ther as well as they could. Upon their emerging again
into Day-light, you would have fancied my Cave to have been a Nunnery,
and that you had seen a solemn Procession of Religious marching out, one
behind another, in the most profound Silence and the most exemplary
Decency. As I was very much delighted with so edifying a Sight, there
came towards me a great Company of Males and Females laughing, singing,
and dancing, in such a manner that I could hear them a great while
before I saw them. Upon my asking their Leader, what brought them
thither? they told me all at once, that they were _French_ Protestants
lately arrived in _Great-Britain_, and that finding themselves of too
Gay a Humour for my Country, they applyed themselves to me in order to
compose them for _British_ Conversation. I told them, that to oblige
them I would soon spoil their Mirth; upon which I admitted a whole Shole
of them, who, after having taken a Survey of the Place, came out in a
very good Order, and with Looks entirely _English_. I afterwards put in
a _Dutch_ Man, who had a great Fancy to see the _Kelder_, as he called
it, but I could not observe that it had made any manner of Alteration in
him.

A Comedian who had gained great Reputation in Parts of Humour, told me,
that he had a mighty Mind to act _Alexander_ the Great, and fancied that
he should succeed very well in it, if he could strike two or three
laughing Features out of his Face: He tried the Experiment, but
contracted so very solid a Look by it, that I am afraid he will be fit
for no Part hereafter but a _Timon_ of _Athens_, or a Mute in the
_Funeral_.

I then clapt up an empty fantastic Citizen, in order to qualifie him for
an Alderman. He was succeeded by a young Rake of the _Middle-Temple_,
who was brought to me by his Grandmother; but to her great Sorrow and
Surprize, he came out a _Quaker_. Seeing my self surrounded with a Body
of _Free-thinkers_, and Scoffers at Religion, who were making themselves
merry at the sober Looks and thoughtful Brows of those who had been in
the Cave; I thrust them all in, one after another, and locked the Door
upon 'em. Upon my opening it, they all looked, as if they had been
frighted out of their Wits, and were marching away with Ropes in their
Hands to a Wood that was within Sight of the Place. I found they were
not able to bear themselves in their first serious Thoughts; but knowing
these would quickly bring them to a better Frame of Mind, I gave them