Letter No. 14], p. 59, ante) was a more prosperous man than his namesake of



Back Drury Lane. In De Foe's 'Groans of Great Britain,' published in 1813, we read:


'I was the other Day at a Coffee-House when the following
Advertisement was thrown in.--At Punch's Theatre in the Little
Piazza, Covent-Garden, this present Evening will be performed an
Entertainment, called, The History of Sir Richard Whittington,
shewing his Rise from a Scullion to be Lord-Mayor of London, with the
Comical Humours of Old Madge, the jolly Chamber-Maid, and the
Representation of the Sea, and the Court of Great Britain, concluding
with the Court of Aldermen, and Whittington Lord-Mayor, honoured
with the Presence of K. Hen. VIII. and his Queen Anna Bullen, with
other diverting Decorations proper to the Play, beginning at 6
o'clock. Note, No money to be returned after the Entertainment is
begun. Boxes, 2s. Pit, 1s. Vivat Regina.


On enquiring into the Matter, I find this has long been a noble
Diversion of our Quality and Gentry; and that Mr. Powell, by
Subscriptions and full Houses, has gathered such Wealth as is ten
times sufficient to buy all the Poets in England; that he seldom goes
out without his Chair, and thrives on this incredible Folly to that
degree, that, were he a Freeman, he might hope that some future
Puppet-Show might celebrate his being Lord Mayor, as he has done Sir
R. Whittington.']



[Footnote 6:


'Mr. Penkethman's Wonderful Invention call'd the Pantheon: or, the
Temple of the Heathen Gods. The Work of several Years, and great
Expense, is now perfected; being a most surprising and magnificent
Machine, consisting of 5 several curious Pictures, the Painting and
contrivance whereof is beyond Expression Admirable. The Figures, which
are above 100, and move their Heads, Legs, Arms, and Fingers, so
exactly to what they perform, and setting one Foot before another,
like living Creatures, that it justly deserves to be esteem'd the
greatest Wonder of the Age. To be seen from 10 in the Morning till 10
at Night, in the Little Piazza, Covent Garden, in the same House where
Punch's Opera is. Price 1s. 6d., 1s., and the lowest, 6d.'

This Advertisement was published in 46 and a few following numbers of the Spectator.]



[Footnote 7: wonderfully acceptable]



[Footnote 8: The satire is against Heidegger. See note [Footnote 1 of
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