St. James's Coffee-house, October 5.
I have no manner of news, more than what the whole town had the other day; except that I have the original letter of the Mareschal Bouffiers to the French King, after the late battle in the woods, which I translate for the benefit of the English reader.
"Sir,
"This is to let your Majesty understand, that, to your immortal honour, and the destruction of the confederates, your troops have lost another battle. Artagnan did wonders, Rohan performed miracles, Guiche did wonders, Gattion performed miracles, the whole army distinguished themselves, and everybody did wonders. And to conclude the wonders of the day, I can assure your Majesty, that though you have lost the field of battle, you have not lost an inch of ground. The enemy marched behind us with respect, and we ran away from them as bold as lions."
Letters have been sent to Mr. Bickerstaff, relating to the present state of the town of Bath, wherein the people of that place have desired him to call home the physicians. All gentlemen therefore of that profession are hereby directed to return forthwith to their places of practice; and the stage-coaches are required to take them in before other passengers, till there shall be a certificate signed by the Mayor or Mr. Powell,[210] that there are but two doctors to one patient left in town.
FOOTNOTES:
[206] In No. 78 of the folio issue two corrections in this number are introduced by the following words: "Having these moon-shining nights been much taken up with my astronomical observations, I could not attend to the press so carefully as I ought, by which means more than ordinary errata have crept into my writings, even to the making of false English."
Looking to Addison's care in revising his work in the Spectator and elsewhere, and to Steele's indifference in such matters, Nichols concluded that Addison probably had some part in the preparation of this number.
[207] The name of an affected lady in Colley Cibber's "Double Gallant; or, Sick Lady's Cure" (1707).