they plead for us without a Fee; That many of the Gentlemen of the Robe have no other Clients in the World besides us two; That when they have nothing else to do, they make us Plaintiffs and Defendants, tho’ they were never retained by either of us; That they traduce, condemn, or acquit us, without any manner of Regard to our Reputations and good Names in the World.  Your Petitioners therefore (being thereunto encouraged by the favourable Reception which you lately gave to our Kinsman Blank) do humbly pray, that you will put an End to the Controversies which have been so long depending between us your said Petitioners, and that our Enmity may not endure from Generation to Generation; it being our Resolution to live hereafter as it becometh Men of peaceable Dispositions.

  And your Petitioners (as in Duty bound) shall ever Pray, &c.

* * * * *

No. 578.  Monday, August 9, 1714.

  ’—­Eque feris humana in corpora transit,
  Inque feras Noster—­’

  Ovid.

There has been very great Reason, on several Accounts, for the learned World to endeavour at settling what it was that might be said to compose personal Identity.

Mr. Lock, after having premised that the Word Person properly signifies a thinking intelligent Being that has Reason and Reflection, and can consider it self as it self; concludes That it is Consciousness alone, and not an Identity of Substance, which makes this personal Identity of Sameness.  Had I the same Consciousness (says that Author) that I saw the Ark and Noah’s Flood, as that I saw an Overflowing of the Thames last Winter; or as that I now write; I could no more doubt that I who write this now, that saw the Thames overflow last Winter, and that viewed the Flood at the general Deluge, was the same Self, place that Self in what Substance you please, than that I who write this am the same My self now whilst I write, (whether I consist of all the same Substance material or immaterial or no) that I was Yesterday; For as to this Point of being the same Self, it matters not whether this present Self be made up of the same or other Substances.

I was mightily pleased with a Story in some Measure applicable to this Piece of Philosophy, which I read the other Day in the Persian Tales, as they are lately very well translated by Mr. Philips; and with an Abridgement whereof I shall here present my Readers.

I shall only premise that these Stories are writ after the Eastern Manner, but somewhat more correct.

’Fadlallah, a Prince of great Virtues, succeeded his Father Bin-Ortoc, in the Kingdom of Mousel.  He reigned over his faithful Subjects for some time, and lived in great Happiness with his beauteous Consort Queen Zemroude; when there appeared at his Court a young Dervis of so lively and entertaining a Turn of Wit, as won upon the Affections of every one he conversed with.  His Reputation grew so fast every Day, that it at last raised a Curiosity in the Prince himself to see and talk with him.  He did so, and far from finding that common Fame had flatter’d him, he was soon convinced that every thing he had heard of him fell short of the Truth.