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_Sheer Lane, March 1._

Having the honour to be by my great-grandmother a Welshman, I have been
among some choice spirits of that part of Great Britain, where we
solaced ourselves in celebration of the day of St. David. I am, I
confess, elevated above that state of mind which is proper for
lucubration: but I am the less concerned at this, because I have for
this day or two last past observed, that we novelists have been
condemned wholly to the pastry-cooks, the eyes of the nation being
turned upon greater matters.[127] This therefore being a time when none
but my immediate correspondents will read me, I shall speak to them
chiefly at this present writing. It is the fate of us who pretend to
joke, to be frequently understood to be only upon the droll when we are
speaking the most seriously, as appears by the following letter to
Charles Lillie:

"MR. LILLIE, "London, _February 28, 1709/10_.

"It being professed by 'Squire Bickerstaff, that his intention is
to expose the vices and follies of the age, and to promote virtue
and goodwill amongst mankind; it must be a comfort, to a person
labouring under great straits and difficulties, to read anything
that has the appearance of succour. I should be glad to know
therefore, whether the intelligence given in his _Tatler_ of
Saturday last,[128] of the intended charity of a certain citizen of
London, to maintain the education of ten boys in writing and
accounts till they be fit for trade, be given only to encourage and
recommend persons to the practice of such noble and charitable
designs, or whether there be a person who really intends to do so.
If the latter, I humbly beg Squire Bickerstaff's pardon for making
a doubt, and impute it to my ignorance; and most humbly crave, that
he would be pleased to give notice in his _Tatler_, when he thinks
fit, whether his nomination of ten boys be disposed of, or whether
there be room for two boys to be recommended to him; and that he
will permit the writer of this to present him with two boys, who,
it is humbly presumed, will be judged to be very remarkable objects
of such charity.

"Sir,
"Your most humble Servant."

I am to tell this gentleman in sober sadness, and without jest, that
there real