A TRUE RELATION OF THE SEVERAL FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INTENDED RIOT AND TUMULT ON QUEEN ELIZABETH'S BIRTHDAY: GATHERED FROM AUTHENTICK ACCOUNTS; AND PUBLISHED FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL TRUE LOVERS OF OUR CONSTITUTION IN CHURCH AND STATE. FIRST PRINTED IN NOV. 1711. "This is queen Elizabeth's birthday, usually kept in this town "by prentices, &c. But the whigs designed a mighty procession "by midnight; and had laid out a thousand pounds, to dress up "the pope, devil, cardinals, Sacheverell, &c. and carry them with "torches about and burn them. They did it by contribution. "Garth gave five guineas. But they were seized last night by "order from the secretary." Journal to Stella, Nov. 17, 1711. "I am told the owners are so impudent that they intend to re"plevy them by law. I am assured that the figure of the devil is "made as like lord treasurer as they could."-Ibid. Nov. 19. "I saw to day the pope, the devil, and the other figures of "cardinals, &c. fifteen in all, which have made such a noise. I "have put an understrapper upon writing a twopenny pamphlet, to give an account of the whole design.”—Ibid. Nov. 26. 66 SIR, A TRUE RELATION, ETC. LONDON, NOV. 24, 1711. I AM very sorry so troublesome a companion as the gout delays the pleasure I expected by your conversation in town. You desire to know the truth of what you call "a ridiculous story," inserted in "Dyer's Letter" and "The Postboy," cohcerning the figures that were seized in Drury lane, and seemed only designed for the diversion of the mob, to rouse their old antipathy to popery, and create new aversion in them to the pretender. If, indeed, this had been their only intent, your reflections would be reasonable, and your compassion pardonable. It is an odd sort of good nature, to grieve at the rabble's being disappointed of their sport, or, as you please to term it, of "what would "for the time being have certainly made them very "happy." But, sir, you will not fail to change • A newspaper of that time, which, according to Mr. Addison, was entitled to little credit. Honest Vellum, in "The Drummer," act II, scene I, cannot but believe his master is living (among other reasons)" because the news of his death was first published "in Dyer's Letter." + By Abel Roper, G4 your your opinion, when I shall tell you, that there was never a blacker design formed, unless it were blowing up the parliament house. No mortal can foresee what might have been the ill effects, if it had once come to execution. We are well assured, that, under pretence of custom and zeal, and what they call an innocent diversion, lurked a dangerous conspiracy for whoever goes about to disturb the publick peace and tranquillity must needs be enemies to the queen and her government. You have been informed of the surprising generosity and fit of housekeeping the German princess has been guilty of this summer, at her country seat, in direct contradiction to her former thrifty management; yet, to do her justice, she is not so parsimonious as her lord, nor sets half that value upon a guinea: though her dexterity in getting be as great as his, he outdoes her in preserving. She has had a wonderful address in some things! witness the known story of the diamond, which is as great an instance of good management on her side, as my lord's making one suit of clothes serve three sets of buttons can be of his frugality. She seems to have forgotten, or rather outlived, all the softer passions, those beautiful blemishes for which they are often pitied by our sex, but never really hated. Wrath, * The English general, the duke of Marlborough, was made more haughty than before, by the compliment, for it was little more, which was made him by the emperor, of creating him a PRINCE OF THE EMPIRE, by the title of Mildenheim, a little principality in the claim of the house of Bavaria. MESNAGER. Though this be now forgotten, Dr. Swift has perpetuated another diamond story to this lady's honour, in the Journal to Stella, April 11, 1713. ill |