prodigious noife, gave ftrong proofs of the depth of their understandings; that the rapid delivery of a discourse was of more confequence than the matter of it, and that those who cou'd not shine by Elocution, would not only make a bad figure in the world, but be run down, and brow-beaten by every body. In short, her whole delight was to force the attention of the people to whom the was chattering, and to carry all before her by the torrent of her Eloquence, (thefe were her favourite expreffions). She look'd on me with an eye of compaffion, because she imagin'd I would be a difcredit to the BABBLE Family. I received this morning a letter from one of our diftant relations, which I fhall communicate to my readers juft as it came to my hands: not doubting but that my coufin's vivacity will make them defirous of being better acquainted with her. Dear Coufin, I hear you are the author of the new paper called The PRATER.-O Lud! how exceffively delightful it is, to talk in print to the whole world in what manner, and on what subject, aye, and as long as one pleafes.Well 'tis vaftly charming charming I proteft-you must furely have a monftrous deal of pleasure I wish I cou'd do as you do-heigh ho! —if I, poor foul, offer to open my mouth in the fmall circle of my own relations, I am fo fnubbed and documented by them all, that I am quite a miserable creature. Only think how fad a thing it is to have a longing to talk, and to have nobody about you willing to hear you. Papa often flies into a paffion, and cries, this girl chatters fo faft, I don't know what I am about Mama fays, indeed Patty, you are too flippant with your tongue, no body can bear it-young folks fhou'd be hearers, and not fpeakers:-you make one deaf, child. With fuch unkind expreffions as these, my poor ears are stun'd from morning to night.Tis very hard I may not talk now, for I was fixteen last Christmas, and I am sure I can talk as well as my Papa and Mama tho' I am not fo old. What fignifies age? - People who have lived a great while in the world are not always the wifeft you know, coufin: for fome people make more observations at fixteen, than others at fixty. -O how I envy the clergy, who may talk the best part of an hour without interruption, either to fome purpose or to no purpose, just as they please. Well, Well, I fay once more, it must be exceffively delightful to talk in print, fo dear coufin, do let me talk fometimes in your paper, for I have a vaft deal to fay, and you will in a very particular? manner oblige. Your most affectionate coufm, MARTHA CHATTER.. ****X*X***X*X*X* NUMB. VII. Saturday, April 24, 1756. Sit mihi fas audita loqui VIRG. En. VI. 266. What I have heard permit me to relate. YESTERDAY in the afternoon I drank tea at Mr. Aimwell's. Harriot was fur- ›› rounded by a brilliant groupe of her own fex. After the fashionable compliments were exchanged, the conversation turn'd infenfibly on the prefent pofture of our national affairs. I had the fatisfaction to hear all the fair ones inveigh, with a noble antigallican spirit, against the defigns ་ figns of our restless, ambitious, and enterprizing neighbours, and warmly declare they would freely part with all their ornaments and nicke nacks, toys and trinkets, to raise an army for the defence of Old England: one of them faid she wou'd chearfully refign her Indian porcelain, or be contented to pay a yearly tax in proportion to its value, which wou'd encourage our own manufacture, and check the importation of a commodity, by which we lofe fo much of our filver. Another protested she would not only give up her bracelets and diamond-coach-and-fix, but even part with Pompey's filver collar, for her country's good. A Third faid, fhe had that morn ing difcarded Friseur, her hair-cutter, and ordered Clip to take care of her head for the future, in order to fhow her thorough averfion to every thing French. And a Fourth vowed with a great deal of vehemence, that she would put on Regimentals, if the French landed, and fight to the laft drop of her blood for King GEORGE and the Proteftant Caufe. Harriot smiled at this lady's martial declaration, which fhe uttered with the spirit of an amazon, and made this reply to it: -I admire your zeal, madam, against the French, exceffively it is at this critical juncture particularly laudable: but I am of opinion, nevertheless, that women, by equipping themselves in in a warlike manner, ufurp the province of the men, of whom there is undoubtedly a fufficient number to defend us. 'Tis our business rather to inspire them with courage, by listening to the addreffes of thofe only who have discovered a proper regard for our religion and liberties, either by arming, or exciting others to arm, against the profefs'd enemies to both, I was just going to commend my ward for her fenfible obfervations, when a lively little Thing, who had caft several glances at me, in order, I fuppofe, to make a conqueft of me, notwithstanding my age, and the gravity of my deportment, thus prevented me." All arts, "faid fhe, to induce men to fight for their coun"try, should I think be allowed; and I think “moreover, that all leers, nods, ogles, winks, "and taps, fhould be tolerated and encouraged "for the welfare of the ftate, and not deem'd "coquettish, immodeft and unbecoming."- And to what purpose, I befeech you, Madam, "replied a young lady, will be all these incite"ments to love, if the grand point, matrimony, "which I imagine we all have in view, is not gained by them? The men, to do them juftice, are ready enough to flatter us and toy. "with us, but to fettle for life, and fet down in 66 "a family |