I must let you know likewise, good Sir, that we look upon a certain Northern Prince’s March, in Conjunction with Infidels, [2] to be palpably against our Goodwill and Liking; and, for all Monsieur Palmquist, [3] a most dangerous Innovation; and we are by no means yet sure, that some People are not at the Bottom on’t.  At least, my own private Letters leave room for a Politician well versed in matters of this Nature, to suspect as much, as a penetrating Friend of mine tells me.

  We think we have at last done the business with the Malecontents in
  Hungary, and shall clap up a Peace there. [4]

What the Neutrality Army [5] is to do, or what the Army in Flanders, and what two or three other Princes, is not yet fully determined among us; and we wait impatiently for the coming in of the next Dyer’s [6] who, you must know, is our Authentick Intelligence, our Aristotle in Politics.  And ’tis indeed but fit there should be some Dernier Resort, the Absolute Decider of all Controversies.

We were lately informed, that the Gallant Train’d Bands had patroll’d all Night long about the Streets of London: We indeed could not imagine any Occasion for it, we guessed not a Tittle on’t aforehand, we were in nothing of the Secret; and that City Tradesmen, or their Apprentices, should do Duty, or work, during the Holidays, we thought absolutely impossible:  But Dyer being positive in it, and some Letters from other People, who had talked with some who had it from those who should know, giving some Countenance to it, the Chairman reported from the Committee, appointed to examine into that Affair, That ’twas Possible there might be something in’t.  I have much more to say to you, but my two good Friends and Neighbours, Dominick and Slyboots, are just come in, and the Coffee’s ready.  I am, in the mean time,

  Mr.  SPECTATOR,

  Your Admirer, and

  Humble Servant,_

  Abraham Froth.

You may observe the Turn of their Minds tends only to Novelty, and not Satisfaction in any thing.  It would be Disappointment to them, to come to Certainty in any thing, for that would gravel them, and put an end to their Enquiries, which dull Fellows do not make for Information, but for Exercise.  I do not know but this may be a very good way of accounting for what we frequently see, to wit, that dull Fellows prove very good Men of Business.  Business relieves them from their own natural Heaviness, by furnishing them with what to do; whereas Business to Mercurial Men, is an Interruption from their real Existence and Happiness.  Tho’ the dull Part of Mankind are harmless in their Amusements, it were to be wished they had no vacant Time, because they usually undertake something that makes their Wants conspicuous, by their manner of supplying them.  You shall seldom find