uin anything of this kind, and to believe this does not come
from one of a morose temper, mean birth, rigid education, narrow
fortune, or bigotry in opinion, or from one in whom Time had worn
out all taste of pleasure. I assure you, it is far otherwise, for I
am possessed of all the contrary advantages; and hope, wealth, good
humour, and good breeding, may be best employed in the service of
religion and virtue; and desire you would, as soon as possible,
remark upon the above-mentioned indecorums, that we may not longer
transgress against the latter, to preserve our reputation in the
former.

"Your humble Servant,
"LYDIA."

The last letter I shall insert is what follows. This is written by a
very inquisitive lady; and I think, such interrogative gentlewomen are
to be answered no other way than by interrogation. Her billet is this:

"DEAR MR. BICKERSTAFF,

"Are you quite as good as you seem to be?

"CHLOE."

To which I can only answer:

"DEAR CHLOE,

"Are you quite as ignorant as you seem to be?

"I. B."

[Footnote 127: The trial of Dr. Sacheverell, which extended from
February 27 to March 23, 1710. A Tory pamphlet, "A Letter to the Rev.
Dr. Henry Sacheverell, by Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq.," 1709, appeared in
January 1710. Another pamphlet was called "The Character of Don
Sacheverello, Knight of the Firebrand, in a Letter to Isaac Bickerstaff,
Esq., Censor of Great Britain."]

[Footnote 128: See No. 138.]

[Footnote 129: See No. 136.]

[Footnote 130: See No. 129.]

No. 141. [STEELE.

From _Thursday, March 2_, to _Saturday, March 4, 1709-10_.

* * * * *

_Sheer Lane, March 3._

While the attention of the town is drawn aside from the reading us
writers of news, we all save ourselves against it is at more leisure. As
for my own part, I shall still let the labouring oar be managed by my
correspondents, and fill my paper with their sentiments, rather than my
own, till I find my readers more disengaged than they are at
present.[131] When I came home this evening, I found several letters and
petitions, which I shall insert with no