[Footnote 364:  Epsom was frequented for its mineral waters, and was also a favourite holiday resort.  “At the Crown Coffee-house, behind the Royal Exchange, fresh Epsom water, with the rest of the purging waters, at 2d. per quart, and sold both winter and summer, and Epsom salt.” (See “British Apollo,” vol. iii.  No. 15, 1710, and “Post Man,” June 11, 1700.) “The New Wells at Epsom, with variety of raffling-shops, a billiard-table, and a bowling-green, and attended with a new set of music, are now open,” &c. (Flying Post, Aug. 4-6, 1709.) The new Wells were opened on Easter Monday, 1709 (Daily Courant, April 23, 1709).  We can form some idea of Epsom some years before, with its wells and bowling-green, from Shadwell’s play, “Epsom Wells,” 1673.  See also No. 7.]

[Footnote 365:  On July 8, 1709, Peter Wentworth wrote to Lord Raby:  “I have not sent you the Tatler of last Saturday, because I was told ’twas dull, but that persons judgement I shall take no more; for having since read it I think it diverting enough, the news from Epsom is almost matter of fact, wch makes the jest the better; the Ladys are city ladys, named Turners” ("Wentworth Papers,” p. 93).  This is confirmed by the MS. annotator mentioned in No. 4.]

[Footnote 366:  “I like the description of Africanus, wch is Sir Scipio Hill ...  Sir Scipio Hill with his new project of getting money occasions some diversion and talk at White’s.  You may have heard for this long while he was dieing of the ——­; he now come abroad and look a divel, or at least a sad memento mori.  He gives forescore guineas to receive ten guineas a quarter for his life, Sir James of the Peak is his agent, and runs about offering it all that will take.  Boscowen has took it, and two or three more, who are of opinion he will not live a month.  Those he had made his heirs does not approve of this whim, for he’s resolved to dispose of all his ready money this way if he can find substantial fools enough to take it; but the crack begins to run as if he may live a great while for all he looks so ill, for he has recovered his voice to a miracle” (Peter Wentworth to Lord Raby, July 1 and 8, 1709; “Wentworth Papers,” pp. 92-3).]

[Footnote 367:  The waiter.  See No. 16.]

[Footnote 368:  Said to be Sir Humphrey Monoux, Bart., who was elected M.P. for Tavistock in 1728, and for Stockbridge in 1734.  He succeeded to the baronetage in 1707, and died without issue in 1757.]

[Footnote 369:  “Thou that hast no sense of death, art happier than one that” (folio; altered in Errata in No. 37).]

[Footnote 370:  “This paper, with a blank leaf to write business on, may be had of J. Morphew, near Stationers’-hall” (folio).]

No. 37. [?STEELE.[371]

From Saturday, July 2, to Tuesday, July 5, 1709.

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White’s Chocolate-house, July 2.