board is likewise displayed, with the words, "Long Room. Fawks's
dexterity of hand." It appears from the following advertisement that
this was a man of great consequence in his profession: "Whereas the town
hath been lately alarmed, that the famous Fawks was robbed and murdered,
returning from performing at the duchess of Buckingham's house at
Chelsea; which report being raised and printed by a person to gain money
to himself, and prejudice the above-mentioned Mr. Fawks, whose
unparalleled performance has gained him so much applause from the
greatest of quality, and most curious observers: We think, both in
justice to the injured gentleman, and for the satisfaction of his
admirers, that we cannot please our readers better than to acquaint them
he is alive, and will not only perform his usual surprising dexterity of
hand, posture-master, and musical clock: but, for the greater diversion
of the quality and gentry, has agreed with the famous Powell of the Bath
for the season, who has the largest, richest, and most natural figures,
and finest machines in England, and whose former performances in Covent
Garden were so engaging to the town, as to gain the approbation of the
best judges, to show his puppet-plays along with him, beginning in the
Christmas holidays next, at the Old Tennis-court, in James's-street,
near the Haymarket; where any incredulous persons may be satisfied he is
not left this world, if they please to believe their hands, though they
can't believe their eyes."--"May 25," indeed, "1731, died Mr. Fawks,
famous for his dexterity of hand, by which he had honestly acquired a
fortune of 10,000_l._ being no more than he really deserved for his
great ingenuity, by which he had surpassed all that ever pretended to
that art."

This satirical performance of Hogarth, however, was thought to be
invented and drawn at the instigation of Sir James Thornhill, out of
revenge, because Lord Burlington had preferred Mr. Kent before him to
paint for the king at his palace at Kensington. Dr. Faustus was a
pantomime performed to crowded houses throughout two seasons, to the
utter neglect of plays, for which reason they are cried about in a
wheel-barrow.

[Illustration: MASQUERADES AND OPERAS, BURLINGTON GATE.]

MORNING.

Keen blows the blast, and eager is the air;
With flakes of feather'd snow the ground is spread;
To step, with mincing pace, to early prayer,
Our clay-cold vestal leaves her downy be