Wenman and Sir James Dashwood, was reading a News-Paper at the Kitchen-Fire of a large publick House. There were

two or three other Perfons in the fame Room; and one of them, one Mr. H-n-r, a matriculated Barber, came up to the firstmentioned Gentleman fo employed, and defired him to lend him his Watch a Moment; a remarkably good one, made by Tompion. He immediately retired with it to a Corner of the Room, in Order (as the Gentleman fuppofed) to correct his own by it. He foon returned it: But the Gentleman, as he was replacing it in his Pocket, found that the Cafe was not fecure, and (as it was natural) reproved Mr. H--n--r for putting his Watch into his Hand in that carelefs Manner. Then endeavouring to fhut it, he found the Spring would not catch, and no fooner examined the Infide of the Cafe but he faw a fmall Picture, which he presently knew to be that of the young Pretender, He, immediately fired, taxed Mr. H-n--r with what he had done. Mr. H--n-r look'd

looked just as filly and confounded as you may suppose any other detected Villain to do, and with an affected Air of Indifference replied to this Effect: "Why, 'tis

a pretty little Picture, and I thought it "would please you better than me, and "fo was willing to make you a Present "of it." The Gentleman made no Anfwer, but with a juft and honeft Indignation threw the Picture into the Fire, and flung out of the Room.

I DOUBT not, Sir, but your Imagination has prevented me in drawing a Parallel between this Affair and that of the infamous Rag-Plot. There is certainly a furprizing Refemblance of Features between them, that strikes one at first Sight. And had not this laft Plot been crufh'd in the Birth by the Unskilfulness of the Midwife, it might juftly have been stiled the other's First-born. But as it has happened, I hope it will serve to convince those abroad, who are capable of being convinced, of the low and dishonest Artifices of fome

among

among us, who are moft impiously and unnaturally labouring to raise themfelves upon the Ruins of our Alma Mater. I will not compliment Mr. H--n-r's Invention fo far as to fuppofe he was the first Mover in this Bufinefs. It may, I think, on the contrary, be taken for granted, that' he acted only an Under-Part. Neither do I-expressly charge any Academick with the Contrivance of this ingenious Plot. All I fhall obferve is, that this Mr. H--n--r, befides his Trade of a Barber, has the Honour to be Butler of Exeter College. The Gentlemen of that Society, I am told, affect to laugh it off, as a foolish trifling Affair, and to wonder why People fhould be alarmed at it. They blame their Servant indeed for his Folly, but are fo extremely charitable in this Instance as to acquit him of any guilty Defign. I will not pretend to judge Mr. H--n--r ; he knows his own Heart beft: But a plain Proof to me of a black Intention fomewhere, is that fome of his Friends have actually been with the affronted

Gentle

Gentleman, on Purpose to prevail with him, if poffible, not to divulge the Af

fair.

I HAVE given you, Sir, a plain Narrative of the Fact: And now indulge me in a few. Reflections upon our present Circumstances, not fuggefted by a blind Party-Zeal, but by an unaffected Regard to Truth, and a fincere well-grounded Affection to this University, to whose Interefts I am so hardy as to confess myself most firmly attach'd. With Respect to the Views of these Gentlemen, a very small Degree of Penetration will give us a clear Infight into them. The honourable Profeffion of Informing, (for honourable they feem follicitous to prove it) has in a late fingle Instance proved a very lucrative one too. They hope to meet with the fame Succefs; and, in Order to enfure it, are turned Pimps and Informers to that Prince of Informers equally detested by all Parties. They furnish him from Time to Time with Matter of general C Abufe

Abufe rak'd from their own filthy hellifl Plots; and occafionally intersperse the vilest Reflections upon the most refpectable Characters in the Place. I know that when they have been expoftulated with by fome of their own Friends upon thefe truly diabolical Practices, they have only replied with great Coolness; " There is "no Help for it; we must take all Ad

vantages at fuch Times as these." But I would ask Mr. K------t, for Inftance, why must the University (to which it is very well known he is indebted for every Morfel of Bread he eats) be fo ungratefully and inhumanly facrificed to his furious Zeal for what is called the NewIntereft? Is it because he has fo large a Wager depending upon the Event of the County-Election? Let him tell me, if he can, what Connection there is between the Principles of this University, and the Merits of that Election. Will it follow that, fuppofing we are a Neft of Jacobites, therefore the Oxfordshire Freeholders muft be deprived of their Privileges as fuch?

He