church in Genoa ^ 204. 
 
 Jnfelm, St. Bilhop of Canterbury^ the pious BomBafI 
 
 in his Writings, 113. 
 Antiquity, the Nazarenes Partiality in its Favour, 98, 
 
 99. 
 Antithefes, frequent and childifli of St. Aujiin and his 
 
 Followers, iii, &c. 116, 117. 
 Apology, againfl ihcFMody of A/cibiades, a pitiful Work, 
 
 138. 
 Apojlles, very much refpefled hy the Mahometans, 6z. 
 Apt, a Mandate by its Bp. burnt, 131. 
 Arabiaiis, great Obfervers of Filial Obedience, 122. 
 Arcadius^ excited to Perfecution by St. C/^ryy^ow, wo. 
 ArchiteSlure, an Academy for it founded by Lenuis XIV. 
 
 at Paris, I'l^z. 
 Argens, (Marquis de) Chara«Sler of his Memoirs of Mir- 
 
 mon and their Stile, 260. 
 Arijlifpus paid dearly for the Favours of Lais, 197. 
 Arijiotle, his Philofophy run down by St. Bernard, 1 1 5. 
 
 He throws himfelf into the Euripus, 300. 
 Aries, Bifhop of, excommunicates Caterpillars in vain, 
 
 77. 
 Arnauld, perfecuted by the Monks, 18. Injur'd by 
 Jurieu, loi. Was a good Writer, 114. A Great 
 Genius and an Enemy of the Calvinijis and Jefuits^ 
 
 Arts and Sciences more encouraged in France than any 
 where, 132. 
 
 Ajirology, judicial, an Argument againft it, 145, 146. 
 Great Vifionaries, and ought to be banifh'd out of 
 every well governed State, being almoft always Im- 
 poftors, and fometimes the Dupes of their own Credu- 
 lity, 146. Are now very much run down, 149. 
 
 Aiheiks, are not thoroughly fatisfy'd in their Opinion, 
 226. Divided into Philofophers, Libertines and De*^ 
 bauchees, 228. Ninus and Sardanapalus, were fuch, 
 229, 230. 
 
 Jtheifm, not fo criminal as Hypocrify, 226. Its Ab- 
 furdity, ib. Commoner among the Great Ones than 
 
 amon^ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 among the Vulgar, 229. The Want of Refped for 
 the Religion profefs'd leads to it, 231. 
 
 .lugujius II. King oi Poland, humbled by Charles XII, 
 and proteded by the Czar, 250. 
 
 Auftin, St. His pernicious and abominable Maxim touch- 
 ing the Eftates of Sinners and Heretics, 103, 104, ^c. 
 Which gave rife to the League, and the MafTacre of 
 St. Bartholomeiv, 98. The terrible Ufe that may- 
 be made of it, ib. He was more dif^reet in his Phi- 
 lofophical, than his Theological Trads, loi, 109. 
 Modern Philofophers much obliged to him, 102^ 
 He had his Failings, 109. Is the Patriarch of the 
 Janfenijls, iii. His vicious Stile has prejudic'd a 
 great many Divines, 1 1 1, 112. 
 
 Anjlin, of the Greeks, St. Chryfoflom (o calPd, 1 10. 
 
 Authors, Abundance of bad ones in i/o//^;;^, 138, 139. 
 Their manner of Writing, ih. 
 
 Au'VergnacSy llupid and dull, 276. 
 
 R 
 
 Babbles, the impertinent Chit-chat of Women, 1 79. 
 
 Baillet, furnamed the Dijlodger of the Saints, 1 80. 
 
 Barbeyrac, an able Tranflator and Commentator, 137^ 
 Quoted as to the turbulent Spirit of St. Cyril oi Alex- 
 andria, 95. And touching a pernicious Maxim of 
 St. Augujlifi, 98. 
 
 Bartholomeiv, St. the MafTacre of that Day founded on 
 an abominable Maxim of St. Augufiin, 98. 
 
 Rajl^as, obliged to make Prefents to the Grand Vizier, 
 which they reimburfe to themfelves out of the Pockets 
 of the Governors and the People, and-pay very dear 
 for the little Prefents they have from the Grand Sig- 
 nior, 44, 45. 
 
 Bflfil, St. his Homilies, as pure as the Style of Demof- 
 thenes, ill. 
 
 Bafnage, de Beauval, an agreeable Writer, 136. 
 
 Battles, how furprizing they mud be to Men of Senfe, 
 202. 
 
 BayU^ 
 

 I N D E X. 
 
 ^ayU, injurM by 7«rz>«, loi^ 136. A great Phllofd-vy ' 
 pher and an able Critic, 136. His Stile cleai^ con-<|L 
 cife and ilorid, 193. Tjl 
 
 Beajisy and their Souls. See Animals. '|l' 
 
 Beatificatio7i, granted to the Poor, as Canoniiaaiion to '7 
 the Rich, 44. . 
 
 Beatified Perfons, as different from the Canonioiedy as 
 MarquifTes from Dukes, 44. 
 
 Beauty Spots, the Care with which the Women apply 
 them, 82. 
 
 Becheran, a Janfeniji Abbe, his Convulfions at the Tomb, 
 of Abbe Paris, 50. 
 
 Beggar, Inftance of a very ilurdy one, 296. 
 
 Benedid XIII. treats Raphael's Paintings as Hogflies, 
 and attempts to deface them, 183. 
 
 Bernard, St. Abbe de Clair^aux, an Enemy to the Sci- 
 ences, Falfe Prophets, and a Perfecutor, 114. Aa 
 obfcene PafTage in his moft devout Meditations, 1 15. 
 His Opinion with refpedl to the Salvation of the Je'wy 
 and Gentiles, 268, 269. 
 
 Bernard zxi Enemy to Bayle, 136. 
 
 BeJ/arion, Cardinal, thought the Lives of the Saints im- 
 pertinently written, 234. 
 
 Bijhops, their Decifions not. valid, if not pronounsed irv 
 a general Afiembly, 38. That Opinion confuted, 
 38, 39. Buy Indulgences and Difpenfations of the 
 Pope, by the Grofs, which they fell again to the 
 People by Retail, 45. As proud and arrogant as 
 thofe in antient Days, 94, 95. Perfecutors and Se- 
 ditious, ih. Their Ambition unbounded, 130, 131. 
 Moft of 'em vile Slaves to the Court of Rome, ib. 
 Duped by the Regent of France, 131. In general 
 they live regularly, ib. 
 
 Blanche, Mother of Lenvis IX. beloved by 7hihaiid 
 Count de Champagne, who celebrated her in Songs, 
 278. 
 Bochoris banilh^s the leprous yevjs out of Egypt, 272. 
 Bodies, only moved by other Bodies, 143. 
 Bgihaii des Preaupc^ an excellent Poet, 161. 
 
 B 
 
 OlS. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 JSois, Abbat de, a bad Minlller of State, i68. 
 
 ■Boftnenjal, Count de, turns Mahometan^ and takes th« 
 Name of Ofman, 6i. Report of his Death, 84. 
 His Charader and the Judgment pafs'd on him, 174. 
 'Hc\\\\^v ?i l^a'x.arenenox ^.Maho?netany 175. Report 
 of his Death contradided, 218. His Conftancy 
 during his Sicknefs, ib. 222. His Cenfures of a Prielt 
 and an Iman, 220. Reputed to be a Je^v, 222. 
 His Letters to his Wife and to the Duke, 222, 223. 
 Pcrfedlly recovered, 224, Judgment paffed on hi» 
 Condud, 225. 
 
 Books, very many prohibited by the Monks, 85, 86. 
 One Reafon of it is to promote Curiofity, and one 
 Sign of it is their Goodnefs, 87. How they are com- 
 piled in Holland, 137. What ought to be the Ingre- 
 dients of good Onfis, 257. 
 
 ^ookfellersy pay the Journalills to extol their Impreffions, 
 
 37- 
 Borghefe, the Vineyard of that Family magnificent, 
 
 188. 
 Bojfuet, Bifliop oi Meaux, wrote well, 114. An able 
 
 Divine, Orator and Hillorian, 135. 
 Boucher, a feditious Preacher of the League, like to 
 
 Gregory of Nazianzen, 93, 98. 
 Bouillon, a pretended Lady of that Family, proved to 
 
 be the Cardinal's Baftard, 25, 26. 
 Brito Jacob, one of the Correfpondents of the Jenuijh 
 
 Letters, born at Genoa and bred at Conjiafitinople, 
 
 Pre/, I & 49. His Journey to RomCy 43. Arrival at 
 
 Genoa, 204. And 2iX.Turin, 273. 
 Bruyere, la, an able Writer, 161. 
 Bulls, Venetians fhut up the Pope's, without reading 
 
 them, 59. 
 Burial deny'd to Comedians, 1 5. 
 BuJJy, an Author of the Court, 161. 
 
 C. 
 
 Cahalifls, great Vifionaries, 145. Their chimerical 
 Science combated, 232, 233, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 C«/^r^«^^/s Romances criticis'd, 257. The Style pro- I; 
 'iix, 286. ^ 
 
 Calvin, with the Support of Reafon, revenges Good 
 Sen fe when opprefs'd, 214. Commended and cen- ; 
 fur'd, ih. 
 
 Calumny, Women the firll Fomenters of it, 123. 
 
 Candle, confecrated, an ecclefiallical Juggle, 235, 
 236. , 
 
 Canonizations, very profitable to the Popes, 44. The 
 Perfons r««d?«/2;V compar'd to Dukes, and thofe bea- 
 tify'd to MarquifTes, ib. 
 
 Capitol, magnificently rebuilt by Michael Angela, 72. 
 
 Caravenferas, Mahometan Alms-houfes, 121. 
 
 Cardan, afcribes the Difinsrence of Religions to the In- 
 fluence of the Stars, 269. 
 
 Cardinals, have engrofs'd to themfelves the Plight of 
 eleding the Popes, 186. Have fometimes chole two 
 or three for one Vacancy, ib. Are mofl of them No- 
 blemen, ib. Their Ufefulnefs to Rome, 187. Their 
 Vineyards about that City, ib. Why they chufe 
 none but old iVIen to be Popes, 293. 
 
 Carlijle, Countefs of, her State Intrigues, 290. 
 
 Carmelite, Fryar, his Adventure in Love, and Punifh- 
 ment, 22. 
 
 Carp's Leap, a Step in the Convulfive Dance of the 
 Abbe Becheran, on Abbe Paris'' s Tomb, 5 1 . 
 
 Cartejians, borrow their innate Ideas from St. Aujlin, 
 103. 
 
 Caterpillars, excommunicated by the Pope, but in vain 
 by the Archbiihop of Aries, jj. 
 
 Catholic, Ro?nan, would fooner be a Mahometan than a 
 Greek Schifmatic, 57. 
 
 Catinat, a great and wife General, 161. 
 
 Catrou, Jefuit, a bad Author of a very pitiful Roman 
 
 Hiilbry, 286. 
 Ceremonies may be difpens'd with, 175, 176. Inftances 
 from i\iQ Je^s and Nazarenes, 176, 177. Many 
 ufelefs ones among the Jenvs, Nazarenes, and Maho- 
 metans, 177, 178. 
 Cenmonies, religious, not indifpenfably neceflary, 28, 
 
 Cafa 
 
 lar. 
 
I N D p: X. 
 
 Cafar, Juliusy as learned a Man as he was a great 
 Captain, 141. Caule of great Misfortunes to the 
 Reman Republic, 208. Not a Prey to the Fair Sex, 
 293. 
 
 ChambermaiJs, MefTengers of Love, 6^. 
 
 Chamiilard, a ferry Minifter of State, 168. 
 
 Chance^ could not have produc'd the beautiful Order ill 
 the Univerfe, 246. 
 
 ChapclUy la, his fine Talents, 137. 
 
 Charity, remarkable of the Mrt>fo«?<f/^;//, 121, 122. 
 
 Charles V. had like to have been thrown down head- 
 long from the Dome of St. Pcter''s Church, 299. 
 
 Charles X\l. K.ing of Swueden, znoiWtv Alexa7ider, 250. 
 
 Charles, Emanuel, King of Sardinia, makes his Ad- 
 vantage of the Calamity of the Genoefe, 206. 
 
 ChaJIel, Jchn, who ftabb'd //^/r;^ IV, 173. 
 
 Cheej'e:, Writings of certain Popilh Divines compared to 
 them, 100. 
 
 Chelihi, a young Turki/h Nobleman, 65. 
 
 Chfcremon, his Opinion concerning the y<?-TW, 271. 
 
 Chevreufe, Duchefs de, how pernicious to France, 290, 
 
 China, very flourifhing a little after the Deluge, 282. 
 
 Chrijiians. See Naza7-enes. 
 
 CJ?riJlianity. See Na^arenifm. 
 
 Chryfojiofn, St. furnam'd the Augujiin of the Greeks, 1 10. 
 
 • A Perfecutor of the Eunomians, Montanijis, &c. ib, 
 
 ; Degraded, banilh'd ; reftor'd, and banifh'd again, and 
 
 died in his Exile, 1 10, 1 1 1. Is the Patriarch of the 
 
 Molinip, III. The Purity of his Stile, ib. 
 
 Church and State, their different Maxims, 1 6. A plea- 
 fant Reprefentation of a Church by a J^xc', 29, 30. 
 
 ■Cicero, his Morals purer than that of the Fathers of 
 the Church, 92. Blames the Stoics, 303. 
 
 Cienfuegos, Cardinal, an able Minifter, 289. 
 
 Circumcijion, not pradis'd by the Jen.<js of Spain, 2?, 
 63. Pradis'd by the Mahometans, 61,. Sufpended 
 by the Je^ws, when EJlher became the Wife of Aha* 
 fuerus, 176. 
 
 Citizens, more happy than the Courtier and the 
 J>Jobleman, 162, 163. And are capable of giving 
 
 their 
 
INDEX. 
 
 tJteir Children as good an Education, 159, iSp^^ 
 
 162. 
 "Claude, Minifter, wrote well, 114.. Was a fuWime 
 
 Genius, 135. 
 Clemency y faid to equalize the Creature to the Creator, 
 
 1 10. 
 
 Clement, James, a Jacobin Fryar, Affaffinator of Henry 
 
 111. 86, 173. 
 
 Clerc, M. le, the Enemy of Bayle, 136. 
 
 Clergy, Perfecutors as foonas ever 'twas in their Power, 
 93, 94. Were as corrupt formerly as they are now, 
 ib. Seditious and rebellious, 94, &c. Have the 
 lirfl: Rank in France, izg. Revenge their darling 
 Paffion-, 131. Exafperate one another by vain Dif- 
 putes, 141. Favoured the Notion of Sorcery, for 
 their own Lucre, 149. Hell of no Profit to them, 
 but Purgatory a Benefit, 212. Amafs'd great Wealth 
 to themfelves, by preaching that the World was juft 
 at an End, 213. Approvers of a Multitude of idle 
 Fables, 234, &c. Damn all without Mercy who are 
 not in the Pale of the Church, 268. 
 
 Colbert, an excellent Miniller of State, 161. Rais'd 
 by his own Merit, 169. A Proteftor of the Arts 
 and Sciences, ib. An Enemy to Louvois, ib. 
 
 Celu?nns, of Trajan and Antoninus, well preferv'd at 
 Rome, 183. 
 
 Comedy. The Cabals form'd for and againft Plays, 33. 
 For one Perfon of Senfe there are an hundred Fools 
 that frequent them, ib. 
 
 Comedians excommunicated, and Reflexions thereupon, 
 15, 16. Affociated to the Fr^af^ Academy, 20. 
 
 Commerce, impure, the Monks make their Devotees be- 
 lieve that they can take away the Guilt of it, 41. 
 
 Compliments, are generally the Fruits of Diffimulatioa 
 and Impofture, 80, 81. 
 
 Conchi, Sebajiian, a Painter, almoft ruin'd by a Monk, 
 189. 
 
 Conde, Prince of, his Name will be ever illuftrious, 161. 
 A great General but a mean Politician, and very much 
 inferior to Mazarine, 294. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Confeffhrs, fubjefl to the Mode, i r . 
 
 ConfeJ/io7i, the ill Ufe the Clergy make of it, and the 
 Advantages they reap from it, 69 to 71. 
 
 Confciencesy very dangerous to be forced, 5^. 
 
 CoKJiance^ Council of, aflerted its Superiority over the 
 Popes that condemn'd its Decifions, i 86. 
 
 Conjlantinople fubje<^ to Revolts, 38. Its Government 
 
 * compar'd to that of Rome^ 44. And its Manners to 
 thofe of Paris, 65. But its Cou-rt very different from 
 that of Vet-failles^ 172. It fails in refped due to its 
 Sovereigns, 173. 
 
 Conjlitution Uuigenitus, Divifions and Troubles it occa- 
 fion'd in France, 38. The ridiculous Superllitions it 
 gave rife to, 49, 50. 
 
 Controverjial Pieces, the Caufe of a Purity in Style, 
 1 17. I'he Writers of th^m generally injurious, ioi, 
 109. 
 
 Coii'vuljions feign'd by the Janfimfts, at the Tomb of 
 the Abbe Ptzm, 52, 53. 
 
 Con'vulJionarieSy their great Number, and many of them 
 imprifon'd, 50, 51. 
 
 Coquettes, extremely careful of their Drefs, 81, 82. 
 
 Corneille, Peter, an excellent Poet, 140, 161. Extri- 
 cates the French Theatre from a Chaos, 161. 
 
 Ccrftcans rebel againft the Ge-noefe^ 206. Gcvoefc alone 
 cannot reduce them, 253, 254. llluilrdtion of it by 
 a Fable, ib. 
 
 Co/cia, Cardinal, his rapacious Temper, and his Puniih- 
 ment, 187. 
 
 Courage, an admirable Virtue, which ought rot to de- 
 generate into Fury, 301. 
 
 Court, more eafy to be acquainted with it than is ima- 
 gined, 158, &c. 
 
 Court of Rome, carries its Politics to the utmoft Extent, 
 44. Its exceffive Avarice and \^enality, ib. Parallel 
 of its Government with that of Conjfantinoplcy ib. 
 How the Title of Holinefs is abus'd by its Pope?, 
 1 84, &c. How it entangles itfelf in the Quarrels of 
 all the fovereign Princes, 205. 
 
 Courtezans fvvarm at Ro?ne, where they are tolerated, 
 
 p 43, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 43, 74. Not dangerous, comparM to the Opera 
 Wenches at Paris, 150, 156. Sometimes of delicate 
 and tender PalTions, 196, 197. 
 
 Couytiei's, fervile Imitators of their Princes, 141. Re- 
 jlexions on their Charader, 158 to 166. How they 
 manage Falfe Policy, 163. Their Divifion into the 
 three Clafles of Lovers of Art, Readers of Roman- 
 ces, and Talkers of Nonfenfe i and into Fo.ps and 
 merry Debauchees, 164 to 166. True Camelions 
 and Apes of the Sovereign, 166. Fawning and Cring- 
 ing to the Prince and his Minifter, but infolent to 
 tlieir Inferiors, 1 70. Creep like Slaves, or flrut like 
 Sovereigns, 171. Turkijh Emperors have none about 
 them, 172. More ftudious of their own Fortunes 
 than of their Mailer's Glory, 200, 201. 
 
 tZribillon^ the Poet, abfconds for writing a Piece calPd 
 Ecumolre, or the Troubles of the Janfenijlsy 89. 
 His -Piece call'd Egaremens du Cceiir ^ de T Efprit 
 very much commicnded, tho' cenfur^'d for its Didiion, 
 255, 256. 
 
 Crime, involuntary, not punilhable, 263. 
 
 CrojTcsy thofe carried in ProceiTion, compar'd to the 
 'Tiirh Standards of Horfe-Tails-, 59. 
 
 Cujioms and Ceremonies often fpring from Vice, 203. 
 Whether they are the more noble by their Progrefs, 
 as Pvivers are, 214, 215. 
 
 ■Cynics, their Impudence, 296. 
 
 Cyril, St. of Alexmidria, vtry Seditious and a great 
 Perfecutor^ 95. 
 
 D. 
 
 Damned thought by fome Divines to be as neceflary to 
 the Glory of God as Galley-Slaves are to that of 
 Kings, 265. Confutation of that impious Notion, 
 ib. 
 
 Dancing, how enfnaring to Youth, 153. Prefcrib'd as 
 a miraculous Cure by the yanfenifis, 51, 52, &c. 
 
 Daniel, the Jefuit, his Hiitory of France fmcere as 
 far as Francis I. 88. 
 
 Dead, how they are interred iu France y 55,59. 'Twould 
 
 be 
 
INDEX. 
 
 be hardly more filly to dance at their Graves than to 
 
 fing there, 60. 
 Death, the Advantage that arifes to the Monks by the 
 
 Fear of it, 70, 71. The End of all our Troubles, 
 
 ib. 
 Deijis of France, fkillfully p.-jnted under the Charadler 
 
 of Jeivs, 27, 28, &c. 
 Deluge, Arguments againft its Univerfality, 283. 
 Democritus, has his own Eyes bored out for the fake of 
 
 iVIeditation, 300.. His continual Laughter weakly 
 
 defended, ib. 
 Demotiiacs, heretofore numerous in Frar.cc, becaufe the 
 
 Prielb found a Gain by it, 149. Dclufion a iVlalady 
 
 which the Priefts get Money by, 234, 235. 
 De?no7ts, the defpotic Power which the Priclh and Fryars 
 
 pretend to have over them, 235. The Adventure of* 
 
 one with a Carpenter, 236, 237. 
 Demvjlhenes, his Simplicity, and at the fame Time liis 
 
 Grandeur and Eloquence, 192. 
 De?iis, King of Sicily, his Impieties towards y.-ip'ter 
 
 and j^fcidafius, 230. 
 Der<viJ/:cs, Tw;-/-//^ Fryars, extremely re fpccled, 1^4. Al- 
 together as corrupt as the Na'zarcne Fryars, 66. 
 Der'viJJ:?es and Imans, Tiirkijh Fryars, as crafty and as 
 
 debauched as the Nazarene Monks, 124, 125, Sec. 
 Des Cartes, perfecuted by the Monks, 18. Defpis'd 
 
 by the Pedants, 90. Borrow'd from St. ^///?/;/, 102. 
 
 The Reftorer of Phiiofophy, 135. Extraordinary 
 
 Difference betwixt him and a Peafant, 239 and 242. 
 
 Quoted as to the Certainty of enljghtiened Reafon, 
 
 264. 
 Defpotic Power, no Regard to a Country under it, 202 
 
 and 210. 
 De'voiit Ladies, their Charafter and Intrigue?, 8. For 
 
 want of Prelates and Canons they take up with 
 
 Monks, ib. 
 Diagoras, his Impiety towards Hercules, 230. 
 Diogejtcs the Cynic obtain'd Favours of Lais grcitiF, 
 
 197. His Impudence, 297. His Ciiaftifement by 
 
 riato, 29S. 
 
 P 2 Diozcuc'^ 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 DJogenes LaertiuSy his Lives cf the Fhilofophers better 
 written than the Lives of the Saints, 234. 
 
 DireJIors, fpiritua!, fubjedl to the Mode, 1 1 . 
 
 Difcord between the Prince and People proves the Rain 
 of States, 37, 38. 
 
 Dijpenfations much traded in by the Pope, the Bifliops, 
 Clergy, and Monks, 45. 
 
 Di^imulationy extraordinary and treacherous, in the po- 
 lite Compliments of the French, 79, 80, &c. Call'd 
 the Knot of Society, ib. As common in the City as 
 at Court, 163. Horribly criminal in Matters of Re- 
 ligion, 225, &c. 
 
 Dsgs, Legacies left to them by certain Turksy izz. 
 Their Senfe and Intelligence, 240. Capable of the 
 three Operations of Logic, 241. 
 
 Domlriicy St. the Founder of his Order, diverts himfelf 
 with burning the Devil's Claws, 234. 
 
 Dotninicansy their Impoflure concerning Magdalene, 
 177. 
 
 Ponatifisy perfecuted by St. Aujihiy 10 1. 
 
 Doriay a Genoefe Prince, his ridiculous Affedlation of 
 every Thing that was of a large Size, 252. 
 
 Doriay Senator, his fage Advice touching Savojta, 
 
 .253. J 
 
 Dreliiicourt, the Minifter, a good Writer, 114. M 
 
 Drefsy the great Attention to it by the Beaus and the ' 
 
 Pelles raliy'd, 10 to 14. How fond the Women are 
 
 of it every where, 65, 81. j 
 
 Dunjiany held the Devil by the Nofe with a Pair of j 
 
 1 ongs, 181. 
 Dutch y Enemies to Bigotry and Superflition, 276. 
 
 E. 
 
 Eboli, Princefs of, her Afcendant over Philip II. 290. 
 Ecumoirey or Skimmer, a Satyr upon the Molinijis, for 
 
 which the Author abfconds, 89. 
 Education expos'd to very great Inconveniencies in 
 
 France, 89, &c. 140. How eafy it is made, 160. 
 
 May be as good for the Cit as the Man of Quality, | 
 
 ih. 162. ^' 
 
 Egypt 
 
I N D K X. 
 
 Egypt very populous and flourifhing foon after the De- 
 luge, 2S1. 
 
 E legions, thofe of the Popes very ferviceable to the City 
 of Ro?ne, 'j6. 
 
 Elyfian Fields, as probable as Mahomet\ Paradife, 120. 
 
 Empire^ Ottomnyi^ will be ruin'd by its intcllinc Divi- 
 fions, 37. The great Sway of the Women tiicre, 
 292. 
 
 Emulation excites good Genias'5, 34. The Prin:u-n 
 Mobile of the Sciences, 141. 
 
 Ejtgliji-, Charader of their Learned Men, 19. Not 
 more juft but more free in Matters of Argument than 
 the French^ 89. Of good Judgment, but not gay, 
 193. Abufe their Freedom too much, 198. Gicat 
 Speech-makers at the Gallows, 221. 
 
 Envy of Talents y the Quality of mean Souls, 34. 
 
 Epaphroditusy E pi JI e 1 1/ s' s MaHcr, 301. How he broke 
 
 EpkefuSy Temple of, burnt, from what Motive, 299. 
 EpiiletuSy his Morality more pure than that of the Fa- 
 thers of the Church, 02. His Severity more vain 
 
 than difcreet, 303. A Slave to Epnphroditus, who 
 
 broke his Teg, ib. 
 Epicureans^ tiieir Abfurditics confuted, 226 to 228. 
 
 The true ones wifer than the Stoic. 302. 
 Epictirus, a great and famous PJiilofopher, who wrote a 
 
 great deal, but none of his TraOs extant, 301. 
 Equality, Men are generally inclin'd to it, and envy 
 
 thofe who aim to furpafs them, 253. 
 Equity commonly guided by our Paffions, 250. 
 Erojiratusy why he burnt the Temple of Ephefus, 299. 
 Errors of the Divines, by Age become Truths, 99. 
 Efculapius\ Statue dcpriv'd of its. Golden Beard, by 
 
 Dionyfius the Tyrant, 230. 
 EJJars^ les Che'valier des, a mean pitiful Romance, 
 
 258. 
 EJiatcsy an abominable and pernicious Maxim of St. 
 
 Aujlin about their Property, 98, 99. 
 EJlher obliged to marry Ahafuerus for the Safety of the 
 
 Jcv:sy 176. 
 
 P 3 Eudoxciy 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 Eudoxa, Emprefs, her Banifhment of St. Chryfojlom for 
 infulting her, 1 1 1 . 
 
 Enje, a childifn Notion of the Rabbles concerning her 
 Name, 179. 
 
 E'vtls to be fufFered in Hopes of Good to GGiue, 303, 
 
 Emiomians, perfecuted by St. Chryfojlom^ 1 10. 
 
 £.u?ruchs Mefiengers of Love in j4/ia, as Chamber- 
 :inaids are in Europe ^ 65. Made fo by the Italiatis 
 for Intereft, and by the T^urks from Jealoufy ; and 
 the Infamy of the Pradlice, 74, 75. Depriv'd of 
 Ecclenaflical Degrees, ib. 
 
 JE-oreniont, St. his Sentiment concerning the great Power 
 of the Women, 290. 
 
 Zuripides, an excellent Poet, 140. A Poet according 
 to Nature, 192. 
 
 Eii/ebius, a notable Pafiage of that Hiftorian, concern- 
 ing the Arrogance of Bifiiops, 94. 
 
 Sxcommunication, the Stage-players laid under it, 15. 
 How abus'd by the Clergy, and what Profit they 
 make of it, 76, 77. 
 
 Exorcifms apply M by the Monks and Priefls to frightea 
 •and gull the poor Laity, 234, 235. 
 
 F. 
 
 Fuith^ fuft'ering for it jiiftify'd by the Hopes of greater 
 Hsppinefs, 303. 
 
 Fanferedln, an infipid Allegory, 258. 
 
 Farfn, Marquis ^V, a ridiculous Beau, 10, 11, 13. 
 
 Fanners of the Revenue, public Robbers, Dedication. 
 Titles and Ranks which they pretend to, 127. Their 
 Ways to increafe their Fortunes and Families, ib. 
 Their ridiculous Vanity, ib. and 128. How they 
 are manag'd by the Opera Girls, 152. Authors of 
 the People's Misfortunes, 174. Their little or no 
 Relilh for Pieces of Wit, 297. 
 
 Fcjis of the Jen.vi and Maho?netans continue till Night, 
 62. 
 
 Fathers of the Church, their Rancour and Gall, 92, 
 93. Their Morals not fo pure as the Pagans, ib. 
 Not fo much refpeded as heretofore, 94. Many of 
 
 them 
 
INDEX. 
 
 t?iem would have been looked upon as fedidaus, ir 
 they had wrote under He?7ry III. and IV. 97. Par- 
 tiality of the Na'z,areiic3 in their Favour, //;. and 99, 
 Their Writings compar'd to certain Cheefes, 100. Au 
 Excufe for them, ib, Wifer as Philofophers tlinn as 
 Divines, loi, 109. Give the Name of Holy Zeal 
 to their Choler, loi. Their extravagant Zeal and. 
 Ambition, 109. Blow hot and cold in a Breath, 1 10, 
 BelievM God to be a material Being, 2 f.j.. 
 
 Fathers^ Greekj wrote a purer Style than the Lati^z 
 ones. III. 
 
 Fauouritcs. See Courtiers. 
 
 Fenelon^ Archbifhop of Camhray^ his great Virtue and 
 ufeful Knowledge, 135. 
 
 Fejii'vals, EcclenallicaJ, Dcfcription of tiiofe of itai\'^ 
 273» 274. 
 
 Flemings very fuperflitious, 276. 
 
 Tlmry, Cardinal de^ his modefl Cenfure of a Blflinp;, 
 132. His Charader very much to be eflcem'd, 169. 
 Very referv'd and very prudent, 288. 
 
 Florentines much more fprightly than the Pied/nontefe,. 
 
 Fontaine^ la, an excellent Poet, 161. As much an 
 
 Original as jEfop his Model, 197. 
 Fontaines^ Abbe des, Author of Nothings, which pleafe 
 
 without inftrufting, 88. 
 Fontenelle, his great Capacity, 68, His wrong Turn 
 
 in Favour of the Moderns, 69, &c. A famous Wri* 
 
 ter, 161. 
 Forcalquier, Count de, reads the Philofophers, 164. 
 Foreigners fufpeded every where in a Time of War 
 
 24. 
 Fortune depends upon the Will of Man, and his Ufe of 
 
 Times, Places, and Perfons, 146. 
 Fortune-tellers ought to be banifh'd from every civiliz'd. 
 
 Government, 146. 
 France only diHurb'd by the Clergy and Monks, 3?. 
 
 Its flouriiliing Condition, with Remarks on the great 
 
 Power of its Kings, and the Caufes of it, 54, 5^-. 
 
 Dilbad^ed about Points of Religion, i^. Had rather 
 P. 4^. lofe. 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 loCe her good Subjefts, and their Wealth, than to let 
 them eat Meat when they have a mind to it, ih. Their 
 Minds very much cramp'd, and Education wrong turn- 
 ed, 89. Its different States, 129. Its Sympathy with 
 2Io//ana, as to V/orks of the Learned, 134. Its 
 learned Men towards the Clofe of the xviith Centu- 
 ry, I 35 to 1 37. Its Government more firm than that 
 cf the Turks, 209. A rare Phsnomxenon in its Ad- 
 ininifcration, 288. Protefts Gene^va^ but may one 
 'D?.y take it, 205, 206. The open and communica- 
 tive Lives of her Kings, 172. 
 
 Trench, their Civility to Strangers in their own Country, 
 and their Dillike to every thing abroad, 2. Their 
 Fcndnefs for Modes, 10, 11. Are not capable of 
 c ukivating the Sciences beyond a certain Point, 1 7, 20, 
 <}0, 91. Their feveral Academies, 19, 20. Their 
 foeifls reprefented under the Character of Jen^s, 2j, 
 ;;8. They only bmifii for the fake of Religion, 29. 
 Are fond of their Monarch, 38. Their Rehgious 
 rit'ferences, 55, 56. Affed all to be witty, 67. The 
 Treachery and Malignity of their Complaifance, 78. 
 Falic in their Civilities, 81. Are naturally Slander- 
 crf, io. Friendfnip very rare among them, ib. Al- 
 ways under a Conilraint, ib. Are naturally fprightly 
 iind ingeniour, 89. Subject to a wrong Education ^ 
 ib. They debafc their Nobility, 126, 127. Have 
 little Regard to Merit, 127, &c. Their three Ellates,. 
 129. I'heir Levity, 132. Their Opinion of Ho- 
 nour as the chief of all Bleflings, 158, 159. Their 
 \ eneration for their Sovereigns, with fome remarkable 
 Exceptions, 173. Their great Vivacity, 191, 194. 
 Character of their Common People, 198, &c. Are 
 the Caufe of their Wives Infidelity, 251. Their Wo- 
 men the moll: dangerous Enemies, 291. Their re- 
 vengeful Temper, 292. 
 
 Tricndjhip very rare among the Trench, 8 1 . Cannot hold 
 out againft Love, 249 to 251. 
 
 Tnigality, a pretended Virtue in Italy, 274. 
 
 Turetiere, his' Ditlionary, tho' very good,, the Caufe of 
 his Expulfion from the Academy, 20. 
 
 Galtantrjy 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 G. 
 
 Gallantry, Difference between the Turkijh and French,. 
 65. 
 
 Galley -Jlaijes neceilary for the Honour of Sovereigns,. 
 265. 
 
 Gardens, the three principal ones at Paris, 82, 83. 
 
 Gajfendi, an excellent Philofopher, a Native of Prcvence^ 
 zj6. Defpib'd by the Pedants, 90. Undeceives a 
 pretended Sorcerer, 147, kc 
 
 Gazettes, their Ufefuhiefs, 35. 
 
 Generals, wliag^hey ought to be, 294. Compared to^ 
 Miniller , .^H^tate, //;. and 295. 
 
 Genc'vie've, St. fupplants St. Peter and St. Pai^.l, and is 
 fupplanted by Paris, 12. 
 
 Genoa, Beauties of that City, and the Virtues and Vice? 
 of its Inhabitants, 204, &c. The Gallantry which 
 prevails there, 249. 
 
 Genoefe, very different from the People at P.ctnc, io\, 
 &c. Indullrious and laborious, 205. Hate France,. 
 to which they aro in a n^anner Slaves, 205. Infulied 
 by all the //fl//^;?/, ib. Heartily hate the Piedmont - 
 efe, 206. Their OpprelTion of tlie Corficans occi- 
 iion'd their Revolt, ib. and 253. Tyranny and Ra- 
 pacioufncfs of their Nobility, 207 and 253. Slaves 
 to the Great Men and Monks, 2C9. Are not capable 
 of attaining to any Poll 210. Are the Caufe of their 
 Wives Infidelity, 251. Are very polite, 251. Can- 
 not reduce the Corfjcans, and are devoiu-'d by the 
 Germans, 254. 
 
 Germans, their Writing? very learned, but not very 
 pleafant, 193. Tow much Slaves to their Sovereigns, 
 198. 
 Ge-ard, Father, a Jefuit, accufed by the janfenifls, oS 
 feaucing a V/ Oman to debauch her, 52. His Death, 
 and his Gown cut in Pieces for Relics, 52, 5^^. His.- 
 Brethren try in vain to make him work a Miracle, 
 ib. 
 Giiilio Romano, two of his Pi6lures run a great Rifque 
 jb-om the Frenzy of a Jefuit, 189. 
 
 P S Gladiator,. 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 Gladiator, a noble Statue in the Borghefe Vineyard, 
 i88. 
 
 Glory, the Primum Mobile of the Sciences, 141. The 
 prevailing Pafiion of Conquerors, 298. The Defire 
 of it cauies Arts and Sciences to flourifh, ib. 
 
 Glory, Vain, excites to very heinous Crimes, 299. In- 
 fiances of it, ib. and 300. 
 
 God, lefs Danger with fome People to offend him than 
 the Fryars, 23. The Notion which the People have 
 of him at Rome, 43. The View of all Things that 
 are in him quoted from St. Augujiin by Mallebranchcy. 
 X02. His Exiilence proved by Locke ai^ St. Augujlin, 
 205, 106. Confider'd by many as a material Being, 
 244. Cannot deceive us, 263, 264. Some Divines 
 aflert, that the Damned contribute to the Glory of 
 God, 265. That Affertion confuted, 266. He is 
 too good and jail to damn thofe that a£l according to, 
 their Confciences, ib. 
 
 Comber'ville, his Pole x an drc CQ\\\'Cir''d, 258. 
 
 Gwertmient, Refemblance of thofe of Rome and Gk- 
 Jiantinople, 44. The mofl difficult of all Sciences, 
 203. The Monarchical and Republican compar'd,, 
 2c6, 207. 
 
 Grand Signiars, or Sultans, learn fome Handicraft, and 
 fend their Workmanfhip to the Bafhas, who pay 
 dearly for it, 45. Would not venture to think of 
 v/hat the French King durll put in Execution, 54. 
 Have no Courtiers, 172. Their gloomy folitary 
 Live,?, ib. Bafely treated by the Janizaries, and the 
 Caufe of it, 173. The public iVIisfortunes imputed, 
 to them, 1 74. Their Government not fo well fet- 
 tled as the French, 209. Are fway'd by Women, 
 292. 
 
 Grnnd Vi'zisr fells every Thing as well as the Pope's- 
 Miniiters, 44, 45. Puts any Man to Death, 167. 
 
 Great, the Abufe of that Title, 200. Inftance of a 
 
 ridiculous AiFcdion of what is Great, 252. 
 Great Men in France humbled, 54. How mean before 
 their Prince and infolent to their Inferiors, 1 70. Are 
 r>othing when ilripp'd of theix Titles a^d Drefs, 252, 
 
r N D E X. 
 
 &c. Their proud Airs only render them conteirpt- 
 
 ible, 253. 
 Greeks, their Writings dillinguifhed both by Nature and 
 
 their Grandeur, 192. Hate the Papijis more than, 
 
 they do the Turks., 57. 
 Gregory, St. of Naziaiizen, as feditious againft Julian 
 
 as Boucher was againft Henry III. and IV. 93. 
 Gtngnard, John, the Jefuit, advifes the Murder of 
 
 Hefiryiy. 173. Hang'd for it, 86. 
 
 H. 
 
 Hanged, thofe that r.re fo in England, great Speech- 
 makers, 221. 
 
 Hatred, weakened by the Number of Objefts on which, 
 it falls, 1 74. 
 
 HeSior, why dw.gg^dhy Achilles, 18. 
 
 Hell of no Profit to the Clergy, 211, 212. 
 
 Henry III. degraded by the Sorbvnne, 90. 
 
 Henry ly. his AfTaflination, 86, ^73. Could rot re> 
 pair the Damages occafion'd by his Predeceuor, 208 . 
 Always govern 'd by the Women, of wiiom one 
 prov'd his Ruin, 290. 
 
 Heraclitus, his inceflant Weeping ill defended^ 3C0. 
 
 Hercules, his Statue committed to the Flames by Dia^ 
 gorasy 230. 
 
 Hermance, la^ an Opera Girl, Daughter of a Ccbler^ 
 
 15- 
 
 HermophrodUe, a fhie Statue in the Borghefc Vincyi^rd, 
 188. 
 
 Hermits abftain'd from all Cercmotiier, 177. 
 
 Hijicrians very much reflrain'd in France, 85, 86, 
 
 Hijiory, not to be written with Freedom, ^.^ The pro- 
 digious Reilraint Writers are under in that icfpedtj ib. 
 Requires MajcHy and Juiiice, 261, 262. Polteriry 
 judge of it, ib. How confus'd and obfctrre in the 
 primitive Ages, 281 . It fliould be ftudied in the Ori- 
 gnals, and not in the modern Copies, 285, Abridg- 
 ments of it, for v.'hom fit, 288. 
 
 HoHnefs, a Title common heretofore to all Clergy, and 
 fince ufarp'd by ;i;s Topes, i'6, 184, 
 
 V 6' lUlkiiA- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Jkllajid fympathizes v/ith France as to the Sciences, 
 134. The learned Men that fioUrilhM there at the 
 Clofe of the xviith Century, 135. Its Government 
 mightily commended, 207, 210, and 276. 
 
 Homer, majeftic and iublime, 192. 
 
 Honour, preferr'd by the French to every thing, 159. 
 
 Ho/pit allers. See Malta Knights. 
 
 Hujlands, very complaifant in France, 4, How they 
 carry it to their Wives, 7, 8. Very often debauch'd 
 by the Monks, and fometimes defile one another's 
 Beds, 83, 84. Very courteous at Ceaoa, 249. 
 
 Hjpacius, a Pagan Philofopher, facriftcdd to the Rage 
 of St. Cyril of Alexandria, 96. 
 
 Uvpocri[yy one of the chief Supports of the Monks, 2 1 . 
 Horribly criminal, and worfe than Atheifm, 225, 
 226. 
 
 I. 
 
 Ideas, innate, borrowM by the Cartejiam from St. Ati-^ 
 
 gujlin, ^10^. 
 Idiot a ^ the Surnzme of Rainiond yordain, 117. 
 Ignorance kept up by the Monks, and why, 21. Bails 
 
 of their Tranquility, 275. 
 Ignorant, they often put Men of Wit to filence, 33. 
 Images, abhorr'd by the Maho?netans as well as the 
 
 Je-cvs, 61. 
 Imagination, its Sprightlinefs not owing to the Sun, 191, 
 
 192. 
 Imans and Dervijhes, Turkijh Monks, 1 24. As crafty 
 
 and debauch'd as the Na^irene Fryars, 124, 125, 
 
 &c. 
 L-npofnires, thofe of the Conv-iLlonaries of M. Paris, 
 
 50, 51. 
 In:arnation, the pious Nonfenfe of An/elm, Archbifhop 
 
 of Canterbury, on thai Subjeft, i 13. 
 Infallibility referv'd to God alone, tho' claim'd by Rome, 
 
 184. 
 Inquiji-ion thirfled after the Blood of the Jc^kis,- 56. 
 
 Made Spain lofe the United Provinces, ib. How- 
 cruel in this Article, 1 84. 
 
 Jn^uiJitorSp 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ItiQ-'ifitors^ their infulting Cruelty, 29. 
 Interments y Defcription of tlie Popijh, 58, 59. 
 Jfraelites, punifh'd as foon<is they revolted, 40. Were 
 
 not Perlecutors, and endeavour 'd to redaim the Ten 
 
 Tribes, 56. See "Jc^s. 
 Italy y Defcription of its Church-Feflivals, 274. The- 
 
 Italian Suppers very frugal, ih. Their Ignorance, 
 
 J. 
 
 Jacobins y or •L.orrnjls, can't bear the Mention of tliclr 
 Aflaflin James Clementy 86. Ridiculous Thefis of 
 their School, 91. 
 
 James Shakehorfe, St. his Temple at Rome ; the Oi-Igiii 
 of the Name burlefqu'd, 47, 48. 
 
 Janizaries always ready for Rebellion, like the Priefls 
 and Fryars, 37, 38. Difhonour the Ottoman Race, 
 and are cruelly punilh'd, 173. 
 
 Janfcnijis are Only banifliM in France, whereas in 
 Spai?! they would be burnt, 29. Authors of fatyrical 
 Pieces in h^owvelles EccleJiaJliqueSy 37. Their Appeal 
 againil the Pope's Conllitution, 39. Rcfufal of'Obe- 
 dience to the King, and are feme of them banilh'd, 
 ih. Counterfeit Miracles for the Abbe Paris, and 
 feduce a great many weak People, 50, 51. Are 
 bent on the Ruin of Father Gerard, 52. Succeed 
 the Calvinijlsy 56. 
 
 Jaqueloty an Enemy to Bayle, 136. 
 
 Jerome, St.' hafty and choleric, affronts Ruffinus, lor. 
 
 • He wrote elegant Latin, 1 1 1 . His Story about Paul 
 
 • the tiermit and his Raven, 177. 
 
 Jerufalem, the Turks Veneration for that City, 62. 
 
 Jefuits difpenfe with their Difciples Love of God, 1 2, 
 13. Powerful and implacable Enemies, 37. Au- 
 thors of the partial and contemptible Journal de Trc- 
 'voux, ih. Perfecute the Appellants from the Pope's. 
 Conllitution, and refufe Obedience to the French 
 King, 39. Try to make Father Gerard work a Mi- 
 racle, 52, 53. Can't bear the Mention of their A f- 
 ikflin Guignard, Zd* Caufe Grehilkn to be impri- 
 
 fon'd 
 
I 
 
 D E X. 
 
 fon'd for Kis Book, entitled Ecumoire, 89. Teach 
 the Belles Lettres well, but are the Scourge of Philo- 
 . fophy, 90. Defeated by Arnauld, 135. One of 
 them caufes the Statues in the Famphili Vineyard to 
 be mutilated, 188. 
 ^^•xt'.c, their conjugal Fidelity, 3, 4, 6,, 7, 8. The; 
 prudent Behaviour of their Doctors, 24. The Name 
 'given to the Delfts in France, 27, &c. A great ma- 
 ny Jeeves in Spain,, where they are not circumcis'd,. 
 28, 61. Their Condu£l to their Children, 28. Their 
 Days of Punilhment are Days of Rejoicing to the 
 Spaniards f 29. Are every where under Oppreffion, 
 56. Cruelly perfecuted in Spain, but well received 
 in Holland, ib. Their Unity of Faith defended, 58. 
 Thev are reproached with too great a Number of 
 Ceremonies, 60. Their Difbelief of the Prophecies 
 relating to the MeJJiah, 62. The Prevarications laid 
 to their Charge, 64. Drink no Wine but of their 
 own Preihng,. and eat no Food but of their own Cut- 
 ting, ib. Accus'd of thinking they have a Pvight to 
 deceive all other People, ib. Perfecuted by St. Cyril 
 of Alexandria^ 95. Hated by the Nazarenes and 
 Mahometans, 119. Very few of 'em change their Re- 
 ligion, ib. Oblig'd to own their Religion when fum- 
 mon'd before a Magiftrate, 175, 176. Have a great 
 many needlefs Ceremonies, 178. Foolifh Tales of 
 their Dodlcr?, 179. Are not the only People that 
 will be fav'd, 263. They condemn all the reft of 
 Mankind, 265. Proud and vain to excefs, and the 
 Jeft of all other People, 271. The vileft of the hu- 
 man Race, 272. The Books, of Mcfes relative to 
 them only, 281. 
 
 J ^ pretended Dutch Abbefs, her Adventures and 
 
 Exploits, 25. 
 
 Journal dcs- Sca^ans, formerly in Efleem, 36. 
 
 Journalijis, fome in Bookfellers Pay, and too many Li- 
 .terary and Political Journals, 36, 37. 
 
 Jubilee, The Traffic which the Popes make by it, da- 
 ring which Paradife is a free Fair, 46. 
 
 Judaifm. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Judaifm extremely dangerous in Spain, where the Jenvi 
 poifon their Children who refui'e to embrace it, 28, 
 Renewed and reformed, 61. 
 
 Jugglersy Wits of FrQve7ice, and the Privileges they en- 
 joy, 277, 278. 
 
 'Julian, Emperor, feditioufly inveigh'd againll by St. 
 Gregory of Nazianzen, 93. 
 
 Jupiter, his Statue ftripp'd of its golden Robe, by the 
 Tyrant Dionyjius, 230. 
 
 Jurieu, his Exclamations agalnfl Ai-nauld and Bayle^ 
 loi, 136. 
 
 Jufiittian, Emperor, excited to Perfecution by the Cler- 
 
 gy> 95- 
 
 K. 
 
 Kingdoms, their Tranquillity, to what owing, 37. 
 
 Kings ought to be fubjeft to the Laws, 40. Reduced 
 to kifs the Pope's Feet, 75. And to other Ceremo- 
 nies, 143. 'J'hofe of France put none of their Sub- 
 jects to Death, till fentenced by the Judges, 167. 
 The Servility of the Great Men to them, i 70. What 
 they ought to be, 199. Given by God in his Wrath^ 
 201. 
 
 L. 
 
 Lais granted thofe Favours gratis to Diogenes, which 
 ihe fold dear to others, 197. 
 
 Langlet, quoted as to fome Difficulties about the De- 
 luge, 283. 
 
 Languedocians fprightly and ingenious, 276. 
 
 Languet, Bifhop of Scijfons, and Archbifhop of Seni\ 
 his Life of Maria d'Alacoque full of Chimeras, and 
 more of the Vifionary than the Rabbies and the Ca- 
 balifts, 24, 
 
 Laubanie, the Marquis de, an illuftrious Warrior, 161. 
 
 La^.v ought not to be arbitrary, 203. 
 
 Laivs as binding to the Sovereign as they are to the 
 Subjeds, 40. 
 
 Laivyersy Examples to Hulbands for Complaifance, 3. 
 
 Jueag>^e^ 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 League^ their reditious Preachments and Libels the Caufe 
 of the Afihffination of Henry III. and Henry IV. §6, 
 93. Join'd by the Sot'{fonne to their Shame, 90. 
 Follow a horrid Alaxim of St. Aujiiny 98. 
 
 Learned Men, how they are cramp'd in France, 1 7 to 
 2Q. Liable to Oilracil'm, 18. Perfecuted by the 
 Monks, ib. Forced to fend their Works to Foreign 
 PrelTes, 19. Their Number very much lefien'd in. 
 France, (i%. Are not over-i^ligious, 70. Why they 
 abound at one Time and are fcarce at another, 140,. 
 141. 
 
 Letters., Jenvijh, not fo bold as the Turkijh Spy. Pre/.. 
 vi. "Very well receiv'd in Hoi I arid, England, and at 
 Paris, Pre/, vii. Own'd by the Marquis d' Argens. 
 Pre/. v:ii. 
 
 Len:antines, extravagant and monllrous in their Wri- 
 tings, 192. _ ^ 
 
 Zft.7, a noble Family in France, faid to be of the Tribe 
 of Le'vi, 230, 251. The Marquis de, his Want of 
 Religion, ib. 
 
 Le^Lvis JX. King of France, his Licences to Tumblers, 
 Jugglers, ^V. 27S. 
 
 Lewis XIV. King of France, the Academies he founded 
 for Arts and Sciences, 132, 133. Protedlor of the 
 Sciences, 141. The Eileem he retain'd for Maza- 
 rine, 168. 
 
 Lewis XV. King of France, Succefibr to the Virtues of 
 his Great Grandfather, 141. Educated by the Car- 
 dinal de Fleury, 169. Very referv'd, 288. 
 
 Libels, feditious, the Caufe of the AlTafTmation of Hen- 
 ry IV. 86. 
 
 Liberty, Civil, the Right of Mankind, 17. Writers 
 in l>^;7c^ very much abridg'd of it, 85, 86, 93. 
 
 Locke borrow'd from ^t. Auftin, 102, 105, 106. Excel- 
 lency of his FJfay on Human Vnderjlanding, 193. 
 
 Lo've furmounts every Thing, and the Inflances of its 
 great Power, 249, 250. Can of itfelf befl paint the • 
 Pafiions which it excites, 256. Couit of Love, an 
 Academy fo called, 278. Love of God fubject ta- 
 the Mode, 11. Jefuits accufed of difpenfing their 
 
 Difciples • 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Bii'ciples from it, 12, 13. Childifhly defcrib'd by 
 R. J ordain^ WJ, 1 18. 
 
 Lo-versy Frenchy are Banterers and Taucy, fickle and per- 
 fidious, 78, 79, 123. Difference betwixt thofe of 
 France and Turky^ 65, 66. 
 
 Lowvoisy an able Minifter of State, i6r. Rais'd by his 
 own Merit, 169. Cut out for Military and Foreign 
 Afiairs, and an Enemy to Colbert ^ ib. 
 
 Lucretius quoted, touching the Origin of the World, 227. 
 And as to the intelligent Faculty of Animals, 240. 
 
 Luther^ a German Jugujiin, fupported by Reafon, re- 
 venges the Caufe of Good Senfe under OpprelTion, 
 214. Commended and ccnfur'd, ib. 
 
 Luxembiirgy its Garden the Theatre of News-mongers, 
 82. 
 
 M. 
 
 Magdalene, St. Mary, the Dominicam Forgery relating 
 to her, 177. 
 
 Magicians. See Sorcerers. 
 
 Mahomet fucceeded Mofes and Jcfus in perfedling the 
 Law of God, 61. 
 
 Mahometans not very fcrupulous in feveral Articles, 1 6. 
 Their fervile Refpeft to their Santons and Der/ifhes, 
 54. Mad to make Profclytes, 57. Give no Quar- 
 ter to the Knights of Jslalta, ib. Not fo much hated 
 by the Greeks as the Papijls are, ib. The Antipathy 
 between their Se6ls of Omar and Aly, ib. Are real 
 ye-Tus, 61, 64. They bury fome Sentences out of 
 the Alcoran with tliem, 71. Don't difpute about 
 Religion, 121. Their great Ciiarity and Clemency, 
 121, 122. Their Refpedl to their Parents, 122. 
 Are not Backbiters, ib. Their Probity, ib. Are not 
 Drones, 123. Their Wives very much confinM, ib. 
 Their Taciturnity, 124. Their Advancement pro- 
 portion'd to their Merit, 128. They are not Flat- 
 terers of their Prince and his Miniilers, 171. Have 
 many impertinent Ceremonies, 178. Their Wives 
 very fubjed to conjugal Jnlidelity, 6. 
 
 Mahometifm 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 Mahometifm compar'd to the Tower of Balel, ^y. To» 
 
 redn'' d jfudai/m, See. 6i. To Pagaui/m, 120, 121. 
 Maimbourg, the Jefuit, a great Falfifyer of Hiftory, 86, 
 
 %"]. Writes the Wcjlem Schifm with more Fidelity, 
 
 and is expelled from his Order^ ih. 
 Maiftn, Chevalier de, Moncecas Guide at Paris, 14,^ 
 
 15. His Refiedlions on Courtiers, 158 to 166. 
 MaUebranche defpis'd by Pedants, 90. Borrows from 
 
 ^l. Juguftin, 102. A great Metaphyfician, 136. 
 Malta, Knights of, their furious Vows againil the 
 
 Turks, 57. 
 Manetkon, his Sentiment touching the Origin of the 
 
 Je-vs, 271. 
 Mangala, a Turk'ijh Qixvat with little Shells, 123. 
 Manufcripts numerous at Paris, 85. Callratcd ani 
 
 deftroy'd by the Monks, 116, &c. 
 Marets, des, his Ariatia criticis'd, 258. 
 Mari'vaux writes in a moving but affeded Style, 88. 
 Marius, the Caufe of great Misfortunes to the Repub* 
 
 lie, 208. 
 Ivlark Anthony, the Caufe of great Misfortunes in the 
 
 Republic, 208. Procures the Empire for Cesfar, and 
 
 lofes both that and his Life for Cleopatra, 250. 
 M<irri<ige, difagreeable Reprefentation of it, 261. A 
 
 fort of TraiTick in France, 4. After what MuTtner 
 
 many are patch 'd up, 127. 
 Mar'vellous, the Reception of the Fables of the Poets, 
 
 and thofe of the Alcoran, owing to that Quality, 121. 
 
 As contemptible as Nonfenfe, 261. 
 MaJJillon, a Native of Prwence, and a great Orator, 
 
 277. 
 Matter only ads upon Matter, 143, 144. 
 Ma%<irine, Cardinal, compared to Oreftes of Alexan- 
 dria, 96. His Charader, 168. A very able Mini- 
 
 fter, 289. His Superiority to the Prince of Conde ia 
 
 Politics, 294. 
 Mediocrity, its Advantages, 162 = 
 M , the Bailiff de, his Adventure with the Provoft, 
 
 Mcmoirei. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Memoir es HiJloriqueSy a pitiful political Journal of a 
 
 quondam Yaysi\{^m2iXiy 138. 
 Me7iy their Fortune depends on their Improvement of 
 
 Time, Place, and Perfon, 191, 192. Thofe of all 
 
 Countries alike, 159, 163. Thofe of illullrious 
 
 Fame, why fcarcer at one Time than another, i40». 
 
 141. 
 Merit y the Rife of People in 'Turkey ^ 128. 
 Merfenney Father, his Obfervation on the Quantity of 
 
 Water produc'd by the moft violent Storms, 283. 
 MeJJiah very much refpeded by the Mahometans ^ 62. 
 
 The Beauty of his Morality, 63. 
 Metaphyficians very much cramp'd in Francey 17, 20, 
 Michael Angela rebuilt the Capitol magnificently, 72. 
 Miiiijlers of State, Men of Capacity and Experience, 
 
 166. Their Charafter, and the Extent of their Power, 
 
 167. Thofe of France very able Men, ever fmce 
 Hetiry IVth's Time, efpecially the Clergy, 168. Their 
 Vanity one of the principal Reafons of their Referved- 
 nefs, 171. Expos'd to public Hatred, 174. What 
 they ought to be, 289. Inilances of the wifcft of 
 them that were never mai*ry'd, ib. Ought to be of 
 Age, 294. Compar'd to Generals, 295, 
 
 Miracles a great Means to furprize and ailoniih People, 
 49, 50. T\i^\. o^ ^\..ya77ies Shakehorfey 48. Thofe 
 of the Abbe Far is y 49, 50. A Defign that Father 
 Gerard fhould work them, 51, 52. That of the 
 confecrated Candle at Amiens, 235. 
 
 Mirobolany an Apothecary at C/6a/c?/^ upon the Saone^ 
 his fruitlefs Attempt to punifa his Wife's Incontinence,. 
 
 Mijlrcjfesy their prodigious Power, 291, &c. 
 
 Modey its univerfal Dominion in France, 10, 11, 12. 
 
 Writings fubjedl to it, 261. 
 Moderns y a Difpute about their Preference to the An- 
 
 tients, 63, 69, Not fit to write the Hiftory of the, 
 
 Antients, 286, 287. 
 MolierCy an excellent Poet, 161. His bell Pieces taken 
 
 from the Manners of the City and Kingdom, and 
 
 not of the Court, 162. 
 
 Md^^ 
 
T N D E X. 
 
 Molinijis^ St. Chryfcjlom their Patriarch, i 1 1. 
 
 Moncecay Aaron, one of the Correfpondents in thefe 
 yewyh Letters. His Confent to their being tranflated 
 into Frerich, Pre/. His Arrival at Marfeillesy Lyons,. 
 and Paris y i, 2. 
 
 Monksy a vile and contemptible Clafs, their Debauche- 
 ries, 8. Perfecators of the Sciences in France^ 17 
 to 20. Their Knavery and Hypocrify, 21. 'Tis more 
 dangerous to affront them than the Deity, 23. The 
 only Difturbers of France, 37. Compar'd to the 
 Janizaries and Spahis, 38. Make their Fair Bigots 
 believe that they take away the Guilt of unlawful 
 Copulation, 41. The Swarm of them at Rome, 43. 
 Retailers of the Difpenfations bought from the Pope,. 
 45. Their different DrefTes, 59. Imitated by the 
 Mahometans y 64, 65. Abufe the Confidence of the 
 People in the Saints, (:i6. 'Tis a capital Crime to 
 llrike or lampoon them, 69. How they gain by the 
 People's Fear of Death, 70, 71. Forbid the beft 
 Books, 85. Inftigators of the AfTafiination of Henry 
 IV. 86. Corrupters of Education, 89. Are fediti- 
 OU3, and would pafs for Martyrs, 96. Partial in f:'.- 
 vour of the Antients, 97. Fight themfelves witk 
 the Pen, and make others fight v/ith the Sword, 121. 
 Their bad Qualities, 130, 131. The Sink of all 
 Vices, ib. Their idle Tales the Caufe of the Divi- 
 fion and Schifm between the Nazarenes, 180. One 
 mutilates Statues, 188, 189. Another is for fpoiling 
 two Pidures, 1 89. They have more Credit in Italy 
 than in France, 1 90. Their Invention of Purgatory, 
 and the immenfe Wealth they get by it, 211, kc. 
 And what they got by the Donations of Fools for 
 preaching that the V/orld was jufl at an End, 213. 
 They pretend to a defpotic Power over Devils, 234, 
 Sec. They damn without Mercy all that are out of 
 the Pale of their Church, 268. Make Ignorance tlie 
 Bafis of Tranquility, 276. Their Charity to the 
 Poor, 279. 
 
 Montaigne, an excellent Author, a Quotation from him, 
 concerning tlie intelligent Faculty af the Oxen of Su- 
 fa, 2^2. Mm- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Montajiijisy perfecuted by St. Chryfojiofn, i lo. 
 
 Morals of the Fathers not fo pure as thole of fome Pa- 
 gans, 92. Ought to be moderate, and not over- 
 ftrain'd, 301. 
 
 Mordccaiy his Fidelity to AhafiteruSy 24. 
 
 Montcmar, Duke of, extoll'd, 164. 
 
 Mofes in great \^eneration among the Turks, 6 r . Leads 
 the 7('Tw out of ^^v/)/ into ^j77«. 271. His Books 
 relate only to the Jeuus, 281. 
 
 MottCy Houdart de la, the Son of a Hatter, 1 60. 
 
 Mountains, a Calculation of the highell, 283. 
 
 Multiplication of Noah's Children, prodigious, 282. 
 
 Mujic, the chief part of the Church Feftivals in Italyy 
 -74- 
 
 N. 
 
 Nature aifls always in the fame manner, 140, 141. 
 
 Nazarenes, the Irregularity of their Behaviour, and par- 
 ticularly as to Adultery, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8. Their Sub- 
 jedion of Religion to Fafliion, 12. With them ^tis 
 all Myllery and Revelation, 16. Are laden by the 
 Popes with Chains, 21. May fooner affiont God 
 than the Friars, 23. Moll of them only outward 
 ProfelTors, 27. Seized with a perverfe Spirit, 55, 
 56. Perfecutors of one another, 56 to 58. Mad to 
 make Profelytcs, 57. Their Faith only founded up- 
 on Fear ; and their Religion compared to the Tower 
 of Babel, il;. They look upon the ye-ivs as Repro- 
 bates, 58. Their Burials, 58, 59. Their Multitude 
 of Ceremonies, 60. And impertinent ones, 178. 
 Always againft Toleration, and for Perfecution, 92, 
 III. Their Partiality for the Fathers, 97, 98, 99. 
 Their Opinion of the filly Tales of the Monks, 1 79. 
 How credulous they are, 212, &c. The Beauty of 
 their primitive Religion, 215, &c. \"ery credulous as 
 to the Genii and Spirits, 234. I'heir Religious Trails 
 perfed Romances, ih. As they worlhip the fame 
 God with the Jeavs, they ought not to be exclud- 
 ed from Salvation 265. They aflert the Neceffi- 
 ty that fome Ihould be damn'd for the Glory of God, 
 
 .65. 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 S65, Their Wives very fubje6l to Conjugal Infideli- 
 ty, 6. 
 
 Ne c e^ ty dKpenks from theObfervation of fuch Religious 
 Ceremonies as are the moll eilential, 28. And obliges 
 fometimes to great Cruelties, i^. 
 
 Nepoti/m, how pernicious to the Rotnans, 76. The 
 perpetual Ruin oi Rome, 182, 183, &c. An In- 
 llance of it in Cofcia, 184, 185 to 187. 
 
 Nero did more Harm than ten Titus'*^ did good, 208, 
 Burnt Rome from a Principle of Vain-Glory, 299. 
 
 Neivhoff, Baron de. See Theodore. 
 
 Ne^vs jnongers, their Concourfe, 82. Ridicul'd, ih. 
 Their vain Difcourfes and Conjedlures, 83. 
 
 Nenjos -Papers, their Ufefulnefs, 3 5 . The Je^jjs Letters 
 diilributed in that Form, 40. News at Paris foon 
 defaced by others, 132. 
 
 Ne^vtoHy Sir Ifaac defpis'd by the Pedants, 90. 
 
 Ninus, a flug-a-bed Atheifl, 229, 230. 
 
 Noah, Objeftions as to the numerous Pofterity of his three 
 Sons, 282. Vain Difputes, 283. His Poilerity the 
 certain Source of Mankind, 284. 
 
 Nohi/ity very Y>^o{vLfc, 162, &c. Not fo happy as Burgh- 
 ers, :L Venal in France, 126, Depends in Tur^j 
 on Talents and Merit, 128. The 2d State in France, 
 1 29. Their Envy of the Clergy, i 29, 1 30. 
 
 Nonjatians perfecuted by St. Cyril oi Alexandria, 95, 96. 
 
 Novelty always agreeable to the People, 121. 
 
 Nowvelles Eccleftajiiques publiih'd by the Janfenijis and 
 \ery fit to be fupprefled, 3 7. 
 
 O. 
 
 Obedience, filial, the Turks, Tartars and Arabians noted 
 
 for it, 122. 
 Offences, the Pardon of, a great Virtue among the 
 
 Turks, 121. 
 Old Men, hov/ they are bubbled by the AdrefTes of the 
 
 Opera, 152. 
 Old Officers very fond of the old Times, 83. 
 Onis, Ifaac, 2. K2iOh\ 2it Conjiantinople, one of the Cor- 
 
 jefpondents in xhtjewjh Letters^ i. 
 
 Opera, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Opera, or Royal Academy of Mufic, Account of It^ 
 14, 15. Condufl and Charader of the Women Per- 
 formers, 16. They and the Adors excommunicated, 
 7^. Eunuchs inllead ofVVomen fing in them at Rome, 
 74. Eftabliiird by Lf'xv/j XlVth. 132. Corruption 
 and dangerous Intrigues of the Adlrelfes, 150, 151. 
 ^rheir Artifices, 151, 152, 155. 
 
 'Qrchejirs of the Opera, 15. 
 
 Orejii's, Governor of Alexandria, perfecuted by St. Q"- 
 ril, 96. 
 
 Or/r^/7/, Duke of. Regent, amufes both the Parliaments 
 and the Clergy, 130, 131. His Courage notwith- 
 ftanding his Foible for the Fair Sex, 2 8 9, &c. 
 
 Ojman, Emperor of the Turks, bafely murder'd by the 
 Janizaries y 173. 
 
 Ofman, Baflia. See Bonneval, Count de. 
 
 OJiracifm, a Baniihment for the Term of ten Years a- 
 mong the Greeks, inflidled on the Learned Men of 
 France, 18. 
 
 ■Oxen, thofe in the Gardens of Sufa, Mathematicians, 
 242. 
 
 P. 
 
 Puganijm not fo corrupted as MoVmifn, 12. 
 Pagans, the Sentiment of fome Divines about their Sal- 
 vation, 268, 269. 
 Painters abound at Rome, 43. Their Academies at 
 
 Rome TiYid Paris, 132, 133. 
 Palais-Royal of Paris, the Manfion of Love and the 
 
 Theatre of Cuckoldom, 83. 
 Pamphili^ the \^ineyard of the Princes of that Family, 
 
 magnificent, .188. The Statues in it mangled at the 
 
 Inftigation of a Jefuit, i 89. 
 Pantheon, formerly the Temple of all the Pagan Deities, 
 
 and now of the Chriftian Saints, 182. 
 Paradife, a free Fair during the Jubilee, 46. 
 Pardon of Injuries a great Virtue among the Mahomt'^ 
 
 tans, 121. 
 Parents very much honoured by the Mahometans, 122. 
 Paris^ the Theatre of Love and Folly, 194. 
 
 Paris^ 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 P^rh, Abbe, a Janfeniji Deacon ; the Ridiculoufnefs of 
 his pretended Miracles, 49 to 5 1 . The King caufes 
 his Church-yard to be (hut up in vain, 51. This 
 pretended Saint's Miracles put thofe of St. Gene-vie've 
 out of Credit, 12. 
 
 Parliaments of France^ their Privileges very much lef- 
 fen'd, 129. Always opposed the Popes and their 
 Underftrappers, 130. Cruelly bubbled by the Re- 
 gent, and that of Paris banifli'd, 13-1. 
 
 Parody o{ Alcibiades^ an infamous Work, 138. 
 
 Pa/quier, a remarkable Paffage quoted from him, fhew- 
 ing how the Term of Holinefs is abus'd by the Court 
 of Romey 184, i^c. 
 
 Pajfports to the other Worlds granted by the Monks to 
 People on their Death- beds, 71. Good Works the 
 only faving one, ib. 
 
 PaJJions, how Men are their Dupes, 71, And are al- 
 ways fway'd by them, 72. Put on the Appearance 
 of Virtues, 251. 
 
 Pauly St. the Apoftle, his Statue plac'd on a Pillar af 
 Rome, 183. He rebukes his CoUegue St. /'^/^■r, ib, 
 
 Paul, St. the Hermit, fed fifty Years by a Raven, 
 
 Paidus, Samofaterf.s, his haughty Chamber copy'd in 
 
 the modern Prelates, 94. 
 Peafant, the prodigious Difference of one from a Philo- 
 
 fopher, 239, 242. 
 Peirefcy an illuflrious and learned Antiquarian of Pro- 
 
 'V£nce^ 277. 
 Pelifier, la, an A£lrefs at the Opera, who was a Botcher 
 
 at Roan\ i 5. 
 Penates and Lares, compar'd with the Saints of Rome, 
 
 Penitentiaries, Grand, at Rome, remit Sins by the 
 Touch of a Wand, 46. 
 
 People always Dupes of the Impofture and Hypocrify of 
 the Priefts and Fryars, 21, 23. Bubbled by the moll 
 foolifh Imaginations, 52. Their Happineis depends 
 on their Submifiion to the Laws, 37. Ought not to 
 call their Sovereigns to account, 40. 
 
 Petau, 
 
Pctau, Jefuit, his odd Calculation of Noa/^s Poflerity 
 confuted, 282, 283. 
 
 Peter, St. theApoflle, reprov'd by St. Paul his Colleague, 
 183. His Statue placed on a Pillar at RoMe, ib. 
 
 Piter I. Czar of Mufco^jy^ his Charadler and odd Match, 
 250, 
 
 Peter ^ Church at Pome, its Magnificence, 46. ' 
 
 Petit-Pas, la, her Intrigue with an Officer, 1 94, kz. 
 
 Petits-77iaitres, their Folly, in point of Fafliicn and 
 Drefs, 10, II, 13. Examiners and Comptrollers of 
 the Drefs of the Women, 14. Are to be match'd in 
 Tiirky, 65. Not very devout, 70. Their Treache- 
 ry, 78, ^c. Their Itch for backbiting Quality, 82. 
 Their Slavery to the Paffions of the Women, 123. 
 Great Babblers, 1 24. Dupes to the AiTa-elies at th« 
 Opera, 153, 154. 
 
 PetrGnius applauded for his Tranquility in the I^our of 
 Death, 221. 
 
 Phi/ofophers very different from Divines, 100, loi. Ad- 
 vantage of their Inquiries, ib. Wliat has induc'd many 
 of them to deny the Being of a God, 228. Aire ge- 
 nerally very vain, and fomctimes extravagant, 300. 
 Ought to be compaihonate to the Vicious, 302. 
 
 Philofophy, the Jefuits are the Scourge of it, 90. Tlic 
 Scholalcic fort very pernicious to the Mind, 91. 
 
 Philofophy, hermetic or tranfmutary. See CabaliJIs, 
 
 Philtres^ or Love-potions, can't determine the Will, but 
 difpofe the Body, 144^ 145. 
 
 Piedmont efc, their Hatred to the Genoefe, 205. Their 
 Subfifiance and Frugality, 274. Their Ignorance, 
 275. Their very ridiculous Afiemblies of Wits, ib. 
 Their Vanity, Sloth, and Subjedtion to the Inquifi- 
 tion, 275, 276. Their Dulnefs, and Inferiority to 
 the Florentines, ib. Not famM for the Sciences, 277. 
 Nor have a Tafte for fine V/ri tings, 278. 
 
 Pierre, Abbe de St. his good Senfe and his Foible, Sj, 
 88. 
 
 Pilgrims, how the Spaniards get to Rome grrJis, 270. 
 Are as • much regarded by the Nazarcnes as by tlic 
 Mahometans f 279. 
 
 Q^ Planets, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Tlamts^ Bodies without Knowledge, 146. 
 
 Tlato, his miftaken Notions of the Nature of Gcd, 244. 
 His Chaftifement of Diogenes for his Vanity, 298. A 
 great and wife Philofopher, 301. 
 
 Plautus belie v'd to be a Piedmontcfe, 275. 
 
 T hit arch an excellent Hiftorian, 285. 
 
 Foets^ to what the Reception of their Fables is owing, 
 121. 
 
 Politenefs, treacherous, of the French, 79, 80. 
 
 P clitics of the Court of Rome, carry'd to the utmoft 
 Extent, 44. 
 
 Pompej the Caufe of great Misfortunes to the Republic, 
 20S. 
 
 Popes aiTume the Title of Gi?^V Vicegerents, &c. 21. 
 Fretend to Infallibility, 38. And to argue rationally 
 v/hen they doat, ib. and j^. Their Bulls lock'd up 
 by the Venetians without being read, 38. The pro- 
 digious Sums they get by Canonizations, 44. Make 
 Sale of every thing, like the Grand Viziers, ih. Le- 
 vy great Sums on the Ellhops, which they refund to 
 themfelves from the Priells, who therefore ftrip th« 
 Laity, 44, 4^. Traffic in Difpenfations, and get im- 
 inenfe Sums by Jubilees, 45, 46. Fretend to a Power 
 of Salvation by Confefhon, 69, 70. Admit Eunuchs 
 to Ecclcfiaftical Dignities for Money, ']^. Comical 
 Shifts to v.'hich their Infallibility drives them, 75, "j^. 
 Make themfelves worihipp'd as Gods, ib. Their Death 
 and a new Eledion earneftly wifhM for by the People 
 of Rome, 76, 77. Difpofe of Times and Seafons, 
 77. Great Enemies to Parliaments that oppofe their 
 Ufurpations, 130, 131. Their fpiritual Power com- 
 par'd with that of Old Rome, 142, 143. Formerly 
 chofe by the People, and confirm'd by the Emperors, 
 184. Now only by the Cardinals, 185. Have u- 
 furp'd the Title of Hollnefs, and a Pafiage out of 
 Pafquier on that Subjedl, 1 84, kc. One while two 
 *n three Popes at a Tim.e, 186. A Banter on their 
 Infallibility, ib. Condemn the Declaration of their 
 Inferiority to Councils, ib. Are not chofe till they 
 aj.e very old, ib. 
 
 Port' 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Porf-Royal deftroy'd by the Monks, iS. 
 
 Portugucfe, their Writings bad, 191. 
 
 Pol/on given by the Spanijh Je^jjs to their Ciiildi-en wlicr 
 will not embrace Judnifm, 28. Heretofore granted 
 to the Unfortunate, 71. 
 
 Pralfe, if ill bellow'd. Hands for an AfiTOnt, 80. Coni- 
 par'd to Poifon infas'd in pleafant Liquor, 81. Con- 
 ducive to the Encouragement o'i the bcience?, 141. 
 
 Preachers obligM to follow the Fadiion of the Tinre^, 
 II. Pleafantly defcrib'd by a /,f-cf , 30, 31. Paul 
 for preaching againil their own Practice, 32. 
 
 Preachments^ feditious, Caufe of the AfTailination of 
 Henry IV^ 86, 93. 
 
 Pretender, and his Sons, in no better Cafe than the au- 
 tient petty Kings at P-ome, 75. 
 
 Prevot, cP Exiles, his Romances approved, 25 S. 
 
 Prevot, la, an excellent Dancer in the Opera at Paris, 
 her Lewdnefs, 154, 155. 
 
 Priejis, Nazarenc, embroil Religion for the fake of 
 bearing Sway, 16. Lay the Sciences under terribU 
 Reiiraint, 17. Are the only Authors of the Trouble i 
 in France, 37. Compared to the Janizaries and Spa- 
 his, 38. Retail the j3ifpenfatioriS which they buy of 
 the Pope and Bilhops, 45. Favour the Opinion of 
 Sorcery, 149. Pretend to an abfolute Power over- 
 Demons, 234. 
 
 Probability neceilarv to Romance as well as to Comedy, 
 261. 
 
 ProccJJjons with the Saints Shrines defcrib'd, 66. 
 
 Prophets of the Jeivs, very much refpe<^ed by the Turksy 
 61, 62, The Jeivs Diibelief of the Prophecies re- 
 lating to the Mejjiah, ib. 
 
 Profclyles, the Nazarencs and Mahometans very zealous: 
 to make them, i^y. 
 
 Protejlants decide nothing as to the Salvation of others^. 
 265. Their Anfwer as to that Point in the Confe- 
 rence at Po[jjy, 266. 
 Pro'vence, the Natives fprightly and ingenious. 276. 
 Pro'vinces, U fitted, Ihook oif the Spani/h Yoke, b; lea- 
 fon of the Inc^uifition, 56. And became the V.evo- 
 0^2 fuaiiei 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 Rouille, Jefalt, the wretched Author of a very infipid 
 
 Roman Hiiiory, 286, &c. 
 RouJJ'eau, the Son of a Cobler, 1 60. 
 RouJJ'et, his Knowledge in PoHtics, 137. 
 RuffinuSf ahus'd by St. y^rcw^, 101. 
 
 S. 
 
 Sadduceesy two of their Errors, 217. 
 
 Sages of Greece would be reduced, if living, to write 
 Dedications to Brokers and Financiers, 297. 
 
 Sawts, and their Relics, fubjed to Mode, 11, 12. 
 Procefiions with their Shrines defcrib'd, 66, 6j. Eve- 
 ry one of them cures fome Diftemper, and their Re- 
 femblance to the Lares and Penates of the Pagans^ 
 12. The Diilodger of the Saints, 180. Their ridi- 
 culous Lives, and thofe worle written than the Lives 
 of the Philofophers, 234. Account of their Feilivals 
 in Italy, 273, 274. VVorfiiipp'd according to their 
 Reputation, ib. 
 
 Saltpetre, Houfe of Corredlion, well known to the 
 Wenches of the Opera, 15. 
 
 Sal-vMtion, the Natzarenes may hope for Salvation as 
 well as the Je^Ms, 265. The Anfwer of the Protell- 
 ants on this Subjed, 267. The Opinions of St» 
 Thomas, St. Bernard, and de Vega, upon this Head, 
 268. 
 
 Salutes, the Ceremonies or Feafts of the Church in Ita- 
 ly, 274. 
 
 c> anions, Turhp Fryars, very much refpe£led, 54. 
 
 ^arfi. Father Faul, his Joke upon the Portmanteau at 
 the Council of Trent, 186. 
 
 Sa^jona, tyrani^'d over and reliev'd, 253, 254. 
 
 Savoyards ftupid and dull, 276. Have acquir'd no Fame 
 in the Arts and Sciences, 277. 
 
 Scaiiger, Jofeph, his Opinion about the Deluge, 283. 
 
 Sceptre of Judah, the Jenfjs Unbelief of the Prophecy 
 relating to it, 62. 
 
 ^chifm oi the Weft, its Refemblance with the antient 
 Chaos, 186. 
 
 Zcievces 
 
INDEX, 
 
 Sciences cultivated in France in a very limited Manner, 
 
 17, Have their favourable Jundurcs, 134. Why 
 
 they fade or flourilli at certain Seafons, 140, 141. 
 
 Glory and Emulation their chief Incentives, 140 and 
 
 298. The Citizens may be as perfed in them as the 
 
 Nobles, 158, 159. 
 Scudery, an Author of incoherent Romances, 286. 
 Sculpture f Academics for it at Paris and Ro?ney 133, 
 Scythia, very flourifliing after the Deluge, 282. 
 Secretaries of State, their proper Qualities, 169. 
 SeeH, Human, an odd Paflage relating to it from St. Bey- 
 
 nard, 115. And from an Italian Author, 1 16. 
 Seneca accus'd of Pufillanimity in his dying Hour, 221. 
 
 A fine Statue of him, 188. 
 Sermons pleafantly defcribM by a Jeiv, 30, 31. 
 Shrines, of the Saints, their ProceiTions, 66, 67. 
 Sigijhies, a fort of Gallants at Genoa, countenanc'd b^ 
 
 the Hufbands, 250, 251. 
 Silence preferred by Men of Senfe, rather than to write 
 
 againil their Sentiments, 87. 
 Simeon tylitcs, his forty Years Station on a Pillar, 181. 
 Sin, mortal, blotted out for a fmall Piece of Money, 
 
 or a little Wax, 184. 
 Sins remitted by the grand Penitentiaries of Rome with 
 
 the Touch of a Wand, 46. 
 Ringing, how it charms young People, 153. 
 ^ir'vantes. Poems of Pro-vence, 277. 
 llander, the Foible of the French, and particularly of 
 
 their Petits-niaitres, 81, 82. Not fo much pradifed 
 
 by the Mahometans, 122, 123. Women the Authors 
 
 of it, iL Who are very much addi^fted to it, 124. 
 Society hardly to be maintain'd without Treachery and 
 
 Dilfimulation, 80, 81. 
 Socr.7tes, a greit and wife Philofopher, his Sayings col- 
 
 leded by Xenophon, 301. 
 Soliman, a Painter, his Pidures at Genoa, 204. 
 Solitude, a Pidlure of it, 260. 
 Sophocles, an excellent Poet, 140. Majeftic and fub- 
 
 lime, 192. 
 
 K§rhonnej^ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Zorhonne, the moil: famous of the Colleges o^ Franc'* 
 90. Loil it5 Reputaticn pail: R.ecovery, by joininti 
 with the feditious, ib. 
 
 , ercerers, Impcllors or Vifionarles, 146. One that was 
 deluded, brought to his Senfes by GaJJendi, 147, 
 148. They were formerly burnt in France, which 
 did but increafe their Number, 1 49. Several Parlia- 
 ments deny'd there were any fuch People, ib. 
 
 Soufafnour^ a fable Marten, in French, 9. 
 
 Sovereign Princes always to be refpefted, 24, 37, 30. 
 Ought not to be defpotic and Tyrants, but Fathers of 
 their Pecple, 40. Ought to be fubjeft to the Laws, 
 but not to be judged by their Subjefts, ib. Are re- 
 Juc'd to the Slavery of kiffmg the Pope's Feet, 75. 
 And to other Ceremonies, 143. The cringing of 
 the Grandees and Courtiers before them, 170. Not 
 fo much exposed to public Hatred as their Minilkrs, 
 17^^. What they ought to be, 199, 200. They 
 reduce Tyranny to an Art, ib. Have great Need of 
 Advice, ib. Their lawful Rights very well bounded, 
 201. As Judges and Fathers of their Subjeds they 
 make them the Vi6lims of their Paffions, ib. 
 
 Sou/, its Aftion upon the Body a perpetual Miracle, 
 143. Believ'd by m.any to be material and immortal, 
 243. Rcafons given for its Immortality, 247. 
 
 Sou/ of the World, the Syftem of many of the okl 
 Fhiiofophers, and of Spinofa, 244, 245, 
 
 Souls, the Policy and Craft of the R-omi/h Clergy as to 
 thofe which they fay are in Purgatory, 212. 
 
 pain abounds with uncircum.cis'd Je^vs, 28. Its In- 
 quifition the Caufe of the Lofs of the United Pro- 
 vinces, 56. 
 
 S/aniards look on the Punifhment of the Jeivs as pub- 
 lic Feflivals, 29. Their ridiculous Vanity, 279 and 
 280. Their Sloth and Arrogance, 298. 
 
 Spe£lacles, Public, how the Men and the Women behave 
 at them, i 3 to 15. Frequented by the Abbes, 31, 3::. 
 
 'Sperm. See Seed. 
 
 hpinofa, his Syfleni almoft: like that of the Soul of the 
 World, 245. The Abominablenefs of it, 246. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Sfying'glajfes ufed at the Play-houfes, 14. 
 
 State, its Happlnefs depends on the good Admhirftra- 
 tion of the fovereign Authority, 40. Its Divifions 
 always dangerous, ib. Weak or powerful according 
 to its Sovereign, or Minifter, 198, 199. 
 
 States-General, in France, what were their Rights and 
 Prerogatives, 129. The Caufe of their being abo- 
 liih'd, ib. 
 
 Statues, according to the Mahometans, will demand their 
 Souls at the Hands of the Sculptors, 1 20. Thofe 
 at the Pamphili Vineyard mutilated at the Inftigation 
 of a Jefuit, 1S8. 
 
 it He, bad till the XVth Century, when it was reiin'J 
 by Controverfics, 117. 
 
 Stoics, a frantic Se(5l of Philofophers, more nonfenfical 
 than the Epicureans, 302. Their haughty and chi- 
 merical Pretenfions, ib. Reprov'd by Cicero, 303. 
 Had no View but to fatisfy their Vanity, ib. 
 
 Studies ill diredted in France, 91, 141. How eafy they 
 : re made there, 159, 160. A Burgher may make .5 
 oood a Scholar as a Nobleman, 159, 160, 162. 
 
 Sub eJis ought not to judge their Sovereigns, 4.0. Ar« 
 f-1 ways Victims to the Pafiions of their Princes, 201. 
 
 Sz(ger, Abbot of St. Dennis, a very able Miniller of 
 . State, 289. 
 
 Sultans. See Grand Signiors. 
 
 Sun does not excite Fire and Vivacity in the Imagina- 
 tion, 191. 
 
 Superftition of the Romans, Inilances of it, 43, 48. 
 And of the Parijians, 49, 52. A notable Exampl« 
 of it at Dole in France, ib. 
 
 SwAfs, the Misfortunes of their late Divifions, 20S, 
 
 ^yl:a, the Calamities he brought on the Republic of 
 Ro?ne^ 208. 
 
 T. 
 
 Tacitus, a curious Quotation from him, relating to the 
 
 Je^MS, 272. 
 'Falifmans, the Power of F^ovie pretended to be owing 
 
 to one, 142. Many People deluded to believe their 
 
 Virtue, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Virtue, and Arguments to undeceive them, 143,. 
 
 144- 
 Tartars very obedient to their Parents, 122. 
 Tartary, its flouriihing State foon after the Deluge, 282. 
 TenfonSf Poerns of Pron)ence^ 2 7 8. 
 Terence fuppos'd to be a Piecl?no7itefc, 275, 
 Te-rtiillian, his Opinion that the Soul is niaterial, 244. 
 Theatre, the Intrigues there for and againfl Performances, 
 
 32,33. The Service done to tli^ French Theatre 
 
 by Corneille, 161. 
 Theologiies exped to be believ'd on their bare Word, 21. 
 Thefes, ridiculous, of the School of the Thomijis, 91. 
 Thibaud, Count de Cba??ipagne, his Amour with Queen 
 
 Blanche^ and his Verfes upon her, 278. 
 Thomas d'' Aqu'mas has fome good Things, with many 
 
 Abfurdities, 116, Pie wrote ill, 117. His Opinion 
 
 as to the Salvation of the Gentiles^ zSg. 
 Thomajp^n^ a praife-worthy pfillorian of P;-oT;^;?r^, 277. 
 Titles i how groundlefs are many of thofe that are tlirown 
 
 away upon Princes, 200, 201. 
 Titus Linjy, an excellent HiHorian, 285, 286. 
 Tournefort, a famous Botanill: of Pron:e7ice, 277. 
 Trent, Council of, a Jell on the Portmanteau of the 
 
 Council that fell into the Water, 186. 
 Treuoux, Journal de, extremely partial and contempti- 
 ble, 37. 
 Troubadours, Poets of Pro've7ice, their Privileges, 277, 
 
 278. 
 Truth, its Charafters, 12. 
 Tuilleries, Rendezvous of Fops and Coquets, and the 
 
 Theatre of Calumny, 82. 
 Turcnne, his great Adions ever memorable, 161. 
 Turin, a fine large City, 273. 
 Turks kifs the Eow-llring, which is the Inllrument of 
 
 their Death, 21. Their Gallantry compar'd with 
 
 the French, b^. 
 Tyranny reduced by fovereign Princes into an Art, 
 
 ;oo. 
 
 Vanity 
 
INDEX. 
 
 V. 
 
 Vanity of the Spaniards ridiculous and extravagant^ 279, 
 
 &:c. The favourite Vice of great Men, 298. 
 Vaiiban, an illuftrious Warrior and Enginier, 161. 
 Vayevy la Mot he le, his ill Defence of the Smiles of De- 
 
 mocritus and the Te.irs of Heraclitus, 300. 
 Vega, his Opinion of the Salvation of the Gentiles, 270. 
 Vendome, Duke de, a Model for Generals, 1 6 1 . 
 Vengeance, the moft fenfible Pleafure of the Clergy, 
 
 131. Taken by a C^;-;/^?^///^ Fryar, 22. And by a 
 
 Recoiled, 41, 42. 
 Venice, Pope's Bulls lock'd up there without being read, 
 
 / ertot. Abbot de, his Abridgment of the Reman Kifto- 
 
 ry, a good Book, 287. 
 Vicegerent of God, a Title only belonging to the Met- 
 
 fiah, but ufurp'd by the Pope, 21. 
 Villars, a good General, 161. His Admiffion into the 
 
 French Academy, 164. 
 Vincennes, the Convulfionaries confin'd there, 5 i . 
 Vineyards, magnificent Country Seats of the Cardinals 
 
 and Roman Lords, 18S. 
 VirgiTs Notion of the Soul of the World, 244. 
 Virgins, ever-blooming, one of the Joys of Paradife, 
 
 120. 
 Virtue alone does not ennoble Families, 126. But with 
 
 the Mahoinetans is the only Step to Grandeur, 128. 
 Vi'zicr. See Grand Vizier. 
 Voltaire, his philofophical I-etters expofe him to the 
 
 Perfecution of the Monks and Banifliment, 17. 
 
 W. 
 
 IJ^ands us'd by the Grand Penitentiaries of Rome, to 
 touch People when they abfolve them, 46. 
 
 Water, Holy, its Ufe in Interments, 59. Its pretend- 
 ed Virtue againft Devils, 234. 
 
 Whales, a childiili Story of the Rabbies concerning two, 
 
 Wi<kfd, 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 TViched, their Profperlty an Argument of the SouPs Tm- 
 inortality, 248. Are all fenfible of their Guilt, ih. 
 
 Widon.vs, their Grimaces and new Engagements, 5. 
 
 Willj cannot be determin'd by Philtres, 144. 
 
 Wife Men, the Stoics mifapply that Name to them- 
 felves. See Sages. 
 
 IVit, its fparkling Quality peculiar to the French, 191. 
 AfFeded by every Frenchman, 6j. The Gift of Hea- 
 x'en, and not of high Birth, 162. 
 
 Wits, and Libertines, have a Remorfe which forces 
 them, whether, they will or no, to believe there is a 
 God, 229. 
 
 Women, on v/hat Terms they are married in France, 4. 
 Their Charader, 5, 6, 7. Their Fondnefs for Fa- 
 fhions, II. Their Behaviour at Plays, i^c. 15, 16. 
 Subjed to the Criticifm of the Beaus, ib. Drefs, 
 every where their Foible, 6^. Affed to be Judges 
 of witty Compofitions, 6j, Their delicate Tafle, 
 68. - Their Knavery, 78, &c. Their Nicety in Point 
 of Drefs, 82. Great Readers of Romances, 87. 
 The f rft Movers of Scandal, and the Authors of va- 
 rious Misfortunes, 123. The Coniiraint upon the 
 Turkijh Women, ib. An impertinent Reafon for their 
 Tittle-tattle, 179. The Fre7ich and Ge?:oefe Kuf- 
 bands the Occafion of their Wives Difiionefty, 251. 
 Have no Share now in the French Miniilry, 288. 
 Are Spies whom it is difficult to guard againft, 289. 
 Their Power and Cunning, and the great Events that 
 are owing to them, ib. and 290. 
 
 World, could not be the Eftedl of the fortuitous Con- 
 
 courfe of Atoms, 227, 228. 
 IVorJhip, abfolutely neceiTary for Mankind, 224, 225. 
 Regulated by God himfelf, 268. 
 
 Xenophon, the Clearncfs, Concifenefs and Accuracy of 
 
 his Writings, 192. An excellent Hiftorian, 285^ 
 Xmenes, Cardinal, a very abl^ Minifier, 289, 
 
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