At the lower end of the room is to be a side-table for persons of great fame, but dubious existence, such as Hercules, Theseus, Aeneas, Achilles, Hector, and others.  But because it is apprehended, that there may be great contention about precedence, the proposer humbly desires the opinion of the learned towards his assistance in placing every person according to his rank, that none may have just occasion of offence.

The merits of the cause shall be judged by plurality of voices.

For the more impartial execution of this important affair, it is desired, that no man will offer his favourite hero, scholar, or poet; and that the learned will be pleased to send to Mr. Bickerstaff, at Mr. Morphew’s near Stationers’ Hall, their several lists for the first table only, and in the order they would have them placed; after which, the composer will compare the several lists, and make another for the public, wherein every name shall be ranked according to the voices it has had.  Under this chamber is to be a dark vault for the same number of persons of evil fame.

It is humbly submitted to consideration, whether the project would not be better, if the persons of true fame meet in a middle room, those of dubious existence in an upper room, and those of evil fame in a lower dark room.

It is to be noted, that no historians are to be admitted at any of these tables, because they are appointed to conduct the several persons to their seats, and are to be made use of as ushers to the assemblies.

I call upon the learned world to send me their assistance towards this design, it being a matter of too great moment for any one person to determine.  But I do assure them, their lists shall be examined with great fidelity, and those that are exposed to the public, made with all the caution imaginable.

[Footnote 1:  “N.B.  Mr. How’d’call is desired to leave off those buttons.”—­No. 21. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 2:  Dr. William Stanley (1647-1731), master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, was Dean of St. Asaph in 1706-31.  In No. 54 of “The Tatler,” he is described as a person “accustomed to roar and bellow so terribly loud in the responses that . . . one of our petty canons, a punning Cambridge scholar, calls his way of worship a Bull-offering.” In the sixty-first number a further reference is made to him:  “A person of eminent wit and piety [Dr. R. South] wrote to Stentor:  ’Brother Stentor,’ said he, ’for the repose of the Church, hearken to Bickerstaff; and consider that, while you are so devout at St. Paul’s, we cannot sleep for you at St. Peter’s.’” [T.S.]]

[Footnote 3:  John Partridge (1644-1715) cobbler, philomath, and quack, was the author of “Merlinus Liberatus,” first issued in 1680.  He libelled his master, John Gadbury, in his “Nebulo Anglicanus” (1693), and quarrelled with George Parker, a fellow-quack and astrologer.  It is of him that Swift wrote his famous “Predictions” (see vol. i. of this edition, p. 298), and issued his broadside, concluding with the lines: